Scout Notes

Mane injury latest as Firmino claims Double Gameweek advantage

Wolves 1-2 Liverpool

Goals: Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m) | Jordan Henderson (£5.4m), Roberto Firmino (£9.5m)

Assists: Adama Traoré (£5.7m) | Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m), Henderson

Bonus Points: J Henderson x3, Jiménez x2, Firmino x1

Liverpool’s trip to Wolves on Thursday, January 23, 2020, will almost certainly go down in Fantasy Premier League folklore for all the wrong reasons.

It was the night that Sadio Mané (£12.5m), backed by 270,144 for the Triple Captaincy, went off injured just 32 minutes into the first match of Double Gameweek 24.

No Fantasy asset was backed by more for the enhanced armband but that did not stop him from coming off with a potential hamstring problem and just one point to his name.

Naturally, Mané’s owners and captaincy backers will now be sweating on his fitness between now and next week’s trip to West Ham, which concludes the Double Gameweek.

The word from the Liverpool bench at half-time was that Mané notified the physios that he may have a “hamstring injury”. The indication is the issue is not too serious as he was able to walk off the pitch and get to the Liverpool changing room unaided. While his substitution was considered “precautionary” at first, Jurgen Klopp confirmed at full-time that his player had suffered a “muscle tweak” and suggested that he “probably” wouldn’t be available to prepare Liverpool’s next three games.

Thankfully, we may get further updates on Mané in the aftermath of Sunday’s FA Cup meeting with Shrewsbury as well as in the pre-match press conference ahead of next Wednesday’s trip to West Ham.

Even though his backers will be understandably upset by his curtailed outing at Molineux, there was, to some extent, a silver lining in the fact that Mohamed Salah (£12.4m), handed the Triple Captain chip by 220,121 Fantasy managers, also blanked and did not receive any clean sheet bonus.

In truth, the Egyptian really should have scored at Molineux wasting some chances and drawing excellent saves from Rui Patrício (£5.1m) at others. Arguably, Salah was also a bit selfish, taking on some shots when he should really have passed to a colleague.

As is often the case with Double Gameweeks, it was the unexpected man who finished the first match as top-scorer. Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) scored the opening goal and assisted the winner, bagged by Roberto Firmino (£9.5m), who extended his lead at the top of the goal charts for Liverpool players in away fixtures.

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m) got himself an assist to prove the highest-scoring Liverpool defender on the night as the clean sheet was lost and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) was booked.

However, it was Wolves that asked the first question of the evening as Adama Traoré (£5.7m) won the ball in the middle of the park and sprayed it out to Jonny (£5.4m).

The left-back pushed into some space vacated by Alexander-Arnold and Traoré joined him to double-up on Gomez. Jonny was then able to get beyond the centre-back and play a ball into the box, which was cut out by Henderson.

Less than a minute later, Wolves were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side which Joao Moutinho (£5.4m) fizzed across the face of the goal, although, inexplicably nobody was able to get a touch on it. Had they done so, the ball surely would have ended up back in the net. In the end, it was a combination of Alexander-Arnold and Firmino who scrambled the ball clear.

Despite that spirited start from the hosts, they were 1-0 down in the eighth minute.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.2m) slid Firmino into some space in the centre, who moved it on to Salah. He was then taken down by Coady, resulting in a Liverpool free-kick.

The Egyptian and Alexander-Arnold stood over and, in spite of an ominous run-up, the latter saw his effort headed over by Conor Coady (£5.0m).

That wouldn’t stop the right-back notching his 14th attacking return of the season. He was able to pick out Henderson from the resulting corner, who nodded cooly beyond Patrício.

There were suggestions that the ball had brushed Mané’s head on the way through but the official finding was that it did not touch the winger.

He went close to an assist again in the 17th minute when he played a cross-field ball around the Wolves back-three to Salah, who had to drag back and inside onto his left foot to get a shot off, which was well blocked by Coady.

Oxlade-Chamberlain then played a lovely chipped through ball out to a free Mané out on the left, but he was quickly closed down by a recovering Dendoncker, who won the ball by kicking it against the Liverpool man’s arm.

It was at this point that Mané was taken off and replaced by recent new signing Takumi Minamino (£6.5m). Naturally, such a frustrating event for Liverpool saw the game lose a bit of pace and urgency for the next 10 minutes or so.

Wolves were the first to reinject some life into the game as Traoré dropped deep to create opportunities again, the first putting Doherty into space before Jiménez went through the middle and had a fierce effort blocked by van Dijk.

