Dugout Discussion

Salah misses out as Alisson and de Gea recover from injury to start

The only Premier League match to take place this Sunday is a big one, with league leaders Liverpool hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against old foes Manchester United.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 16:30 BST.

The headline team news sees Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) miss out through injury, with Jurgen Klopp telling Sky Sports ahead of the match:

Mo was not ready, that’s how it is. He couldn’t train with the team; I don’t know where it came from that everybody said he will play. There was pretty much no chance for today, maybe for Wednesday [in the Champions League], we have to see.

With Salah missing out, Sadio Mane (£11.8m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.6m) are joined in a front three by Divock Origi (£5.3m).

Alisson (£5.8m) and Joel Matip (£5.5m) have been passed fit to play, however, and rejoin the visitors’ backline in place of Adrian (£4.6m) and Dejan Lovren (£5.3m).

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m), Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) maintain their ever-present records in the top flight this season.

Despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having said he was unlikely to play, David de Gea (£5.5m) has recovered from the groin injury that he sustained on international duty and takes his place between the posts for the Red Devils.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m) has also recovered from tonsillitis, joining what may well be a back five for the hosts given that Ashley Young (£5.4m), Marcos Rojo (£4.8m), Harry Maguire (£5.4m) and Victor Lindelof (£5.4m) all start.

Luke Shaw (£5.4m) has failed to recover, however, while Paul Pogba (£8.4m) misses out as expected.

Anthony Martial (£7.5m) is fit enough to be among the substitutes and joins Mason Greenwood (£4.4m) on the bench.

With Martial not in the starting XI, Marcus Rashford (£8.4m) looks set to lead the line again.

The corresponding fixture to this game ended 0-0 in 2018/19.

This re-match indeed sees a meeting between the two sides with the best expected goals conceded (xGC) tallies in the top flight, although that tightness in defence hasn’t translated into too many clean sheets: United and Liverpool have just two each so far this season.

At the other end of the pitch, the Red Devils have the third-worst xG from open play among Premier League clubs.

Mane was the most-bought player of Gameweek 9, with Salah the most-sold.

Wan-Bissaka and de Gea were also shipped out by almost 400,000 Fantasy managers combined.

Salah was the fifth-most-captained player of Gameweek 9, although it’s probably fair to assume that a decent chunk of the 634,160 FPL bosses who handed him the armband may have given up the ghost already.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelöf, Rojo, Young, McTominay, Fred, Pereira, James, Rashford.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mané, Firmino, Origi.

1,461 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Rashford puts vvd on his arse

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

      As expected

  2. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    No way Liverpool keeps a cs playing like this.

  3. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Can Son survive the fall today or go for Martial if he gets minutes in the second half? Will lose .1 sale value if Son drops.

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

    Liv's crossing is appalling this match

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Liverpool not at their best today

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah is missing

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Also thinking they are giving united alot of respect

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

          intimidated by the occasion.

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

      Outclassed all over the pitch

    3. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      OGS completely ruined Klopp with his mind games

  6. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah (C) common show up now..

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

      that's almost a sentence

  7. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fpl has fully ruined Liverpool matches for me, never been their biggest fan but now its just: 'hope Mane doesn't score and TAA doesn't assist'

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

      Just buy the two of them

      1. Jon Snow
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        stubbornly sticking to Salah and Robbo (at least until wc)

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

      FPL ruins all matches!

      1. Maddamotha
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Unless your captain gets a hatrick

    3. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Either :-
      Don't watch Liverpool games
      Don't play FPL

      Simple.

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah I spend the whole game looking to see where Mane is and hoping he doesn't touch the ball, and if he does then hoping it gets passed to a 3rd player quickly.

    5. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Bet money on them scoring/assisting
      Easy

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

    Is there a worse player in the premier league than Pereira?

    1. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      There's atleast five of them in that United lineup.

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

      Benteke ? Walcott ? Kane ?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Don't be ridiculous. Benteke? Really?

