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. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    WE WANTTTTT MOREEEE

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

      Yes surely 😆

  2. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Oh no, Salah BAPs are gone

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

    Is Adrian injured or why isn’t he starting tonight?

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

      Adrian is playing tonight isn't he?

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

        How dare you.

        Adrian would never be at fault for all 3 goals lol

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

    Retaining title is always more difficult than winning it the first time.

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

      Especially with half a team.

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

        It's always been this way throughout the past seasons. Every team you play against gives you full respect and puts in 120% effort.

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        what about City missing KDB and Aguero?

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

    The game Alisson destroyed his whole career.
    Will never again be Brazil's No. 1 after this.

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dramatic words

  6. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who has Gundo, DCL and Martinez on the bench ?

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

      DCL only "thankfully"

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

      I can understand gundo or DCL but not both.

    3. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez DCL Ogbonna for me

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

      I benched DCL but not two of the most in-form players in the game.

    5. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just DCL. Blessed.

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

      Just DCL. Played Martial over him.

  7. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FFS curse putting Allison as the header image for this article

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

      Perfect pic

  8. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Guys there's a huge party coming up next weekend...Vardy Party!
    Don't miss the massive party

  9. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Maddison to Salah? Or double up spurs and bring in kane over Bamford (have Son)

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

      Would keep Maddison especially now that Vardy's back.

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

    WE WANT MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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

    DGW though city x2 def & 1 mid now considering Dias, Gundo, Foden better option?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah, Foden will probably get benched again

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

        Think again,

  12. balint84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Gündo essential next week? (Have raheem+stones)

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

      Every week

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

      Does the pope poop in the woods?

      1. Max City
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        probably

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

      Captain material, maybe TC in one of the DGWs

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

    Stones to Sterling (-4) worth it?

    1. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I would focus transfers on bigger problem areas

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

      Think so, I always prefer 2 attackers than 2 defenders.

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

    Would never have thought Gundo v Liverpool was a better captain than Son v WBA

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

      Would never have thought Alison could become Karius ... and without being elbowed in the head by Ramos

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

    Alison dropped for the next??

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Seen Adrian play?

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

        Adrian’s gone. Kelleher.

  16. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Now we need a penalty for Gundogan to take

  17. I Must Break You
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I was going to transfer Alisson in, but I can't because I already have 3 City players.....

  18. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Allison flying to New York to get treated for concussion after the game

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

    A Salah yellow card would be absolutely lovely.

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

    Allison has handed over the title, oh man!

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

      Title was gone weeks ago.

  21. DMP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    One more, Raheem.

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

      This

  22. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wow.. This could have easily been 5-1. Love it.

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

      i had a fiver on 0-5

  23. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Well, all three of my mids now scored
    Feel better now

  24. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    foden goal

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

      jesus a

  25. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wow Foden

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

    OMG foden

    What a player

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

    Foden wonder goal

    1. Random Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      not really

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

    FODEEENNNNNNN GOAL

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

    Foden wagon!

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

      Then benched

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

    Fodennnnn