In first-half stoppage time, Salah went on a mazy run through the heart of the Wolves defence and managed to get enough space on his left to unleash a shot on goal, blocked by Matt Doherty (£6.1m).

Salah picked up where he left off in the second half, catching Traoré in possession and smashing a powerful left-footed shot across the Wolves goal, stopped only by a sprawling Patrício save.

Naturally, the start to the second period stretched the game which played right into the hands of Wolves and the pace of Traoré.

He began to find more space down the right-hand side of Wolves’ attack and, in textbook fashion, his 51st-minute inch-perfect cross into the box, found Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m) in space, who leapt up to place a glancing header beyond Alisson (£6.1m).

Such a morale-boosting goal thoroughly put the wind into Traoré’s sails. For a relatively prolonged spell, Traoré began completely terrorising Liverpool down his side, with Robertson eventually having to bring him down on the edge of the box, picking up a yellow card in the process.

Traoré almost scored a bit later, finding space to blast across goal, forcing a vital save from Alisson.

Liverpool struggled to respond to this shift in the game, perhaps all too aware of the danger of being caught out on the counter-attack by Traoré. Even after the shackles were put back on Traoré to some extent, they were more reticent moving forward.

It took until the 60th minute for their next real chance, which fell to Minamino after a cross from Salah. His effort was blocked, the rebound falling to Firmino, who could only drive the ball low towards an already floored Patrício for a routine recovery by the goalkeeper.

Wolves kept up the pressure with Jiménez played in by Traoré in the 67th minute, shooting from a wide-angle and drawing a save from Alisson’s face.

However, Liverpool still managed to dig out a victory from this tough position.

Henderson played Salah in for another chance just short of the 70th minute and the Egyptian, as ever, worked himself into a position where he could smash it with his left foot. This effort ended just wide, the latest that will have left his Triple Captainers with their head in their hands.

As predicted as a possibility in the build-up to the Double Gameweek, it was away-day specialist Firmino who won the tie in the end.

He had two glorious chances in the closing stages, the first the Brazilian missed and the second buried.

He was played through one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 81st minute and fired a low effort at goal, when he arguably should have gone for the chip – Patrício making a good stop with his legs.

But as stoppage time approached, Firmino found himself in space once again, played through by Henderson and rifled his latest effort into the top corner for all three points.

It may well be half-time in the Double Gameweek, but as things stand, those who went with either Firmino or Alexander-Arnold currently have the advantage in the Triple Captaincy debate.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 87′), Doherty; Neto (D Jota 77′), Jiménez, Traoré.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; J Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Fabinho 70′); Mané (Minamino 32′), Firmino, Salah (Origi 85′).

1,431 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mince n Tatties
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Well that was pretty crap then,,,

  2. kime67
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    ok this is getting boring.

  3. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    It’s only half time with the easiest half to come. Relax 🙂

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

      This

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

      It's FFS pal. All our seasons are over.

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

    Got to be wildcard time

  5. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1220449410108329985?s=09

    Mane injury info. Fingers crossed

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

      Hmmm will be touch and go if he makes the next game

  6. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I just noticed Liverpool have a game in hand. Neat.

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Are you trolling?

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I don't know anymore.

        1. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Actually I was more geeing myself up.
          30 mins after FT sbd

          1. Fred54
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            And still waiting for Salah TC to do something.

  7. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Wait why did Jiminez jump to 38 bps? How many is Bobby getting?

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

      Created a late big chance for Jota.

      1. Louis Van Gaalstones
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I saw, will Bobby's winning goal bps bring him back above jimi?

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

    What a disappointment

  9. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    The only silver lining is that West Ham are awful, Moyes is useless and Liverpool can hopefully annihilate them next week at least 15-0

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

    My work colleague had two pool players. Hendo and Firmino. He’s ranked 2.2mil 🙂

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You work with Henderson's mom?

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        *Dad

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          * Step sister

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

          Haha, it would be very surprised, he’s 5foot tall filipino

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

    Repost for overnight article

    LMS Update (847 teams)

    Current safety score = 29
    Top score = 64
    LMS average = 37.34 (-0.94) = 36.4

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

      Safe for another week

      1. Mince n Tatties
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Salah red card could change that for you James

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

          Even that it would still be ok, what a horrible thought to have RC are so unlikely not worth thinking of until they happen

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

      Lemme back in

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

      Hallerlujah, I need a miracle.

