Scout Notes

Mané brace brings Salah value into question once again

Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United

Goals: Sadio Mané (£11.5m) x 2, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) x 1 | Jetro Willems (£4.5m)

Assists: Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) x 2, Andrew Robertson (£6.9m)

Bonus Points: Mané x 3 Salah x 2 Firmino x 1

Liverpool secured a 3-1 home victory over Newcastle United to maintain their 100% winning start to the 2019/20 Premier League season.

A clinical performance from Jurgen Klopp’s side continues to fuel the fire of the Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) vs Sadio Mané (£11.5m) debate after goalscoring contributions from the attacking duo. 

The lunch-time kick-off was a game that belonged to the Senegalese international after he opened Liverpool’s account with a fine strike, which cancelled out a special effort from Jetro Willems (£4.5m).

Sadio Mané scored twice for Liverpool in their win over Newcastle

Priced at £11.5m, a whole £1.0m less than his counterpart Salah, Mané’s brace alongside three bonus points means that he has now registered two double-digit hauls in 2019/20 – the same as his team-mate.

Mané did start this match as the centre-forward but actually improved once he had returned to his left-wing berth after a tactical switch from the manager.

Despite Salah also scoring in the victory over Newcastle, Mané’s appeal simply continues to grow given his attractive price and an ability to match the £12.5m man.

For managers looking to save the extra £1.0m whilst maintaining essential attacking coverage from Liverpool, opting for Mané is becoming an increasingly enticing option.

Mané then secured his second of the afternoon after poor keeping from Martin Dubravka (£5.0m), but the forward made no mistake to tuck away an important goal.

Salah did not have a particularly impressive afternoon but still found the net against Newcastle

It was initially looking like it would prove a concerning afternoon for owners of the highly popular Egyptian, with Newcastle suppressing his attacking involvement throughout the game.

However, the most captained player for Gameweek 5 lived up to pre-match expectation with a well-taken goal to put the game out of Newcastle’s reach. 

It was a frustrating afternoon for owners of Liverpool’s full-back duo Andy Robertson (£6.9m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.1m), with yet another failure to keep a clean-sheet compounded by a number of missed attacking opportunities.

That said, Robertson did register his first attacking returns of the season with an assist for Mané’s opener. 

Both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold went very close to scoring on Saturday afternoon

For those managers persisting in their faith of a Liverpool defensive double-up, Saturday’s result against Newcastle is yet another blow to the viability of such a selection.

With just one clean sheet in their first five Premier League fixtures, it is becoming difficult to justify investing in more than one of their defenders.

Klopp initially surprised Fantasy managers with his team selection, starting Divock Origi (£5.4m) up-front and dropping Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) to the bench after the Brazilian finished international duty in America in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Origi only last 35 minutes against Newcastle

However, Firmino was on the pitch after 35 minutes with Origi forced off with an ankle problem.

The centre-forward made a considerable impact with an exquisite assist for Salah’s opener as well as setting up Mané to register an eight-point score from the bench. 

“We don’t want to leave Bobby Firmino out but from time to time we have to be sensible especially after long trips from wherever they come from.” – Jurgen Klopp

Despite the Belgian going off injured, Klopp did allay any concern in his post-match interviews that Origi could be out long-term. 

“Hopefully with (Origi) it’s not too serious. He twisted his ankle and played on but felt it a bit too much.” – Jurgen Klopp

Newcastle’s own attacking assets staked their claim, after Willems opened the scoring with a fine strike in the seventh minute.

After receiving a through ball from Christian Atsu (£5.4m), the full-back found space in front of Alexander-Arnold, who did not apply much pressure, and drilled an outstanding strike beyond the reach of Adrian (£4.6m).

Willems scored a spectacular goal to open the scoring at Anfield

But once Liverpool had found their momentum, there was no doubt as to which side would be collecting all three points. 

