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. FPL_Devil
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Well the rumours were true. Liverpool can’t do anything without Allison.

  2. F4L
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Benched a hat trick, there's a first.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Why did you bench him ?

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Liverpool at home. It is what it is, hope I gain back my .1 now at least.

    2. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      How much is he?

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        5.9 now. Dropped last night 😆

    3. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      😯

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        All good man, at least I'll confidently keep hold of him now.

    4. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I sold for a hit

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        ah man. He did look a bit off it vs Fulham last week, tough.

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Keep racking up the saves Martinez

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

    I dare you to make this kneejerk WC better

    Martinez 4.0
    Robbo Chilwell Bellerin KWP Mitchell
    Salah Son James Grealish Soucek
    Kane DCL Maupay

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You're missing the obvious

    2. fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Get rid of Robbin

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Get watkins asap

    4. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good.

      Soucek could be Jorginho if you fancy a cheap penalty taker as 8th attacking player.

      Not sure about Arsenal defense, but if you can't afford Castagne can't really think of anyone at 5.0 price rather than Bellerin. Possibly a Wolves defender.

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

    VAR is ignored now?

    1. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He wasn’t involved

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

        The guy who crossed it?

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      They ignored Jota’s handball goal last week, so why not?

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

        Because it hit his shoulder

  6. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    best def in the league... my foot...

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Right now, your foot probably is the best.

  7. mb1983
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sitting on a -1 total from VVD and TAA. Epic!

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Worse than that?

      VVD -2 and TAA -1 at the moment?

  8. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    It has been 10 years since a player scored a hattrick vs Liverpool (Berbatov in 2010)

  9. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    DCL,Watkins,Brewster upfront could enable so much.

  10. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins or DCL in for Werner
    ? 😆

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

    My TAA/Robbo double defence on wildcard sitting on -1 each currently. It’s a long term game but my word....

  12. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This is the weirdest start to a season ever. What is causing there to be so many goals?

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

      Football as we know it has changed

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

      New rules for one. Four players offside - play on

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

        Haha. Salty.

  13. Tigers Time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What game are we playing because it isn't the fantasy football I know.

  14. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    We finally get a hat-trick this gameweek too. All four weeks this season. CRAZY!

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Skipping LFC defensive double up

  16. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Part of me is glad that FPL experts are being made to look silly this season.

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      They werent really experts at all were they.
      Rumbled

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

      i think there is a new type of player that is more aggressive these days than the careful stat studying oldies of yesteryear 😉

    3. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hate the term fpl expert! But in their defence it’s been an unpredictable season

  17. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    DCL could go mad

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I hope Richy is fit.

  18. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I checked Watkins price once in pre-season.
    Gutted.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      😀

    2. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He was in one of my 47 drafts, absolutely gutted.

    3. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      lolz

    4. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'd rather be in your position. I sold him this week

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I benched Son.

        Group hug.

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

          I can beat that. I also sold JRod

          1. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            You win.... This week.

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

    poor trolling tonight, should get better after 8pm when it’s passed bedtime for many 😉

  20. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    DCL up against this Liverpool defence next......

  21. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Trent worth 7.5 currently?

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe 5. Just for name recognition.

  22. TAT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins as third striker to enable Foden > Son? Yes please!

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes just seen I can do that with my free transfers....

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Will be for a hit for me, but still tempted.

  23. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barnes & Adams to Son & Watkins for free looks so good!

  24. soup natsi
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins ma boi

  25. Taking the Mkhitaryan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Every game this week has thoroughly rogered me.
    Never seen a week like it in 12 years playing FPL
    Rodriguez to Barnes didnt help

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son + Rodriguez to Bruno and Trossard, beat that! Corrected it now with another hit.........of course

      1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Fair play. You take the biscuit

  26. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I joined a last man standing that started this week. I reckon more than half must be gone out, I chose Wolves luckily lol

    1. Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Lmao

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Captain hindsight in full operation this evening I see

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wow VanDijk not OwnGoal was close he's on -2 already catastrophic

    4. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Villa giving pool the annual watford treatment.

    5. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Granville must be a little peeved right now. JRod and now Watkins.