Scout Notes

Mane the pick of the underwhelming midfield assets in Liverpool win

For all the firepower on show at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, it was a budget striker owned by some 686 Fantasy managers worldwide who decided the fate of the 232nd Merseyside derby.

Divock Origi‘s remarkable last-gasp winner will live long in the memory but for the Fantasy bosses who owned midfield and forward assets from the red and blue halves of Merseyside, this was a day to forget.

Jurgen Klopp’s backline continues to deliver for those of us invested in them, with the Reds here recording their ninth clean sheet of the campaign – no other Premier League has as many this season.

Everton were seconds away from their fifth shut-out in eight top-flight matches before Origi’s late, late intervention but at least demonstrated just how far they’ve come as a defensive unit by getting within a whisker of leaving Anfield with a goalless draw.

We dissect the final fixture of Gameweek 14 by rounding up the goals, assists, injury news, Fantasy talking points and manager quotes from Liverpool’s stoppage-time win over their neighbours.

Liverpool 1-0 Everton

  • Goal: Divock Origi (£5.0m)
  • Assist: Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m)

Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) blanked for only the second time at Anfield this season but his meagre three-point return in Fantasy Premier League was as much attributable to the poor finishing of colleagues as it was his own inability to breach a stubborn Everton defence.

Salah twice laid on glorious chances for Liverpool team-mates in the first half of yesterday’s Merseyside derby, only for Sadio Mane (£9.9m) and then Xherdan Shaqiri (£7.0m) to spurn the opportunities the Egyptian midfielder had provided.

No player on show at Anfield supplied more key passes than Salah on Sunday.

Assists, of course, are not Salah’s bread and butter.

On a weekend when Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) turned in another irresistible attacking display for Manchester City and became the first player this season to pass the 100-point mark in FPL, Salah was once again struggling to justify his top-dollar price.

The Egyptian’s only shot of the match came just after half-time, a curling effort that crept past Jordan Pickford‘s (£5.0m) right-hand upright. The only other sight on goal Salah had in a 74-minute showing came in the first half, when the talismanic midfielder got his feet in a muddle when in a promising position.

While Everton did well to shackle the Egypt international in his increasingly familiar centre-forward role, it would be wrong to suggest the visiting defence – or the home one, for that matter – was an impermeable force.

As well as that aforementioned chance provided by Salah, Mane wasted another gilt-edged opportunity after the break when being fed by Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and was to curl wide shortly after when being teed up again by his Egyptian colleague. Mane was also inches away from latching onto two low crosses from the flank in the second half.

Just as he had been in the defeat at PSG in midweek, Mane was perhaps Liverpool’s brightest spark in attack and continues to present himself as a viable – if not as reliable – cut-price alternative to Salah in the Reds’ midfield.

Consistency of returns is what the Senegalese winger is lacking: this was the eighth occasion in 13 Premier League appearances that Mane has blanked.

Shaqiri was less effective than he has been in recent weeks on the right flank in a 4-2-3-1, not troubling the goalkeeper other than his “big chance” mentioned above or indeed creating a single opportunity for a team-mate.

Firmino, still somehow owned by over a million FPL managers, reverted to lacklustre type after his 12-point haul in Gameweek 13, blanking for the eighth time in nine games.

While the Brazilian forward managed three attempts on goal (more than Salah) against Everton, he is far from passing the eye test as a supporting striker in this system and looks a shadow of the player that racked up 15 goals and eight assists in 2017/18.

A rest possibly beckons for one of Liverpool’s front three (or four, as it is now) in midweek, with Mane perhaps most at risk after being the only member of the attacking quartet not be substituted in this match at Anfield and indeed suffering a cut to his foot during the game.

While paying tribute to the former Southampton midfielder, Klopp said:

It was such an intense game and if you look at these three I think Sadio had tonight the standout performance. He had the chances and didn’t use them, but he was pretty much not to defend in one-on-one situations very often.

He got better minute by minute and if you see now he is sitting in the dressing room and has a cut on his foot, so 20 minutes before the end of the game, I don’t know how it happened [but it’s a] very painful thing and he stayed in.

He didn’t tell me but otherwise maybe we would have changed differently, probably not. That’s all. We will see how we line up in the next [games]. We only have to think about Burnley, not Bournemouth or Naples or [Manchester] United or Wolves.

