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.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

2,350 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Get a goal Joao, rub it in

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

      that would be golden

  2. Third Eye Vision
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This game is utterly brilliant. It’s the most fun I’ve had on a Sunday in ages.

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

    How does De Bruyne fit into this team?

    1. djoker_nole
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      nice try Mr Johan

    2. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      For Mahrez

  4. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benched Foden but not too annoyed- was the logical choice.

    1. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same here. picked Gundo instead. Benching Salah over him would have been to risky as well so happy he got somthing to.

  5. Shrimpy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Have Stones, Cancelo and Raheem, think I need to get rid of 1 of the defenders for Gundo (c) now.

  6. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The Foden trap has been set (bench next GW)

  7. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo & Foden level on 3 baps.

    Don’t you bloody dare nip ahead of Gundo in the baps Foden!

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

    Can we all just give some credit to Raheem Sterling. He showed realy composure to tuck his goal away. Those finishes aren't as easy as they look 😉

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Especially not for him 🙂

      • ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He also set up for Foden and earned a pen. Could have hauled easily today.

    2. MidTableFantasy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Of course I got rid of Foden for Grealish this GW 🙂

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

      Is that true this is 3 in a row defeats of LIV at Anfield?

      1. thegaffer82
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Burnley, Brighton & City 🙂

      2. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Liv matches are all rigged

    4. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Chances of Bamford or Dallas to miss game vs CP?

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Zero

      2. Lazaretti
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Own those 2 also and have DCL first on the bench. Chances ate close to 0

        1. Max City
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I have Bamford to play with Watkins as my 1st bench, but my rival has Gundogan in his 1st bench with Bamford (c)...

          A lose-lose situation for me ha ha..

    5. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ⚽ Team News 📰
      SHEFFIELD UNITED : Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Bryan, Lowe, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Bogle, Burke, McBurnie.
      Subs: Foderingham, Sharp, Jagielka, McGoldrick, Osborn, Brewster.

      CHELSEA : Mendy, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Giroud.
      Subs: Kepa, Alonso, Kante, Abraham, Zouma, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Gilmour, Emerson.

      1. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Chillllllllyyyyyy

      2. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Chilwell??!!

      3. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        F for Alonso transferers!

      4. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Jamessssss

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

        Oh Chilwell starts, nice ...

    6. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      As a Liverpool fan, I could really have done without seeing 31 points on my bench as well this weekend. Brutal

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martinez DCL Foden?

        1. FourLokoLeipzig
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Ederson Gundo Targett Kilman.

          The defenders, I played the odds, and I played DCL over Gundo. Was very tempted to BB

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

      Robbo on zero points?

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

        ties him with Souchy

    8. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stones to Foden for the DGW?

      Foden won’t have an easier game all season is the worry.

    9. Rash
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Desperately need chilwell or Raphinha to miss out.. foolishly benched gundog

      As well as coufal and DCL.

    10. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Chilwell starts.
      Alonso benched.

      1. Rash
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Damn

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        CHO benched - Tuchel roulette

      3. Pipermaru
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Third game in 7 days, expected.

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

      Good thing I didn’t go for Alonso

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I think someone on here capped him...

    12. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Klop the child deserves it .. rest players mf and do your hockey cockey nonsense you are lost as Liverlool fans

    13. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One of my rivals did Foden > Soucek. That's gotta hurt.

    14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Alonso fail

      1. Party time
          3 years, 1 month ago

          😆 bandwagon derailed

      2. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Think I might need to see Stones to get Gundogan... (Cancelo, Stones, Sterling in my side)

        Martinez, Stones, Soucek > Pope, Lowton, Gundo (-4)?

        Plan to WC before GW26 if it’s a struggle to obtain the key players for the big double.

        1. The Tinkerman
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Sell*

      3. Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Liverpool back to where they were in Klopp's first couple of seasons

      4. EDUARDO DA SILVA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Mo is such a diver. Fact

        1. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Sterling is such a diver. Fact.

          1. George Sillett
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Tetchy aren't we ? Salah is way worse than Sterling and I am a neutral . Fact.

      5. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Chilwell starts you fu*king beauty!

      6. Jet5605
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Which third City do I get for the double?

        A - Soucek > Foden
        B - Robbo > Dias

      7. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sterling, Gundogan, Stones owner. Perfect result!

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

          Wouldn't a cleanie be the perfect result?

      8. Tic Tacs
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        More points on my bench than on the pitch this week... another atrocious week... feel like giving up on FPL!

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

        Liverpool didn't lose at Anfield for 68 games and then losing 3 in a row
        LOL

      10. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Chilwelll startssssssssssss