Scout Notes

Liverpool assets providing FPL managers with Double Gameweek 24 dilemma

Liverpool 2-0 Sheffield United

  • Goals: Mohamed Salah (£12.3m), Sadio Mane (£12.3m)
  • Assist: Andrew Robertson (£7.0m)
  • Bonus: TBC – still unconfirmed at the time of writing

Fantasy Premier League managers opting for a Liverpool triple-up in Double Gameweek 24 face the proverbial welcome selection headache from the options available.

Some FPL bosses will have already made up their minds but for those still deliberating over which three assets to perm, there were more strong cases being made in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Having registered only two shut-outs in the first 15 Gameweeks of the season, the Reds have now banked five clean sheets in a row – more than nine other Premier League clubs, including Spurs, Wolves, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, have managed all season.

With full-backs Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m), we’re not just getting defensive contributions.

Alexander-Arnold already has 12 attacking returns to his name in 2019/20 but took a backseat against the Blades, with fellow full-back Robertson banking an assist and maximum bonus for his first double-digit haul since Gameweek 36 of last season.

Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m), about as nailed a starter as any Liverpool player in a Double Gameweek, also looks set to pick up a bonus point or two to go with his clean sheet to move fourth in the FPL points standings for defenders, behind only his two aforementioned teammates and John Lundstram (£5.1m).

The ‘value’ bet would be a defensive double-up (or even triple-up, for the maverick few) and one of Sadio Mane (£12.3m) or Mohamed Salah (£12.3m), with the extra cash freed up perhaps the difference between having a balanced FPL squad and a fodder-filled bench.

The trouble, of course, is that the two premium Liverpool midfield options are difficult to ignore.

Salah and Mane were both on the scoresheet at Anfield, with Salah converting Robertson’s cross to break the deadlock and Mane finishing at the second attempt after the interval to put the game to bed.

There could have been further or other attacking returns, too.

Salah would have had the assist for Mane’s goal had the Senegal international converted his pass at the first time of asking, while the Egyptian also forced Dean Henderson (£4.9m) into three saves of varying degrees of difficulty and agonisingly hit the post with a cross that drifted over everyone’s head on the hour-mark.

Mane meanwhile was inches from getting more meaningful contact on a Robertson delivery just after the break, with John Egan‘s (£4.5m) unpunished bear hug on the left-winger preventing him from doing so.

Certainly, there was no sign of fatigue from the pair or any lingering effects of the chronic ankle issue that bugged Salah in late-autumn, with the premium duo looking sharp throughout.

Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) will likely be the differential Double Gameweek 24 punt.

Owned by just 8.9% of overall FPL managers and only 1.5% in the top 10k, it’s easy to see why he’s not as popular an option, having banked fewer FPL points than the three discussed Liverpool defenders and even one less attacking return than Alexander-Arnold.

His selfless link-up play can adversely affect his own Fantasy output but there has been little wrong his underlying stats all season (more shots in the box than Mane, for instance) and there is a sense that he is perhaps due an explosion of points.

A meagre four attacking returns in 14 league appearances tells its own story, sadly, and his goal conversion rate has always been on the modest side in previous campaigns.

The fixture congestion eases slightly for the Reds now, although there is the small matter of a Merseyside derby in the FA Cup third round this Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp promised “fresh legs” for that encounter although his lengthy injury list – Naby Keita (£5.8m) was added to the list of casualties when pulling out of the starting XI in the warm-up – may prevent him from making wholesale changes against the Toffees.

Speaking after full-time, Klopp said:

I will not tell Carlo Ancelotti the line-up. But I will do what I think is right to do. Some things I can decide by myself, I will. And some things the medical department will tell me. So that means I don’t know in this moment what the line-up will be, but it will be the best possible [one] for us in this moment.

But we will have fresh legs and what we need is support. They played yesterday, we played today, the only advantage we have is Anfield. We need support from the first second. We will see how it will be. It was a tough game tonight and we have to make sure we make the right decisions. Hopefully, I can do that. 

We have 13 adult players. And go through this period and after tonight we have 12. Takumi [Minamino] coming in makes it 13 again. Nat Phillips – if you want to count him with 22 years as an adult player with no Premier League experience – makes it, at least for one or two weeks, 14.

On Keita, the Liverpool boss added:

He will not be involved against Everton. That makes it 12 adult players we have, plus the kids, so that’s not cool, but we cannot change it.

Sheffield United welcomed back their very own popular FPL asset for this clash after he missed the defeat to Manchester City with an ankle injury.

Lundstram returned to the Blades starting XI and almost scored within five minutes, an opportunistic effort looping wide of Alisson‘s (£6.0m) goal.

The out-of-position Fantasy defender then made sure of putting the ball in the back of the net despite being flagged for offside but there was to be no fairytale goal for the boyhood Liverpool fan, with a VAR check confirming that he had strayed beyond the last defender.

