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. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Not clear and obvious. Quite frankly, the lack of defending had nothing to do with Origi being fouled.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah

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

      What about Evans fouled yesterday by wood. Was that a clear and obvious foul?don't think so

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

      It was either a foul or it wasn't. It clearly was so was actually clear and obvious. Get rid of VAR, it's an absolute joke.

  2. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Rightfully allowed. Not a United fan

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

    Good decision

  4. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    WTF is going on lol. Pool to hit back. Come on boys!!!

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    VAR 😆

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

    VAR is a joke

  7. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What is the actual point of VAR?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Offsides

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      To protect the on pitch refs decisions, at least in the UK that seems the point.

  8. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    James is back 🙂

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

    How is it not a foul?

  10. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Slight contact and then throwing yourself on the ground is not a foul.

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

      Exactly

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

      Their wasnt even any contact

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

      Sure when you are a utd fan..

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

      He was kicked on the back of his leg.

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

      Yeah you've got to ignore the theatrics. Either it's a foul or it isn't. I don't think it was.

    6. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I’m a neutral and agree....went down easily after and awkward touch on the ball.

  11. Reiger
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    VAR gets one right!

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

      That was a FK.

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

        He's dived....

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

          No, he didn't.

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

      No they don't

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

    nice finish

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Liverpool to chock it again ? City champions?

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

      Serial chokers

  14. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Var sucking all joy out of live games.

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

      I'm fairly joyous

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

    Ridiculous

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

    Appalling Refereeing.

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

    Awful refereeing.

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

      Why is it the ref’s fault?

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

      Come on, he was barely nicked!

  18. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    a slight tap and Origi launches himself in the air ... why didn’t he just react normally ?

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

      A normal reaction and he would still be on his feet running.

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        yip, there was too much time between contact and the jump in the air - simulation basically

  19. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    AWB is my sub coming on for Salah - dare
    to dream?!

  20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Liverpool getting dealt with here

    Men v boys

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

      Salah, Mane & TAA -> Pereira, McTominay & Young -8?

    2. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Title of your sex tape...

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

    Wow, as we stand, Mount will be my top scorer this week with 3.

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

      I got Mount AND Cantwell

      they see me rollin they hatin

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

        There's no need for such an outrageous brag.

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

    Var is an absolute laughing stock. What's the point of it? That was a clear foul. Absolute joke.

  23. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Shut your mouth Klopp you clown

  24. Baby Face Nelson
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Good. After the diving of Mane last week.

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

    Never a foul. Origi should stay on his feet instead of falling over like a styrofoam board in the wind.

  26. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    These are the sorts of decisions that VAR was meant to easily judge.

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

      Yep but muppets behind the screens , so fn scared to make a decision, pathetic

  27. RealVirg
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ha ha in your face Klopp. No Salah then you lose you mug

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Oh yes cause out of all the opponents, Manchester United are the ones Salah has a great record against 😀

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

        Rule out the goal, doesn't deserve it without Salah on pitch

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

    there goes the cleansheet...

  29. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Well there was contact but very minimal. The fact Origi threw himself on the ground and started rolling on the floor weakened his case

    I still believe the goal should stand

  30. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    United confirm themselves as an average team.
    Playing good only against liverpool

    Joined Everton's club!