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. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Chris Sutton drooling over AMN.

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

    Martinez isn't going to be start, Ornstein (Main Arsenal journalist) has said that Leno will be Arteta's first choice keeper. This performance will just help improve the negotiating position so that they can sell higher and sign Partey.

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

      Agree with this

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

      His place to lose surely

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      He just told you this?

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

    Great sub by klopp

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

    Horrendous from Brewster.

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

    Not getting Brewster then

  6. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Brewster fail

  7. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Loan him out Klopp

  8. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Brewster aka Zaza

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

    Rhian to Sheff U then. Good

  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Brewster out

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

    Brewster’s millions!

    1. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      My 5th

  12. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Saka in peeps teams then?

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

      Yes right now, will wait and see where willian plays and how much gametime Pepe gets in the rest of pre season.

  13. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    LVG laughs at Klopp 😆

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

      I don't get it? What's the joke?

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        That was over the top by me sorry..

        LVG sent Kruel as supersub in WC and he won them the Shootout.

        Klopp sent Brewster and he missed pen ....

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

          That's good one. I thought it had something to do with United youngsters when LVG was in charge (not giving them chance in important games). Even imagined his weird laugh.

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            LOL
            I still remember the stare he given to giggsy after Chicharito missed a pen by slipping while taking it

  14. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Hope that nod from Klopp means "yeah you are going out on loan"

  15. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Brewster straight into my team

  16. ToyBlader
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    A) Mount & Ings
    B) Ward-Prowse & Werner

    And why?

    1. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      B

      Because you asked

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

      A has more potential in my opinion but mount has more competition

  17. Party time
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Overrated 4.5 fpl asset

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

      Auba wins it

    • Right In The Stanchion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Arsenal reserves have done great against the full strength PL champs.

      WATCH OUT PREMIER LEAGUE

    • Arteta
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      AUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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

      AMN & Curtis Jones’ pens both pure class

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

        I think Jones slightly scuffed his

    • SAY MY NAME
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      2nd trophy for Arteta 🙂

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

        Brilliant manager, shame Kroenke's thriftiness lowers his ceiling until he leaves

        1. SAY MY NAME
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          so true, Arsenal is just a cash pool play thing for Kroenke, might have been good if Usmanov's takeover bid a year or two ago had worked

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

            He wasn't a saint but I heard he was an Arsenal fan - could have been very different if it went through, yes.

            1. SAY MY NAME
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              yeah none of the CIS oligarchs are saints, but i don't know too much about him, but quite often with these kind of billionaires it's as much about having a successful team as the business, whereas with Stan i think it's purely a business thing where winning/losing is almost irrelevant if it doesn't impact the business model

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

        'trophy'

        1. SAY MY NAME
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          i said it mainly tongue in cheek, but still better to win than not win, and still a win over Liverpool, preseason or not won't do the team any harm

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

            Ahh I know, just trolling for the laughs. Big fan of Arteta, think he's a much better man to have in place for Arsenal than Solskjaer is for us.

            1. SAY MY NAME
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              🙂 no worries fella - i think Ole is doing pretty well for your lot, couldn't see why you got him in initially, but seems to have utd playing well, although that might be largely due to Fernandes, interesting season ahead for both of us!

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

        Not sure he’ll get the CL in 3 years like Willian mentioned but definitely going in the right direction!

        1. SAY MY NAME
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          i'll be happy if we show signs of competing properly with the top 3/4 teams, got some distance to go, but as you say, seems to be going in the right direction atm

    • Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Arsenal obliterate Liverpool. The statistical over performers about to hit a huge decline.

    • Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Arteta same amount of trophies as Pep, Klopp, Ole and Lampard combined in the last 12 months. GOAT.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Respect

    • BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Brewster gutted. Chin up, kiddo!

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

      Both keepers got nowhere near the pens that were scored.
      Brewster looks like he is going to cry.

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

        I feel so bad for the young lad. Hope it doesn't ruin his confidence.

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

          Yeah you don't like to see that to a young player. Was brave enough to take it though.

        2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I do then i think of his wages and then think i couldnt give a toss 😉

    • Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      After this match....so many dilemas
      1. TAA
      2. Martinez
      3. Who will be CB at Arsenal and are they gonna to play 352

    • goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Rhian Brewster missing a pen and pissing Klopp off so he gets loaned to help our FPL teams.

      Respect.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        FPL managers are most ruthless animals on this planet 😆

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

      Aubameyang not exactly upbeat about signing new contract.......

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

        A World Class player shouldn’t be playing in Kazakhstan on a Thursday night.

        He doesn’t have long left at the very top, needs to be smart.

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

          THIS

          If he stays at this point, its purely for the sake of the fans and financial reasons.
          If it's a football/success based decision, he leaves every time

        2. Third Eye Vision
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Is this the new Stoke on a wet Monday night?

    • GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Apart from the goal, Liverpool kept a clean sheet.

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

        Their defence did not look good, Willock won every header when he came on