Dugout Discussion

Alexander-Arnold starts for Liverpool as £4.0m Leeds defender features

Liverpool come into the first Premier League match of 2020/21 with their strongest key players all involved from the off.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) has not turned out for the Reds since the end of last season, missing out on pre-season friendlies through injury, but he starts against Leeds United.

While he was not fit enough to go on a summer tour with his club, the right-back did get some game-time in while away on international duty with England.

Naturally, he is joined in the back-four by the usual suspects of Andrew Robertson (£7.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Joe Gomez (£5.5m) while Neco Williams (£4.0m) misses out on a place in the match-day squad entirely.

Mohamed Salah (£12.0m), the second-most-captained player of Gameweek 1, starts on the right-hand side of Liverpool’s front-three, as do Sadio Mané (£12.0m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.5m).

In their first Premier League game for 16 years, Leeds line-up in Marcelo Biela’s favoured 4-1-4-1 formation.

The key Fantasy talking point is a start at centre-back for Pascal Struijk (£4.0m), although it remains unclear how long he will last in the team. The budget defender takes the place of club captain Liam Cooper (£4.5m) who is unexpectedly absent from the squad today.

The Scottish international’s late injury means a centre-back pairing of Struijk and new signing Robin Koch (£4.5m) for Leeds, while Stuart Dallas (£4.5m) and Luke Ayling (£4.5m) are set to staff the full-back positions.

Patrick Bamford (£5.5m) has been trusted with a start at Anfield, keeping new signing Rodrigo Moreno (£6.0m) on the bench while key man Pablo Hernández (£6.0m) is also in from the beginning, joined in midfield by Mateusz Klich (£5.5m), Jack Harrison (£5.5m) and Helder Costa (£5.5m).

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; Keïta, J Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mané, Firmino, Salah.

Leeds United XI: Meslier; Dallas, Struijk, Koch, Ayling; Phillips; Costa, Hernández, Klich, Harrison; Bamford.

Best players by position:

2,446 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Check out my Umtiti's
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Wow. Salah owners have literally jiz2ed all over non-owners

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

    Bruno captain can save us next week against Salah keepers . Hope he gets 2 penalties too

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

      Not on Palace's pretty strong defensive performance today. Don't see United blitzing Palace.

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

      Unless you have Salah and Bruno 😀

  3. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Why do I continuously fight owning Salah? So stupid

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

      It was the right call. 2 penalties can't be predicted

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

        No it wasn't lol

        Every season he scores 250+ points. He's essential.

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

          Come back in 3 GWs time.

          1. kinghenry14
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            can salah's gw1 points be removed in the next 3 gws or what?

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

        15% increase of penalties since VAR now with the monitors maybe even more

      3. BoleynWin
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Penalties aside he’s looked extremely sharp, best Pool player by a long way tonight.

      4. DantheManinaPan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        It wasn't the right call.

        Every mathematical model out there put Salah as the highest scorer both this week and over the course of a few weeks

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

          Not FFSs RMT tool

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

            Fair enough. Sorry for being wrong!

            I mostly use fplreview.com

            It's excellent and I think better than FFS projections

    2. Mumble Pie
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Me too. A hatty is a rough start but keep the faith

  4. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    glad i didn’t follow top fellas advise and kept salah

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

    Kept Bruno benched because of this - have the triple midfield threat for GW2 now. Shame my forward line is terrible

  6. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    captaincy switch costs me 13 points... 😐

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Same here, but its early.

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

      same, did it last minute and based on the captain poll too! DOH!

  7. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Must be a few who triple captained Mo?

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

      One in my ML

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      One in mine tc mane

  8. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any stats on how many captained Salah compared to Auba?

  9. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thought Trent was poor. Looked poor in the England match as well. Maybe not a season keeper

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

      Agreed he looked far from his best, rarely saw him outpaced last season but it happened on numerous occasions tonight. I’m hoping he steadily improves as the season goes on

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

      Fell for this last season just before his 20 points or whatever it was Vs Leicester

  10. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Plus. Captain Salah.

    Downside TAA and Robbo. Need to evaluate the attacking reward vs clean sheet option with the defence.

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

      I only have TAA and Salah :p

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

        Oops, TAA and Robbo

  11. I Must Break You
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Salah says, I'll see your recency bias and raise you a hat trick

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

      He is in decline apparently

      1. Mighty Banana
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        1 Goal in open play vs a newly promoted team.

