Dugout Discussion

Jimenez, Doherty and Adama benched as Klopp keeps rotation to a minimum

The final two matches of Gameweek 20 overlap one another, with Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers kicking off at 16:30 GMT and Manchester City v Sheffield getting underway at 18:00 GMT.

Despite having threatened to utilise his peripheral squad players in his pre-match press conference, Jurgen Klopp has kept the changes to a minimum for the Reds’ final match of 2019.

Klopp’s only alteration sees Adam Lallana (£5.8m) replace Naby Keita (£5.8m) in central midfield, so there are starts for popular Fantasy assets Mohamed Salah (£12.3m), Sadio Mane (£12.3m), Roberto Firmino (£9.2m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m).

There isn’t such positive news for owners of some of Wolves’ most-owned FPL players.

Having beaten Manchester City in a five-goal thriller less than 48 hours ago, Nuno Espirito Santo has understandably freshened up his side for this trip to Anfield.

Raul Jimenez (£7.5m), Adama Traore (£5.5m), Matt Doherty (£6.1m) and Romain Saiss (£4.4m) all drop to the bench, with Pedro Neto (£5.0m), Ruben Vinagre (£4.2m), Ryan Bennett (£4.9m) and Max Kilman (£4.0m) all drafted into the starting XI.

Diogo Jota (£6.1m) keeps his place up front, however.

Adama was the fourth-most-bought FPL asset of Gameweek 20.

Salah and Mane were both among the top five most-captained players this weekend, with the Egyptian second only to Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) for armband duties among the top 10k.

Wolves are unbeaten in their last seven away league games, although Liverpool have, of course, only dropped two points all season.

The big news at the Etihad is that the most-owned ‘defender’ in FPL, John Lundstram (£5.1m), has failed a late fitness test and misses out.

Mo Besic (£4.4m) replaces Lundstram in midfield, with Lys Mousset (£4.9m) and Callum Robinson (£5.0m) getting starts up front in place of David McGoldrick (£5.4m) and Oli McBurnie (£5.7m).

The Blades are, remarkably, still unbeaten on the road this season.

All three of Pep Guardiola’s changes are made at the back.

Teenage centre-half Eric Garcia (£4.5m) replaces Nicolas Otamendi (£5.0m), while Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m) is in for Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m) at left-back.

Claudio Bravo (£4.8m) starts in goal in place of the suspended Ederson (£6.0m).

It’s the same front six that started at Molineux on Friday, meanwhile, with Sergio Aguero (£11.7m) leading the line.

Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) is back on the bench after recovering from illness.

City have scored in every match over the last 11 Gameweeks, averaging 2.27 goals per game in that time.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.5m) is the second-most-popular captaincy option in Gameweek 20, having been handed the armband by 764,890 FPL managers.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Wolves XI: Patricio, Jonny, Kilman, Coady, Dendoncker, Bennett, Neves, Moutinho, Vinagre, Jota, Neto.

Manchester City XI: Bravo, Walker, Garcia, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Sterling, Mahrez, Aguero.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson, Baldock, Stevens, O’Connell, Basham, Egan, Besic, Norwood, Fleck, Robinson, Mousset.

3,724 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Mane and Salah too much?

    If so, which to sell?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It is today. I have them.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Changes every week?

    3. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not too much. DGW coming up for them.

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sell Salah, no idea why I got him back. All season he has the shots and chances mane gets 1 or 2 and buries them. Salah not worth his price, not even captainable, 0 point to owning him

        1. Regin
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Fully agree with u. Salah needs 7 or 8 big chances to score 1. Mane much more clinical. That's y i captained mane and don't have Salah.

          Having both will destroy rest of the team

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Not really

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

          You got him in because he scored 29 points in 2 weeks 🙂

      • Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Salah on current form.

      • Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Maybe, but i have to with both in my circumstances on WC, means losing KDB

      • Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I think both until the DGW, then reassess.

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

          along with KDB, attack gets weak unless Vardy + 2 cheaps.

          1. Rash
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            As long as players like ings keep scoring I think its feasible to have both

          2. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yep, think I'm transitioning to that for the DGW then restructuring after. Ings and DCL maybe.

            Salah, Mane & TAA in a DGW sounds pretty tasty.

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

            Ings and Jim have been brilliant - don’t see the problem.

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

              Problem is I have Rashford.

      • OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I have Mane and TAA and will only add Salah before 24th GW. Isn't it right?

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

        I’m going to get both. Leave the captaincy on one. Problem solved

      • yakirh
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Might get Robbo instead of Salah

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

      Need to transfer Mané in for Salah so he'll stop scoring...

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

      Wat a wonderful GW! I have mane captain, ings, martial, tammy and dunk. Don't follow the crowd.

      I get 2 pts. Off bench for Vardy and soyuncu. Rico and Hayden check in.

    7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Vvd handball in buildup to mane goal. No VAR check there?

