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. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stupid Dier no show. Dallas! Save my GW.

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

      My worst transfer ever
      Got one CS out of him since GW15
      Fell in price overnight before the benching today to add further insult to injury!

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I brought him in GW 16 too when their fixtures turned. Don't why I held him for so long.

    2. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If he showed he would have conceded. You got more chance of points from Dallas

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

    I have come for comfort, i took out foden in rage last week do i tf him back in?

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

      Don't get him back.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No I think he is still a rotation risk. Safe play for city assets is Dias, Stones/Cancelo and Gundo. You could probably attack the city DGWs with Dias, Gundo and Sterling

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

      You are chasing this week's points.

    4. Avery
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With the double game week coming up you may find he starts one and a bit of another. In the scheme of things there is still lots of potential there for points. He might not start one but KDB still out so that’s favourable

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

        thank you very much, this was getting me down.

        Where do I go from here? 0itb 1ft, WC and BB available

        martinez
        chillwell robertson cancelo
        salah son grealish maddison bruno
        bamford dcl

        subs, forster, coufal, mitchell, brewster

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

      He's a rotation risk, but at 6.1 he may be worth it if you have a Soucek or Raphinha on your bench

  3. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on dgw plan?

    Martinez
    Taylor Cancelo Stones Taylor
    Salah Bruno Son Anguissa
    Antonio DCL Bamford

    Ramsdale Robertson Soucek Holding

    A) Anguissa, Robertson to Gundogan, Tarkowski

    B) a + Ramsdale to Pope -4 and play over Martinez

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo and Pope only. Burnley GK and defender is probably overkill

      1. Avery
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Agree I would just do the one and that would probably be a defender

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks.

      2. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm thinking it could be worth it for the double, then Tarkowski to Dallas for Leeds double?

  4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    One horrible call after another. Any chance of Bamford missing out tomorrow? Gundo my first sub...

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very small chance

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

      Foden here 0/

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

      Slim probably

    4. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bamford put the armband on himself in FPL

  5. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is the bonus Gundo 3 Foden 3 Sterling 2 and no point for Salah or does he get 1 also? Sorry for the noob question

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I believe so

      1. Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I mean no Salah BP

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          That’s what I thought

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

      Sterling only gets 1

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Oh, damn.

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

          Sterling's BPS actually very high with just 1 attacking return. He's played well today tbf and unlucky not to get more returns.

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo 3 Foden 3 Sterling 1

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

    So LIV pretty much out of the title race?

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have been for weeks

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

      Two horse race now between the Manchester teams

      1. Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Honestly it’s not even that

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He means Man city A and Man City B, depends who pep rotates in and out

            1. A. PRISE
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Right as rain

      2. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Points-wise i'd say no, but with the current football they're playing they won't win it.

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

        Liverpool have EUFA Cup aspirations this year...

    3. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you bring in Foden, you do so understanding he is a rotation risk. It happens time and time again, yet people on here never learn

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It's because after he does really well people always think "yes now is the time pep can't drop him, there's no way he can be that harsh" and then pep drops him for 5 games straight

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

            You have to remember that City assets don't really get "dropped". They are rested. Regardless of previous performance, if it's your turn to rest, you are rested!

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

        Early complaints over benching DCL for Gundo unnecessary now. Love that 😉

        1. Kellz86
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah the over reaction on here before 90min is even finished is just hilarious

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

            Guilty!

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

        Any Bamford rest/injury rumours?

        Any Leeds itk on Twitter? 🙁

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

          He captained himself in his FPL team for the 2nd time in the last 10 GWs, so probably not!

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

            Link?

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

                Cheers

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

            Deadline was yesterday though and they had training today

        2. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Praying for this, DCL first on bench

          1. Party time
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Bamford will haul

              1. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Doesn’t help my ML, rival has closed a 150-160 point gap down to about 50-60 and we both have Bamford.
                Worried he might catch me

                1. Party time
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Feck the ML. OR is more important

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

                      Nah. Usually around 600 euros on the line for my ML winner. Way more important.

                      1. Party time
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          My bad 🙂

                    2. Party time
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Imo* although you are a very good manager so I believe you will win it

              2. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Time to bring in the annoying haulers, Justin & Gundogan

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Go foden and Reece James instead and stay ahead of the curve

                  • DA Minnion (Former great)
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Yeah justin is especially annoying.

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

                    Justin has Liverpool (last season's title winners), Aston Villa and Arsenal next though - all goal scoring machines

                    1. Big boy Bowen
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      But it’s Justin, he has clean sheet and 3 BAPs added before a ball is even kicked

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

                        I know
                        And it's guaranteed as soon as I bring him in, Pereira will take his place!

                      2. HollywoodXI
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        ^ Truth

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

                    You said that you and bought Justin in already.

                    1. Big boy Bowen
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Yes, it’s lined up ready...

                2. Party time
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    It’s funny how people wanted Gündoğan to miss out today so they can get DCL auto sub

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

                      Shame on me

                  • Big boy Bowen
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    DCL bencher
                    Soucek starter
                    Son non capper
                    Gundogan non owner

                    Can anyone beat that? I did have Martinez though

                    1. Sid1891
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Son non owner- Gundo owner
                      Rest the same

                    2. Pops15
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      DCL and Martinez benched. Soucek starter and Antonio (C). Have Chilewell on the bench too, expecting a monster haul in the next 2 hours.

