Scout Notes

Mané returns to haunt sellers as Salah blanks at Norwich

Norwich City 0-1 Liverpool

Goals: Sadio Mane (£12.2m)

Assists: Jordan Henderson (£5.5m)

Bonus Points: Andrew Robertson x3 (£7.0m), Joe Gomez x2 (£5.3m), Trent Alexander-Arnold x1 (£7.7m), J Henderson x1

The ongoing Sadio Mané (£12.2m) narrative took a perhaps predictable turn in Gameweek 26 as he scored the winning goal for Liverpool at Norwich.

Over 1.6 million Fantasy Premier League managers sold the Senegalese international after he went off injured at Wolves in the first match of Double Gameweek 24. While it took a few weeks for Mané to recover, in the end, he only missed two Premier League outings.

Those who were brave enough to hold onto Liverpool’s left-winger were the real winners of Saturday’s Gameweek 26 action, especially as there was also a blank for the 45.4% owned Mohamed Salah (£12.8m), who was the most captained player of the round.

Also, there was further joy for the 2.7% who own Jordan Henderson (£5.5m) as he produced an assist for Mané’s late goal.

Despite registering just three attacking returns in the first 23 matches of the campaign, Henderson now has five since the start of Double Gameweek 24, more than any of his colleagues.

In truth, Liverpool had to work much harder than many would have expected considering Norwich’s defensive displays this season. The Canaries restricted their illustrious visitors to very few clearcut chances, Mane’s effort in the closing stages, arguably the biggest of the afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were, understandably, dominant in possession but, especially in the first half, struggled to fashion anything really testing for Norwich or goalkeeper Tim Krul (£4.5m). Salah was his usual busy self in the penalty area with plenty of efforts on goal to show for it, but he lacked quality and accuracy – and the same was true of Roberto Firmino (£9.7m).

Liverpool had to watch their own back-line too with much of their issues in the opening period coming from a spirited start to the game from Norwich. In the 35th minute, new signing Lukas Rupp (£4.5m), deployed on the right flank of attacking midfield again, got clear behind Liverpool’s defence. In acres of space he probably could have shot himself but opted to square to Teemu Pukki (£6.5m), the pass lacking the power to get past an impressive Alisson (£6.1m) save. Either way, were it not for their goalkeeper’s actions, Liverpool might have found themselves (arguably) deservedly behind.

Todd Cantwell (£4.9m) was a thorn in the Reds’ side for much of the afternoon, fouled four times in the opening half-hour and spearheaded their counter-attacks in the second half, one of which resulted in Alex Tettey (£4.5m) inadvertently striking the foot of Alisson’s post.

It was in this period of the game that it became more attack versus defence in favour of Liverpool but they only started to work Krul enough just before the hour-mark.

Salah teed up Naby Keïta (£5.8m) for an edge of the box effort in the 57th minute, which required palming over from Krul, although he was still comfortable.

Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) then headed the resulting corner at the Norwich goalkeeper, before the former Newcastle shot-stopper produced a world-class double-save.

Salah shot on the turn from close range, forcing another impressive Krul stop and setting up Keïta with an easy loose-ball to tap in. However, his effort was stopped by a smothering save from Krul.

It was after this that Henderson played a fantastic through-pass, which Mané hit beyond Krul on the turn.

Firmino had a late chance to get on the score-sheet as Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.7m) fizzed a ball across the goal-line, perhaps too fast for the Brazilian to get any real purchase on it.

Despite Norwich’s spirited efforts, and Alisson’s crucial first-half intervention, it was also a big evening for those who had doubled or tripled-up on Liverpool defence.

With the Reds dominating possession and only one player scoring at Carrow Road, the excessive number of passes registered at the back helped Andrew Robertson (£7.0m), Joe Gomez (£5.3m) and Alexander-Arnold to bonus points to go with their clean sheet.

Norwich City XI: Krul; Byram (Lewis 27′), Zimmermann, Hanley, Aarons; Tettey (Buendia 83′), McLean; Cantwell, Duda, Rupp (Drmic 83′); Pukki.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; Keita (Milner 84′), J Henderson, Wijnaldum (Fabinho 60′); Oxlade-Chamberlain (Mane 60′), Firmino, Salah.

