Scout Notes

Mané outscores Salah as Liverpool duo continue FPL battle

Liverpool 2-1 Leicester City

Goals: Sadio Mané (£11.6m) James Milner (£5.3m) | James Maddison (£7.1m)

Assists: Mané, Milner | Ayoze Perez (£6.0m)

Bonus Points: Milner x3, Mané x2, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) x 1

Liverpool grabbed a dramatic injury-time winner against Leicester City to maintain their 100% winning start to the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

Sadio Mané (£11.6m) opened the scoring for Jurgen Klopp’s side with a well-taken goal to continue the debate over whether he or Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is the best Anfield-based attacker to own.

Frustratingly for the Egyptian’s backers, he was substituted just minutes before Liverpool were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

It was Mané who was fouled and James Milner (£5.3m) who dispatched the resulting spot-kick. However, whether Salah’s absence made much of a difference is hard to tell, given that the former England international has often taken penalties ahead of him when he has been on the pitch.

Mané opened the scoring for Liverpool on Saturday afternoon

Mané’s first-half strike combined with his assist for the late penalty means the £11.6m forward registered a 12-point score, against the backdrop of Salah’s first blank at home this season.

For the near 41% of owners of the highly-priced Egyptian, he now has just one goal in his last five Premier League outings and the attractive form of Mané may prove to be enough for some managers to make the switch and save £0.9m of their budget. 

Some might even want to go further still and look elsewhere for premium options as Liverpool face Manchester United (away), Spurs (home) and Manchester City (home) in the next four Gameweeks. Some top 10,000 managers have been shipping out their Liverpool attackers this week, for example.

Salah was forced off with an injury against Leicester

While owners of Salah debate his long-term place in their squads, a potential injury to the forward after he was taken off late in the game will have to be closely monitored over the international break.

When asked about it post-match Klopp fumed in response to Hamza Choudhury‘s (£4.5m) the tackle that forced his player to leave the field of play limping.

“How can he be okay? He was limping from the pitch and you ask me if he’s okay! How can he be okay?! Did you watch it back? Watch me, what do you think?” – Jurgen Klopp

Klopp also singled out Choudhury, whose tackle on Matt Ritchie (£5.4m) had drawn criticism last week. 

“He should know better. He maybe was unlucky with [Matt] Ritchie [who is out for two months after a tackle from Choudhury], but it was him and he has to calm down. ‘You cannot only go for the man, and then he gets only a yellow card – I don’t know how that works. You see Mo lying in the dressing room and you think, okay…”

While Leicester were unquestionably good value for their goal, yet another failure to keep a clean sheet for Liverpool is likely to raise further questions regarding the viability of their defensive assets as duos or even trios.

Alexander-Arnold was the only Liverpool defender to get any additional points against Leicester

Neither Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) or Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) were able to register attacking returns that have so often made up for the loss of their clean sheets points in the 2019/20 campaign, although the former did manage to cling onto one bonus.

The absence of Joel Matip (£5.5m) through injury, who has enjoyed an impressive season so far, did not help the Reds. Joe Gomez (£5.2m) was poor against Salzburg midweek so Dejan Lovren (£5.3m) earned a surprise recall to the side and arguably had a better game than Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) was caught out for Leicester’s equalising goal.

The return of Alisson (£5.8m) after the international break, of course, could be significant.

On his return to Anfield, former manager Brendan Rodgers can be proud of his side’s performance despite defeat, with James Maddison’s (£7.1m) goal in the 80th minute giving hope to an upset on Merseyside.

Maddison was the latest player to bust the Liverpool clean sheet – the Reds still have none at home this season

The Foxes’ performance against Liverpool marked a continuation of their excellent recent form that had seen them register just one defeat so far in the 2019/20 campaign.

For owners of Maddison, whose strike ten minutes from time looked to have sealed a point for Rodgers’ men, a goal from the £7.1m man was welcome news.

For those who had backed Jamie Vardy (£8.9m) to repeat his goalscoring heroics from last weekend against Newcastle, however, a blank against a side who the 31-year-old has typically excelled against in the past will have been disappointing given his recent form. 

Interest has also been high in Leicester’s defensive assets such as Çaglar Söyüncü (£4.6m) though a clean sheet would not have been expected upon travelling to the champions of Europe and those managers in ownership of Leicester’s backline are likely to be satisfied at the performance of the increasingly popular Söyüncü (owned by 6.6%) as well as Jonny Evans (£5.0m).

The Foxes’ assets look set to be popular over the coming months as they sit top of our Season Ticker in the next nine Gameweeks.

Leicester succeeded in keeping this match a tight one – good news for those invested in their defensive assets

While this was a game that will provide fuel to the debate regarding Liverpool’s defensive assets as well as the Mané vs Salah dilemma, managers would be unwise to discount Leicester’s battling performance, and arguably against nearly any other side in the division their showing on Saturday would have constituted at least a point. 

