Dugout Discussion

Alexander-Arnold absent as Martínez starts in goal for Arsenal

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) remains absent for Liverpool as their preparations for the 2020/21 campaign continue with the Community Shield final.

The right-back has already missed two pre-season friendlies this summer and, even though Jurgen Klopp said there was a chance he could be involved at Wembley, Neco Williams (£4.0m) has been handed a third-successive start in his place.

It is difficult to be too downbeat regarding Alexander-Arnold’s fitness issues though, considering he is still set to report for England duty on Monday morning.

The rest of Liverpool’s Community Shield line-up is largely as expected with Andrew Robertson (£7.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Joe Gomez (£5.5m) completing the back-four.

And, of course, Mohamed Salah (£12.0m), Sadio Mané (£12.0m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) comprise the front-three, although, based on Klopp’s pre-match press conference, we could see Rhian Brewster (£4.5m) feature from the bench.

Mikel Arteta may have potentially thrown Fantasy managers a bone with his team selection, handing a start to budget goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (£4.5m).

The Spaniard has not featured in friendlies for the Gunners yet, Bernd Leno (£5.0m) starting the win at MK Dons, but, at the first chance of availability, he is back in the team following an excellent run of form during Project Restart.

If he were to hold onto the mantel of first-choice at Arsenal, that might ward off interest in William Saliba (£4.5m), who has been named among the substitutes today.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) is stationed on the left-hand side of the Arsenal front-three, joined there by Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) and Eddie Nketiah (£6.0m).

Interestingly, after spending last season on loan in Turkey, Mohamed Elneny (yet to be priced) starts in central midfield alongside Granit Xhaka (£5.5m).

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, N Williams; Wijnaldum, Milner, Fabinho; Mané, Firmino, Salah.

Arsenal XI (3-4-3): Martínez; Tierney, Holding, D Luiz; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Bellerín; Aubameyang, Nketiah, Saka.

1,404 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Bobby more forward and more central than usual!

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nah, he was definitely a centre back

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      There is nothing that Bobby could do in this game to make me pick him in GW1.

  2. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    People overthinking Auba, IMO.

    Get him in for the first two games. Then take him out for the tough run. He might get some goals in those tough games, but at 12.0m you aren't buying him as a set and forget. You're buying him as a (c) option. It is highly unlikely Auba will rise above £12.3m and so you can manoeuvre him in and out.

    The ones that hurt you are the cheap and mid-priced guys who keep delivering points. Think of Pope, TAA, KDB, Ings last season. It is those players who really need to focus on because once they go up in price, they don't come back down again and that screws you far more in the long run.

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Spot on, part of reason I decided to go cheap in defence (loads of options) heavy up front and mixed in midfield

  3. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Looks like Auba and Werner are locked in our teams after scoring today right?

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      They both were already locked in mineb

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yep

    2. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      They are both in mine. But not sure about Werner. Think Chelsea are going to take time to gel.

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I give it 60 minutes. Think they’ll be flying this season.

      2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        My only worry about them - but nice fixtures after lfc.

      3. FPL Theorist
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yes, Chelsea didn't create many chances. They still looked like the team that was struggling to create in the FA Cup final after Pulisic went off.

    3. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Both have been ever present for me.

  4. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Holding worth considering?

    1. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      He's getting sent on loan after this game

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nope. Too much competition at CB

    3. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers guys

  5. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Leeds aren't going to make it easy for Liverpool GW1, especially if Henderson starts and TAA lacks match fitness. Auba over Salah slowly looking more tempting, if only they didn't have the creativity of Burnley....

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      You mean if Henderson doesn't start?

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yes, ty

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I agree, Henderson brings so much tempo and aggressiveness to Liverpool. He's also good at those half space crosses into the box to Mane and Firmino.

    2. UnluckyXI
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Rumours are Arteta wants willian more central as he's deceptively creative. Will see what happens in the rest of pre season

  6. Lovren an elevator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Milner playing like the main man...could be a steal at 5.5

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      But he’ll only play every third match

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Never pick. Never play. Never captain.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        What about benching?

        1. Limbo
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Always bench. Preferably at another team’s bus stop.

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

    Worked under Pep but copied it all from Jose.

    Quite the mix for Arteta.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Haha salty

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

        Have you got over the kneeling at kick-off yet?

      2. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Think the comments were deleted by any sign of this fool being banned?

        1. Don Van Vliet
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Short of an actual explicitly racist outburst there's not a lot the mods can do. Everyone is entitled to voicing their opinion -- no matter how repugnant -- providing it's not overtly and/or unnecessarily abusive.

          Hopefully he's on borrowed time.

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

      Artetas got klopps number. 3rd in a row next month

  8. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else notice that if Rashford was a mid last season he would be 26 points up. Puts him 1 point behind Sterling....

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Take penalty duties off him and he scored 11.

      Not saying that makes him a bad pick, but it definitely chalked off a lot of points.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        He also missed two though.

      2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Good point on the pens. Rashford still seemed to take the odd one when Fernandes was on the pitch? Or was that before things were settled?

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Bruno gave him one, out of pity more than anything because his form was so bad but other than that it's all Bruno baby

            1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I see thanks.

      3. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Does that include less baps? What about Greenwood?

        1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Greenwood gets 16 points added 10 CS and 6 goals

      4. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        My first issue with Rashford in FPL was that in a lot of those games he was a central striker. He moved out to the LW later in the season and a lot of those times he was very wide.

