Scout Notes

Mane a doubt for Gameweek 1 as Senegal make AFCON final

The Gameweek 1 availability of Sadio Mane (£11.5m) must surely be in question after Senegal made it through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2002.

Senegal face Algeria in Friday’s final, which is staged exactly three weeks before Liverpool’s season-opening fixture against Norwich City.

Jurgen Klopp appears to be giving all of his players a three-week break following their international exertions this summer – as happened with several players after the 2018 World Cup – and Mane’s delayed departure from Egypt casts into doubt his chances of featuring against the newly promoted Canaries, at least from the start.

It’s not just Mane who is representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, of course, and we’ll be bringing you up to date on the other FPL assets involved at the quarter-final and semi-final stages in the Scout Notes article below.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Egypt bowed out of the competition at the round-of-16 stage.

Senegal 1-0 Benin
Senegal 1-0 Tunisia (after extra-time)

Mane was heavily involved in Senegal’s quarter-final win over Benin, teeing up Everton’s Idrissa Gueye (£5.0m) for the match-winning goal and seeing two strikes of his own chalked off after VAR intervention.

Mane lasted the whole 90 minutes, along with Cheikhou Kouyate (£5.0m) – again playing at centre-half – and Newcastle United’s forgotten man Henri Saivet.

Gueye was withdrawn just before the game entered stoppage time.

The Lions of Teranga then saw off Tunisia in a tense semi-final, with the game going to extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes.

Dylan Bronn headed into his own net to give Senegal the victory, although Mane had earlier wasted an excellent chance when screwing a shot wide after rounding Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassan.

That was the Liverpool winger’s only attempt on goal in the entire game and he was perhaps more peripheral than he had been throughout the tournament.

The former Southampton man also ceded penalty-taking duties after two misses from the spot in the tournament, allowing Saivet to step up from 12 yards in the 80th minute – only for the Newcastle man to see his effort saved.

Mane said:

It’s a momentary withdrawal. I have missed penalties in both games and must admit that it is not a good ratio.

I do not want to penalise my team and, at least for the time being, I’m going to stand aside for the penalties and let other teammates get on with it.

When I return to my club, I will continue to work hard to improve on this aspect.

Tunisia had a penalty award of their own overturned after VAR intervention, meanwhile.

Mane, Saivet, Gueye and Kouyate played all 120 minutes of Sunday’s semi-final.

Nigeria 2-1 South Africa
Ivory Coast 1-1 Algeria (3-4 penalties)
Algeria 2-1 Nigeria

Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) will be up against Mane and Senegal in Friday’s final after Algeria saw off Nigeria in dramatic fashion.

Mahrez curled in an injury-time free-kick to give his country a 2-1 win, having earlier forced an own goal from Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong with a fizzed cross from the right flank.

Mahrez, Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) and Alex Iwobi (£6.0m) played the full 90 minutes for their respective countries, while Leon Balogun (£4.5m) was an unused substitute for the Super Eagles.

Algeria had progressed to the semis following a penalty shootout victory over Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals.

Neither Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) nor (surprisingly) Mahrez were on the field by the time the game reached that point, having been replaced on 94 and 86 minutes respectively.

Jonathan Kodjia (£5.5m) was also withdrawn in extra time but the Aston Villa striker had at least found the back of the net by that point, collecting Zaha’s pass and rifling in a low shot from the edge of the Algerian box.

The Palace winger cut a frustrated figure at times and picked up a booking after a clash with Ramy Bensebaini, although the Algerian defender didn’t do himself any favours with a theatrical reaction after contact with Zaha’s arm.

Serge Aurier (£5.0m), who has picked up hamstring and wrist injuries during the tournament, watched the game from the sidelines.

A day earlier, Nigeria had seen off South Africa in their own quarter-final.

Iwobi impressed and it was from his cross down the left that Nigeria first took the lead, with Samuel Chukwueze finishing at the second attempt.

Troost-Ekong scored an 89th-minute winner before Iwobi was replaced by Balogun in injury time.

Ndidi again lasted the course in central midfield.

The tournament is not over for Nigeria despite their subsequent semi-final defeat: the third-place play-off takes place on Wednesday evening between Tunisia and the Super Eagles.

1,390 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Lebowski85
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    This is where I'm at...

    Ryan
    TAA VVD Laporte Digne
    Salah Sterling Siggy Yarmolenko
    King Giroud

    Button ASmith Dendonker Galacher

    (Smith and Yarmolenko are bandwagon slots...once they emerge)

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ederson over Laporte gives you more to spend

      1. Lebowski85
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I was thinking the same...but Pickford over Digne

        1. Respect My Authoritah
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Digne has a lot more plus points in that comparison I feel.