Steve Bruce set up the Tyneside outfit in a compact formation that enabled the likes of Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) and Miguel Almiron (£5.9m) to form counter-attacks to feed Joelinton (£5.9m), but the attacking overload that Liverpool are so often able to provide was too much for the Magpies. 

Fabian Schar (£4.5m) did leave the Anfield turf injured, but Bruce confirmed that the club was hoping it was an issue of cramp as opposed to a muscle tear. 

“It’s the calf, we’re not sure if it’s cramp or a tear. The medical department say he does suffer from cramp a little bit. We do hope it’s that.” – Steve Bruce

Whilst an upset similar to the 1-0 away win over Spurs was truly on the cards after Willems’ opener, Liverpool’s quality prevailed and the likes of Salah and Mané put Bruce’s side to the sword to continue their perfect winning start to the season. 

Newcastle’s game-plan was evident from the outset, with Steve Bruce’s setting up in a compact formation that provided abilities to break on the counter-attack, but Liverpool’s mesmeric duo in Mané and Salah proved to simply be too much for North-East side as they cruised to an impressive victory. 

Members Analysis

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Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Robertson, van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum (Shaqiri 84′), Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Milner 75′); Origi (Firmino 36′), Mané, Salah.

Newcastle United XI (5-4-1): Dubravka; Willems, Dummett, Lascelles, Schär (Fernandez 80′), Krafth (Manquillo 67′); Atsu, Shelvey, Hayden, Almirón (Muto 67′); Joelinton.

3,235 Comments Post a Comment
  1. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    At the start of the season was quietly hoping Pukki to get +8 goals this season.

    Dreamland 🙂

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

    How good is Norwich front 3? Will be great value players in fpl this season

    Pukki- 6 goals 2 assists
    Cantwell- 2 goals 2 assists
    Buendia- 4 assists

    Pukki and Cantwell has got lot of plaudits but Buendia has been equally impressive pulling the atrings

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

      Buendia is good. Cantwell's price is the deciding factor there though.

  3. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I apologise for what might be a stupid question, but until what time do I have before eventual price rises?

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        changes are around 2.15 uk time

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

          Many thanks for that!

      • Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        They're usually at around 2:15 to 2:30am (GMT+1)

        Gun to my head, I'd say 2:30am. Just target 2am

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

          Works for me. Thank you for taking the time, mate!

    2. Jayv807
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I've only managed 2 CS out of a possible 19 so far this season, both from Digne. Makes AWBs 6 points staring at me from the bench sting a bit worse.

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

        no idea why youd bench him at home

      2. BoleynWin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Many including myself went with you mate so would ignore Captain Hindsight’s that will appear. Lundstram at home & other options were better choices to play on paper, especially with how dangerous Leicester looked last game

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Bad news for Mane owners, next 2 are away games

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

        Yeah, he's got 21 points from 2 away games so far. Terrible record.

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

          now include last season

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

            Now stop overthinking

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

              5 game sample size vs 43 game sample size 🙂

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

                Stop. It's not that deep. He's world class. He's scoring away from home currently and has passed the eye test. Why do some of you overthink everything?

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

                  hes way better at home. numbers back it up. not rocket science

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

                    Most players would be. The post, however, suggests that he's poor away from home. "Bad news"

        2. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          😆

    4. FPL ElasticO
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Is it too early to transfer in Abraham or do after LIV ??
      Is Sterling worth holding on as he blanked in back to back??

      1. Respect My Authoritah
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He's injured

    5. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      How's 53 with one to play?

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

        Good

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

        Above average, green arrow

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

      Why is tammy flagged?

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

        because he went off injured? why else would he be

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

          I didn't see the game. Thanks for being a tw4t though.

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

            np

          2. Dannyb
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Lol

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

      Pukki 3 baps confirmed.

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

        dare i say...party

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        as Alan Partridge would say - lovely stuff!

      3. F4L
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        legend. Top point scorer in the game and deservedly so

    8. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      TAA And Greenwood to Lundstram And Tammy for free? leaves .3 itb. If not any better options with 2free?

