Dugout Discussion

Mané benched as Salah makes immediate return to Liverpool line-up

Sadio Mane (£12.1m) only makes the Liverpool bench, as manager Jurgen Klopp continues to carefully manage his injury-ravaged squad. There are four changes to the side that beat Leicester last weekend, with Mo Salah (£12.2m) recovering from the coronavirus to start his second game in 72 hours.

It’s a disappointment to Mane’s owners, who were hoping his scoring drought of one goal from eight games in all competitions could end against Brighton – a side he has never scored against in four appearances.

Takumi Minamino (£6.0m) steps in to start his first league game of the season and the in-form Diogo Jota (£6.8m), whose ownership has shot up to 22%, plays again after notching eight goals since his £40m summer move from Wolves.

Long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk (£6.3m) and Joe Gomez (£5.3m) have forced Klopp into patching up his defence. As Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) isn’t yet back from his calf injury, trust has been placed in youngsters Neco Williams (£3.9m) and Nathaniel Phillips (£4.0m) to play alongside Fabinho (£5.4m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.2m).

Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) also makes the bench, having picked up a knock on international duty with England, so the versatile James Milner (£5.3m) moves away from right-back to join Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.3m) in midfield.

Whilst the champions have a below-par away record by amassing only four points from four trips, they travel to a Brighton side who haven’t won at home. Defeats to Chelsea and Man United were respectable but the Seagulls also couldn’t find a way past West Brom or Burnley.

Thanks to beating Aston Villa last weekend, they are now seeking their first back-to-back league wins since November 2019. However, the impressive Tariq Lamptey (£4.8m) was sent off in injury time at Villa Park, depriving Graham Potter’s side of a huge attacking threat. 

Adam Lallana (£6.2m) also makes way from the starting line-up, after being withdrawn at half time due to a groin strain. Joel Veltman (£4.3m) and Aaron Connolly (£5.3m) replace the pair.

Another attacker low on goals is Neal Maupay (£6.3m), without a goal since his spree between Gameweeks 2 and 4. This hasn’t been helped by the disciplinary problems that saw him dropped for the recent visit to Tottenham.

Leandro Trossard (£6.0m) is named on the bench, after missing two matches with a thigh problem.

BRIGHTON XI (3-5-2): Ryan; Dunk, Webster, Veltman; Gross, Bissouma, White, March, Connolly; Maupay, Welbeck

LIVERPOOL XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; N Williams, Fabinho, Phillips, Robertson; Milner, Wijnaldum; Minamino, Jota, Salah; Firmino

FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

427 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Irbox has highlighted this Man City fixture run as the drive behind his wildcard. The guy has Sterling and Cancelo.

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

      I am with th too

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

      😆

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

      😆

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

      Lets see if he hides. He claimed he wouldnt.

      1. Party time
          3 years, 4 months ago

          😆

          He is probably stunned at the moment

    5. deathcabofdevil
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling v tired legs.

      1-pointer incoming

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

        Doubt it - Benched for all of the last 3 home matches vs Burnley ... Likewise expect him to be benched vs Fulham

    6. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why does everyone say Solly March full name all the time but everyone elses surname. Its really annoying me especially because its mcmanaman

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

        Because it is only 3 syllables

      2. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Solomon Benjamin March Esq?

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

        I had the same problem with commentators always saying Mesut Özil - Bugged me no end

    7. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Mitchell to:
      A - R.James
      B - KWP
      C - Justin
      D - Lamptey

      1. turd ferguson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        A

      2. Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        E - Robertson?

    8. mvtaylor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pep Guardiola is a fantasy football terrorist

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

        Bit far.....

      2. Party time
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Fantasy football clown imo

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

        There are some legitimate ITKs on this place. We should start listening to their advice.

        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/22849863

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

          Camzy in ruins

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

          🙂

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

        How is that a foul wtf

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

          Jota fooled the ref

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

        Best City mid going forward from next week?

        1. KAALI_DAAL
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Not Foden

      6. Jolly Good
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Why was mane benched? ... these guys all rotation risks now with jota in the mix?

        Do we think jota gets as many mins as Salah and mane.... makes him a no brainer then right?

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

        I brought in Laporte for Digne....
        Any one why Laporte not in the squad?
        It was either him or Robertson. Im not very good at this game!

      8. EDUARDO DA SILVA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Best league, but reffs. Funny.

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

        Dive by jota. Clean tackle.

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

        Needed that Robertson own goal!

        1. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Got assist instead.

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

            Got removed.

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

        Mane G

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

        Seriously fraud free kick

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

        No goal - offside.

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

        Another offside goal.

      15. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Robbo haul!

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

          Even without the assist, still yep.

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

          ?

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

        Salah must be so happy.

      17. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Mane off

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

          (side)

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

        Mane G, justice for owners

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

        Offside but still that free kick was a fraud so justice served

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

        Offsied

      21. Traction Engine Foot
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Phew

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

        Mane offside

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

        LOL OFFSIDE

      24. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Robo Assist!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Or not

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

            🙁

      25. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thank god that's getting ruled out. Worst free kick decision I've seen in a long time.

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

          Agreed.

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

        Ah ffs... Clear offside. Wanted a Robbo assist haha.