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960 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Bergwijn !

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

    Just seen that Aston Villa back line without Ming's

    Come on Son, they are here for the taking!

    Brace territory please

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Pepe the frog Reina to spill one / leap frog the ball?

  3. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    38 so far with KDB and Grealish to go. Moved from 29.5k to 29.3k... any chance I stay on a green arrow?

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

      Probably not unless Grealish is going super mental

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same players left but we are going back down today/tomorrow/Wednesday.

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

    Good afternoon.

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

      Afternoon, any United player in your team today?

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

        I was looking forward to our game tomorrow night but then I thought about it some more and think it was the winter break football drought talking.

  5. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    9 years ago we beat Barcelona, today we will struggle against Newcastle. Makes you think.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      9 years is a long time in football

      The year arsenal beat barca was also the year they let newcastle back from 4-0

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        And lost to birmingham the following week

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

        Barcelona reached in next round actually but Arsenal fans are deluded.

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Arsenal did beat them at the emirates and almost certianly would hsve gone through if not for some seriously dodgy red card for rvp

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            But its the end result that matters so

            1. Niho992
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Yup

  6. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Owning no Son, Alli or Moura doesn’t feel great.

    That Villa team looks bloody awful.

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Prob be 1-1

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

      0-3 Bergwijn hattie.

    3. kime67
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      no mings is awful

    4. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'd feel great if I didn't own Moura tbh.

  7. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which combo better for the following team?

    A) DCL - Mane - Lundstram
    Or
    B) Vardy - Traore - Robertson

    Ryan
    TAA - Taylor - XXX (Soy - Cathcart)
    Salah - Kdb - Son - XXX (Romeu)
    Jimenez - Ings - XXX

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A purely cause Mane

    2. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  8. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    come on Son and Grelish

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Disgusting.

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      And Aurier. 😉

  9. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Betting some money on Son to score the first goal to jinx him.
    Thank me later 😉

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Enjoy your winnings

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He will just score a hatty in the last 30 minutes if you do that.

  10. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Need Tanganga to stay on that bench so I don't end up with my 3rd Cameo appearance in my starting 11. Please Jose do me a favour

  11. kime67
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    No mings and drinkwater in midfield... this one is spurs w

  12. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Our FPL god
    Who art in heaven
    Give us this day our daily bench jam
    And forgive us our bad transfers
    For yours is the kingdom the power and the glory of the green arrow
    Amen

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Weak

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks professor

  13. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If only I had gone with triple Liverpool defence these last 6 GWs,
    why didn't I think of it? WHY? WHY?
    Maybe I could've jumped on, before it was too late.
    If only I had logged on here and read comments more carefully. There could've been someone that mentioned it 4,000 times and I would have spotted it.

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Haha

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I did mention it a lot tbf.

      No one else did.

  14. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What to do here? Got 2 free transfers and 1.2 in the bank.

    Guaita Button
    TAA Robbo Lundy Sidibe Reid
    Salah KDB Son Grealish Hayden
    DCL Vardy Ings

    Currently on DCL and Sidibe to Jimenez and Lascelles

  15. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    When will we know when the blanks/doubles (post GW28) are?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      After next fa cup games

      1. chaser123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Before the start of GW29?

  16. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    191 points benched so far this season .....grrrrrrr

    1. bjstanier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      197... feel your pain

  17. bjstanier
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    GW27 -
    a) Maddison and Auba for Mane and Calvert? (for -4)
    b) Do nothing and make move GW28? (no hit)

    Current team:
    Ryan Button
    Lundstram Soy Stevens Rico TAA
    Maddison Salah Cantwell KDB Traore
    Auba Ings Vardy

  18. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    is it save to bring in jimenez now...

  19. Green Jumper
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I've got Salah and intend on holding on to him.

    Given their respective fixtures, I'm thinking of switching Richarlison for Martial for a few weeks, but think it's a marginal call, plus Everton under Ancelotti look potential dark horses to me.