Dugout Discussion

Alisson and Mane miss out for Liverpool as Barkley makes Aston Villa debut

The final match of Gameweek 4 – and the last Premier League fixture before the October international break – sees two sides with 100% winning records square off at Villa Park.

Aston Villa v Liverpool gets underway in the West Midlands at 19:15 BST.

There are two significant changes to Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI, with Sadio Mane (£11.9m) and Alisson (£6.0m) both missing for the visitors.

Mane’s absence we knew about, with Liverpool confirming on Friday that the Senegal international had tested positive for COVID-19.

Diogo Jota (£6.3m) comes in for his first Premier League start for the Reds.

Alisson’s shoulder injury we weren’t aware of ahead of Saturday’s Fantasy Premier League deadline but rumours had gathered momentum about his unavailability this afternoon and the Brazilian indeed sits this one out with a shoulder injury.

Adrian (£4.5m) deputises between the posts.

Klopp shed more light on his first-choice shot-stopper’s injury before the match, saying:

Yesterday an incident in training, very unlucky – two players clash with each other, one gets up, one doesn’t. The one who didn’t get up was Ali.

So, after the first few things, we don’t know 100 per cent. But he cannot play today. We have to do further assessment but he’s injured, let me say it like this. Now we hope it will go really quickly.

It’s an international break, I’m pretty sure after that he will not be ready. Then we have to see week by week.

On Mane, the Liverpool boss added:

He’s good, he’s good. We are obviously in contact pretty often.

He is fine. Monday night, we played Arsenal, played a really good game, after the game it was a really good feeling. And then the problems started immediately. That’s how it is. That’s how life is, that’s how our life is as well, that’s completely normal.

Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) has recovered from a muscle problem but the England midfielder is only among the substitutes this evening.

Aston Villa’s starting XI shows only one change, with Conor Hourihane (£6.0m) dropping to the bench.

Ross Barkley (£5.9m) comes in for the Irishman and makes his Aston Villa debut, following his loan move from Chelsea.

Three-quarters of Liverpool’s backline and Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) boast double-digit ownerships in FPL, with the Egyptian and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) the fourth and third most-owned assets overall.

Emi Martinez (£4.6m), who has racked up 19 points in his new club’s first two Premier League matches of the season, is Villa’s most-owned player.


Aston Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Barkley, Trézéguet, Watkins, Grealish.

Liverpool XI: Adrián, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Jota.

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2,840 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best 4.5/5 defender to downgrade TAA to? Seems pointless having double Pool defence with Adrian in nets.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      can’t change mid game though !

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Honestly. No point

  2. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Liverpool turning the screw

  3. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    One of the Villa assets may need to be picked up soon.

  4. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Fraudino again... Should have been 1-2

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That one I’ll give you

  5. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Love the way kane is flavour of the month now.

    Everyone been calling him a washed up has been for the last year.

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Players are allowed to improve.

  6. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    You could see Smith had instructed Villa to start by putting pressure on Adrian even before his howler. Ancelotti will do the same GW5. Cap JRod or DCL!

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Was no pressure ; he just can’t pass

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

    Barca v Sevilla coming up soon and Juve v Napoli 🙂

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I thought Napoli weren't travelling due to COVID issues?

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

    Firmino is a fraud

    About time hippies stop pretending that rating him makes u smart

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Stop copying my opinions, getting very obvious at this point

  9. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Meslier first choice at Leeds?

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

      Er

    2. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yes 100%

  10. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you rather:

    A) Son, Ings, Brewster

    B) Kane, Wilson, Jorginho

  11. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Still no pens for any players I own this season lol

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Buy Bruno next.

  12. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Cmon Marti show them!

  13. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Gotta thank Firmino for all those Martinez saves 😀

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes. 3-4 points even if concedes but I can take cs and 3 baps also

  14. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martínez is quality

  15. Pavsboot
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Loving how attacking Robertson is

  16. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    In hindsight this would have been a great season not to play FPL. From the point of view of a neutral unhindered by fantasy loyalties it must be brilliant seeing even the top 6 teams completely unpredictable every week.

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

      Totally agree! As it is at the moment it can be quite demoralising!

  17. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins again

  18. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    absolutely bricking it!

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    OMG Watkins

  20. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This season just keeps getting weirder

  21. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    omg

  22. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    WATKINS GOAL

  23. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Okay, so like I said, Hamez, Son and Watkins out on wildcard... nobody can convince me that isn't the biggest fail of all time 😆

    1. diabydoesgallas
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wow. You have to laugh!

      1. Joyce1998
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Have a pint sir you deserve it

  24. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Everton to win the league then

    1. Joyce1998
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      defo think they will, already considering my bet on them

      1. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Don't forget about Spurs. They are still waiting on Bale.

  25. Pavsboot
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Boom

  26. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins is the answer.

  27. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins over Antonio?

    1. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Quite possibly!!

  28. Fpl_Juggernaut
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins essential

  29. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    GREALISH SECOND ASSIST

    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He's been ticking away nicely this season.

  30. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Congrats Toffees! Title is as good as yours

    1. Joyce1998
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      place your bets