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. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Shaq for Mo??

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

      Gini

      1. FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Indeed. Didn’t want any tantrums today

  2. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    firmino to score and salah assist to end the game

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

    Salah goal at least means I won't be repeating my 5.6m gameweek rank from last time out

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Damn.

  4. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Robertson deserves some BPs for this game

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Unless Salah has loads of dispossessions he won't be getting any.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I know!

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

      Not really.

      TAA does though.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Think Robertson has been better personally

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

      If he deserves them he'll get them.

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

        Haha. Exactly this. It's all stats based so if he doesn't get them then he didn't deserve to.

        1. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah but don't the stats for BPs favour attackers?

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

    Gigi off for Shaq

  6. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    BigShaq time

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

    Trent to Shaq would be wonderful. Or the reverse.

  8. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Shaq taking a corner..who does he think he is

  9. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Klopp scared of taking off Mane today 😆

  10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Shaquille o’neal Coming on

    But he seems to have lost a bit of weight (and height)

    1. nxh84
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      That’s lots of height and weight lost!

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      And color

  11. Demí
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Firmino or a prime Benzema. Who are you taking for your club?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Bobby al the way

    2. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Firmino any day.

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Benzema every day.

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      benzema ez

    5. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Firmino any day of the week. Although both very good.

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

      Firmino

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

      pre or post blackmail

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

      Tough one. I'd say F but it's close.

    9. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Benzema was always crap

    10. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Firmino

    11. tm245
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You lose the locker room with Benzema.

      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Get more b1tches with Big bad karim though

    12. Agger
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      How can you even compare? 1 is like the 4th highest goalscorer in Champions league history.. Who's only behind Raul, Di Stefano and Ronaldo at Madrid for goals.. And been playing at the top level since he was 18.. Firmino is like 3 years at top level and fairly decent goals return.. They don't compare

      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I am taking Benzema all day long. Opinion split though looking at the replies

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

          Small sample size. There's a reason Benzema has been thriving at RM for so long where strikers are let go quickly if they don't deliver.

          Look at Cristiano's numbers in UCLnow that he does not have Benzema alongside. He had been hitting 10-a-season for 5 years in a row.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            theres a reason why Benzema has a 1 billion release clause

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

          Yeah because most are Premier league watchers only, no one truly understands how good Benzema is.

      2. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        So, Benzema?

    13. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Firm

    14. Licky
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It depends on the rest of the team.

    15. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Benzema has been doing it for a decade and 4th highest top score in UCL. Easy.

  12. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Take that flag off AWB!

    Lovely 'international injury' for him

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

      They're gonna get beat today aren't they

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

      Lovely 2 points coming.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Better than the 0 pts I was expecting.

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

    Salah in the way of TAA 🙁

  14. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    blooody hell that would have been epic

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

    FFS Trent

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

      I need to see his xGI today. Surely massive.

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      stupidly close to an attacking return multiple times now

  16. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    TAA 2 great chancs unlucky not to score this game

  17. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    TAA doing his best to stay in 2 PTS...

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

    Would you switch to Sterling now, Salah (C) peeps?

    8 good enough?

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

      As a Sterling capper, I'd take 8 from him.

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

      Was just thinking about this as Salah is my vice cap and Sterling captain...if I knew Sterling would be playing 90 minutes I would keep it as is.

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

      Nah 8 is alright, Sterling needs a goal and assist to better that now

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

      looks like its 9 isn't it?

  19. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I just hope captain Sterling doesn't do some sort of 1 minute appearance, it would be highly frustrating

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wouldn't make any sense to do that.

      He'll get around 70 mins or just wont start at all.

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

    Goddd dammit you fools!

  21. Alnair
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Get out the way Trent!!!

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

    Cruel

  23. Moore FPL
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Seriously considering just Salah or Mane on WC and no defence...

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You can't play without defenders

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

      You watching the full backs?

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Imagine dropping Trent after this game...

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

      When Allison returns then Pool defence will better, one can avoid until then for sure.

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

    Taa xg is frustrating here.

  25. supperspout
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Asked tons of times if I should get Salah or Mane on WC and as per usual the folks on here gave the wrong advice.. Why do I keep listening to the self proclaimed experts on here?... 15points down the drain because of the people on here

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

      Hahaha

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

      Lool

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

      Deja vu

    4. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Try a new novel approach - pick your own team.

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

        Or his own post

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

      satire?

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

      I advised Mane and I went Mane over Salah on my WC

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        So you keep telling us.

    7. the axolotl
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Gowl

    8. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      6 years in and you still rely on "experts." Do your own research and pick your own bloody team.

    9. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Make your own decisions and stop blaming the good people on here

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

        This is an exact copy of your post?! Are you using two accounts?

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

          Yes I've been setting this moment up for 5 years

    10. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Unless you gave out your FPL password then you picked your team you absolute walloper.

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

      Hehe

    12. supperspout
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      😉

    13. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Make your own decisions

  26. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    rop Salah for Sterling next week for a hit? have 2ft

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

    If Salah keeps those 2 bonus over Firmino I'll be supreised (at least from watching the match lol.)

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He’ll be lucky to get 1 imo

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

    Salah been handed random BPS 😀

  29. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    How about this team on a wc

    Pope
    Lowton Cahill soyunchu mings
    Kdb sterling Salah mane
    Ayew Firmino

    Dendoncker Lindstrom 4.4

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

      I would get Kun istead of Salah

    2. Jolly Good
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I feel TAA and Robbo essential after this game

      1. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not both. Either of them will do.

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

    Salah on 39 for the the BPS with only one goal.. Fairly sure I've seen him score hatricks in the past and not be that high!