Dugout Discussion

Firmino benched but Klopp otherwise names strong side for the visit of Aston Villa

Jurgen Klopp has named a strong starting XI for Liverpool’s first home fixture as Premier League champions.

Aston Villa are the visitors to Merseyside, with kick-off at Anfield at 16:30 BST.

The Reds’ head coach has made three changes to his team following the 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City but there is no wholesale rotation and most of their highly owned Fantasy Premier League assets retain their starts.

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) and Sadio Mane (£12.4m) both make the cut in attack, while the back four is at full strength as Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.8m), Andrew Robertson (£7.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Joe Gomez (£5.3m) line up in front of Alisson (£6.2m).

Roberto Firmino (£9.4m), Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.4m) and Jordan Henderson (£5.3m) drop to the bench, with Divock Origi (£5.1m), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.1m) and Naby Keita (£5.8m) taking their places.

James Milner (£5.3m) misses out with a “tight muscle”.

There are five changes for Aston Villa following their 1-0 defeat to Wolves.

Pepe Reina (£4.2m) replaces the benched Orjan Nyland (£4.3m) between the posts, while Neil Taylor (£4.2m) is in for the injured Matt Targett (£4.3m) at left-back.

John McGinn (£5.3m), Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) and Trezeguet (£5.2m) also return, with Conor Hourihane (£5.7m), Marvelous Nakamba (£4.4m) and Mbwana Samatta (£5.4m) only among the substitutes.

The ‘out of position’ FPL midfielder Keinan Davis (£4.3m) leads the line as Dean Smith moves away from a two-man strike force to what looks like his regular 4-3-3.

Jack Grealish (£6.1m) was the most-sold midfielder of Gameweek 33+, with Salah also among the top ten FPL players for transfers out.

The Egyptian is nevertheless the most-captained Fantasy asset of this weekend, both overall and within the top 10k.

Villa pushed Liverpool hard in the reverse fixture back in Gameweek 11, with the Reds running out 2-1 winners.

Nevertheless, the Villans haven’t kept a single clean sheet away from home this season and have conceded more goals on the road than any other Premier League team.

Liverpool have scored 44 goals in their 16 home fixtures in 2019/20 and no club has conceded on fewer occasions on their own soil.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Salah, Origi, Mane.

Aston Villa XI: Reina, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Taylor, Luiz, McGinn, Trezeguet, Grealish, El Ghazi, Davis.

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 33+

1,937 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    OX is an average player. Nothing special. Slows the game every time he gets ball

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He plays well sometimes. Inconsistent is more accurate i guess.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I haven't seen him playing well(Top team level)

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He hasn't been the same since his ACL. I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool consider offers, should Thiago sign.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thiago would make you too good.
        I hope that doesn't happen 😀
        Injury ... Okay
        I don't remember watching him for long so don't know pre injury style

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          He was smashing it until he got injured. Not been the same since and rarely starts consistently. I wouldn't have a problem him being sold, but only if Thiago came in.

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Can be a good squad player. In cup games.

            1. goriuanx
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah wouldn't mind that. Depends if he fancies it, which he shouldn't if he wants to play regularly.

              1. Amey
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                True. Must be in his prime years right now. Perks of playing for a big club ...

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

        He was pretty poor at arsenal too. Just dreadful

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          He was pretty good us up until injury vs Roma. Stop start ever since.

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Just like every Arsenal prospect who goes elsewhere. Wilshere, Walcott, Iwobi... list goes on. For some reason english Arse players are massively overrated

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        😀

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

        Gnabry?

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Not English and barely played at Arsenal. Ironic considering hes the only one who was a real prosepct.

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Read your first line again

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Grealish flashing his gash.

    He needs to pad up.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Grealish fancies himself so much, its cringey

  3. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Out Abraham + Rash In Kane + Greenwood
    B) Out Abraham + Guendouzi In Pulisic + 4.8 bench striker (not Greenwood as 3 Utd)

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Liverpool hitting long balls

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It has only taken you a season to realise this

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Nothing new

  5. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    This is such a bad watch

  6. delux
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I recall Robo scored 15 pointer for Hull first gameweek a couple of seasons ago and I got him in for red card gameweek 2 😀

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah captain fail

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Benjamin Button

  8. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah is so off today

    1. Zen_Master
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah... so off my team after this Villa game lol

  9. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I thought Burnley v Sheff Utd was a hard watch

    This isn't much better

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      S U P E R - S U N D A Y

  10. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Robertson looking like its 27th minute of the extra time

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Did liverpool really pay 30+ for ox?

    They havent done much bad buisness but jeeez

    1. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      40 mill i think

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Suffered a bad injury not sure if he has ever fully recovered

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He was rubbish at arsenal. Hust becuase wenger didnt play him enough and he was quick people assumed he was good

    3. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He was doing really well at Liverpool before the injury.

  12. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Seeing Reina back at Liverpool reminds me that Milan Baros announced his retirement this week. I was shocked he was still playing. If you want a laugh, check out what he used to look like playing for Liverpool vs what he looks like now.

    1. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wow. He won the CL with Pool in 05 along with Luis Garcia, Gerrard & co.

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Anfield fake crowd cant even muster any enthusiasm!!!

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah wasting absolute sitter, thinking about the banks of the Nile and his summer holidays instead of being on his toes

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Dun be mean. His aunt died

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          If thats true then why is he playing? Selfish to play if he isnt mentally there.

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Don't know. You'll have to ask him

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Origi is rubbish

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah and Mane in pre-season mode. And it is crap for FPL. But you can't blame them. In two months time they will probably be playing in the new PL season again. They don't want a crap injury that rules them out for a long time.

    6. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      LIV less team for next 5 GWs getting more viable by a minute

      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hope so. I need the 20 mil

      2. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm down to just a Trent

    7. Ibra
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah and Origi changed their positions. Good for Salah owners.

    8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Need a mane haul and villa have suddenly turned into a team with 10 maldinis

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        So annoying isn’t it

    9. Right In The Stanchion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Van Dijk goal wouldn’t go amiss

    10. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Just give Liverpool a penalty already.

    11. Right In The Stanchion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Origi and Mane been awful too. They’re all off the boil.

    12. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      30 mins no shots

    13. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Funny how I was getting abused for saying Salah captain fail in the first 3 minutes and now everyone is saying it. 😆

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        You mostly get abused for posting crap

    14. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I swear if Liverpool don’t score....

    15. TAT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah > Sterling for a hit looking likely.

    16. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jose Reina was Liverpool player ... so i doubt it will be high score game .....

      As a respect to old players it will be 1-2 goals max.

      1. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Curious...

      2. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Salah and Mane wont want to embarass their old close friend and team mate of many years

    17. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wondering if no Firmino is basically like having no Salah points

      1. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        How about last week? Firmino was there.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          City game?

    18. Orion
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Chance that KDB doesn’t feature at all ? Do we know something about? Or just guessing...
      Have Saka lurking as a first sub...

      1. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        1 hour to know

        1. Zilla
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          (lineups)

      2. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        With 5 subs, can’t see him not coming on even if not benched.

      3. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Probably slim. Vs burnley he came in when it was already 4-0, so cant predict anything if he's on bench

      4. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        U want him to start cuz if he doesn't he'll have a small cameo

    19. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Zero attempt Liverpool LOL

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        So villa might not get relegated? Watford then?