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

        They've said it's inconclusive

      2. Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Optical illusion according to that bald var expert

      3. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Where?!?!?

    8. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      locating chips on their shirts on their chest - problem solved

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

      HAHAHA VAN DIJK HANDBALL INCONCLUSIVE????

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ok, I'm usually against conspiracy theories but that is utterly ridiculous. Couldn't be clearer.

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

      Just a jammy pen for Salah...please 🙁

      1. Camino Aleatorio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He looks tired - needs to be pulled out

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

      LMS safety score currently 19.

      https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        FFS

    12. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah improving his stats for the nerds while Mane increases his points 😎

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

      Did Virgil handle it?

      Good!

    14. mgilbert86
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dendoncker goal plz

    15. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Might have to cap VAR next game week

    16. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Can we just end this match with this score please?

    17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Need a Salah goal to save my gameweek

      1. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        And me

    18. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Reason why everyone is more pissed off than usual is because it's Liverpool. Simple.

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nah. It's because my player didn't get points!

        (But also the league's implementation of VAR is just dreadful to watch.)

        1. Mo Salah No Mane
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          That also of course

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

        It’s because it’s a low scoring week

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

        Don't see how anyone can be pissed off here... it's offside and it's proven.

        1. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Its truly unreal...

        2. Mo Salah No Mane
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Just seems to be more anti var posts than usual

        3. Left Wingers Utd
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Most probably don't have a Liverpool defender, so are just pissed about everyone else not losing points!

        4. Mo Salah No Mane
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Others in other games were worse

      4. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mane goal was legit, wolves goal should have stood imo

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Mané/Lallana were fine. VVDs handled the ball before passing to Lallana.

          1. Hybrid.power
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Oh I didn't see that. It's the inconsistencies like that which is annoying everyone

          2. Mo Salah No Mane
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            He didn't handle it. Check the spin on the ball on the slow replay. Dermot Gallacher just analyzed it at ht as well

        2. Mo Salah No Mane
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          The goal was as offside as all the others ruled out. Also was at least a foot compared to an armpit

    19. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I thought benching Digne for his two goals last year would be the worst of my Christmas mistakes. Dropping mane for Salah this week says otherwise

    20. Stoic
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Imagine Liverpool signing a world class defender. With Mario and Gomez as backups

      1. Stoic
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        *Matip
        Should use this word more now

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

        Who is Mario

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

          Gomez

        2. Camino Aleatorio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Spanish for Louvren? Is Mario

    21. stuarto
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      VAR gets clean sheet points today?

    22. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Had a choice between Salah and Mane, went Salah. Reverse my mistake?

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

      People still crying on VaR. Clear offside

    24. EL_FENOMENO
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Where are thou sir Lundstram?

      1. Camino Aleatorio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Failed fitness test

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Injured apparently.

    25. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wow! Such a harsh conclusion to Birmingham - Leeds...

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

        All Liverpool’s fault no doubt.

      2. Mona Lisa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

      3. TOPCAT1960
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It is if you are a ever suffering Bluenose like me. TBF we have had a fair share of wins against Leeds in recent years.

    26. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimi warming up

    27. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Love how Liverpool defend in a 442, then transition to a 433 in attack. You get the best of both worlds.

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        its awesome to watch

    28. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      wow lundstram out to! Means I will need dendonker points off bench. sigh. Had been going so well today.

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

      PL ruined by VAR like we never imagined. Best league in the world and most exciting to watch turned into a total load of bollox. Give me biased refs anyday

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

      Why are Salah owners crying. He hasn't been subbed yet

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

        Hasn't scored either.

        1. Sim Simma
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          And missed a 6-yard chance

      2. Am sorry to say again it�…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Because they know he ain't better than Mane

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

          Hope Mane proved it again in the second half

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

        As a non-owner I am still worried.

    31. mgilbert86
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any Everton fans out there, was Mina just rested or was that a benching?

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Rested

      2. Lebowski85
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ancelotti has openly said he is rotating. A combination of checking everyone out & resting.

        Mina is a tad injury prone and we only have 3 first team CBs, so id say it's rest. I'd go for Holgate though, tbh. Him and Mina look like forming a good partnership. Keane and Mina is just too slow

    32. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Offside = offside just like when the ball crosses the line it’s a goal.

      The issue however is VAR still look at how handballs subjectively rather than following the same process of goals + offsides.

      Only way I can see tacking the situation is every handball is a foul.

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        it’s not though, it’s subjective ... subjective when the ball is actually passed, subjective which part of the body is off site, subjective where the arm finishes and the shoulder starts, subjective whether it’s part of a shirt hanging out and being blown in wind, a shoelace ....

        a uniform circular ball crosses a static line with a camera in place to freeze frame it

        totally different degree of error

    33. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      My heart sank there. Close up shot of Trent clapping while running to the touchline