                      1. Pops15
                        • 7 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Chilwell***

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

                      You forgot to mention Justin!

                      1. Big boy Bowen
                        • 7 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Oh gosh yes

                  • DAZZ
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Which City defender would you sell first, Cancelo, Dias or Stones?

                    1. Coaly
                      • 11 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Keep, 2 doubles

                      1. DAZZ
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        2FT’s Riedewald > Gundo locked in so need to sell 1 🙂

                        1. Coaly
                          • 11 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Stones then

                    2. MoSalalalalalalalalah
                      • 5 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Dias maybe, just because he has the least goal involvements. Otherwise, flip a coin for Dias and Stones

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

                        Would keep them for the DHW

                        1. DAZZ
                          • 9 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Thinking of Gundo (C) for the double, have 2FT so need to sell 1

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

                            Lmaoooo, love to see you eating your words. Well and truly punished.

                            1. DAZZ
                              • 9 Years
                              3 years, 1 month ago

                              Knew you’d nibble! Need that push into the top 10K. Sitting pretty at 30K 🙂 Gundo will help 😉

                    3. Nomar
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Why sell?

                      1. DAZZ
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Riedewald > Gundo as 5th MF. Need to lose 1 defender.

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

                      Dias but it is very close

                  • Gnu
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    I wonder what odds Alisson got on Citeh winning by 3 goals?
                    16/1 maybe.

                  • Coaly
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Michael Keane a good shout for next few? Lots of potential doubles for Everton

                    Then who to start him over - Coufal (SHU) or Bamford (ars)?

                    1. Pops15
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Wouldnt get Keane. High chance of rotation with Mina and Everton cant keep clean sheets. Only Digne is worth a punt as he offers attacking potential, the rest are hopeless

                  • diesel001
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    If you are picking an England team today it has to be:

                    Pope
                    AWB Stones Maguire Chilwell
                    Rice Maddison Henderson
                    Foden Kane Grealish

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

                      Nah, six of them will have already played today. They’ll be way too tired to play another game.

                  • frenchfries
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    A) Son+Taylor -> Sterling+Mee
                    B) Antonio+Taylor -> DCL+Cancelo

                  • HollywoodXI
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    I think I’m just going to have to suck it up and transfer Justin in. He’s killing my rank every single week.

                  • Salan
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Gundo should HT but I can't complain more. He saves my gw. (with additional help from Villa players)

                  • Jet5605
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Which option looks best assuming Soucek's ban stands:

                    A - Soucek > Foden
                    B - Robbo > Dias

                    Pope
                    Stones - Justin - Coufal
                    Salah - Bruno - Soucek - Gundo
                    Antonio - Bamford - DCL

                    Martinez - Raphinha - Robbo - Dallas

                  • MoSalalalalalalalalah
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    This is my BB team for GW24, if Soucek's ban is overturned what would you do with the FT? Unless, you hold onto it?

                    WC GW25

                    1.7 ITB

                    Pope
                    Cancelo | Mee | Cresswell | Digne
                    Sterling | Soucek* | Gundogan | Bruno
                    DCL | Watkins

                    GK: Martinez | Bamford | Dallas | Son

                  • @persecuted_by_mods
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Average must be quite high this week?

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

                        Fix has it at 47 right now

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

                          Wow, that low? Lovely.

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

                            Chelsea CS + Leeds Vs Palace will probably change it

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

                              Doubt there are that many Chilwell owners, latter definitely but we all own Leeds players.

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

                                True, and personally would take a Bamford haul to cover my DCL 1st bench error

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

                        Top 10k = 57pts from 10 played. One of those remaining players is Bamford.

                        1. Big boy Bowen
                          • 7 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Wow ok my 56 with Dallas and Bamford not too bad then

                      3. @persecuted_by_mods
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Cheers all, very surprised must be A LOT of benched points

                      4. Leonard hatred
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        FFS concensus is not to go Foden.

                        We all know that means Foden is 100% guarenteed to score 50 goals and get knighted over the next 2 GWs.

                      5. EL_FENOMENO
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 7 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Robbo to Cancelo for next week worth a -4?

                      6. Champions League Varane
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Should I try get Gundo if I have Sterling Stones and Cancelo? Wildcarding next week but only 1 FT.

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

                        It's time to sell Salah.Best pick?
                        a)Rashford
                        b)Sterling
                        c)Rodriguez

                      8. EmreCan Hustle
                        • 11 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Stones to Dias necessary? Or hold Stones? Also have Cancelo and Gundogan.

                        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                          • 7 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Hold

                        2. Party time
                            3 years, 1 month ago

                            Hold

                        3. cruzex
                          • 11 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          werner time?

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

                            Already 22 GWs asking this question ... nobody cares now 😉

                        4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                          • 7 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Play 1:

                          A) Bamford vs Ars
                          B) Holding vs Leeds
                          C) Son vs City

                          1. EmreCan Hustle
                            • 11 Years
                            3 years, 1 month ago

                            A

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

                            Bamford for me

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

                            A

                        5. YEAH PITCH!
                          • 5 Years
                          3 years, 1 month ago

                          Salah to

                          A) Foden
                          B) Sterling

                          1. EmreCan Hustle
                            • 11 Years
                            3 years, 1 month ago

                            B

                          2. Sid1891
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 6 Years
                            3 years, 1 month ago

                            B

                          3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                            • 7 Years
                            3 years, 1 month ago

                            B

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

                            Foden was great today but Pep may still manage his minutes