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. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Maybe 30 points is the new 60 nowadays

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Just means we're picking the wrong players.

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

        Should we be picking Adam lalana then

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

      30pts is brag-territory this week 😆

    3. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A 2 pointer from Lundstram and I'll manage 60. Had a ridiculously lucky week. Swings and roundabouts though.

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

        Captain Alonso - Wow

        1. Queens of the South Age
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Haha. Yeah, definition of jammy. Couldn't decide on Kun, Salah or Wilson. Left work on Friday joking I'd go Alonso for a laugh.

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

      I’m beginning to suspect that it’s not actually possible to get a green arrow anymore

  2. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    FT, ah well.
    27 with Auba and Lundstram autosub to go.
    Laugh or you'll cry haha.

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

    Phew what a pointless match, time for Lundstram to save me from this disastrous week.

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

    Guendozi last hope for this GW to forget, then :-/

  5. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Rico punished Mane owners 😉

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Big red for Rico non-owners 🙁

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

    Why is Klopp hugging long and strong Mane. ? Is something happening? Latest Salah vs Mane disagreements

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

      ?

  7. Marvin Moon
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Looks like 22 points for the week for me. Anyone worse?

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

      Lundstram and Auba get to play

      1. Marvin Moon
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Oh yes I've got Lundstrum. I forgot about him!

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Plenty in LMS.

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

    Overall a very good point for LFC.

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

      Not really - Derby or not it’s a very very poor United team

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

        6 point lead over City instead of 5.

        That is all which matters. UTD yesterdays news.

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

          6 point lead instead of 8 you mean

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

        I have to agree. Sure no salah but need to win at OT when they are this poor. Something klopp is still yet to do
        Comes down to gw12 city game

      3. Greasy Grealish Gang
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Don't get spoiled. Still the first time they're dropping points and it's away at Old Trafford. Not fantastic but not a disaster either.

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

    Man United - they are in utter disarray aren’t they - At least a decade before they can realistically challenge for the league again

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

      People laughed when they saw the United lineup. The difference in quality between the two sides is vast, but they still got a result. Good performance.

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

        Good performance / result in this 1 game of course

        But it’s going to be a very long season and the squad is v poor

  10. K.Jabba 88
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Any chance fpl changes to firmino assist?

    1. radawson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It was clearly an assist for Firmino

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

    Bap me

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    DISGUSTING Wildcard! I give up

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

      See you next weekend.

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

    As a Aguero (c) and Salah owner, I think I got away it with it this week.

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yep, I have both plus Adrian no show ......over 30m of players who didnt touch the ball

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    1 point gained on the day, 2 dropped on the form table.

    Shocking performance from Liverpool, United seriously bottled it retreating deep.

  15. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Auba captainers winner

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

    Owning Robbo over taa gives me something to cheer this gw! Hopefully Robbo will get all 3 bps. His assist my only offensive or defensive contribution this gw!

  17. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    17 points with lund Auba to go.

    Christ

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

      A really ridiculous gw keep the faith

  18. beric
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Phew. Just auba left to blank. Looking forward to man city demolishing the villa, maybe my three guys will finally all play a game together!

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

    Super Sunday is no more , thank you lord

  20. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Chelsea still hold the record for most games won at the start of the PL season. Chelsea under Mourinho won their first 9 PL games in 05/06.

  21. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Looks like Firmino assit to me at replay

    1. K.Jabba 88
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I agree, hopefully will be changed on fpl, but i doubt it

  22. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Arsenal are so drawing 0-0 with Sheffield or Sheffield to win 1-0 based on this GW

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Would take that

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      1-0 Lundstram would be so sweet.

      Never get jammy bench points though.

    3. MaRooney 5
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      or demolishing Sheffield with no Auba involvement

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Best thing about that result is it buys Ole a few more weeks 😆 😆

  24. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2 points off the relegation zone

  25. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2 - This is the first time an English player has scored for both sides in a Premier League meeting between Man Utd and Liverpool since November 2001 (Michael Owen and David Beckham). Lions.
    @optajoe

    How far we've come.

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

    A little bit kissed. Salah c Kdb vc with Tielemans first sub. Will very much take those extra 12 points.
    38 with Auba to come

  27. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Cannot remember this has ever happened to me playing FPL.

    On WC and my team scores:

    2
    222
    2323
    4 (C) 22

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lol

    2. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Who scored the 22 ?

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

        Fwd? Abraham Wilson, supposed to be hattick each

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

          Sorry, bad attempt at a joke. Bad luck. On to next week...

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

      Screenshot worthy. Condolences!

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

    Me: 30 points + Aubameyang. Rival: 50 points and a massive OR lead. Feels like a season over kind of GW.

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

    Pool stopped from matching Manchester's winning streak record 🙂

  30. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Happy James owner. Great that Mane blanked and nice that Pool dropped points too, to keep the league open. Only thing that spoilt my day was Robertson getting that assist.