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. waldo666
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else have Stephens rooted firmly on their bench?

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Fortunately not as I played him, I do however have Henderson 11 points on my bench and have Fabianski starting in my team so anxiously waiting hoping he doesn’t come back for the Liverpool match!! Haha

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Well played on Stephens, I haven't even got him first on bench. Hopefully Fab stays out for you!

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks mate it’s going to be a long wait!! Haha, has to play Stephens realy as I have Baldock and Lundstram double up so they were benched for me.

          1. waldo666
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            I would have had to bench Soy and thought he had the much better chance of a CS, oh well that's the way it goes.

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

      Yep. 3rd sub. I wont complain though, GW has panned out pretty well so far and going to get Hendo on for Gazz so 1x11pts off the bench is already a blessing.

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Indeed!

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

    Welcome thoughts on this possible WC?

    Henderson McCarthy
    TAA Aurier Van Dijk Fernández
    C Taylor
    Salah KDB Pérez Grealish Fleck
    Jimenez Aubameyang Ings

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

      you're misssing the greatest striker in premier league history

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

        I like it.

        Not going near kun due to rotation ...i just hit button....stuck at 650k!

        Currently on ...

        McCarthy
        Taa robbo egan lascelles tanganga
        Salah kdb mahrez grealish hayden
        Auba Jimmy ings

        But some of this will change....

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

          Why Perez out of interest?

          Rotation risk.?

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

            Price and seems to be coming into form, bit of differential and not many others attract at that sort of price. Traoré the other option

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

        Thanks - if got Traoré that would allow Aguero instead of Aubameyang?

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

    Laporte TC for the TGW in 37, if it happens?

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

      He would miss one of the games if not 2.

  4. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Soyuncu Vardy Mane Maupay > Lascelles Auba Perez Aguero

    Considering this for -12. Never taken a hit that extreme but think it might be worth it long term. Thoughts?

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

      daft if you have a wc

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

      3 of those 4 likely to have a blank in GW28

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Planning to FH. So that's fine.

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

          Looks like you've got it sussed then.....

          1. The Royal Robin
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            I'm not saying that, just wondering if these moves warrant the hit.

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

          Not week 31 which will be bigger blank?

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would you WC this from GW 26. Not next GW. In 2 GWs...
    McCarthy-Button
    TAA-Tomori-Lund-Kelly-Soy
    Salah-Son-Grealish-Maddison-Nakamba
    Firmino-Auba-Wilson

    I dont have City assets and City plays vs WHU in GW 26 at home.

    I can do Wilson and Maddison to Ings and Dilva but i would love to have Aguero/Mahrez.
    Thoughts?

    Thx in advance. Cheers.

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

      You'll want another WC in 27 or 28.

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Why? BGW is in GW 28 and i would sell Aguero in that GW. He or Mahrez would be my only player with blank.

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

    Hit the WC button! Which players should I get to make some cash?

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

      ones that are gonna rise

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

      Not much transfer action happening with a dead week until next game.

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

      do you want to make cash or get points?

      really puzzled by this - some people seem to take more pleasure out of a 0.1 rise than getting a good player!

  7. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Has someone done some kind of black magic to england strikers?

    Kane Rashford Tammy Vardy all injured

    Who next. Danny Ings?

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

      Ings is injury-proof

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        You jinxed him now. Now he'll revert to his previous fragile state 😉

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Hilarious:D

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Andy Carroll works in mysterious ways...

    3. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      all getting a good rest for the euro's...

    4. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy is retired anyway.

      Joshua King should be first option for striker.

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

        King plays for Norway

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yup but Norway wont play EURO so they should buy him for 3 games that England will play

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

        Ahh sh!t here we go again.. not this bs again

  8. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Salah and Mane blanks.. Oh my..

    What happen actually? Mane injured for how long? Any latest news?

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No one knows with Mane. Hope he's back for WHU but unlikely.

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

      Article has some news.

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

    McCarthy 4.0
    Evans Aurier TAA Lund Kiko
    Mane Salah KDB Martial Cantwell
    Vardy Ings DCL

    Not really sure what to do this week, so many options:
    Could just play it passive and go Evans/Aurier -> Stevens
    More aggressive would be something like Vardy + Martial + Evans -> Aguero + Grealish + Williams

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

      Or move Mane to double defence for a hit and leave Vardy

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

    Get either Aguero or Auba on WC! Both blank in GW28!

  11. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ryan
    Soyuncu,Rico,TAA,Sidibe
    Salah,Mane,KDB,Grealish
    Vardy,Deeney

    Button,Dendoncker,Lundstram,Connolly

    Is my team in need of a WC?!

    1. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      for 2 players?