After David McGoldrick‘s (£5.4m) effort that Alisson beat away, the Blades didn’t have another (legal) shot on goal for another 80 minutes, with substitute Oli McBurnie (£5.7m) almost denying the Reds their clean sheet with the clock ticking down.

As a typically honest (and perhaps overly harsh) Wilder said after full-time, the Blades battled manfully but barely troubled their hosts:

From our point of view, I was disappointed really. I did not think we laid a glove on them.

I think the scoreline flattered us. I know Dean [Henderson] got a lot of criticism for his unfortunate mistake at our place, but I thought he was the difference between it not being three, four or five.

Obviously, when you come here, you have got to try and get a foothold in the game and we could not have got off to a worse start in terms of George (Baldock) slipping and they took full advantage. It gave them a big lift and it was comfortable for Liverpool.

You could see why they are world and European champions and they look like they are going to be Premier League winners as well. People talk to me about academies and technical stuff and rotation, but the basic stuff they had to tonight – win headers, races and drop on second balls and run and play forward and back and defend as a team – they did it miles better than us. They were more aggressive and physical than us. It was not like us.

The two parts of comfort I can take is that our supporters were absolutely magnificent in their backing of our players. We never gave them anything to shout out.

The second bit is that is has taken 21 games for a team to really roll us over like Liverpool did.

That last line sums Sheffield United up perfectly: in this their first Premier League campaign in over a decade, they have yet to be beaten by more than a two-goal margin and have been competitive in pretty much every single match bar this one.

It’s fair to say that Lundstram and co will be back in many starting XIs in Gameweek 22, with the visit of West Ham United providing a better chance of FPL returns at both ends of the pitch.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson (Lallana 88′); Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah (Elliott 90′), Firmino, Mane (Origi 78′).

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood (Besic 78′), Fleck, Stevens; McGoldrick (Sharp 66′), Mousset (McBurnie 65′).

Members Analysis

1,577 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone going VVD over Robbo along with TAA and Mane for the DGW.
    Sure starter and nailed all season...

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      and top of page 🙂

      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      They're all starters and nailed all season (apart from Jomez)

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        *nailed on until the league is won. Then rotated so they are fresh for latter stages of the CL and FA cup.

    2. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

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

    Aurier + lucas moura

    Sell or keep???

    1. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sell

  3. funny money
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    when do we find out if we snuck through in the cup? (bottomed sorry) 59-59 fyi

  4. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to bench?

    A) Grealish (MCI)
    B) Soyuncu (SOU)
    C) Holgate (BRI)

    Last time all of them got three votes

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe, bear with me here, that means it's a close decision, and you should make it yourself. And make it next weekend so you have more information.

    3. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      c

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

    GTG?

    Ramsdale
    Soy Sidibe Lund
    Mane KDB Traore Maddison
    Rashford Vardy Abraham

    Kelly Webster Alli

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Looks great to me!

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Keep Alli first on bench?

        1. theodosios
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Looking at Spurs since Mou's appointment, Kelly and Webster can get more points than Alli

          1. Royal5
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            2,2,2,2,2 is Kelly's form. GL

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Can't bench Alli.

      1. theodosios
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        1 goal in last 5 games, why not? They are awful

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

    It is probably easier to chase this season than compared to other seasons. This is because the pool of players that the Top 10k have over 25% ownership in is bigger than usual. This also translates to the captaincy, where there has not been a clear standout captain to pick for many GWs. The flip side, of course, it that it is also easier to lose rank if you get it wrong.

    1. Blitzar
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Spot on

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

    Walking wounded Villa vs Man City

    What does the script say?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aston Villa keeps a clean sheet

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Standing in the hall of fame, and the world's gonna know your name.

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

    1ft 1.6m itb

    Pope
    Taa, Soyuncu, Lundstram
    Mane, Kdb, Alli, Traore
    Abraham, Vardy, Rashford

    Martin, Kelly, Rico, Dendoker

    A. Alli to Son
    B. Alli, Pope to Son, Fabianski -4
    C. Alli, Teaore to Maddison, Martial -4
    D. Alli, Rico to Maddison, Vvd -4

    1. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      really like C

    2. Blitzar
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D

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

    Not so sure on this Jack Rodwell signing for Sheffield, it means Lundstram might it be ever present from now on...

    1. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      😕

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Roswell signing for a top six PL team, maybe it really is the beginning of the end of the world today.

  10. gelisiguzel
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    who to bench?

    A) Jimmy (NEW)
    B) Traore (NEW)
    C) Abraham (BUR)
    D) Sterling (avl)
    E) Mane ( tot)

    1. gelisiguzel
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      other three attackers are Maddison, Vardy and KDB btw

    2. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      traore

      1. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        This easy

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      b

  11. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    For next 2 gameweeks...

