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

    Come on Antonio!

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

      Zip

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

        Naughty

  2. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hold your transfers. Keep a strong bench. This week has been a harsh reminder

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bamford & Dallas on my bench (not coming on) and Rashford to Barnes (C) (-4)

      I like going against the grain 😉

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

      Agree

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

      Yeah held off on all temptations and now have 2 FTS and a nice score.

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

    I deliberately benched Dallas and Bamford this week in order to lull my enemies into a false sense of security.

    Am I cruel?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Logical move

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

    Playing DCL over Bamford was the correct call imo. I'd do that again 10/10 given what we knew at the start of the GW.

    What I'm struggling to figure out is whether benching Bamford for Antonio was the correct call or not. Seemed 50/50 to me.

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

      It was 50-50 tbf.

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

      Agree. Liverpool B team with no defense seems a logical choice though.

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

      Yes and yes again. Bamford could have blanked and Antonio may still get something

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

      3 previous blanks too. I was reminded today why I got Bamford in, in the first place

      Part of me felt obliged to spend the KdB money I think

      Sold Bamford for Kane this week btw, oops! He'd drop like a Stone if he blanked again today

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

      In that case, note to self: can't let these 50-50 calls affect you too much, however painful. Wrong side of variance. Just tougher to take when two bad beats in a row (Soucek last week, Bamford this). Need to trust the decision-making process and avoid being results-oriented.

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thiago is fantastic so far, great movement and passing. Proving he is best midfielder in the land

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

      Lol

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wtf

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

      Dreamland?

    4. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cuckoo

    5. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      nice bit of wumming

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

        He's come out with this drivel previously as a severely deluded Pool fan. I say fan but he's never actually been to a game and appears to know stuff all about them.

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Obsessed.

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

            The only 8 letter or more word you know oh simple one.

    6. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Please dont tell me that false 9 like KdB and Bruno are better lol. 2 penalty merchant

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Wtf

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

      Starting to think there’s a bit of racism going on here. He’s done nothing magical ... like 21 other players on the field.

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

        what a really odd jump in your head.

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

      Bad take - he’s ok

      Bayern sold him because he is superfluous and they can win the UCL without him

    9. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      To be fair Thiago has been Liverpool's stand out man what I've seen of the first half.

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

    The West Ham defensive EO set to rise considerably with autosubs.

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

      Need a miracle to get green arrow this week for me

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Need that CS busted. Cup opponent has double Hammers defence

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

    pool defender ownership still quite high, come on hammers

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

    If Mo can't score w/o Mane holding him back and the curse lifted...

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

      Can’t wait to get rid

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

        Sad state of affairs when he's probably the best captain next week... season has had an absolutely shocking turn.

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

          Yeah I’ll keep him for next GW, probably won’t captain and then ship. Horrendous form

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

            Who does one even ship to? That's what so insane about the situation of the season and FPL currently.

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

              Barnes, Maddison, Pereira etc. Plenty of options

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

      Who set up his Spurs goal again?

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

    And now a Bamford flag... perfect...

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

      Bamford explained his dead leg as nothing serious

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

        Phew! Thanks

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

      He is fine - said in his post interview just a dead leg.

      He will play next game I’m certain

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Really shouldn't be flagged.

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

      All the jam flowing through him.

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

      Just FPL messing with us. He said it was nothing post match interview.

  10. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Someone needs to go to livingstone, Zambia

    • Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1-0 West Ham FT, Soucek header. You heard it here first folks.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Simply won’t happen at this rate

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

        Who's assisting?

        1. Steve McCroskey
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Moyes

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

            Wonderful

    • Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Great tackling by Thiago. Wonderful wonderful player.

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lovely pass to Trent, absolute sliderule.

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          World class

    • jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FFS, Bamford, Dallas and Leno points on my bench this week.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Surely you have points coming off the bench?! That’s shocking

        1. jammie26
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Only player coming off the bench is Coufal. Could get a hattrick yet i suppose.

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

        Leno on your bench?

    • Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Minamino slept with Mrs Klopp didn’t he?

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Soucek time.

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

      Great tackle by Thiago

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

      Coufal on free kicks

      1. Party time
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Lol

      2. Marvin Moon
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Just logged on and surprise surprise it's a load of 'Thiago is rubbish' posts again. I just don't know why I bother with this site sometimes.

      3. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Anotonio G Coufal A needed

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

          That would be wonderful ..... but unlikely to happen today.

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

        Phillips denies Soucek G Coufal A.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          .... What please ffs

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

          Great ball, good defensive header

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

        West Ham happy with this finishing 0-0. Tough task for Liverpool.

        1. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes Liverpool look toothless so far. Especially with Origi on the pitch.

      6. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Origi bringing absolutely zilch to this game

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

          Perfect replacement for firmino then

        2. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          no change there, then.

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

          He has been even worse than he usually is

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

        Logic says bench DCL, start Bamford next game week.

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

          No

          points chasing does

        2. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks Logic. Is he on Twitter?

        3. Saka Punch
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Then do the opposite

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

          Need to start both tbf

      8. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        How come Bamford already yellow ???

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

          Dead leg.

        2. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Admin sold him for DCL. Admin is casual

      9. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This Nat Phillips guy is way better than that clown Rhys Williams

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

          Williams' legs look like they have a mind of their own

          Phillips' legs look a bit dangly too, however, I'd play Phillips over WIlliams all day

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

          No he is 4 year older, have much more experience and West ham not really trying are they..

      10. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Boring boring 1st half. Thiago easily above 21 players on the pitch. Faboulous player. I reckon he will score winner in 2nd half

        1. Pep Roulette
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Calm down buddy. You're making fun of yourself.

        2. Marvin Moon
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Your last half a dozen posts have been about Thiago. A bit sad really.

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

        John Moss' dummy the most exciting thing that's happened so far.

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

          He is a dummy. The worst referee I've seen in the Premier League. (sorry Mrs Moss)

      12. JJO
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        What shaite is this cause its not a football

      13. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I take a 0-0

        TAA, Coufal, Salah

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

          Benched Cresswell like a maniac.

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

        Give me your strategies to maintain an ML lead of 15-20 pts.

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

          Score more points.

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

          Outscore your rivals by 15-20 points.

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

            But then he’ll extend the lead. He wants to stay just slightly ahead.

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

              Rupert the pedantic horse 🙂

            2. Salah’s Sonnet
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Lmao!

        3. dark91
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Don't think too much about it. Just play your game

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

          Pick defenders on next 4 fixtures only, pick attackers on form. No early transfers and try to maximise the points from your captain picks.

        5. Gandalf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Too early in the season to be hedging against what an opp is doing, just keep picking a team that you expect to score well

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

            This is one of the points I was looking for... when is the right time to start looking at rival picks carefully?

            1. Gandalf
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              If your only interest is winning a money league and there is only one opponent who can threaten a reasonable lead you have, then it's always worth keeping an eye on what they're doing to help with close decisions to mirror them. Otherwise, closer to the end of the season, so doesn't affect trying to get as high a rank as you can

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

                Thanks mate!