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. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    TAA and Mane have a good understanding it seems.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      How did you notice that ?

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

        Some good chances created by TAA for Mane already.

  2. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Was James unconscious there again?

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

      Again? He faked it midweek too.

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        That's what I'm playing at

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

      Just winded I think. Ran into the brick wall that is VVD.

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

    “Streetwise” British player compared to the cheating foreigners.

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

      Who said that then ?

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

    If Liverpool want to launch a sustained challenge for the title then Henderson has to go. Been the worst Pool player this season by a distance.

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

      I'm not a Pool fan but it does seem like he's won some sort of competition to play football for them.

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

      and he shouldn't be in the England team either.

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

        Very true.

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

      People have been saying this for years yet managers keep picking him. Perhaps you think you know more than they do?

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

        Not saying I do but it is somewhat mystifying .

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

          He's a very good player.

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

        Very problematic to imply that one person's opinion is more important than then masses'

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

    LFC fans easy to detect today

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

      Name them then .

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

      Still waiting.

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

      Easy to detect Liverpool's haters as well.

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

    As much as I like Klopp but he is such a cry baby

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

      Appalling refereeing has that affect on some . :).

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

        What is "appalling" in a handball inside the box or pausing play for a player laying on the ground injured?!!

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

          I’m talking about the goal mate. :).

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

            Ah ok. I wasn't talking about the goal though. Wouldn't criticise Klopp for arguing when he concedes a goal especially with a potential foul in the build-up. But I am rather talking about other 'obvious' cases

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

    I can see Spurs beating Liverpool next week if they turn up like this.

    Might be only 2 points between them and City by the time the Merseyside derby comes around.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No way

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Fear of Old Trafford.

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      They gonna put 4 or 5 against spurs like Bayern did

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

    Any news why Yarmo didnt start yesterday?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rested after international

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rested because of the internationals.. I think he should start next 2. Check ex wham employee on Twitter. He guessed his benching right

    3. Ribus
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks guys

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    If TM really gets TAA next week I fully expect CS for liverpool. His timing in selling him was impeccable

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

      You two should date!

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Different time zones and continents otherwise I would love to get a pint with him. Such a great lad 😉

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

          Lol

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

    I might stay away from taking a hit by selling Son+Kane looking at this Liv performance. Who to sell first?

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

      Spurs still look terrible though.

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

      I would sell both for a hit tbh.

  11. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    City playing Pool in a couple of weeks - might actually have a title race after all.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Of course. It was too early to call it finished

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

      You know the drill - Liverpool will find a way to not win the league they always do

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        They are doing it for 30 years now . Successfully

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

    It was always gonna an interesting test for Liverpool to see how they would cope with injuries to key players. A test it seems they are not passing missing Salah.

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

      Reversing that: if Liverpool and Norwich were equally good at coping with injuries to key players, then
      in a hypothetical situation without any injuries to either team, Norwich should be top of the table, miles ahead of uninjured Liverpool.

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

    It's so good to see Spider-Wan back. He's been missed.

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

      Obi

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

      Would have been useful when in my team.

  14. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    ETA until Mane dive to try and win a pen?

    *Mane owner

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      After the spurs game

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

      Its coming

  15. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki to Rashford, no brainer?

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

      *brains

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

        Vardy is a better choice for mid price forward imo

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

      No way

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

      He won't play Liverpool every week.

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

    Ox incoming

  17. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Again 😆

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

      In the wars.

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

    Clothes line

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

    1 pointer for someone coming. Ox coming

  20. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hopefully James makes 60

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

      he's not going to make his next birthday at this rate

  21. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fred has the touch of an American, not a Brazilian

  22. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Matip kicks it off after United don't bother. Mad.

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

    As long as the primary role of VAR is to make refs look good instead of getting the call right, there would be debate because you would have different verdicts of similar situations on the basis of the ref's initial call.

  24. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    James girlfriend must be one lucky lady.

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

      Maybe he has bigger qualities. ,

    2. Party time
        4 years, 5 months ago

        All it takes is a phonecall from Icardi

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

      Which 3 United players are you tripling up on?

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

        Williams, Chong and Greenwood

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

      Matip no even getting a yellow

    5. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Vile this treatment of James

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

      Origi outscore Salah (just)

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

      James is taking quite a beating out there.

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

        Pummeled by Matip.

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

      That's some expert level head injury feigning.

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

        are you even watching the game lol