    2. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Like it, Yarmo and Giroud need monitoring.

  2. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    @doosra have you started on the numbers for GW2 mate?

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Aye. 😀 😀 😀

      ARS : new 99 BUR 514
      LIV : NOR 583 sou 463
      MCY : whu 370 TOT 409
      CHE : mun -56 LEI 367
      EVE : cry 85 WAT 168
      AVL : tot -388 BOU 127
      NOR : liv -583 NEW 109
      WHU : MCI -370 bha 105
      CRY : EVE -85 shu 27
      WLV : lei -54 MUN 21
      WLV : lei -54 MUN 21
      MUN : CHE 56 wol -21
      SHU : bou -47 CRY -27
      BHA : wat -194 WHU -105
      BHA : wat -194 WHU -105
      NEW : ARS -99 nor -109
      BOU : SHU 47 avl -127
      WAT : BHA 194 eve -168
      LEI : WOL 54 che -367
      TOT : AVL 388 mci -409
      SOT : bur -80 LIV -463
      BUR : SOU 80 ars -514

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Omg this is excellent thank you exactly what I need

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Pleased. 🙂

          1. fantasyfog
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            mate that looks amazing..excuse my ignorance though....what does it mean....exactly

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Fixtures, GW2, easy to difficult. 🙂

              1. fantasyfog
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                gw1 and 2?

                1. fantasyfog
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  gotcha. very nice

  3. Alex_thekid
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Haller 7.5 on Fansbet fantasy and all of the prices are nearly identical to FPL

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Shame that

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      as expected...unfortunately

    3. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ouch!!! 😀 😀 😀

  4. LangerznMash
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    No one fancy Maitland-Niles (£5.0m) for GW 1 + 2 vs Newcastle + Burnley? I'd expect a clean sheet and chance of attack return.

    1. polis
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nope.

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nope. I'd be surprised if Burnley didn't beat Arsenal

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        oh damn

      2. LangerznMash
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Fair enough

    3. Kimmich
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Wouldn’t trust the defence but there’s definitely worse bets than that.

    4. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes or Kola

  5. falafel
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A: Wilson, Zinchenko, Ryan
    B: Deulofeu, Laporte, Leno

    1. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A but Pope over Ryan

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Surely Ryan a Better pick for the first 5? Brighton has 3 home games

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Can't see Brighton doing well next year under Potter who only had the 11th best defensive record in the Championship last season.

      2. KunDogan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Pope has awful fixtures

  6. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT:

    Ryan
    TAA, VvD, Digne, Zinchenko, Dunk (if he goes to Leicester)
    Salah, Sterling, Perez
    Aubameyang, King

    Button, Dendoncker, Hayden, Greenwood

    1. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Could do Auba - Vardy and Perez - Pogba

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Nope leave it. Yeah for 3 big hitters can't see it looking much better. GL

    2. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nice team fitting three big hitters in

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks bud

    3. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Like it. But gonna have cpt issues no??

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I know but I kind of think it’s better to have as many top-scoring players in as possible than to go mid-level haulers in order to easy captaincy dilemmas

    4. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If Auba is in form from GW1 that is nice team

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks mate

    5. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nice. I’m toying with the idea of playing Dunk as set and forget (if he goes Leicester)

  7. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT
    Ederson
    Digne TAA Robbo
    Pogba Salah Sterling Perez
    King Delefeu Greenwood
    Button Diop Kelly Dendonker

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      template + Pogba and Perez, and 2 playing subs...I like it

    2. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Greenwood starting??

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        That's just Ole-talk. If you took everything he said literally, United would be putting 20 players out on the pitch.

        However, Danny might have picked up on my sneaky little tactic - if so, well done!

        Good squad.

        1. KunDogan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          This.

      2. European Bob
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Unlikely but getting talked up. Should get increasingly more minutes

  8. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Trippier to Aletico ... who’s going to see more minutes as a result?

    1. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Atletico

    2. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Poch talking up Foyth. Throw Aurier and KWP into the mix as well.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Foyth suspended 1st 2.

        1. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Oh yeah true. Aurier away at AFCON with talk of nursing some injuries. Seems like a mess to completely avoid imo.

  9. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    "Asked if City were chasing Maguire after today’s 4-1 win over West Ham in Nanjing, the Spaniard simply said: “Leicester player.”

