Scout Notes

Liverpool defence still suspect but attacking returns continue to flow

LIVERPOOL 2-1 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

  • Goals: Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) x2 | Lewis Dunk (£4.6m)
  • Assists: Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) x2 | Leandro Trossard (£5.8m)
  • Red cards: Alisson (£6.0m)
  • Bonus: van Dijk x3, Alexander-Arnold x2, Dunk x1

Two early headers from Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) were all Liverpool needed to extend their lead atop the Premier League to 11 points, both set up by Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) crosses from dead-ball situations.

However, the Anfield crowd had to drag their team over the line thanks to a red card for goalkeeper Alisson (£6.0m) that led to Lewis Dunk’s (£4.6m) consolation goal for Brighton and Hove Albion.

For all the attacking flair and assist potential of full-backs Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m), it’s van Dijk who scores most of all three. Last season his four goals comfortably exceeded their combined one, whilst today’s brace adds to his opening-day strike against Norwich.

The 6ft 4in centre-back found himself in enough space to head home a fairly central Alexander-Arnold free-kick after 18 minutes, rising above Adam Webster (£4.4m) to loop over Matthew Ryan (£4.7m). Then, six minutes later, the same combination made it 2-0 from a corner.

In the first half, Jurgen Klopp’s side were easy on the eye, playing with the verve and confidence of a team that knew they were about to go 11 points clear of Man City, after the champions could only draw 2-2 at Newcastle at lunchtime.

The Liverpool boss said of his side’s display:

We would have loved if we would have finished one more, two more, more often and it looks much more comfortable, but that’s our situation. I don’t want to change it, it’s like it is. There will be days when we will score from situations like that and will probably not use our set-pieces, that’s how it is. But you have to score goals and we did that often enough to win the game and that’s good.

Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) and Sadio Mane (£12.2m) had a fruitless afternoon but it wasn’t for a lack of trying in the latter’s case.

Ryan’s fine save from a Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) shot in the 16th minute denied the Senegalese winger an assist, while the in-form premium midfielder could have been on the scoresheet himself soon after when being thwarted by the busy Australian.

Mane also found himself in space around the penalty spot on the hour-mark but couldn’t get good contact and the chance went begging.

Salah returned to the line-up after his Gameweek 13 benching but made very little impact apart from hitting the side-netting in the 12th minute. He was replaced by Adam Lallana (£5.8m) in the 69th minute, although the Egyptian preserved a clean sheet point to get the last laugh over Mane owners.

While Salah’s recent struggles with an ankle injury are off-putting, he and Mane remain enticing options for the next three Gameweeks and – if it wasn’t for the Club World Cup postponing their Gameweek 18 fixture – there would even be an argument for owning both against Everton (h), Bournemouth (a) and Watford (h).

The absence of Fabinho (£5.5m), meanwhile, saw Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) resume the ‘number six’ role that he had occupied before his recent reinvention as a right-sided central midfielder.

Klopp said:

We had to replace Fabinho today which is a tough one because it’s like we were really used to these things without really thinking about it. Hendo played a sensational game in that position together with Gini and Ox. It was a really good performance but we had to work really hard. And what I liked most, that the boys were ready to do that.

Liverpool looked set to finally keep their first clean sheet in seven games and only their third of the season. The second half had been a dull affair, with the Reds conserving their energy knowing that they have ten games to come in a gruelling December.

Whilst the streak of 18 home games where either Salah, Mane or Firmino had scored was about to end, at least they were cruising to a relaxing victory.

Then goalkeeper Alisson was sent off for a deliberate handball outside of his area and everything quickly changed. A long Brighton ball over the home defence set free Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), who poked the ball up onto the advancing stopper’s hands for a straight red card.

On came Adrian (£4.2m) for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.2m) and the reserve Liverpool custodian was instantly picking the ball out of the net after Dunk – once getting the nod to take the kick early – casually passed the resulting free-kick into the corner.

Klopp said of Alisson’s dismissal:

Of course, life became more complicated with the red card and the change we had to make. We had to bring on a frozen goalkeeper pretty much! Everybody sitting here is probably not really warm yet, but imagine you go there in shorts, a really thin shirt and some gloves which are not made for keeping you warm.

Some people let the free-kick happen like that and then you look a little bit silly in that moment, but that’s what you have to accept.

We kept on fighting and Adrian especially helped us a lot with two really, really good saves and crosses he caught and stuff like this.

Suddenly things got nervy for the home side when former Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy (£4.8m) forced Adrian into a low stop. Two minutes later, the substitute spilled a comfortable save right at the feet of substitute Neal Maupay (£5.9m). The Reds held on to make it 13 wins from 14 league matches but those looking for reassurance that Klopp’s troops are tightening up at the back wouldn’t have been given any indication of that on Saturday.

Alisson will be suspended for Wednesday’s Merseyside derby with Everton, although Liverpool’s only two clean sheets of the season did come under his deputy’s watch.

