Dugout Discussion

Key Liverpool defenders start as Lacazette benched for Arsenal

All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Sadio Mané (£11.5m) as Liverpool take on Arsenal this evening.

The Egyptian has been largely ditched by those playing their Wildcards for Gameweek 3, Mané seeming to be the most popular replacement for him.

With the Gunners defence somewhat questionable away from home since Unai Emery took over, both players are likely to have plenty of chances.

The success of those who Wildcarded Salah out could very well come down to fine margins at Anfield this evening.

Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) may also be on the fringes of the Fantasy radar with more shots in the box than any Liverpool attacking player so far this season and an impressive record against Arsenal.

Despite some poor performances at the back for Jurgen Klopp’s men so far this season, all the key defenders have kept their places.

Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) are deployed at full-back while Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) is paired with Joel Matip (£5.4m).

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Emery looks to have matched Liverpool’s 4-3-3 with an identical formation of his own.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) leads the line for the Gunners while Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) drops to the bench.

On the flanks of the front-three are Dani Ceballos (£5.6m), who performed well against Burnley, and Nicolas Pépé (£9.4m) who comes in for his first start in an Arsenal shirt.

Sead Kolasinac (£5.4m) still awaits his first start of the season, named on the bench as Nacho Monreal (£5.0m) is selected at left-back.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Robertson, van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho; Mané, Firmino, Salah.

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Leno; Monreal, D Luiz, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock; Pépé, Aubameyang, Ceballos.

1,888 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Arnold having a stinker so far

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Timing.

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

      He got an assist

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'll take it 🙂

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Who else is having a stinker?

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Matio

      2. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        The producer

      3. Saint Channon
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Rashford,WBA, and Lundstram here. 0 points

      4. Alan Watts
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Royal5

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

    Seen enough blow it up ref!

  3. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sold TAA nooooooo

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      why??

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Had both him and robertson. One had to go

        1. DantheManinaPan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I lost the other Robbo of the two - allowed me to get Pukki and KDB but still kinda regretting it... They both look very capable of producing returns

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

    Best crosser in the league.

    1. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Well tbf Arsenal has let him take about 20 crosses before that to perfect it!

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

        Well tbf he broke the PL assist record for defenders

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      By far

  5. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    At least we know why West Ham released him.

  6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 6.5 or less midfielder/forward? Not Jota

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mount?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not sure why but I'm not convinced yet (Chelsea fan)

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

      Probably Mount for his fixtures.

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers pal

  7. Alan Watts
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Could be a big swing here...

    Those who took TAA / Robertson out, for better defences ,TAA on for double points ..

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      took TAA out for AWB...

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not me.
        Masses

        1. Alan Watts
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          He wasnt far behind Salah / Sterling PPG last year...

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

          ManUtd fans getting carried away

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

      Guilty of making TTA > AWB 🙁
      In my defense though it was in order to bring in Pukki and De Bruyne so not necessarily a bad move

      1. Alan Watts
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Sounds like it could work out, but no other way to fund the moves?

        1. SomeoneKnows
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Made my transfers early on in order to avoid price rises / decreases and at the time seemed like the best way

          In hindsight could have transferred out VVD instead of TTA however his high ownership dettered me

  8. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Just realised that my boy Haller is playing leaky Norwich next.
    Captain material.

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pukki + Haller combo could bring 30 pts alone

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Got them both 🙂

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pukki v haller.

      0-0 incoming.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That game will be overflowing with shots.

      Both teams are in the bottom 3 for shots conceded. I'm expecting Pukki to net a few.

    4. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Deffo coming in for me this week.

      Was planning it before the haul today and now it's certain!

  9. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ugh. Need Pepe goal to wipe the TAA back down

    1. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pepe making Robertson look like a Sunday league player

  10. Four Hit Wonder
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Norwich were brave at least, Arsenal parked the bus, CPL licence plates.

    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Norwich lost 4-1 in fairness

      1. Four Hit Wonder
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yet these guys who are losing 0-1 are the embarrasment.

  11. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Knee jerk: Robbo > TAA?

    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Only for a hit

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Well, obviously.

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Knee jerk it is but it crossed my mind 🙂

    3. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      At least wait until the end of the game.

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Of course. I'm not that knee jerk. Was just a thought.

  12. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    that turn from Pepe

  13. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How has Mo looked?

    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No long slumbering per post below

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'd like a little more than slowly waking up just before HT.

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

      Buzzing

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

    Salah waking up

  15. Bram
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    At least TAA slightly saving the blushes of my "premium" *cough* back 4!
    Coleman 0
    AWB 0
    Digne 1
    Thank you Trent!

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Just a bad GW for the other 3.

      1. Bram
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Aye - certainly can't diss the Everton boys really as had from the start. AWB I only got this week though so more upsetting. Kane v Sterling will probably define the gw yet though.

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

      AWB isn't premium

  16. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    TAA, yeah!

  17. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    TAA just says where do u want it on dem corners

  18. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    That vvd penalty appeal replay is good value

  19. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mega miss Mane

  20. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Pukki+Trossard
    or
    B) Wesley+Mount

    1. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

      1. Bram
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        +1

  21. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Better from Bayern this weekend so far

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

    oof, almost another.

  23. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Kneejerk any LFC defender 'shaky' or whatever you want to call it transferred out.

    Yes game not done yet but LFC bossing.

  24. moz_1983
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Currently ( 3 pool players included) I'm on 6 points from 6 players. How's everyone else doing?

    1. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      30 from 6 with Mane playing.

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      15 from 5, Salah C

  25. 1zverGGadeM
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Firmino is The Baller

  26. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Salah good? doing anything?

    1. FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too expensive

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

      Salah doing well for Liverpool keeping Arsenal defense busy and leaving all that space out wide for the full backs but not so great for Fpl atm

  27. Halftime
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A rival in Draft is playing Mkhitaryan but has Abraham on the bench. Is Mkhitaryan in the Arsenal subs?

    1. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes he is and decent chance of coming on if Arsenal stay behind.

  28. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wow Liverpool playing now

    1. RealVirg
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Phew HalfTime now

  29. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who comes off at half for Laca?

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

      I reckon Auba will be subbed on before Laca.

  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Salah not worth 12.5

    1. The Neville Wears Prada
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      take him out for -8

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Come on. If CS holds he'll only be a point behind Cantwell.

    3. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I might well lose Salah this gw - pencilled in Salah and Greenwood to KDB + Haller.