      Pope
      Lundstram VVD Digne
      Salah Sterling KDB Mount
      Pukki Haller Tammy

      Cantwell Montoya Rico

      1. Bucket Man
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Would not get rid of TAA looked so dangerous today as did Robertson which I was pleased with. Apparently Tammy got a knock too, and has Liverpool next week.

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

        VVD, Mount, Green —> Lundstram, 4.5, Tammy for a hit?

        1. antis0cial
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Thanks but I don’t think I want to lose mount the way he is playing.

    9. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Despite captaining Sterling, actually looking like a good week.

      Digne Coleman double up tomorrow getting something would be lovely 🙂

    10. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling(C), KdB and Otamendi and no returns. Still 60 points after bonus and Digne to go. Great GW.

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

        WP. Disaster of a gw myself.

    11. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      City back to back EPL Champs, berated by recently promoted championship team. Very shameful !!! Pep must be fuming. Changing room would be animated af!

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

        Its a shame that Amazon aren’t doing another behind the scenes documentary this year as there would be some serious words tonight. Still see them going all the way mind...

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

        The defending for the three goals is U12 stuff. 3 defenders don't react to the one run for the 1st, Walker broke the line and kept Pukki onside for the 2nd, and Otamendi....... the less said the better. How could he possibly think he had as much time as he thought he did is beyond me

    12. Yome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      So the freshness of Salah and Mane was key and were the best captains.
      Pep has to stop this rotation, KDB is their best player so far this season.
      It is Liverpool’s year by the looks of it.

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

        “freshness matters! also NEVER rest anyone”

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

        That wasn't key. Sterling and Aguero looked fresh too.

      3. F4L
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        the key fact was Pep's poor tactical decisions today (in hindsight). Making his wingers stay wide all game left Aguero isolated with only D.Silva for support

      4. Alan Watts
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Taking most factors into account, City players were obvious captaincy options by any logic...no-one could have forseen that Norwich performance, and Citys underperformance

    13. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yay or nay to catch price rise?
      Haller > Abraham

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

        come on

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        nay for now

        a) Tammy has Liverpool next
        b) see how Haller is looking on Monday
        c) could be injuries tomorrow / midweek

      3. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        nah, wait and see.

    14. R.C
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki Top Player on FPL with 48 points.

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        add 1 more 😀

    15. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      GW6 already giving me a headache. I've cancelled GW5 from my mind for inner peace... But this bench wouldn't be peaceful...

      Please bench one in GW6:

      Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount, Haller, Barnes, Pukki, Cantwell

      1. Robson-Canoe
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cantwell

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Who's in your starting 11 - Maradona and Pele?

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

          Err... Read the post again?

      3. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Has to be Cantwell

    16. tristanabc
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Don't want to talk about my score...but I pressed the wildcard button in my biannual release of frustration.

      Forward thinking ... thoughts on this WC team?

      Ederson (Button)
      TAA Digne Tomori (Mings, Lundstram)
      Sterling KDB Mount Ceballos (Dendoncker)
      Auba Abraham Pukki

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

        That’s a very nice team.

    17. Macam Dave
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Did I see someone say mount may get an assist still given for a goal he was invoked with or would that have happened by now??

    18. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      OH BOY feels good to do one of these - 78 points with 3 to play any good?

      🙂

      Someone told me the other week to enjoy missing out on Kane's points. I've enjoyed it a lot

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Well done! Team pls?

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

        “Any good”. Yeah alright.