Truth be told, there were still some hairy moments for Liverpool’s defence even before the red card. Alisson made a good save from Davy Propper (£4.9m) in the first half, shortly followed by a Dunk sitter where the centre-back scuffed a shot wide with his knee.

Dunk then narrowly headed wide a Pascal Gross (£6.4m) corner in the 54th minute, before a Martin Montoya (£4.5m) cross was superbly controlled and shot by Aaron Connolly (£4.7m) eight minutes later.

The goalscorer made some crucial contributions at the other end, firstly blocking an Oxlade-Chamberlain effort after a superb run and pull-back from Robertson. Just before the Alisson incident, Dunk got in the way of a shot that followed Alexander-Arnold’s burst into the box.

Graham Potter said of the Seagulls’ efforts:

We put a lot into the game and played with a lot of courage. We weren’t quite as aggressive as we needed to be in the first 20 minutes, so that’s a learning point for us, but we have a really good account of ourselves against a top team.

Potter again went with a four-man backline this weekend and opted for 19-year-old Connolly over Maupay up front, despite the latter’s 19 goal attempts only being bettered by Raul Jimenez (£7.6m) over the last six Gameweeks. As promising as those numbers sound ahead of a run of fixtures against Wolves (h), Crystal Palace (a) and Sheffield United (h), only one of those 19 shots resulted in a goal.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Adrian 78’); Salah (Lallana 69’), Firmino (Origi 76’), Mane.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (4-5-1): Ryan; Montoya (Alzate 69’), Webster, Dunk, Burn; Gross, Bissouma (Trossard 69’), Stephens, Propper, Mooy; Connolly (Maupay 76’).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

3,212 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HTL
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Decent week, up to 37k, just need to figure out what to do with Abraham.

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any more news on Abraham?

      1. HTL
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nothing as yet, looks primed for another price drop. Can take that one more as I'm on PP 7.2 but if it's bad news I'll probably ship out

  2. nozza
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maddison to Ali for free?
    Already have Soy and Vardy

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      yup

    2. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wouldnt get rid of Maddison

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

      I like that swap. But with fixtures being how they are, I'd probably keep Maddison.

    4. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why is Maddi not doing anything lately?

      1. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Beacuse leicester is vardy fc

  3. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    64 points and another green arrow from 310k to 195k. Also believe I'll be top of my ML for first time this year. And then to top it off a nice point away from home with other results going decent for us. Happy days 🙂

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Well done! Onwards and upwards! Enjoyed watching you Blades today, that was a proper game. Both teams there are a breath of fresh air!

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice

      We’re pretty much neck and neck. Mousse is right on my radar but went Jim with a view to 18 and relying on Ings

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice mate! I had a good week too and happy we scraped a point home to Villa.

    4. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers all 🙂

  4. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Wanna shake things up... Only 26pts off top spot in 500 euro ML...

    Tammy➡️Mousset

    Tieleman➡️Alli - 4

    Rivals already sold Tammy n don't own Alli..

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough

      Alli I think without knowing your set up

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I’m hit happy!

      2. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Pope

        TAA/Lund/Soy

        Mane/Kdb/Pulisic/
        Tieleman

        Vardy/Kane/Tammy

        (4.0/ Mings/Cantwell/Rico)

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    is Martial injured ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Possibly.

  6. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This team looking OK going forward or anything screaming out for change?

    Henderson
    TAA Söyüncü Lundstram
    Mané KDB Alli Zaha
    Vardy Lacazette Jiménez

    McGovern Cantwell Rico Diop

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good to me

  7. F4L
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    has Mousset established himself as basically a nailed starter now with his form?

    1. jg7u
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think so.

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He was already practicaly a starter, now even more nailed.

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      cheers both. Too good to ignore at that price now

  8. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Has anybody else thought about using their FH in GW18? Looking at the fixtures, I think there's potential for a huge point swing that week. City vs Leicester, Spurs vs Chelsea and obviously no Liverpool. I think if you have swole cojones, going big on differentials could pay off big time. Players like Trossard, Grealish, Hilson spring to mind.

    I know the textbook time to use it is the blank or double gameweek, but I do think there's merit for using it GW18.

    1. HTL
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Save two FT to use in GW18 to remove Liverpool players for anyone that looks like a decent one-week punt.

      WC in 19 to bring them back in.

  9. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan (buton)
    Soy lund taa (kely lowton)
    Mount kdb son mane (dendo)
    Ings vardy laca

    Which?
    A) laca to jimy mouset ayew boby
    B) mount to puli mads tiele xaha
    C) lowton to sheff. Def.
    D) 2 of above with a -4
    F) lowton laca -4 to chilwel/periera jimy/mouset bench mount

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Considering benching KDB for O'Connell.... Need to log off 🙂

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ..only til Tuesday though!

