Dugout Discussion

Salah and key defenders start for Liverpool as Mané benched

As expected, Sadio Mané (£11.5m) has been named on the bench for Liverpool’s opening Premier League match of the season.

The Senegalese international missed all of the club’s pre-season friendly campaign and was always a doubt to be involved against Norwich.

Jurgen Klopp did not appear too fazed by not being able to include Mané in the starting XI.

As had been predicted, Divock Origi (£5.5m) starts on the left flank of the forward line in the 4-3-3 system.

“I’m happy with how it is now. It’s not about me it’s about the players. If the player aren’t available or fit they are the things we have to deal with.” – Jurgen Klopp

The Belgian features alongside Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) in a central role while Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), the winner of the Gameweek 1 captain poll, is on the right flank.

There was keen interest in Liverpool’s defence over the summer and all three key individuals find themselves in the starting XI.

Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) are on the left and right flanks of the back-four, with Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) in the middle.

Paired with the Dutchman at centre-back is Joe Gomez (£5.5m), which comes as welcome news to those invested in Alexander-Arnold.

After the Englishman replaced his compatriot around the hour mark in the Community Shield final, with Joel Matip (£5.5m) starting that match at centre-back, there had been some concern over Alexander-Arnold’s role.

However, a home match against newly-promoted opposition was clearly seen as a different prospect to Manchester City at Wembley by Klopp, who clearly favours playing the more attacking full-back in this one.

Norwich line up in the 4-2-3-1 formation that Daniel Farke was so fond of on his way to securing the Championship title last season.

There was only one change to our predicted line-up provided by team news correspondent Neale Rigg.

Todd Cantwell (£4.5m) has been handed a start on the left side of attacking midfield, alongside Marco Stiepermann (£6.0m) and Emi Buendía (£6.0m).

That means Onel Hernandez (£5.5m) taking up a spot on the bench.

As expected, Grant Hanley (£4.0m) starts at centre-back alongside Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) with Timm Klose (£4.5m) and Christoph Zimmermann (£4.5m) injured.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Fabinho; Origi, Firmino, Salah.

Substitutes: Adrian, Milner, Keita, Mané, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Matip.

Norwich XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Lewis, Godfrey, Hanley, Aarons; McLean, Trybull; Cantwell, Stiepermann, Buendía; Pukki.

Substitutes: Fahrmann, Byram, Roberts, Vrancic, Leitner, O Hernandez, Drmic

2,602 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    7m is cheap for a defender of Trent's ability

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      To attack*

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ability? He has no defensive ability.. his free kicks and crosses are great and bring points but I wouldn’t want a 7.0 rotation risk in my squad

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

        He is better mid than Mili at 7.0 and gets cs points. Who cares if he is benched sometimes, we have bench to cover him 🙂

      2. Mo Mané No Problems
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        You can't be part of the best defence last season without having defensive ability

    3. Licky
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Longterm he could move into midfield, there could be a year yet where he's essential.

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I see this happening just so he isn't a liability in defence anymore

    4. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      £6.5m is cheaper for a defender of Van Dijks quality

  2. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    4 of my squad have scored this season.

    Thankful that Hanley is 3rd Sub
    Origi, Salah and VVD triple pool

    Smiles at moment.

  3. Rocky FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Why can't I see Live points and Bonus points?

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

      It'll catch up. Lot going on for FPL to trawl through and load today.

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

      RIOT RIOT

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

      Still zero points here also. Hmmm

  4. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Adrian to be priced 4.5 or 5m ?

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      6m

    2. Fpl Old Guard
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      i thought he ws already in the game at 4.5m!

      FPL will add him at 5.5m now - already had his transfer planned before I saw he wasnt in yet

    3. Kavorka
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I think 5.5 now

    4. banskt
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      anything above 5m and there will be a lawsuit.

  5. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Sold VVD for (S)alah. Feels kinda weird

  6. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Is that Gary Neville commentating on Sky?

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Think so and carra

  7. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Genuinely tempted to put 20 quid on 10-0

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Just send me the 20 quid instead

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Only if you put the bet on

    2. Fpl Old Guard
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      do it, this could easily set the record

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Carnage. Will Sterling match him?

  9. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    1 like = 1 prayer for Alisson

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      To which deity?

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

        All of them.

    2. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I pray for Adrian to be 4.5

  10. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Lads I thought FPL was supposed to be hard, this game is easy nowadays 😉

  11. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Show me my points you FPL fails

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

      Must be working closely with FFS this season. 😆

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

      According to the game I have 0

    3. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I know!!! They don't wanna see us shining lol

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

      This

  12. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Why does it keep coming up experiencing technical difficulties on FFS?

    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Everyone’s thumbs are going into overdrive.

  13. Mumble Pie
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Dont think its going to matter too much which 2 pool defenders you have . All 200 +

  14. sumatera
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    who got all the assists?

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Moreno

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

        not Gerrard?

  15. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    who assisted the first goal?

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Origi I think

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      OG

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

      Origi

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

      Origi, OG Hanley

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ouch Aarons!

  17. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    New balls please

  18. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who's got the assists so far? Game not updating

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

      Origi
      Firmino
      Salah
      TAA

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Origi, Firmino, Salah and TAA

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers

  19. Calderano FC
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Where's my points?

  20. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Delia watching porn

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

      Hansen gave her a quick stroke.

    2. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      She’d be better of

  21. Dr. Rog
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    TAA + Salah (TC) + Origi + some Norwich mid/fwd = #1 rank tonight

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      VVD ?

  22. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Bullseye

  23. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Could have quite easily been Roberton that had the assist though in this half, he's been just as threatening with his balls in the box. They're gonna do just as well as each other this season

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Did you say balls in the box?

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yep
      Get two and keep forever !!

    3. TOBY1
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Robertson has looked more likely. Glad I have TAA but wasn't until he assisted

  24. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    In the plums

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

    Hanley 3rd on my bench. Bad time to have punts in my team.

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

      Same. He'll never come on tho, all season (3rd on bench players hardly ever do unless you're carrying injured players)

  26. dg
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    People moaning about Robbo, 45 mins into the season. Mental. dg

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

      He's finished!

  27. R.C
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Points not updated?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Isn’t it obvious?

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        BAPS

  28. Yip Jaap Stam
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Time to wildcard to get Alexandre in

  29. Randell
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    When you decided to go for Robertson as your only Liverpool defender

    https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/022/747/download.jpg

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Better than Allison....