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. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

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

      Really?

  2. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Alison only out for two weeks

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers doc. Can you look at my rash for me?

  3. Mayanyi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone speculating Adrians fpl price will be manipulated and higher than it should be had he already been added. Well say that he was 4.5 and Alisson out for the season or at least a lengthy spell. Everyone would get Adrian then, that would take out some of the fun of fpl I think.

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

      He wouldn't be 4.5. None of the back up keepera for the 6.0m are 4.5. They'll all be 5 or 5.5

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

        Migs was 4.5

    2. MTPockets
        4 years, 8 months ago

        He's 4.5m

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

      scenes

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

      Bobby! Why?

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

      Firmy you muppet 😡

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

      Bobby, Bobby, Bobby

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

      LOL Firmino

      Trent +BPS big chance

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

      VAR has took the sting out of the game, this could end the goal frenzy

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

      2nd TAA assist firmino has ruined bum is chewing my seat

    10. Lukey27
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Salah price rise tonight?

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

        No

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

      Firmino put his left shoe on the right foot and vice versa, obviously.

      So wasteful.

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Not a natural goalscorer

    12. Rihanovic
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      What are the Pros and Cons of joining the game in GW2???

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

        getting in the top10K becomes a real achievement

      2. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Pros - none

        Cons - 1 gw too late

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

        100+ ish points off others

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

        You have unlimited transfers and already have some data on teams and players.

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

        About 100 + points down .... which is difficult to make up

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

          ...unless Norwich score, in which case you'll be fine...honest...

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

            fancy that...looks like you'll be fine...ish...

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

        You get to set up a team with 1 week's more information - so it might be a slightly better team

        But you've probably got a 50-70 point deficit to claw back

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

        Pro - you basically get an additional wildcard I suppose by picking a team with GW1 information.
        Cons - you are on average 50-60 points behind everyone else

    13. QUEN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      When’s the app going to update so I can see my competitors teams...

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

        Try in an hour or 2

    14. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Fexake Firmino

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

      Come in No. 9, your time is up.

    16. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Firmino ruins potential TAA assist

    17. Captain Remorse
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      To the 519 who transferred-in Alisson this round. LOL!

    18. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If Grant Hanley somehow comes off my bench this weekend I will rage quit FPL!

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

      Adrian is already on at 4.5m!

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

        Cheeky should be 4m

    20. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      VVD owner bobby

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

      Ffs firmino messes up taa assist

    22. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      TAA is going to break the game this year

    23. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Firmino+ Trent captain
      Almost dream come true

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Trent (c) g/w1
        I'm worried about you man!

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

          😀 someone's gott be. Thanks man

          1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            😆

    24. timmmuh
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Firmino fluffs another TAA assist. How do you miss that one??

    25. niko mate
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Firmino is such a dookie. And I wait him to score.

    26. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Sneaky Salah pen to complete the haul please

    27. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Turn ya teeth off Bobby and try to score, frigging whippet....

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        😀

    28. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Make up for that Firm pleeease!

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

      Allison to Ederson looks like a popular transfer right now!

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Alisson to Adrian will be more popular tomorrow/Monday.