    A) Abraham (BURNLEY, Newcastle)
    B) Calvert lewin (BRIGHTON, West Ham)

    1) sterling (villa, PALACE)
    2) mane (spurs, MAN U

    Considering for double gameweek I will 100% get mane, should I just have mane from next week to save that eventual transfer.

    1. gelisiguzel
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A1 for me

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A2

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

      B1

    4. Blitzar
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      well I think Mane will do very well against both these teams

  12. FPL FREAK
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mccarthy + Rico + Cantwell

    Or

    Henderson + Simpson (fodder) + Cantwell

    ???

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      HSC

    2. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cantwell is irrelevant then.

      I still think Henderson will outscore McCarthy.

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

    Any ideas for this lot?

    Bank 0.0m, 2FT

    Ryan
    TAA, Söyüncü, Otamendi
    Salah, KDB, Martial, L.Moura
    Vardy, Ings, Maupay

    Button, Aurier, Kiko, Dendoncker

    1. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Take a chance to remove Aurier ?

      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I think Ota probably has to go before Aurier. At least while Aurier is still playing. Attacking and mops up BPS - just needs Spurs to stop conceding!

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Otamendi, Moura, Aurier to Van Dijk, Sarr, Holgate for -4 works?

      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yep, have the exact amount for that. But not sure it’s worth a -4 this week. Ota probably needs to go and Moura was next in line - but I wonder if he’ll be worth holding with Kane out? wat/NOR up next after LIV

  14. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best Kane's replacement?
    -- not Vardy & Jimenez please

    (a) DCL - BHA / whu / NEW / wat
    (b) Maupay - eve / AVL / bou / whu
    (c) Rashford - NOR / liv / BUR / WOL
    (d) Abraham - BUR / new / ARS / lei
    (e) Ings - lei / WOL / cry / liv

    Somehow, I feel Rash looks best choice for having 3 home in the next 4 and on pen duty. But it means I will be unable to have Mane + Salah and have to go with double full-back of Robbo + TAA.

    1. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      a or c, like Rashford shout

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If Ings allows the Salah and Mane double up then do that.

      Or go left field and pick Deeney.

      1. NATSTER
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I can have double LIV attacks with Ings upfront. Two trades will be required on GW23/24.

        Grealish + Tomori -> Salah + 4.1 DF

        If I opted for Rashford, I will just need Tomori -> Robbo on GW23/24 and keep Grealish.

  15. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What is the best use of the next 3 ft & accommodating a Liv player?
    1. Getting Salah as a 3rd player
    a) Alli Grealish Jiménez-> Salah Dendo DCL and play 3-4-3
    b) Rico Alli Jimenez -> 3.9 Salah Greenwood and play 3-5-2

    2. Getting a def as a 3rd player
    a) Alli Grealish Rico -> Richarlison Dendo Robbo
    b) Grealish Rico -> Dendo VVD
    c) Alli Rico -> Richarlison Gomez

    Ramsdale
    Taa Soy Lundstram
    Maddison Mane Kdb Alli
    Vardy Ings Jiménez

    Button Grealish Rico Kelly

  16. zinaks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    is it unadvisable to play bench boost this gw?!

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, save for a proper DGW later in the season, if you save your WC you can probably get a full 15 DGW team.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What is your bench?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        STUPID QUESTION.

  17. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Abraham, traore
    B) dcl, martial

  18. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Brandon Williams

    That's it. That's the post.

  19. RAMZES666
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How is this WC team looking?

    Fabs McCarthy
    TAA Evans Sidibe Dunk Lundy
    KDB Mane Madds Grealish Cantwell
    Vardy Jimenez Ings

    Left funds to do KDB to Salah after Villa game for DGW.

  20. ResultatFar
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to get in for Alli and Greenwood with my 2FTs?

    Current team apart from those two is:

    KDB - Mane - Maddi - Grealish - ****
    Vardy - Abraham - *****

    1.7 itb

  21. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Abraham, traore
    B) dcl, martial

    Reost

  22. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What time did they update the game?

  23. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Kane out with torn hamstring...

  24. Hktrader88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pope Roberto

    TAA Soyuncu Gomez Lundy Rico

    Mane KDB Alli Martial Grealish

    Vardy Jimenez DCL

    Quite happy with my team, but I realise that no one in my ML is likely going to double up on Salah and Mane. Most have quite low team value. Thus the double up would be a great differential. But how to do it without butchering the team and so many hits? I'd need to take Gomez out to free up the Liverpool spot. I only have 2FY between now and the DGW.

  25. Aubamazette
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Getting both TAA and Holgate in, one needs to come first before the other after 2 gw’s who do I get

    TAA (tot) (MUN)
    Holgate(BHA) (whu)

  26. DreadFPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I've added Robbo to TAA & Mane this GW. Could've gone for Salah instead, but I see things in returns per £M. Thus, unless both Mane & Salah get at least a goal & assist per game with 1 as captain, the investment is unwise. The extra cash could be better invested elsewhere.