  12. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone think these article headlines stink a bit? Always looking on the worst of every situation. Like It could only be written by someone who used to play FPL but these days doesn't and looks at the negative in everything

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

      Clickbait innit

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

      it's so they get as high up google searches as possible

      1. pablo discobar
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Really? Is that it? Cos it seems every tweet or headline comes across like a hindsight know it all comment

  13. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi....views on better wildcard options here please....

    A....grealish
    B...traore (already got jiminez

    And

    C....son
    D....mahrez (already got kdb)

    Thanks

    1. ItOnlyTook9Years
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Probably A+C but maybe wait for C

  14. AppleDunk
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just watched the highlights. The selfishness of Salah in a few clear openings for his colleagues is unbelievable.

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He's brilliant but if he was unselfish, he'd be even better. People say he's a striker who wants to score but he always wants to be the main man.

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

        Hence the gulf between him and the likes of Messi

  15. Ray In Bruges.
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Have Abraham Vardy Martial and no TAA, 1FT in hand.

    What is the priority here?

  16. ItOnlyTook9Years
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hmmm, Mane + Greenwood to Kun + Hayden for free is tempting

  17. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Finish the rest of my wildcard team please..!

    Henderson McCarthy

    TAA Lundstram Lascelles

    Salah Traore

    Aguero Jimenez

    (2 defenders, 3 midfielders, 1 Striker)

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

      lol

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        lol indeed.

    2. ItOnlyTook9Years
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Needs KDB

    3. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Williams Van Dijk

      De Bruyne Son Fleck

      Ings

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

      Not again 😆

    5. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Seriously, I think you might be playing the wrong game.

  18. SuperDan
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Yay or nay?
    Mane & Vardy > Mahrez & Aguero

  19. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Robbo or VVD?

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

      Robbo

  20. Squires FC
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Liverpool really should cash in on salah this summer. He is so selfish its rediculous! Cant be good for team morale when you know 90% of the time hes not going to play someone else in & will likely miss the shot. One dimentional finisher imo too.
    Could easily buy sancho or werner with change left to invest in a promising back up left back.

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

      Sure team morale is fine when you are 50 points clear at the top of the PL

      1. Squires FC
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Lol no doubt. Id like to see klopp & hendo give him a public earfull though, his assist potential is pretty crazy

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah is 10 times better than this farmers like Sancho and Werner.

      1. Squires FC
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Disagree. Werner is a better finisher, sancho isnt far off salah really.

  21. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance TAA might get rested against much easier Fixture in westham ?

    Especially with pool playing much tougher soton 3 days later. (With Matip at CB and Gomez moving to RB)

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Possibly

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

      unlikely but nothing you can do about it so a total waste of headspace

  22. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Opinions appreciated please guys

    currently on a -4 (Vardy/Gazza > Auba/Henderson)

    would you WC to get rid of Mane and make a few other changes?

    Henderson
    Robbo/Lund/Rico
    Salah/Mane/KDB/Grealish
    Auba/Ings/DCL

    Button/Cantwell/Kelly/Soy

  23. nolard
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Tonight

    A) Vardy and Maddison to Traore and Aguero

    or wait and do

    B) Vardy and Maddison to Traore and Auba

    ?

  24. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    OR 208, imagine what a Salah(TC) would have done 🙁

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You could be first 🙁

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

        Nah 😀

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

      Oh Christ I thought you would be number one by now. What’s going on?

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

        On my way hehe
        Nice OR last year 🙂

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

          Thank you 🙂 all the best in beating it, and I hope Salah can get some returns vs a poor Wham team.

  25. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Had TC on Sane last year... this year is Mane... next season is going to be Fane.

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

      Hahahaha I actually laughed

    2. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Brilliant, I’m in the same boat on both, Let’s call it the „TC curse of ANÉ”

  26. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sell Vardy for who? Can´t afford Kun. 10.7 itb

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez

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

        Have him. Jimmy, Ings, Vardy atm

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

      Auba or Jimenez

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

        Have exact money for Auba but if he´s off then I wasted a tranny

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

      Just hold for now

    4. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The dude who will replace Vardy in the team.

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

    Before I go to bed I've one more thing to say. Muhammed Salah is a fraud.Sunday league finisher. Wouldn't score in a brothel.

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

      Sleep well!

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

      Prob a good idea you stay in bed until after the West Ham game

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You could've at least learned to spell his name right.

  28. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How’s this for a WC?

    Pope (Button)
    TAA VVD Lascelles (Lund Rico)
    Salah KDB Mahrez Grealish Traore
    Kun Jiménez (DCL)

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

    It's a hilarious disaster of a GW xD

    I think this might actually end my mini league hopes. Quite a lot of money riding on it this year. Oh well. I still think I've made sensible decisions throughout the season and that's all you can really do.

    Maybe next year!

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

    Let’s all panic WC. Nice!

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

      Praying for maximum fixture chaos now