    I wonder what Mahrez would make of Pep's comment?

    https://www.teamtalk.com/news/pep-guardiola-gives-two-word-answer-to-harry-maguire-transfer-question

  10. timawflowers
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Please rate my team
    Ryan
    Vvd, digne, TAA, wan bissaka
    Zaha, salah, sterling, perez
    Wilson, Jimenez
    Bench - button, greenwood, Kelly, dendoncker

  11. Squib
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Would love to see what the previous few winners' starting teams for the openers have been compared to the template over the last few seasons.

  12. polis
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    With Haller to West Ham. He's surely first choice.

    Meaning Anderson, Lanzini, Antonio, Snod, Fornals, Yarm for 3 spots. Right?

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Wilshere, Chicarito as well

      1. polis
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Hernandez will be off I think.

        Wilshere likely to play behind the three I'd say, will be Rice and one from Wilshere, Noble, Obiang, Diangana...

        Would love input from a Hammers fan.

        1. Brehmeren
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Hernandez has supposedly been asked to stay. Got his shirt number changed to number 9 as well. Haller will definitely be first choice though.

  13. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Finally, we get to see RMTs without Trippier (never knew why they included him in their plans anyway, he always had a foot out the door)!

    1. Azathoth
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      And we get to see RMTs with Aurier......

    2. polis
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      People are still picking Zaha.

    3. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      it was one of the few transfers that came as a small surprise to me

      1. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        How? The rumors have been flying for weeks...

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I haven't seen a single RMT with trippier..

  14. Del Monte
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Bad idea?

    Ederson

    TAA Robertson Laporte Diane Coleman

    Salah Sterling Sigurdsson

    Wilson Greenwood

    1. Del Monte
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      *Digne

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      double Everton defense...not for me

      Greenwood as a part of your starting XI, also not a big fan

    3. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Greenwood:other fodder to a 6.5 by downgrading Laporte to Dunk imo

  15. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    According to Croatian sources Mandzukic will join Everton most probably

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      He’s been linked with us for a few days.
      Been chasing Keen most the summer. Now linked with Rafael Leao from Lille.

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Diego Costa rumours have died down a bit

      like Mandzukic but he's pretty old no...33/34?

    3. Azathoth
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Interesting....

  16. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How about this 4-4-2?
    Pope
    TAA,VVD,Digne,Dunk
    Salah,KDB,Sigurdsson,Maddison
    Kane,King

    4.0,Dendonker,Kelly,Greenwood

    1. European Bob
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Really good actually

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Good. Not too sure about Maddison fixtures - good player, though.

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeh I’m not fussed. Feel he’s a little overrated and a bit of a show pony but the 7.0m price point is good to downgrade to any 6.5 m emerging player.

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Anyone that refers to himself as JM10 ain’t going anywhere near my team.

          1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            😆

          2. Like an Egyptian Magician
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            LoooooL

  17. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who is (supposedly) nailed in the Arsenal defense?

    1. polis
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No one should ask this.

      Really considering it? Go with Leno if so.

      1. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I’m most likely BBing, so I believe they are okay for the first 2 games!

    2. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Probably only Leno and Maitland-Niles for now.

  18. Bada Bing
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who are the best alternating goalies at 4.5? Sorry, I know this must have been covered before. Currently I have Pope and Ryan. Thanks!

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Quite like Heaton / Pope if Heaton goes to Villa. Haven't been following rumours last couple days though, so not sure where that one is going.

      1. Bada Bing
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Ok that sounds promising, cheers!

  19. New Post
  20. chichorito
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Plz RMT. Thanks in advance
    Begovic
    Robertson VanDijk Asmith Cathcart
    Pereyra Salah. Pulisic
    King. Kane. Aguero

    Subs: Button, Jorginho, Kelly, Stephens/Dendoncker

  21. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Digne or Luiz? Why?

  22. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Why is "$hit" banned but shite allowed. It's the same bloody word

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I've had comments removed with the word shite in them. Depends who the mod is I suppose.

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Shi*t is auto banned. Shite isn't.

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Looks like there's going to be a lot of shite on here.

  23. JackG55
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    TAA or Robbo?

    1. falafel
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Taa

  24. Jezparkes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT (5-3-2)

    Alisson (Button)
    VVD TAA Laporte KWP Coleman
    Sterling Siggurdsson Zaha (Dendoncker) (Hayden)
    Kane Wilson (Wickham)

  25. Jezparkes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT (5-3-2)

    Alisson (Button)
    VVD TAA Laporte KWP Coleman
    Sterling Siggurdsson Zaha (Dendoncker) (Hayden)
    Kane Wilson (Wickham)