A start for Divock Origi (£5.0m) or Daniel Sturridge (£5.8m) wouldn’t seem out of the question at Turf Moor on Wednesday, nor would a change back to a 4-3-3 given that Jordan Henderson (£5.3m) will return from suspension and Naby Keita (£7.2m) would seem overdue a start in the middle of the park.

Origi’s goal at Anfield arrived in bizarre circumstances, the youngster tapping in after Virgil van Dijk’s (£6.0m) wayward shot had ballooned up into the air and onto the crossbar via a flap from Pickford: that “assist” was the Dutch centre-back’s first attacking FPL return since December 2016.

Andrew Robertson (£6.5m) was a constant threat down the left flank and played one glorious ball across Pickford’s goalmouth that Mane couldn’t quite reach, though Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.2m) was wasteful with his own final delivery: ten of the right-back’s 12 crosses failed to find a Liverpool shirt.

Alexander-Arnold at least continued to play a prominent role at set pieces, which adds another string to his bow as a cut-price Liverpool defensive option.

Liverpool’s backline kept perhaps their most fortunate clean sheet since the Gameweek 8 draw with Manchester City, with Yerry Mina and the otherwise excellent Andre Gomes (both £5.4m) wasting glorious headed chances in the first quarter of the match.

It was an unfortunate day at the office for Lucas Digne (£4.9m) and his owners, too, with the French dead-ball specialist supplying the delivery for Mina’s chance and being seconds away from a nine-point FPL return (Digne was topping the bonus points until the 96th minute) before Origi’s winner.

Disheartened they may be, but Digne’s owners look to have an excellent Fantasy prospect on their hands – particularly with back-to-back home matches against Newcastle United (who have conceded more attempts from set plays than any other team) and Watford to come this week.

Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) and Richarlison (£7.0m) also drew a blank, though the Icelandic midfielder produced a superb through-ball that Theo Walcott (£6.3m) wasted just before the break and came within inches of tapping home the rebound when Gomes’ 20th-minute header was somehow kept out by a combination of Alisson (£5.7m) and Joe Gomez (£5.1m).

Everton’s “out of position” Brazilian midfielder, again leading the line for the Toffees in a 4-2-3-1, didn’t get much change out of van Dijk and had only one scuffed half-chance to show for his afternoon’s work.

Richarlison’s worth as a mid-price FPL asset isn’t defined by these types of matches, of course, but his owners will be expecting a marked improvement in the forthcoming double-header at Goodison.

Reflecting on the defeat, Marco Silva said:

I know the main thing in football is the result – but I am proud of our players and how we performed.

I think it is clear, we did not deserve that result and it was a lucky, lucky, lucky day for Liverpool.

We did everything I promised we would and what we have been doing since the first day [I was here] – and especially in the past two or three months as we’ve grown as a team.

Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho; Shaqiri (Keita 70′), Firmino (Origi 83′), Mane; Salah (Sturridge 75′).

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Gomes, Gueye; Walcott (Lookman 62′), Sigurdsson (Zouma 90′), Bernard; Richarlison.

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1,229 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ALTOID11
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I’ve got two FT - any advice? Thinking Haz & Kun > Kane & Sané

    Fabianski

    Robbo Digne AWB

    Salah Murphy Haz Felipe A Richarl

    Murphy Kun Mitro

    Speroni, bednarek, Doherty,

  2. ZTF
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed...

    Arnie and Kun to Kane and Wilson isn’t worth it, right?

    1. fenixri
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No

  3. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Loving this time of season. Feels like there’s no template, multiple trains of thought, so many variables & a ton of players under consideration. Clutch time!

  4. fenixri
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I am really scared of selling Hazard. Got him at GW3, and it will be hard to get him back in team. It is much easier to ditch Salah because you can always bring Mane in and he is so much more expensive, but Hazard is talisman.

    On the other hand it is hard to make decent team with Sterling - Hazard - Kane - Auba

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      if u have got hazard at 10.5 that is 2.5 mil less than salah.Ditching salah looks very sensible.I think u can form a very very decent team with kane laca/aubs sane hazard

    2. Bennison
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I don't understand people getting rid of Hazard at the moment, yes his form has dipped slightly but his run of fixtures is too good. People just selling to get on the Auba/Sane band wagon at the moment. If Hazard scores midweek he'll become essential again

      1. FOMFF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Sold to get on the Sterling gravy train and it's been very juicy

  5. davidmcnamara
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A) Kun, Alonso -> Kane, Luiz
    B) Kun, Martial, -> Kane, Fraser

    ??

