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. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Seriously thinking just to leave midfield void of City players and just bring in Jesus from GW 10 onwards. Can’t see the same level we have been used to from their mids.

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      An accident waiting to happen

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

        As opposed to owning players like the meme Sterling?

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

    Lucky Foden owners..

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

      1 pointers were guaranteed as part of owning him, none of his owners can complain

      1. grumpyman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I’m not. Benched him for Soucek 😉

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

        I have Sterling and he played 90mins and still got the same as Foden !!

    2. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not when your bench is Saiss/Mitchell/Burke.

  3. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal Team to play Aston Villa: Leno, Bellerin, Tierney, Gabriel, Holding, Partey, Elneny, Saka, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

    Subs: Runarsson, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Luiz, Nketiah, Xhaka.

    Aston Villa Team to play Arsenal: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, Barkley, Trezeguet, Watkins.

    Subs: Steer, Taylor, Hourihane, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Elmohamady, Davis.

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

      Grealish last man standing for me.

      Here’s hoping for a masterclass.

    2. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Need a grealish double and a pen save from leno

  4. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Guaita surely gets a CS vs Burnley right? Surely...

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Its FPL.

    2. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Of course. He is at his best when, Mee, Barnes, Wood, Tarkowski etc are coming in the box for set pieces

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      lol, he better get a CS!

  5. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son and Trossard to Grealish and Zaha ? Worth a -4?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nope

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Or Fernandes and Soucek

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      With fixtures yes, with Zaha I tend to be non-committal. The moves look good, but I'm uneasy with the hit - go with your gut I say. Zaha fixtures good for the next 3; Grealish till gw15 with a few bumps in the road

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

    Mane is the best winger in the world. Doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Far better than Mo imo

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

      I'm trying to think of a player to come back at you with, but I can't.

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

      I dont think anyone believes Salah is a better footballer

      1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Oh you're so funny

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

        Mane better player, Salah better goalscorer.

    3. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Mo is a better player overall. Mane is too selfish.

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Oh I really hope you are being sarcastic

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

          I think he is.

      2. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Disagree. Mane puts in more work and wins the ball back way more than Salah

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

      Liverpool players ‘not getting credit’ is laughable.

      The Red Sh*te media wankfest is neverending.

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

        Ha ha you blues are good fun. I've got a load of cousins just like you.

      2. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        They did manage back to back Champions League finals and back to back 90+ point seasons. Most extraordinary achievement by an English team in history

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

    Robertson since I owned 2 2 2, complete waste of money

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

    Aguero past his best. David Silva gone. Never really replaced Kompany.

    This City team just isn’t at the same level.

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

      Laporte and Dias is a quality partnership. David Silva is the big loss. Was expecting Bernardo to replace him but he hasn’t kicked on from 2 years ago

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You summed it up perfectly

  9. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How can foden not even feature???

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He’s on

      1. McSauce
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Is he???

        1. McSauce
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Not showing in livescore or Fpl

      2. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Actually my apologies. I popped out to refill my vino and thought he was coming on

  10. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    ManC out of form obviously.
    So KdB not essential yet?
    Thinking to get Bruno or KdB..

  11. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    This second half has been absolute balls.

  12. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Holding seems nailed when fit?
    Could be great for 4.4..

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

      Bellerin

  13. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Just realised Mahrez didn’t even make the squad and not injured, rotationmans

  14. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Roy Keane is going to be in a great mood after the game. 🙁

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      We'll all be in for a hammering - Zoom is no safe space when Roy's in town 😉

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

    Kilman haul off the bench!

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

      Oh, Foden. 1 point either way!

  16. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I know they're playing Liverpool but I've not really seen anything to recommend city assets all season.

  17. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A bit early, but assuming Grealish makes it out the next game ok.
    Klich>Bissouma
    Trossard>Grealish
    ?
    Have the exact money to do it for a -4 (Kilch just warms my bench)

    Guaita
    Chilwell - Lamptey - James
    Son - Trossard - Zaha - Salah
    Kane - Werner - DCL
    (Nyland, KWP, Klich, Ferguson)

    A bit annoying I onyl have exact money, cant afford any Trossard drops or Grealish rises, so I might even have to do it tonight..

  18. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Robertson on 1 bap

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

      No he's not

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

      lol ederson took over

  19. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    72(-4) with Grealish to play. Not bad.

    1. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      74(-4) with Martinez. Think you’ll catch me.

  20. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What’s the point of the Nations League particularly this year? Surely best to cancel and give players some rest time instead of running risk of injury and COVID.

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

      $$$

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

      Money

      It's always money

  21. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ederson out of nowhere to steal Robbo BAP

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

    Keane was right about Walker.

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

      He was great for Villa

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wait until you see the smile on his face after.

      Cork just beat Kerry for the first time in 8 years.

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

    Bonus Points

    3 - Jesus (24)
    2 - Salah (21)
    1 - Ederson (18)

    Cancelo and Robbo next in line for 1BP.

    With some luck and yellow for Ederson we might get BP for Robbo

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

      FFS

  24. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Have the exact cash to do Bamford + Foden to Vardy + Soucek for a -4. Should I? Both will rise and become unaffordable before the next GW starts for sure.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not keen on losing Bam tbh but he doesnt have rgeat fixtures
      I'd probably just do some Foden move but not for Soucek

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Considering this only because of fixtures. Plus Vardy starting GW9 can be gold. The other two forwards I have are Martial and DCL who also have brilliant fixtures. Foden has been on bench for me, so it's a straight choice between Bamford and Vardy.

  25. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling with a dreadful, dreadful performance

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Surely a case for him to be dropped? The entire attack is terrible, average one goal a game

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Usually Does that against his former club.

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

    TAA replacement? Already got Chiwell. Thinking getting Robertson

  27. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That’s never a foul ref

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

    I'm selling Robbo during the IB so expect a lot of Liverpool clean sheets from now on!

  29. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    My first decent transfer this season: TAA to Coufal. That's how bad my season has been.

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

    Did foden come on ?

    1. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Someone said he did I don’t see it anywhere