      2. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Kane is a prettt good defensive midfielder- that’s not fair

      3. Random Name
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        all three of those have scored 14+ goals in a single premier league season

      4. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Benteke is worldclass.

        Have some class.

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

          He almost scored with his first touch yesterday - almost becoming essential in FPL is Bentek

    3. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 5 months ago

        One of United's best players

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        At least 50.

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Young giving Trent a lesson here

    5. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      LMS safety score up to 19 with live bonus

      https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

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

        That's my score! Gulp.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Hopefully you have autosubs.

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

            Lund & Cantwell. Envious eyes over Rico

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              TAA helps.

    6. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cmon

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

        This

    7. steven8991
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      need Matip and Greenwood goal

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

      Insane that Salah is missing... so annoying

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Why is it insane ? He's obviously injured.

        1. MGD
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Didn’t feel like it at all. Super easy in hindsight to see it now. Good for you 🙂

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

        Some own Salah, Aguero, Mahrez and Ota - so it’s all relative

        1. MGD
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah I have Ota and Salah..

    9. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Liverpool were better last season. Now they are way overrated.

      1. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        The table says different.

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

        Won every game so far this season lol

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

          Yeah, but many games by one goal. Not impressive

          1. Supersonic Marv'
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            They've won every game.

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

              Did you read what I just wrote lol

              1. Supersonic Marv'
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Yes you think winning every game is unimpressive.

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

                  They are not crushing teams like last season. Those one goal wins will become draws soon.

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

            I'd take it...

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

      Rashford is all pace no ability..

      1. Werkself
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Perhaps occasional ability??

    11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why don't United play like this more often?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        They're not good enough to play this way consistently.

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

        they haven't played a team who are scared of them until now

      3. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        They won’t play Liverpool every week

      4. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        What - average ?

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

        Mentally weak team with too many players who think they deserve wins without putting in effort. Against teams perceived to be good they actually put in effort.

      6. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        The best way to beat United is drop deep, surrender them possession, and let them balls it up themselves. But Liverpool won't play that way.

    12. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cant handle the pressure of old trafford...want to win the league 😆

      1. piquiblanco
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        You're talking about United? That's a bit harsh.

    13. TAT
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not looking promising for a Liverpool CS.

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

        Does it ever this season?

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

          Been hoping this would be the game they did get one!

      2. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        It's looking pretty good I'd say. No point in all this pressure if you can't finish

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

          Allowing United to get into dangerous positions is not promising…

          1. Epic Fail
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Allowing Rashford into shooting positions is a perfectly viable tactic.

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

              Good point!

      3. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        They’ve got Allison in goal so I’d say it looks pretty good

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

          Well, United do get into dangerous positions right now. Reason for concern that - even with Allison.

    14. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Fred's first touch is abysmal.

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

        Some redundant words and letters in that sentence

    15. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Henderson punching like sterling

    16. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Origi is a pub league player

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

      Young is the worst faker ever.

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

      United dominating

      Liverpool system non functional without Salah. His understanding with TAA is crucial for liverpool

      1. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        One man team

      2. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        United aren't dominating . They are just currently slightly better than Luverpool.

    19. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Well done utd, first 30 mins of decent defensive football this year.

      Mission accomplished!

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

      I am watching the match with my two eyes and do not know where people see that UTD are dominating.

      If anything, LFC are tyring UTD out.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Voice of reason. There is so much shite spouted on here.

    21. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Best midfielder to have under 10m for the next while?

      Already have KDB, Mane

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

        CHO - cheap too

      2. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Maybe Martial if he comes on and looks fit

    22. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mané totally anonymous so far eye test and live stats 🙁

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

        He should have had an assist there if Firminio could shoot

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Nearly an assist.

      3. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Can’t fill in for salah

    23. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Firmino denied.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Should have scored that. Poor shot.

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

      Firmino tame shot, first real chance.

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

      Mane big chance created ;). Firminho passed it to David

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        No h