    1. bombayblues
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Bennison
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B - Wouldn't get rid of Alonso

    3. FPL Laurenzo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Martial v Fulham on Saturday. Holding this week to see if he plays and how he performs.

  6. Simmoo
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Start 2 of these 4:

    1. Doherty (Che H)
    2. AWB (Bri A)
    3. Fraser (Hud H)
    4. Martial (Ars H)

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      3,4.

  7. ZTF
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero straight swap to Auba/Kane for my FT? If so which one

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Auba

    2. bombayblues
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kane this week. Auba next week

      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I'm a United fan and I've brought Auba (c) in.

    3. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Abua

  8. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Haz+kun> kane+sane(-4) yes or no

    This will bring me to
    Fab
    Robo alonso awb dunk
    Sane sterling mane
    Kane arnie murray

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      yep

  9. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    If you can only have one through December, Salah or Kane?

  10. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Which defender to complete WC side

    A Azpilicueta
    B Robertson
    C Trippier ( if fit)
    D Laporte
    E Alonso ( but means going Lacazette over Auba)

    Fabianski Sterling
    TAA Digne AWB Doherty *****
    Sterling Sané Richarlison
    F Anderson Gunnarsson
    Kane Aubameyang Wilson

    1. BeDreamin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      In order C, D, B E A

    2. Bennison
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I'd go with either Laporte or Tripps, you have no City defence but Spurs have a good run of fixtures and Trips is on set pieces

      1. danishdynamite
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        If and when he's back

    3. danishdynamite
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      It's a decent team, with decent options .

      I'm in a similar looking boat (trying to squeeze Alonso into a similar looking side, and failing without Laca)

      I can't see th point of A when Luiz delivers the same for much less. Decent option for your list.
      I'm not crazy about LIverpools fixtures, though they could probably keep a cleanie against most sides this year.

      FWIW I'm toying with Kola over Doherty or TAA. If they stick with 352 he could have a cracking run from 16 (or not, of course)

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, think I may “steal” your idea as Kolasinac is good value and as you say if Arsenal play 3 at back he will be s goal and assist threat. That would let me go

        Trippier TAA Digne Kolasinac AWB

    4. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling is a bit short to put in net.

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        LOL!! Auto typo- should be Steele!

  11. BeDreamin
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Which set gets more points this week:

    A) Salah, Aguero, Brooks, Bamba, Etheridge

    B) Hazard, Kane, Laporte, TAA, Fab

    Is it by much?

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B. How close it is depends on salah

    2. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B, yes

  12. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Think I've get it done, how does that look?

    Fab - 4.0
    Taa - Alonso - schindler - digne - awb
    Sane - dilva - Anderson - richa - fraser
    Auba - Kane - Arnie

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Great team

    2. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No Liverpool and Chelsea attack is going to hurt you big time imo

  13. danishdynamite
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Any thoughts on which of these combo's look good from GW16 ??

    1) Richiarlson + Jiminez
    2) Mitrovic + Perrarya
    3) Mitrovic + cheapo mid, like Cairney + 1,4 to invest elsewhere

    I'm struggling to find a decent combo of form and fixtures in the mid priced midfielders, though Rich will be interesting again from GW19

    1. Bennison
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Depends what the rest of your team looks like, option 1 looks the safest option at the moment

  14. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    This team at -8 I feel sick haha, but it puts me at 335 OR starting gwk15 so aint to bad. I think I will cover the hits easily over Xmas and should get some good team value out of it.

    Ederson Button
    Alonso TAA Doherty Balbuena Wan
    Sterling Sane Richarlison Brooks Obiang
    Arnie AubaKane

    Thoughts?

    1. FOMFF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      aggressive, I like it. Anyway you can work a 2nd Pool def in?

  15. Scout Picks Challenge
    @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    SCOUT PICKS CHALLENGE - GAMEWEEK 15

    GW12 results: https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/19376408

    ****** WHAT IS IT? ******

    For those of you who haven't been around or aren't aware, every evening prior to the start of the gameweek FFS releases their picks of players for the gameweek, "Scout Picks", as well as 3 differentials before the first games to separate yourself from the crowd.

    This is your way to have a bit of fun and challenge those scout picks with a set of your own (read instructions below). This will always open the day before the gameweek starts around 8pm, and whilst you don't have to play weekly, the more you play the better chance you have of winning!

    Gameweek winners will also be awarded a spot in the Community Roundup article.