Vardy and Maddison will continue to prove attractive as attacking assets at competitive prices, yet with another double-digit score in a crucial game, Mané continues to reward those in ownership of the £11.6m forward with another sensational performance and a match-defining contribution.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Adrian; Robertson, van Dijk, Lovren, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum (Henderson 78’) Milner, Fabinho; Mané, Firmino, (Origi 78’) Salah, (Lallana 90+2’).

Leicester XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, R Pereira; Ndidi; Maddison (Choudhury 86’) Tielemans, Praet (Perez 73’), H Barnes (Albrighton 45’); Vardy.

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Lessons learned from Gameweek 8

930 Comments Post a Comment
  1. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ffs zinchenko

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Time to say good bye.

  2. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling(C), Mahrez, Otamendi and Mount all start...save my GW boys 🙂

  3. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Such is the fear of Pep's rotation, City players starting is cheered almost as much as a goal 😀

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He he +1

    2. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Zinchenko owners gathering their pitchforks for this post!

    3. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Starting is the difficult part, scoring is easy 😀

  4. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Will Zinko come on or should I cheer on Rico points?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cheer them on.

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I get Monty off bench so he'll come on for sure.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Python?

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

    Southampton not starting Vestegaard for set pieces against Chelsea. Rookie mistake.

  6. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling (c) do it for me fam !!

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      This

  7. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What happened to Mendy?

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pep: We don't talk about Mendy.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pep

    3. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Don't think he could play 2 games in a week

  8. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    H-Odoi an interesting one. Plenty of options on the wc

  9. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wish I went for Mahrez over Son

    1. Baked baines
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Watford at home next for Son, may work out ok then get rid for KDB.

  10. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What are the realistic chances of Sterling and Aguero blanking?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Both blanking? Low.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      12.5%

    3. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      About the same as getting a w*nk off the pope

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I will take my chances 😛

        1. Catastrophe
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I'll be happy with a Sterling blank 😀

      2. dark91
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Do you have the Pope's number?

  11. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    All my 8 players start. I'm in heaven!

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Man City FPL expansion pack?!

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Triple City, triple Chelsea, double Arsenal.

  12. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero, I may not have capped you but please take your anger out on Wolves. I need points mate 🙂

  13. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I was considering Doherty on WC but that EL rotation, eurgh, they have such good fixtures.

  14. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Emery still not playing the youngsters, fool.

  15. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling(c) Auba Mount Otamendi

    Let’s get some points, boys

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling C, C Wilson, Mount, Tammy & Ota, good luck huge score needed

    2. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Exactly the same

  16. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    All my players start. Gutted. Dunk stays as first sub.

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Unlucky 🙁

    2. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Many in same boat.

    3. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Same here mate 🙁

  17. twoplustwo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Mahrez C here we go

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Balls to the wall attitude. Good luck!

  18. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    De Bruyne not even in the squad :O

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Peprotation

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Watching C Wilson, fixtures too good.

  20. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Please don't come on Zinchenco.

    1. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      This

  21. beric
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wish I hadn't bottled kun(c)

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

      Me too. Changed last minute to pukki of all people

  22. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Xhaka still in the Arsenal team. What a joke.

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      cLuB cApTaIn

  23. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Oh boy Kun and Raz both start... It's going be a longggggggg match for me as a non owner 🙁

  24. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Own city players but let's be honest, a wolves 0-1 would be just incredible to witness the absolute desolation scenes on here.

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

      Yes I am hoping that too.

    2. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You are evil

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wolves being treated like Barnet on here this week. It could happen.

  25. banskt
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Martinelli comes on for Mendy. Scrambling, literally.

  26. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero my sole city player. Has captaincy on him all week, but switched to pukki! Kill me! Zinc benched. Kdb injured

  27. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Gg to KDB to Mahrez lads. Would've done it if I'd had known this week was gonna force me a WC

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Similar here. Have 2fts so might be just a mini-WC for now

  28. Pinturicchio10
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Suppose I should bite the bullet and move Son on for De Bruyne for next gw. Fixtures and form are worlds apart. Assuming De Bruyne is fit of course. Sigh.

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Son face watford though. Kdb could be eased in with a cameo as pep wouldnt want a repeat of last season where kdb got injured when rushed back

        1. Pinturicchio10
            4 years, 5 months ago

            3 week break is hardly rushed back.

      2. b91jh
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Dear Walker/Cancelo,
        Please be taken off from the pitch before 29 minutes.

        Cheers,
        Zinchenko owner

      3. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I'm on Jiminez watch, could be a nice differential as a Pukki replacement

        1. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Same

        2. Jealous Viper
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Has dropped to 7.1 amazingly. Think I prefer jota at that price point though

        3. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Me too. Can see myself going for him or Jota soon

        4. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          King is the man

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            The man? His non penalty is xG is like 0.5 in 8 matches.. absolutely awful!

            1. Wally banter
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              he scored 36 points , i guess so far from 7 matches