        The second issue is penalties. He was quite reliant on penalties for points and with Fernandes' record I don't think he will get as many penalty opportunities.

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

        I would prefer greenwood and bruno over him. Even martial.
        Greenwood much more involved and more clinical.

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Thoughts on starting the season with Steer and Nyland? One will surely play, and it really frees up a lot of cash.

      1. ElliotJHP
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Transfer waiting to happen though, just go for the extra 0.5 imo

      2. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Neither will play GW1. I expect one to come in anyway.

        1. Dthinger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Oh! Duh! I forgot they had a blank first week!

      3. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        With just .5 more you get Mcarthy or Ryan. No brainier. Using a free to take out a 3.9m keeper will sting.

      4. rozzo
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        It frees up 0.5 at most.

        Hardly a lot of cash is it

        1. Dthinger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I don’t like the 4.5 options but I guess that’s what I’ll have to do

          1. SwissWavey
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            But you like Villa keepers?

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Robbo has been excellent

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        TAA to Robbo ?

        1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I think if one is missing it hurts Liverpool overall play

          If Trent is out I might go without

    4. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1299735737840160768

      I was expecting to see Wakanda Forever celebration today.
      It just had to be him. Another classy finish added to Aubameyang's collection. What a player!

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

        Becoming the classic Auba finish, just like Henry.

        1. BobbyV
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Just like Tony Martial 🙂

    5. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Mane is looking a better pick than Salah

    6. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      How long until the non existent Salah slots home a Robertson cross?

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        2 months

    7. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Liverpool def worth considering? How are they looking at the back?

      Not watching the match...

      1. UnluckyXI
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Robertson looking good, Williams awful

      2. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Tsimikas should play even at RB he would be much much better than Williams. He already faced Auba last season and he stopped him in a great way.

      3. amitmishr
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        If you want to get them, ignore the first half. Else you will find it difficult to justifying

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Gomez is someone I am interested in

    8. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Salah only scores in home games, so it is dangerous to leave him out of GW1. You can take him out after GW1.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        He actually blanked at home last season vs Brighton, Leicester, Wolves & Burnley

        He got a single assist at home to Villa & Chelsea

        A single goal in another 7 home games (no good for baps for Mo)

        There’s 13 home games of the 18 he played (missed the derby) where he didn’t exactly destroy non owners, nor heavily reward captainers

        1. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          15 out of his 19 goals were scored at home though, so his away games are trash and it's pretty safe to take him out from GW2 onwards, if he wasn't the penalty taker I would prefer mane any day as he's far more consistent.

    9. Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Predictions of Liverpool - Leeds game?
      I think I don’t need TAA until GW4 in my team at this rate

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        2-1

      2. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        2-1

      3. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        3 or 4 nil

      4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        3-0

        1. Isco Disco
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          You guys really think Bielsa’s team won’t score a goal or 2 against this out of form Pool defense

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            The season is a fortnight away. No one has form at this stage.

    10. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      My current draft has no Auba, Salah, Mane, Sterling, Aguero, Fernandes, Rashford, Son or Vardy... or Messi

      Stupid £100m limit

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

        If you had said no Chelsea as well, would have been interesting

      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I'm guessing you've got most of these

        TAA, Robbo, Doherty
        KDB, Ziyech
        Werner, Kane, Martial

    11. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Martinez started the move that lead to the goal...

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Still leaving

    12. davies
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Getting the correct 5.5 midfielder is going to be so important

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        why

        1. davies
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Building team value and allows several big hitters but also not worth a transfer constantly changing

      2. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Not really. Quite a few options - if you get the wrong one, it's easy to hop onto another.

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I don't think team value is that important any more

    13. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Robbo and Mane might be interesting...ahem...left-field differentials...

      1. Our Man Charlie
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        was just thinking this too

    14. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Liverpool need to bring Salah on in second half!

      1. Steinburg FC
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        *Brewster

    15. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Robertson looking essential.

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

        Far outplaying TAA here

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

        Ues essential especially with those clean sheet points

      3. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Liverpool arent looking ready and the international break wont help them.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Liverpool have created much better chances than Arsenal so far. Auba made the difference, and now Arsenal are defending well.

    16. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      What a pass from Salah to Robbo, beauty.

    17. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I can't watch the game but anything you can add as a note would be useful(especially if it's about Liv Def Salah and Auba)

      1. UnluckyXI
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Auba looking great, Saka especially and Nketiah could be great buys if they nail down their spots.

        Liv Def not great, williams not looking good, robertson looking like the best option right now

    18. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      So its Trents blood on the Arsenal shirt

    19. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Virgil is so overdue.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        VVD over TAA & Robbo 😉

    20. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Many going without either Mane or Salah?

      1. yousunkmybattleship
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I’ve not got either currently

      2. Greasy Grealish Gang
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        It's all fun and games until one of them scores a brace. I'm still owning one of them.

        1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Same learnt lesson the hard way last season

    21. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I think the Tsimikas signing put a fire up Robertson's arse.

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Not really. Robbo has been like that since project restart last season

        Think more attacking returns than TAA in same period

      2. Greasy Grealish Gang
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I'd say it's more about Trent vs Robbo but could be!

    22. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Arsenal outclassing Liverpool so far.

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

        dont worry the real arsenal will emerge in the second half

    23. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Be interesting to see If Brewster gets a run out

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        In my team already. On my 3rd bench though