        41 with Digne left here. Massive captain fail yet again

      3. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I hate Kane and I’m happy he blanked too. lol at Kane owners

        But seriously, you’re quite sad to post your score in here and go ‘any good’. It’s just so cringy

        1. Random Name
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          the any good is clearly a joke and stab at others who do it

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

      Kevin Lasagna starting for Udinese - he’ll be trying to get pasta that inter defence

      Which by the way lines up with Godin, Skriniar, DeVriji - now that’s a back 3

    20. SomeoneKnows
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Ryan (Button)
      Walker, VVD, Digne, AWB (Rico)
      Sterling, KDB, Salah, Mount (Dendoncker)
      Pukki, Barnes (Greenwood)

      A) VVD + Greenwood > Lundstram + Abraham (-4)
      B) Dendoncker + Barnes > Cantwell + Abraham (-4)

    21. WorldCup82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pope Heaton
      TAA, Digne, Dunk, Lundstram, Kelly
      Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount, Cantwell
      Barnes, Pukki, Ings

      What do you think of:
      Digne and Barnes
      To
      (Zinchenko, Otamendi, or Stones) and Abraham?

    22. Tauruspt
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Who gets more points over the season?

      Vardy
      Or
      Son?

      1. Bucket Man
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Son for me

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

        Son looked like a man possessed today

        Bit of the CR7’s about the way he was playing

        If that attempted lob from the touch line had went in there’d be full on mass panic

        I think he’s arrived as a 10.0+ player tbh - probably 10.5/11.0 next year

        Vardy will smash it too though

      3. F4L
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Vardy because he will stay fit all season.

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

        Vardy. More consistent. More nailed. Being .6m cheaper tips the balance for me. Good fixture swing soon.

    23. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Worth doing Cathcart or Montoya to Lundstrum now? Looks like he will rise. Means I have exact money for Jota to Barnes with my other FT. Cathcart rotates better, but longer injury risk. Need to play 1 of them each week.

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

      A lot of moaners here it seems.. instead of cheering Norwich on to get a shock result with all the injuries they have, people are instead gutted sterling / KDB blanked...?

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

        I agree, that's the spirit. Football > FPL. I think some people would take their FPL captain scoring against their clubs over their club's victory.

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

          What's wrong with that? Was hoping vardy scored a couple today and I'm as big a utd fan they come

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

          Exactly, as an example in previous weeks I’ve seen so called man united fans cheering when sterling scores, but they’re annoyed when he blanks.

          Football > FPL all day long. All these moaners hardly enjoy football because the emotion is completely taken out of it constantly worrying about their teams.

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

        I did both.

      3. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I don't care about city or Norwich but I care about my dom team

      4. Random Name
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Mate these people only care about their fpl teams that's it

        That's why most of them are brighton or forest fans or whatever - they're completely detached

    25. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pep in denial. Pretty poor showing from city today. Not taking anything from Norwich, they paid well and were by far the better side.

    26. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Thoughts on Sterling? Posted easy out wide and limited involvement 2 weeks in a row now. Is this just football or a sign of things to come? A lot of money for dinnertime who has looked like his limit in the last 2 would be to assist the assister. Any advice appreciated

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

        No need to worry imo.. C against watford.
        Scored a hat trick last time he faced them.

        1. Stockport Hatter
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Fair play. I'll see how it goes.

      2. Respect My Authoritah
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Limited involvement? He was absolutely everywhere today

        1. Stockport Hatter
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Limited potential goal involvement Kirsty like last game week

      3. F4L
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        same happened last season around Christmas, Palace at home and then Leicester. Pep forces his wingers to stay on the wing, and not come inside, and they create so few chances. Need their full backs to provide the width

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

        he hit the post, had a couple of shots, set-up Aguero headers twice which you would expect Kun to finish. wasn't great but on another day he could have hauled

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

      Need to forget about this gw asap.
      Gambled and brought Tammy in for a hit before getting priced out.
      Looking forward to next gameweek.

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

        I'm just about to do it. I'm just trying to find out about Abraham's injury first.

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

          I avsked here before and got the answer that it looked like cramp

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

            That's a relief. Good luck for us, mate. Thanks.

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

              GL to you aswell!

    28. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mings to Tomori or is Tomori not a guaranteed starter?