Dugout Discussion

Salah benched as Matip returns for Liverpool’s Palace visit

Jurgen Klopp has benched Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) for Liverpool’s Gameweek 14 trip to Crystal Palace.

The news comes after mutterings about the Egyptian’s starting berth emerged on social media on Friday night – and it finally appears there was truth to them.

Takumi Minamino (£6.0m) is the man chosen to replace Salah in the line-up, joining Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and Sadio Mané (£11.9m) in the front-three.

A return to full fitness for Joel Matip (£5.4m) sees him reclaim his centre-back role alongside Fabinho (£5.4m) at the heart of defence, so Rhys Williams (£4.0m) drops out to sit among Salah and the other substitutes.

Andrew Robertson (£7.2m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) start at left and right-back together for the third successive Premier League match since the latter’s injury comeback.

Crystal Palace make three changes from the side that drew 1-1 at West Ham midweek. Following their rest, Gary Cahill (£4.5m) and Nathaniel Clyne (£4.5m) return to the defence in the place of Scott Dann (£4.4m) and Joel Ward (£4.3m).

Roy Hodgson’s other alteration is enforced, Jordan Ayew (£5.7m) coming in for the suspended Christian Benteke (£5.5m).

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Van Aanholt, Cahill, Kouyate, Clyne; Eze, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp; Zaha, Ayew.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Fabinho, Matip, Alexander-Arnold; Keita, Wijnaldum, Henderson; Mane, Firmino, Minamino.

2,124 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Could make the argument as well that this is a 2nd string Liverpool team

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

      It’d be a very weak argument

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

      It's Crystal Palace

  2. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Where is the Palace team that played vs Spurs?? They have been appalling!

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

      Bit of a difference in opponent.

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No fans

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

    They're just a bit more creative and focused without Salah.
    Don't get me wrong, he's a magic player but I prefer Liverpool's style of play when he's not on the pitch.
    That doesn't just have something to do with today. You could see it many times in the past.

  4. Big Hands Barry
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Robbo Haul

  5. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Just started watching. Are Palace playing with 9 players?

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

      No Benteke, no party

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

      Ayew is useless and Zaha likes to sulk more than pay. So yeah, playing with 9.

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      9 standing and Zaha on the ground

  6. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Robbo needs a rest, Klopp. Get him off

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This

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

    TAA so far away from Robbo in baps. Robbo > TAA

  8. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who to get Robbo or Trent?

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

      Robrob

    2. Kip
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I’m considering both till gw20

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

    City DGW vs Palace and Villa would be lovely

  10. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah on. TV on.

  11. FPL_DON
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    i cannot be without robbo for west brom

    1. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      After all the points gathering today he needs a rest

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

    No fans for Palace 🙁

    1. Marvin Moon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Silver lining is we don't have to listen to that bloody drum.

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

    why is salah playing so deep

  14. theodosios
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I am suffering with Mane all season and today, when he finnaly did something, he benced him before 60th minute. I hope Mr. Klopp will never ever win anything again. He doesn't deserve when he humillates players like this.

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

      jose was right

  15. Underdogs11
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So are all you clever people doing Salah (c) next week?

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

      Yep

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

      Yes

  16. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Fill your boots Mohamed

  17. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Selling Salah allows Robbo & Trent easily 😮

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah often wondered that myself. Would love to be brave enough

    2. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sounds like the type of discussion we typically have in pre season only to to ditch it early doors to maximize on premium mids

  18. Camino Aleatorio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Palace is defending and packing the back like they are winning 4-0

    This is hideous punishment for Salah owners and torture for the C

    Total garbage

  19. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Palace defence went downhill since Mitchell was injured and then dropped. Take note bus pass holder...

  20. Goodricke
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Vardy and Grealish > Bamford and Salah for 2ft

    This is with DGW in mind, but is it too early? wait til after the fixtures are played, or pull the trigger early before price rises?

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

      No

  21. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Why is the next GW 7 days away?

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

      EFL Cup matches midweek

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why wouldn't it be?

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

    Pool so lucky that Benteke, one of the best players of the last few years, is suspended in this particular game. Klopp's Luckerpool knows no bounds..

    1. Marvin Moon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I like you.

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Agree, seem to play teams without their best player quite regularly, so lucky

  23. hueycho
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah come one ffs

  24. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    are palace even trying to score

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not really much point at this stage

  25. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Iv had Robbo since gw1

    Bout the only thing iv done right all season

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Waste of 7 mil.

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

      Between 4.5pts average for quite a lot of money for someone you are not really going to captain but I can see big things coming, I might have to get now

  26. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Palace must be the most unpredictable team in the league

  27. JELLYFISH
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    TAA & Robbo double up looking tempting

  28. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    City leaked line up?

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

      Just wait a few mins

  29. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Robbo monster 12 pointer. Locked in, Palace are done.

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

    I think Son cap next week or Kane, WBA unpredictable, they will surely defend well or aim to at least

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

      Wolves will frustrate Spurs