Dugout Discussion

Mane, Fabinho and Alisson return for Liverpool as Guardiola benches Jesus

The most-anticipated Premier League fixture of the weekend, and perhaps the calendar year so far, sees reigning champions Liverpool take on current league leaders Manchester City.

Kick-off at Anfield is at 16:30 GMT.

A win for City would take them ten points clear of Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the blue half of Manchester also having a game in hand to play on top of that.

Klopp has brought back three of his big guns from illness and injury for this fixture, with Sadio Mane, Alisson and Fabinho returning to the starting XI.

Fabinho will be deployed alongside Jordan Henderson at centre-half, with the Liverpool boss resisting the urge to hand a first start to new recruits Ozan Kabak or Ben Davies – the latter of whom doesn’t even make the matchday squad.

Along with the three returning players above, Curtis Jones is recalled to the hosts’ line-up.

Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner, Nat Phillips and Caoimhin Kelleher are the men to make way.

Guardiola has made two changes to his City line-up as Oleksandr Zinchenko and Phil Foden start in place of the benched Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus.

The form book points to City in this fixture, with the visitors on a nine-match winning run in the top flight.

Guardiola’s troops have recorded 11 shut-outs in their last 13 matches, too.

Liverpool have won only two of their last eight Premier League games, meanwhile, with many of their key FPL assets in poor form.

Andrew Robertson is on his longest barren run without an attacking return since his debut season at Anfield, while Mohamed Salah – who is still the division’s top goalscorer, lest we forget – hasn’t found the net on Merseyside since Gameweek 13.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Robertson, Thiago, Wijnaldum, Jones, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Sterling, Foden.

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2,350 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wheres that foden capper i saw

  2. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1 2 Man City

    Gundogan is back in business!!

  3. Party time
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gündoğaaaaaaaan!!

      You beauty

    • Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Foden class there

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

        This, quietly not discussed here

    • Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I take back what I said earlier about Gundo 😆

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Haha I saw that

      2. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Erdogan will always remember!

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      G Dog 😎

    • OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GundooooooooooooooooooooooGaaaaaaaaaan

    • Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GUNDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
      OMG!

    • osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo and I have had quite an emotional roller coaster today.

    • WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol Allison

    • Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nowhere to hide for gundo benchers

    • Salan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo is a must

    • Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GUNDO BENCHERS IN TH F MUD!!

    • Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If Gundo is in form, you play him. Simple. Regardless of the game.

    • Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I LOOOOVEEEEEE YOUUUUUUU GUNNNNNDOOOGANNNNNNNN

    • Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GUNDO IS LIFEEEEEE

    • Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GUNDOGOAT

    • brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hat trick still on

    • My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      So stupid not picking the best attacker in the best team. No doubt. Well, every day I learn...

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      WELL YOU LOVE TO SEE THAT FROM GUNDO, YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO SEE THAT

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Trent just a passenger in Pool team second timing sightseeing

    • Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      OG Alisson

    • Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Foden class. Gundo finally achieves his match-long ambition of hitting the crossbar.

    • Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I was so ready to bin Gundo 😆

    • Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      4 weeks running now I've benched hauls. FFS.

    • DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo sooooo annoyingly good right now.

    • Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GUNDAWAVE AT IT AGAIN

    • kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Oops... benched gundo for soucek and kane

      Awell

    • Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundawg!!!

    • Hazard_18
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thank youuuu Gundogannnnnnnn!!!!!