  11. danlynch13
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If I buy a months membership for fantasyscout can I then cancel it after the one month?

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It wouldn't be a monthly rolling membership if you couldn't so I assume so.

    2. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes indeed!

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Want to enter the Members Cup?
      Yes you can.

  12. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope McGovern
    TAA Soy Lund Tomori Rico
    Mane KDB Son Maddison Dendo
    Tammy Jimmy Vardy

    0.0 itb and 1 FT

    1. Tammy to Ings
    2. Tammy to Mousset
    3. Pope to Henderson

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy to mousset will allow me to do Dendo to Zaha next week

    2. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'd keep Tammy till we know more. You could easily play 4 4 2 midweek if he's back for the weekend. I like option 3.

  13. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea presser tomorrow or Tuesday?

    Need tammy update before considering best moves.

    Thanks

  14. Steve Stiffler
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hendo or Guaita??? Will be bringing in Zaha aswell for Mount. Thanks

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Strongly considering Mount to Zaha move myself.

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Henderson for me

    3. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do it but maybe you can keep Mount untill Tammy news.

    4. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do Hendo

    5. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Guaita due to a long list of good fixtures

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

      Guaita for me

  15. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Lundstarm Tomori
    Mane Son Martial Tilimens
    Vardy Jiminez Lacazette

    Button Guendouzi Rico Pieters

    Guendouzi/Martial/Tilimens to Zaha/Alli/Mousette -8?

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Can’t do that move? 3 mids for 2 mids and a striker?

  16. TherryOnWii
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A. Tielemans to Alli / Saha (already own Son) -4
    B. Keep

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep till GW17.. reassess after

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

    FFS sack Ole while Poch is available

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He caught a cold I heard

  18. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    any appealing MIDs to consider for up to 7.8M?
    Gotta get rid of Martial...

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Zaha, Pulisic, Leicester mids - plenty really.

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

      silva?

    3. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I will be doing Martial to Zaha but I'm waiting for a Tammy update first

      1. LewanGOALski
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        that’s the good one. Zaha could be nice diff with tasty fixtures

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

      Take a look at Grealish if you’re into forward planning

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

      What mids do you have as that would narrow down options?

      I'd say pulisic maybe best call depending on rest of your team. But I'm keeping martial he had a couple of excellent chances today and the defences coming up are both leaky.

  19. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What would you suggest for this team? Thinking Pope, Mount (and depending on the injury) Abraham are the ones to look at.

    Pope
    Lundstram - TAA - Söyüncü - Cahill
    Mané - KDB - Son - Mount
    Jiménez - Vardy
    (McGovern - Abraham - Rico - Saka)

  20. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maddison or Pulisic, and why?

    1. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Neither, find someone who’s on form

  21. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    0.2 off Perez

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      .dodged a bullet

  22. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Firmino to Vardy or
    Martial to Zaha

    I have 1 FT and first one is more tempting, and i can play Tomori and bench Martial...

  23. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    With those Leicester fixtures one of their mids is must have imo.

    Was impressed by Perez but is Maddison still the best option to have?

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

      is he going to start the next game though?

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'm pretty sure he will

    2. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wouldn't say they are must have. Vardy is the man for them rest of the points spread around and tough to predict.

  24. aidmata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope Button

    TAA Lundstram Tomori Rico Chilwell

    KDB Mane Son Dendoncker Mount

    Abraham Vardy Greenwood

    1FT and thinking Tomori -> Aurier and Mount --> Alli / Pulisic for my next moves. Would you do one midweek or roll the transfer and do both at the weekend?

  25. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tammy falling again . cant wait more

    Ings or mousset

    1. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      hold for gods sake

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mousse I’d say - have had Ings for last 2 weeks!

      1. fantasyfog
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        handy, nice pay off

  26. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Wanting a pope replacement with upcoming fixtures but 0itb! Any options worth using a FT on?

    Or do button to Martin and play him in next couple

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Whatever you do never go near any defensive asset from West ham

      Stick with Pope until you have more money

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Aha thanks! Just considering options with pope having city and spurs next!

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm sticking with Pope. Tricky fixtures but tgey'll dog out a few cleansheets, defending is in their DNA. Plenty of save points too.

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        True forgot pope is a save monster!

  27. fantasyfog
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    thank you premier league, for reminding me I know very little about football

  28. Geordie19
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What you think for this week?
    A) McNeill to Zaha
    B) Martial to Alli
    C) both for a -4

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

  29. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is there an article on possible midweek rotation?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Too much at stake for many teams, dont expect heavy rotation.

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers. Contemplating Dilva to Zaha.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Just read team news.
      All guesswork outside precedent and pressers.

  30. FootballDog
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    1. Son
    2. Alli

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

    2. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      son

      1. fantasyfog
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        if he ain't scoring he's assisting