    ****** INSTRUCTIONS ******

    Everyone can have their own scout picks (there is no limit on team value) but with one simple rule,

    YOU CAN ONLY PICK ONE PLAYER FROM EACH TEAM
    (yes, two of your players at least will be on opposing teams).

    You can only have ONE submission, and your FIRST submission will be what is accepted. You also must respond DIRECTLY to this post (not to a reply on this post). FFS Scout Picks are automatically enrolled. Teams must comply with FPL formation rules and be submitted in an easy to read format, e.g.

    GK
    DEF DEF DEF
    MID MID MID MID
    FOR FOR FOR

    Deadline for this gameweek is Tuesday 4th December, 6.45pm.

    ****** SCORING ******

    Regardless of number of applicants, scoring will be done by the following:

    1st place: 3 points
    Top 4% of the population will rank "second" and score 2 points.
    Top 10% of the population will rank "third" and score 1 point.

    There is also a bonus point which everyone is eligible for. If you score higher than FFS' Scout Picks AND Differential Picks (i.e. 14 players), you will be awarded with a bonus point regardless of whether you were in the top 10% scoring positions or not.

    Welcome to the game, and good luck.

    ***** THE STANDINGS *****

    1st - Minges (11pts)
    2nd - A Manager Has No Name, FFS Scout (9pts)

    Spreadsheet: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyuz31n7ppeccuu/Scout%20Picks%20Challenge.xlsm?dl=0

    1. Dead Lift
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hennessey
      Ake, Doherty, Chambers
      Siggurdson, Salah, F.Anderson, Sane
      Kane, Aubameyang, King

      1. Dead Lift
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Wrooooong! Duffy instead of Ake!

    2. Expected Toulouse
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      De Gea
      Pereira Kolasinac Bamba
      Salah Sane Alli Sigurdsson Loftus Cheek
      Arnautovic King

    3. FPL Hitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ryan
      Coleman Chambers Moreno
      Anderson Hazard Brooks Alli
      Auba Jesus Lukaku

    4. MB10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Pickford
      Duffy AWB Chilwell
      Salah D.Silva Martial Hazard
      Kane Arnautovic Wilson

    5. Dynamomi
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Alisson
      Bellerin Aké Digne
      Groß Hazard D.Silva F.Anderson
      Vardy Mitrovic Kane

    6. Camara
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Schmeichel
      Alonso PVA Balbuena Duffy
      Salah Sane Sigurdsson
      Auba Wilson Kane

    7. il Brutto
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kepa
      Mina Duffy Pereira
      Martial Sane Salah Fraser
      Kane Aubameyang Arnautovic

    8. Vobinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ryan
      Rudiger Balbuena Chilwell
      Salah Sigurdsson Martial Mahrez
      Kane Auba Wilson

    9. Mince n Tatties
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hennessey
      Alonso Coleman Dunk
      Salah D.Silva Anderson Fraser
      Kane Aubameyang Vardy

    10. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Lloris
      AWB Doherty Azpilicueta
      Siggy D.Silver Salah F.Anderson Martial
      Wilson Mitrovic

    11. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kepa
      Daniels-Duffy-AWB
      Salah-Eriksen-Richarlison-Ramsey-Maddisson
      Arni-Jesus

    12. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hennessy
      Chilwell, Coleman, Duffy
      Hazard, Sterling, Salah, Martial, F Anderson
      Kane, Wilson

    13. apples...oranges
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hennesy
      Kolasinac VVD Duffy
      Sterling Siggy Felipe Hazard
      Wilson Kane Mitro

    14. Scratch
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      DDG
      PVA, Coleman, Duffy
      Salah, Mahrez, Fraser, Felipe
      Kane, Mitrovic, Morata

    15. squire345
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      de gea
      coleman rice pva
      salah hazard sane fraser
      kane mitrovic auba

    16. minges
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ryan
      Digne AWB Pereira
      Salah Hazard Sane Brooks
      Kane Auba Arnie

    17. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ryan
      Alonso, Chilwell, Coleman
      Salah, Martial, FAnderson, Eriksen
      Wilson, Auba, Jesus

    18. Tibbles
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Etheridge
      Diop Azpi Pereira
      Salah Sterling Siggy Martial
      Kane Zaha Wilson

  16. Blue&White85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    Alonso Bellerin Pereira Digne
    Salah Sterling Martial
    Kane Arnautovic Wilson