Dugout Discussion

Mane’s absence explained as Klopp benches Firmino for trip to in-form West Ham

Liverpool are without the services of Sadio Mane (£11.9m) for their match against West Ham United this afternoon, which kicks off at 16:30 GMT.

The Senegalese winger, who was transferred in by over 130,000 Fantasy Premier League managers following his 15-point haul in Gameweek 20, misses out with what Liverpool say is a “minor muscle injury”.

The Reds add that the problem is “expected to be only a short-term issue”.

His manager added ahead of kick-off:

In fact, only one of the Reds’ regular front three makes Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI today.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is joined in the reigning champions’ attacking trident by Divock Origi (£5.2m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.4m), with Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) only among the substitutes.

Along with the two changes to his front three, Klopp has replaced the injured Joel Matip (£5.4m) with Nat Phillips (£4.0m) at centre-half.

The Hammers are unchanged from the side that won 3-2 at Crystal Palace and David Moyes has even named the same nine substitutes from that victory.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Thiago, Shaqiri, Salah, Origi.

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1,925 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mr Bird
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bamford to DCL gamble did not pay.

    1. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ouch

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

      Not this gw

      1. Mr Bird
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’m hoping you’re right and DCL picks up

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This GW. But perhaps over the next 3 GWs it will.

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Four, he has Fulham and a possible DGW in 24.

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

      Bamford/Dallas>Cancelo/DClL here & kept Adams as he was at home. Lol at me

    5. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I did wilson to DCL for hit and all my defenders chilly, cancelo and stones benched - and then i benched DDG for johnstone. Hope it comforts you

      1. Mr Bird
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It absolutely does. Sorry for your loss.

  2. Iwantmorepointsthanks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Now I have to hope that Kane does not play today hahaha

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He won't.

      1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers 🙂

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same here

  3. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thanks Bamford and Barnes.

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

    Need Mane to return for Brighton (H), him and Salah the standout captaincy choices by far next week for me.

  5. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    With just two games left to play, seems a LOT of players outstanding are in the 4 teams.
    -17K with Salah, Cresswell, Souček, Antonio, Son to play. Let's go green arrow!

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks like you & me followed RMT playing Johnstone?
      Never again 🙁

      1. CroatianHammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Good keeper, makes saves, team overall aren't exactly the worst... Villa away could easily have shipped one. I got lucky with the Citeh benchings probably. 33 on the pitch (+Son) & 26 coming off the bench. roughly +47K spots, and Son might get me solidly into the Top 400K.

  6. Shultan
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For those having a crappy GW can't beat this
    Sold Wilson > DCL
    Benched bamford & dallas to play rash & coufal
    Gundo (C) Son VC

    All above seemed logical
    Newcastle playing poor
    Everton got all players
    City on good form
    Leicester thought defence solid
    Sometimes logic doesn't work out

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      correct moves, bad outcome. unlucky

    2. cm790
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I appreciate you trying to make our errors feel better. I sympathise lol

    3. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son cap can still save you

      1. Shultan
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Son VC gundo was C
        Just trying to highlight how I've gotten every 50/50 decision wrong

    4. Shultan
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm going to start copying Andy from LTFPL lol
      We have 6/7 of same players but every week he's getting 50/50 decision right whilst mine wrong.

  7. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I wonder if Salah won't be benched in the next game. They play Brighton at home on Wednesday and then Man City on Sunday.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very possible.

    2. Monklane
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      there goes my captain

    3. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If Mane still inj, i don’t think so.

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fernandes(c) midweek vs Southampton

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Why? He is ridiculously out of form

    5. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      don't scare me 🙁

    6. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Possible, but not worth worrying about IMO - just have a decent VC.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cameo is the risk

    7. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He’s better off the bench 😉

    8. LSK
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on Mane I guess. Can’t see him being rested if Mane is still out. If Mane is fit to start Salah might miss out.

