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. *sigh*
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bugga

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

    Pukki get in my team

  3. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    PUKKI MY HERO WOOOOO. Seriously looking lethal Norwich in attack I look forward to watching g their games this year

  4. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Puke

  5. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I have Pukki, but he is of course on my bench today

  6. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Take that double Liverpool D 😀

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That was like a mosquito bite after the devastation VVD and TAA have done at the other end

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Happy to own just VVD 🙂

        TAA on the bench vs Southampton after the cup game midweek?

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah!!!

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            😉

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              😀

    2. Osman
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Honestly never got the appeal, I have always rallied against premium defenders.. worked for me last season.

  7. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Being single and childless allows me more time for important things like FPL & FFS. I think it's the way its meant to be.

  8. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    NOOOOO

  9. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Alisson would have saved it.

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pukki is inevitable

  10. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Oh man I don’t predict everything right

  11. Hairy Potter
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Liverpool switched off last 5 minutes.

  12. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I refer the gentlemen to my earlier post. Nice one Pukki.

  13. timmmuh
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pukki

  14. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pukey

  15. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who has Pukki?

    o/

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      .. and double Pool def.. bitter sweet.

    2. Ode
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Probably every Finnish guy here like me

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It was a great finnish.

        1. Ode
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Ffs

  16. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    The comeback is on

  17. Yes Don
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pukki-ng 'ell

  18. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Why the hell is TAA still on the pitch? Grr

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

      Crap defender eh

  19. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pain from losing CS aside, Pukki could be a great pick with how attacking Norwich are

    1. ENZO SZN™
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      When the fixtures turn

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      After gw 5

  20. Lukey27
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Your goal TAA

  21. timmmuh
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    No clean sheet

  22. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Average down by so much, Salah on 12pts, Pukky is on our watchlist. Great movement by the lad

  23. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    That's the issue with double defence

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

    With how bad the FPL servers are, your Liverpool CS' are still available.

  25. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mignolet might get the GK position instead of Adrian....

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Errrrr

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      be a rough commute from Brugge

  26. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Arse

  27. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Glad didn’t double up on LIV defence!

  28. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Gomez snoozing again bring back Matip

  29. ENZO SZN™
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    OMG Pukki Party

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sounds weird bro lol