Dugout Discussion

Firmino falls foul of rotation as Salah and Mané start for Liverpool

Rotation inspired by the Champions League has finally arrived in the Premier League as Liverpool host Newcastle this afternoon.

Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) has fallen foul of it at Anfield, dropping to the bench with Divock Origi (£5.4m) leading the Reds’ line. Perhaps that is no surprise as the Brazilian was in action for his country in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Ahead of a packed fixture list with seven games in 21 days, Jurgen Klopp has also opted to give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.3m) his first league start of 2019/20 at the expense of captain Jordan Henderson (£5.5m).

Liverpool’s defensive quartet remains unchanged in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.1m), Virgil Van Dijk (£6.5m), Joel Matip (£5.5m) and Andy Robertson (£6.9m) with Adrian (£4.6m) continuing to marshall the backline in the absence of Alisson (£5.8m). 

Klopp’s decision to rest both Henderson and Firmino is telling of the packed fixture list that sits on the horizon, yet this may also point to a propensity for rotation within Liverpool’s squad over the winter months, but for now the highly owned attacking assets of Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Saido Mane (£11.5m) retain their starting berths. 

Steve Bruce has opted to make just one change to the Newcastle side who drew with Watford last time out, with Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) earning a start in place of Sean Longstaff (£5.0m). 

The attacking option in the form of Shelvey as opposed to the more defensively-orientated Longstaff could be telling of Bruce’s plans to play swift, counter-attacking football against the Reds, but the likes of Fabien Schar (£5.0m), Jamal Lascelles (£4.5m) Paul Dummett (£4.5m) and Emil Krafth (£4.5m) will have to be on top of their game at Anfield to take anything from the side who currently sit 1st in the Premier League going into Gameweek 5. 

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Salah, Origi.

Newcastle XI (5-3-2): Dubravka, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett, Krafth, Hayden, Shelvey, Willems, Atsu, Joelinton, Almiron.

1,598 Comments Post a Comment
  1. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Not sure why anybody would have Sadio over Mo.. baffling

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

      Penalties

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        That aren't freaking given... What's the bloody point of VAR...

        1. Rostah
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          To be the faceless blame of bad reffing decisions...

    2. Pia06rc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A tad bitter?

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Because he generally gets more points.

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        And I own Salah.

    4. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nothing about you posting this is baffling though

    5. socho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Still happy wth Salah

  2. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ferk ferk ferk.

    Mane G Robbo A?

    Own Salah Trent 😆 🙁

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

      Trent C 😛

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

      Most of us do, don't worry.

    3. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Same and VVD too lol

    4. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Do you ever not whinge?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Suck ya muddah

      2. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        and I don't think you really know what whinging is

  3. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Good start to the WC. Sold Robbo and don’t have Mane. Excellent stuff

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      *spews*

  4. Sif
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Haha.
    WC swapped Robbo for TAA, might be a few others I imagine.

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

    Mané sure knows where the onion bag is, must’ve scored 50 identical goals from there.

  6. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Robbo in the mood xxx

  7. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Held Robbo, what a hero!

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

    Robbo is essential.. at least this game!

  9. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Another week where Mane is going to outshine Salah, great.

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Many more of those to come

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yet this place will forever be Salah-obsessed and call Mane expensive

  10. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Chambo playing is bad for TAA. Comes out on the rw v often. Grrr

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Virgil into Goodison.

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      *over

  12. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Finally an assist from Robertson this season. What a relief

  13. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    VVD was thinking about Konpany's strike there...

  14. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    VVD assisting the assister

  15. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    We just need to do a hokey-cokey between Mane and Salah every GW. They alternate their high scoring weeks.

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      That's what its all about

    2. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Didn’t mane score more last week? This should be salah’s week

  16. aborg
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Cool...brought in Mane this week on WC and took out Salah.
    Maybe I should have even captained Mane instead of Sterling !...who knows!

  17. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sad Salahb+ Matip owner 🙁

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      That's unlucky

  18. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Var this , var that.

    What the hell were the ref and linesman doing not to call it in the first instance

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Exactly.

    2. Shteve
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It's almost as if refs aren't making calls because they have VAR backing them up but then VAR doesn't want to offend the refs by overturning their decision! Numerous similar incidents already

  19. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Proud mane owner

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Were you also proud in the weeks when Salah hauled and he didn't?

      Not to mention the fact that the ref and lino messed that call up. Enjoy your points, though.

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

        Salt

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Maybe, but you also can't dispute anything I said, really...

      2. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Relax dude. Don't spoil it for everyone

      3. FISSH
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Laaaawl

  20. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Farewell Robbo

  21. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Robertson assisting Mane. I needed that combo last week when I had Mane (C) and Robertson. Sterling is my (C) this week and I sold Robertson for Trent. Typical

    1. michudagawd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Robertson to TAA is pretty sideways anyway for a transfer.

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        This season it might not be sideways

      2. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Trent out performed Robbo last season in terms of points per game and he has looked much more of an assist threat so far this season which is reflected in all the key stats, chances created, crosses etc. I expect him to out perform Robertson over the season.

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      At least you still have Mane.

    3. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I somehow managed not to do Robbo to TAA this week. But I still feel TAA is better

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yep my feelings to. Robertson has got his assist this week but barring injury, I expect Trent to be the top scoring defender by far this season. I only went with Robbo over Trent at the start of the season as I felt that with Gomez back, Trent could be a potential rotation risk. Trent has looked essential for Liverpool though so far so I feel now he is pretty nailed.

  22. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Origi down again, Bobby brushing his teeth.

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

      Finished brushing, he's coming on.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      😆

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

    Firmino coming on

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Annoying when players you don't own are gifted goals. If they score a from a wonder strike then fair enough.

  24. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ah crap. I benched Bobby.

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

      ?

  25. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Typical fpl lol. Had 2ft with nothing to do, so I did Robbo > Trent.

    1. money face bandwagon
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      U dont evaluate ur moves over 1 gw

      1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        40 minutes even, TAA could still bag a couple of assists

        1. Ozzy smith
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I'm not saying he couldn't lol

      2. Ozzy smith
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Well it depends on the specific team and strategy doesn't it. Every gw matters, could end up wildcarding soon.

  26. Mr Peanutbutter
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    firmino vs tired legs

  27. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Bobby haul incoming now lol

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

    Firmino on at 36 mins.

  29. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    That’s an annoying sub for us

  30. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sad for origi but good for Liverpool