    9. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Won’t be benched? Did you mean double negative?

    10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hard to know..

      He’s already been rested for 2 of the last 8

      Would Klopp really make it 3 out of 9?

      If Mane is injured then he’ll probably start, but if Mane was just totally rested then yeah, maybe

    11. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That’s how it looks

    12. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      60/75 mins prob

  8. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Easy to say now (but check my post history), why did people sell Bamford over Adams?

    1. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bam was trending down

      Antonio needed to be bought

      Many more Bam owners than Adams owners

  9. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need some Son injured rumours

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That tweet 😮

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        ?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ha

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I know. Surprised more people on here aren’t talking about it. Maybe they don’t have Twitter.

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

      You want us to start some?

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

    Probably a very ignorant question, but: When the ball hits the ref, has it always been a restart?

    I always thought it was just a "play on" kind of thing, like the ref was a part of the field.

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

      New rule introduced this season

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

        Is it? OK, it did seem new to me. Thanks.

    2. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Part of the field - but EPL seems to make and remake the rules all the time

      Match fixers dream

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        They even mentioned it during commentary

    3. LSK
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Think this is the second season of this rule. Might be the first.

  11. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wijnaldum blasted that so hard and high over the bar it nearly reached the first row of the stand.

  12. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any word on how long Kane is out for?

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I don’t think it’ll be long but nothing official yet

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

      Begging the Sky Sports reporter to directly ask Mourinho this just to see his reaction

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully back for Chelsea

      I mean, he did play on until half time after the knocks

      Probably wishful thinking. Jose did do some injury mind games with Son before, he might be overselling it to get him more protection, idk

  13. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Was that Soucek getting on the end of Antonio’s cross... he’s at it already

  14. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I'm quite interested to see who will take the pen if Liverpool get one between Salah and Milner.

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

      Milnrr

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Milner

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

    Refreshing to watch a Liverpool game without having to endure the biased comments of gobber Carragher who shouldn't have a job anyway.

    1. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I like him.

  16. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bamford coming on for Sterling and Holding on for Cancelo gives me great pleasure this GW. Although Saka and Mitchell not playing as well makes me finish with 10 players only. Son (vc) promoted to (c) due to Sterling absence and Soucek left this GW. Hope is to cross 60 points after auto subs. 26 now.

  17. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek living in the box with Antonio, so dangerous.

  18. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio Coufal Salah. Let’s go

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

      It was gone 10 minutes ago.

  19. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sky commentator saying Moyes sees Soucek like Tim Cahill. If that is true, then Soucek going to be scoring a lot of goals.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      7.5-8.0 next year probs

      Was a penalty specialist at Slavia Prague too

  20. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not sure there is a good outcome here as a Salah, Antonio, Coufal, Robertson owner

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      0-0

  21. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wish I played fabianski instead of the nipple

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Are you feeling a bit of a tit?

  22. Azzastaan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek zaha or watkins bench next week?

  23. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Early shout for captain next gameweek? Tuesday deadline, Salah rotation risk?? Bruno out of form

    1. JELLYFISH
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bamford 🙂

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

      Sterling

      surely he wont be benched

  24. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any word on when Jota might be back?

  25. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I can live with the City rotations, part fo the game and out of my control.

    Selling Bamford on WC and subbing Martinez are the ones that hurt. Both very avoidable.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Did you play Johnstone?
      I blame RMT.

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I played Areola, whose 10 pointer I benched the week before. Shocker.

  26. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to bench next GW?

    Salah Som Bruno Gundogan Grealish
    Antonio DCL Bamford

  27. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I have 6 players involved in this game. I will accept any result of this game EXCEPT an Antonio goal.

  28. balint84
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Coufal or Rudiger for the next couple of weeks?

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thiago is a walking YC 😆

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

    Antonio needs to target Phillips and make runs in from deep. Phillips is so slow, no way he’s keeping up from the high line

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Phillips is a championship player to be fair