        Not in decline ofc, but nothing noteworthy.

  12. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    At least having Mané makes it easy to transfer him out!

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      😀 basically forced into Mane -> Bruno now as a lot of Salah owners won't do it - we know how this is going

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

        Yep. All that planning feels a little wasted!

  13. Ribus
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Never understood the Auba C love over Salah.

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

      Blame the poll

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

      Easy to say. I was 50/50 for a month.

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

        I wrote it even yesterday here.

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

          I capped him, but you know it’s luck.

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

            Its not about the outcoming. For sure that is luck. Its more on the paper before.
            How were the bookies stats for both to score?

        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Some people are genius

    3. Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      you forseen those 2 penalties from Salah?

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

        No i saw a better player in a better team in a home game.

    4. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Probably the sort of person who would post it the other way around if Auba scored three and Salah one .

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

        You got it, the game is about probabilities 🙂

    5. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It's called recency bias. Now lots will jump on Salah as his fixtures get harder. You never do well in FPL chasing yesterday's results

  14. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I actually considered dropping Salah as well to use funds elsewhere.

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

    Salah has more points then my hole team 🙂

    1. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Your "hole" team? What kind of sick game are you playing?

  16. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Proud Auba capper here! Salah so lucky! I’m not having it!! Most undeserved hatty ever!!

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

      Hahahahahahahah

      Bitter much?

  17. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Mané instead of Salah anyone? I feel sick

    1. Party time
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Mané TC says hello dear

        1. Threat Level Midnight
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          You didn’t

      • Towsor44
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yep, Mane here and I’ve got Kane captain

      • adamtheyido
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yep, i C Mane, Salah 1st name on my team all pre season. Trying to be too clever, and switched him to Mane yesterday

    2. LOL LINGARD SCORED
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Good work Salah (C), not bad for an “out of form” player

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

      Still looking at salah to bruno next week.....

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

      I'm usually a Salah owner but I remember 2 times I didn't owned him and he hurt me.
      4 goals against Watford 2 season before
      3 goals against Leeds Utd today

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

      Auba is the worst premium midfielder. Yes or No

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

        He scored, no

      2. Babelcopter
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Mane

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

        No way.

      4. Manani
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        only 3 premium midfielder played so far.

    6. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Vvd over Trent feels pretty good so far unlikely to last long

    7. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Season over. Captained Auba over Salah

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Weren’t you a good player last year?!

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

          Good every year 😉

      2. Party time
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Season over. Tc Mané

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

            Joke right?

      3. Queens of the South Age
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        To help put it in perspective, I didn't have Sterling for his hat trick in GW1 last season and still finished 2nd overall. It's not a disaster. Don't have Salah now either so I am on track for 2nd again! 🙂

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

          Ahh, thanks for the morale boost!!!! Mane owner!

          1. Queens of the South Age
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Any time. Mane was in every draft I did until last night but never had Salah once. Claiming penalties has helped him though. I just went for Robbo and TAA instead and spread the cash.

            Got Kane instead to have an easy move to Aguero this week or next if he is looking an option.

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

              Would you do Mané to bruno. That was the plan but feel it might bite me in the bum.
              Good move with Robbo, he looked sharp

              1. Queens of the South Age
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                It's a 50/50. At least we saw Liverpool are looking good going forward and Mane should get chances. Can hopefully wait till you see Chelsea play at least but the transfers are going mad already.

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

                  Yeah good point. Thanks mate

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

          Love the logic 🙂

        3. FFSbet.com
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          It is,you would have been 1st

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

          Thanks for the inspiration! Definitely needed right now!

      4. Andre W
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Over 11,000 managers have sold Salah...

        1. Top 210 Club
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Probably just after deadline now hits to get him back lol

      5. Top 210 Club
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Mane looking so much sharper than Salah

      6. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Man Utd and Man City asset ownership might be quite a lot lower next GW now? Imagine some were planning Salah to KDB or Bruno with Liverpool playing Chelsea...

      7. El Magico5
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        TAA looks off the pace to me, looks like he could do with a rest. Looked terrible for england as well.

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

        100 pt GW for salah cappers locked 😀

      9. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Where is that Salah in decline stats man

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

          He has Salah (c). The 'in decline' debate wasn't about whether he'd do well at the start of this season.

          1. FFSbet.com
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Not you for sure,it was other name