Dugout Discussion

Jota and Firmino both start as Jesus returns for Man City’s clash with Liverpool

The Premier League winners and runners-up in each of the last two seasons clash at the Etihad this afternoon.

Manchester City v Liverpool gets underway at 16:30 GMT.

Debate has raged this week over whether Diogo Jota (£6.4m) or Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) would get the nod to join Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) and Sadio Mane (£12.0m) in the Liverpool attack but, in the end, both players start for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Barring any curveball formation choices, the Reds’ boss seems to have opted for a similar 4-2-3-1 set-up that he trialled in the Gameweek 6 win over Sheffield United.

Klopp has made two changes from last Saturday’s win over West Ham, with Jota replacing Curtis Jones (£4.4m) in one of those alterations.

Joel Matip (£5.4m) is in for Nat Phillips (£4.0m) at centre-half in the other.

Pep Guardiola has also made a brace of changes from Gameweek 7.

Gabriel Jesus (£9.3m) is back to lead the line, with the Brazilian making his first Premier League appearance since the opening weekend of the season.

Ilkay Gundogan (£5.4m) also returns to the heart of the City midfield, with Riyad Mahrez (£8.3m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) making way.

There is again no place in the hosts’ starting XI for Phil Foden (£6.6m), who hasn’t started a league match since Gameweek 5.

It’s not often that we can say that the majority of City assets are differentials in FPL but that is the case at present, with Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) the only member of Guardiola’s squad who boasts a double-digit ownership.

They are even less popular within the top 10k, with Kyle Walker (£6.1m) – who sits in 8.15% of these squads – the most-selected option.

Salah is by some distance the most-owned player in this fixture, both within the top 10k (65.34%) and overall (46.9%).


Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Torres, Sterling, Jesus.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jota, Firmino, Mané, Salah.

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1,570 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Love you Mo (c). I'm sure I'm one of thousands who missed the deadline!

  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Lucky for people who missed the deadline and kept on salah

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

      My main rival did exactly this, he's currently 70 points

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Unlucky for Son captainers

  3. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah goal positive for non cappers? Top10k

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Positive for fellow top 3 m...

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        🙂

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes

      2. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Nice. Ty

  4. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mane is so so good.

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He is.

      It’s just a shame that diving is such a big part of these talented players’ game.

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

    Is thay goal good for owners but non cappers?

  6. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No penalty!....

  7. F4L
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mane a pen but Jota on Sterling wasn't a foul lol.

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

    Now Liverpool cleanie please!

  9. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salahhh.
    Should have put him captain today in hindsight instead of Son with the crappy game that Spurs played !

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

    Clear dive

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Does the circus know you're here?

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Awful. I’d hoped when VAR came in that the days of United and the Sh*te diving for penalties would be over.

      Some things never change.

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      wasn't a dive, but City should've had a FK 30 secs prior.

      1. Third Eye Vision
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It was about as blatant as you get.

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Dive? No contact like that would knock you off your feet running at near full speed.

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

      Yes technically it was a dive

  11. Bada Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pep is losing his rag already, it's time for another sabbatical for him.

  12. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Very soft penalty btw

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

    Mo Salah na na na na na. Mo Salah na na na na na

  14. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    anyone benched Robertson or TAA?

    I did.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      TAA

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

        oh wow we got 10/11 starting players, with same captain & vc!

      2. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Was tinkering whole week whether to get Coufal or save and play Robbo. Expecting a haul by Robbo

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

      I was close to benching Robb for Justin

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

      Yep TAA for Justin

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mane or Bruno captain next GW?

  16. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Need a KDB goal now

  17. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is it Werner who takes pens when Jorginho isn't on the pitch?

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Think he took the last one with Jorg on even

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Likely.

    3. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Werner takes them anyway now

    4. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Werner even if Jorginho is on the pitch

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

      He now takes pens regardless. Lampard has confirmed Timo as the designated pen taker

    6. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah.

    7. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He takes even when he is on the pitch

    8. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Alright cheers both

      1. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        7 of you* 😀

  18. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    City are a dead team this year. I'm dumping Sterling.

  19. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Interesting penalty style a lot of players now doing this
    Start straight & take 2 or 3 strides to the left or right
    This an angle to place the ball both left & right

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      no its was obvious Salah was going left there with such a straight run up. Ederson was foolish to stay still.

      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah but he moved opening up both left & right

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          nah can't see it, with that long a run up you'd be off balance striking across goal.

          1. keefy59
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            More of an inside foot option

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

        Salah went straight last week after exact same run up

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Fair enough, but when players have such straight run ups it usually ends up with the taker opening his body up.

        2. keefy59
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Exactly opens up all options

  20. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    The way we play....0-3!

  21. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bruno & Ziyech more essential than City assets.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Look at the fixtures one more time...

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You may wish to reconsider when the fixtures turn soon.

      1. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Form > Fixtures.

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          That will change too.

  22. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Don't think Jota has touched the ball

  23. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Going to drop Son (already own Kane) who would you prefer?

    1. Rashford
    2. Ziyech (own Werner)

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hakim

    2. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Jota

  24. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Cancelo could be interesting buy

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If you don't like clean sheets then sure :p

  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Something about city forward play this season

    So slow and a lot of side to side passing

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep they're a totally different team this year and not in a good way.

    2. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      They have been poor this season and their points show this

    3. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Key players been out. It will change i am sure.

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

      1) No natural left-footed full-back
      2) Have not replaced Fernandinho (Rodri isn't the man), which has meant they play slightly more deeper
      3) No David Silva and Bernardo has not stepped up
      4) No Aguero and Jesus / Sterling / Torres are not in the same class re movement off the ball

  26. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Currently on 76 points with Salah, KDB playing and Martinez, Grealish left to play

    Can I reach 100?

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      99 max

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You can.

      I think you need 24 points. Hope this helps.

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

      Did you miss the deadline like my rival?

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

      Expected the "Is it any good?"

  27. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Waiting for OMG Trent goal shout...

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

      *Robbo

  28. Saosin
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Zaha -> Bruno
    Maupay -> Brewster

    For free?

    1. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I like Zaha’s upcoming fixtures, but obviously, Bruno is an upgrade.

      Only thing is that you’re losing 2 starters. You really want to start Brewster?

  29. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Resigning myself to just never picking the correct captain ever again.

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

      I did this last season, my advice is just leave it on Salah permanently mate

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Might just have to.

      2. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Game him the armband against SHU, and that game disillusioned me. Should have kept it on him since, evidently.

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

      I’ve had 3 goals and 1 assist in 8 weeks of captains - been a shocker

  30. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    ASM Mitrovic

    To

    Ziyech Bamford

    A no brainier, right?

    Was going to get in Brewster to fund KDB, but Ziyech has given me food for though.