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

    what now.... fpl managers... rashford, vardy, maddison, mane, salah, kane.... the list goes on...

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Kane was never a factor tbf

      But yeah template is ripped up. In a way a good thing

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

      We all transfer in the essentials like Lejeune and J. Henderson

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

    Check this...Salah on the bench next game
    Mané and Bobby killing it...

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Highly doubt Salah is going to be benched.

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

    At least Bobby delivered as he does away from home

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

      Had a home goal but varchester united

      1. Louis Van Gaalstones
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Surely Manchestvar United?

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Only if you are German

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Dutch close enough

  15. DontPiqueTooSoon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just playing around with the wildcard (not active). What did people think of going from this:

    Ryan (Button)
    TAA, Lund, Chilwell, Kelly, Rico
    Salah, Mane, KDB, Grealish, Cantwell
    Vardy, Ings, DCL

    to

    Hendo (Button)
    TAA, Lund, Lascelles, Stephens, Cathcart
    Salah, Mane, KDB, Traore, Hayden
    Jimi, Ings, Auba

    Press the button or hold and perhaps just do Vardy to Jimi?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      waste of a WC

      hold and see what happens with the injuries

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

      People did thought to wait bruv

    3. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It's basically the same team. Don't waste it.

  16. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Benched Jiminez and Traore because I had triple pool defence 🙁

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ouch. Hard luck

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

      My youngest son played them both and captained KDB

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1570479/event/24

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

      Yikes, well a lot sold so least you still have

    4. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Benched them after last weeks haul? Ouch

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

      Rival didn't jump on Pool bandwagon, saved his TC and had Pope/Jimenez/Traore playing for the 2nd wk in a row.

      Jeez this game.

  17. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Think I'll need a break from fpl. Affects too much irl.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It doesn't bother me in the slightest

      Real football does bothers me

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

      Still you have to post it here? Lies O tell you, LIES!

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

        O is for Oprah

    3. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No GW for over a week and of course mid week game locked in, nothing you can do.

      Have a breather, enjoy the weekend and come back on Wednesday.

  18. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best 5,5 midfielder?

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Fleck.

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

      Fleck

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

      FLUCK

  19. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Klopp says Mane injury is a muscle tweak

    1. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What does that mean haha

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Better than a pull or a tear I suppose

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

        WD40 required.

        1. Mince n Tatties
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          That would be a muscle squeak

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Lol

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      have a couple of muscle tweaks myself after that!

    3. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He won't be risked against West Ham

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

      West Ham hat trick confirmed.

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

      Salah bench

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Logical conclusion

  20. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    'at times' jesus that 'saying' is annoying

  21. Kaiser123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mane, Tammy, Vardy & Gaz owner. Should i wild card?

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

    SMH Mané didn't even give us a price rise before this calamity!

  23. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    BBC sport saying Klopp confirms Manès injury was a “muscle tweak”

    1. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He also said will know tmrw how serious it is.

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Klopp confirmed Mane out of this wknd and WHU

      1. Skalla
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        No he didn't...

  24. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    At least TAA delivered again

    How things stand at half time of the DGW (FPL returns last 33 starts):

    TAA - 37 (2G 21A 14CS)
    Mane - 31 (22G 9A)
    Robbo - 26 (1G 11A 14CS)
    Salah - 25 (17G 8A)
    VVD - 20 (5G 1A 14CS)
    Firmino - 20 (12G 8A)

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

      Yep, confident he will get a double digit score vs West Ham

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Be nice if he could hit the magic 40 returns mark vs West Ham 😉

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

      Trent De Bruyne. Assist magnet!

  25. FirMinaMiMo
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Fir-mina-mi-mo!

    Boby showed his class!
    Minamino overturned his debut!
    Salah should increase the mentality of passing

    🙂

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

    Bad game from Robertson.

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

      Exposed

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

      He’ll be seeing Adama run last him in his dreams

    3. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He hasn't been playing well of late

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

      He ain't quick enough to deal with Traore - no one is. Getting booked for Traore falling over his own legs was a bit harsh.

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Klopp says he is probably without sadio for west ham game

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      he highlighted a group of fixtures coming and said he is probably out for those

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

        Maybe some hope!
        Probably,

    2. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Southampton also

  28. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    'that's probably without Sadio' - Klopp

  29. Oi! Shadders!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    "and that's probably without Sadio"

  30. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    If I never see Muhammed Salah ever again it'll be too soon.