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. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ALMOST GREALISH GOAL

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

      It wasn’t. He was offside

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

      He was offside and shot straight at the keeper

  2. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Gomez can’t defend

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

      I saw arguments trying to prove he was better than De Ligt...

      That said he’s far from the worst in the PL.

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

      What a ridiculous statement.

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

    This game needs a villa goal.

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

    The team showing more threat nearly scored

    Liverpool on the ropes

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    No chance that Salah will score

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sorry lads, it’s because I captained him

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      0. Just want him to get to 60 mins tbh.

      1. grumpyman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Will take the 3 pointer at this stage. Liverpool look like they're on holiday.

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Non-owner: Ridiculous statement

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

    Embarrassing by mane

  7. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    wouldn't mind a 0-0

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

    Ox and Origi are championship quality at best. Jury still out on Keita

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Chanpion quality

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Champion quality

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

    Klopps days are numbered.

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

      Yep.

      Firing our manager, that everyone loves, after winning the league.

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

        Hes headed for Real, taking Salah and VVD with him. Another 30 years at least...

    2. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      1456 days?

    3. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He's just Neil Warnock in a cap, being found out lately.

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

    Pool shocking, make some changes Klopp

  11. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane to be taken off before 60?

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

      He’s been really poor

  12. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Man alive, these are the champions?

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Worst champions in 30 years

  13. RubeRx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just shows how valuable Henderson and Wijnaldum are to this team

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Agreed, especially Henderson this season.

  14. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A) Salah>Sterling
    B) Salah>Foden, DCL>Kane for -4

    Already have KDB and Mahrez

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Triple up City might be the way to go...

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

    Next game
    Firmino starts Salah benched
    Weekend game
    Both start, Mane benched

    Worried about Trent too

    1. Reg83
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don't think so. Klopp is not pep

  16. Glad He Ate Her
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Proves EPL isn't the best league in the world

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

      Proves how big a part mentality plays in football.

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

      Hasn't been for a long time

    3. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No? Or wouldn’t a relegation side being in this game also prove the opposite?

      Interesting discussion

  17. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which one next GW:

    A) Jimenez (shu)
    B) Kane (bou) -4

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

      Depends how spurs play next game...

  18. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Villa play like the Dog & Duck in the final third, any other team would have had 1 by now.

  19. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Keita and Ox are awful

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      This

    2. Reg83
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ox should play for a team like Aston villa. How is he part of Liverpool team?

  20. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah won't even make it to the end of the game

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

      i will glad if he makes 60

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wouldn’t matter either way if he gets past 60

    3. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Klopp will bring him off after his hatty, you’re right

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

    SALAH PLEASE MAKE 60

  22. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ox is shocking to watch

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

    Salah please score mate

    Please do it for Liverpool

  24. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    This is painful viewing.

  25. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ox back to his Arsenal "best".

  26. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can't believe Liverpool are playing with no tempo. Like they don't care about millions of fantasy football players.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should care about the quality of their football if they intend to win next season through. SAF would have been livid. Every game matters to real winners.

  27. Pointless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Dear Mr Salah, Unlike my ML rivals I had faith and gave you the armband over Man Utd assets. Season over. I think the least you can do is send me £10 to cover my ML stake. Your sincerely, Pointless

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

    Salah to get sub at 59th min ?

    Damn

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

    Liverpool fans scrambling for excuses here 😆

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Normally Klopp provides them and makes it easy

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

    Can we watch a repeat of BUR SHU instead?