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. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo since GW13:

    10, 3, 11, 9, 3, 8, 10, 14, 3, 8, 13

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      GuNdO iS a TrAp

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

      In the words of pukki blinders

      ‘Gundo is a trap’

    3. Mr Bird
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Should have looked at that before benching him maybe?

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Couldn’t agree more

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

      Sticking with KDB at that price was the actual trap.

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

        Anybody who say Gundo is a trap, should keep their trap shut. 😉 😀

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

          Let them keep reverse jinxing it 😎

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

            Gundo is the best player in the world, and probably the single greatest FPL asset that ever lived. Makes Pele look like a complete mug.

            guarenteed 300pt season.

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

      4 hauls then blank now following the pattern.

    6. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Guess which one we all captained him for

    7. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo is a ladder. Is he captain material for next gw?

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

        Not sure if there's better option...

  2. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez DDG
    TAA Shaw Cancelo Dias (Coufal)
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan (Son Smith-Rowe)
    Bamford Antonio Calvert-Lewin

    Only 0.6 itb

    Only 1 free transfer, is it worth saving?

    I’m tempted to do Trent/De Gea to Pope and Mee -4

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

      To that!

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

      Burnley defender?

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would you double down for a -4??

  3. Party time
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How many points does a keeper get if he scores a goal??

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

        Same as a defender I think, 6

        1. Party time
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Not good. Should be 8 imo

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

              You preparing to get Ederson in

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

        Soucek to gundogan (-4) ??

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

          Not for -4

        2. Aj Royals
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yes, on pens and DGW

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

            Not so sure about pens now

        3. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yes

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

        Obviously waiting but play Cresswell or get in Mee for him for free? No other Burnley

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

          WC soon? Which one do you want long term? If not Mee I would keep Creswell and find other way for BUR def/Mee

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

            Mee has more prospect of doubles and better fixtures

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

              Fixture wise yes, WHU defensive performance is better and Creswell prospect of assist and bonus ... my preference btw

        2. R.C
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Get Mee.

      4. Ruudy Van
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Any moves? 1FT 7.7ITB

        Pope (Martinez)
        Targett Coufal Dias Stones (dier)
        Salah Bruno Gundo (Soucek, Burke)
        Bamford Antonio DCL

        Thinking Dier to Lowton and bench Coufal?

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

        Tuchel suggesting Alonso is his man.

        Chilwell in as 3 games in such short time was too much for Alonso after a lack of football.

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

          Yup, pretty clear I think.

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

            DGWs getting in the way of enjoying the Alonso ride.

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

        So if Chelsea are going to persist with 3-4-3 then they will use their squad as follows?

        GK: Mendy, Kepa
        RCB: Azpi, Tomori
        CB: Silva, Christensen
        LCB: Rudiger, ?????
        LWB: Alonso, Chilwell
        RWB: CHO, James
        LCM: Kante, Jorginho
        RCM: Kovacic, Havertz
        LW: Werner, Pulisic
        RW: Ziyech, Mount
        FW: Abraham, Giroud

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

          Plus Gilmour

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

          Tomori on loan at AC Milan

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

          Havertz in behind the striker and Gilmour second choice. I’d expect lots of rotation

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

          CHO could play on either side and LW too.

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

          Rcb backup would be Zouma, Tomori is playing for Milan on loan.

          Lcb could be Chillwell, not sure though.

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

          Aren't Chelsea lining up 3-4-1-2 today?

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

            With Werner and Giroud in a front two?

            Mount in the hole in front of a line of 4 and 3 at the back.

            Okay ... pretty similar.

      7. sergioaguero67
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Any chance Bamford and Dallas don't start?
        Targett and Gundogan on bench :'(

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

          No. Bielsa has one team.

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

          Slim, need an injury. Bielsa doesn’t mess with his side.

        3. Boly Would
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          No

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

          You'd want them to start, they could easily thrash palace.

        5. FPL Space
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What if they both score against Palace and get a cleansheet?

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

        Have 1 FT and going BB in GW24, what should I do?

        WC GW25

        1.7 ITB

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

        GK: Martinez | Bamford | Dallas | Son

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

        Which scores highest?

        A) Digne (FUL, mcy) + Watkins (bha)
        B) Lowton (cpl, FUL) + Hames (FUL, mcy) -4

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

          I’d bet B

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

          B

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

          A

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

          A, but i dont fancy Everton defence for the DGW.

      10. jonnybhoy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Best midfielder for the next few gameweeks thats no Gundo. Thinking JRod?

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Rashford

        2. balint84
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Sterling

      11. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pep on their missed penalty: "It's a problem that we have. In important moments we cannot miss it, and it doesn't matter the taker. Again, I'm going to think about Ederson, he might be the taker next time."

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

          Ederson essential!

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

          Omg

        3. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Get into my team

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

          Oh my world, Ederson

        5. Aj Royals
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Pep mindgame...

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

          Ederson on pens :O

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

          He used same words last season too?

      12. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        50 pts plus Bamford and Dallas to play and a chunky red arrow from 89k > 116k

        This season is way too hard!!

        Normally I can balance poor FPL fortune with real world Liverpool success but..... yeh

        1. Buck The Trent
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          53 with same 2 left .. 33k to 41k
          Also pool fan :cry

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Confused how your red arrow is do much smaller with only 3 more points?!

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

              Average for OR 100k-300k 2-3 pts higher than top 10K apparently

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                That’s a v weird peculiarity then!

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

                  Top 10K ownership of some high scoring players are lower that the 100K-300K counterparts I suppose. Slightly skewed distributions.

        2. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Normally = once every 30 years.

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            You can have a great/ good season and not win the league.

            We have had the combo of v bad luck re injuries plus being off our game generally.

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

            😆 dear me

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

          Humble position brag. Epic.

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Ok fair play I accept it’s still decent but it’s all still relative.

            I’ve dropped from 59k in GW19 to 116k now. So things are definitely going in the wrong direction and I need to stop the slide!

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

              You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man

              I went from 120 to 400k in a particularly terrible spell of matches being cancelled and poor descision making. have only just managed to claw my way back to 250kish - to get myself back into the game now needs some extreme luck in the coming weeks.

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Poetic for a dark Sunday night

      13. manu4life99
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Coufal > Mee/Lowton for dgw

        Who to bench?! (Stick with lookman/areola dgw or play the single gw players?)

        Areola*
        Stones* Dias* Mee* Shaw
        Salah Bruno Gundo* Lookman*
        DCL* Antonio

        martinez, awb, son, bamford

        Areola*

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

        Can I save my ft and is this lined up correct for next gw?

        Mendy
        Cancelo, Digne, Tarkowski
        Salah, Sterling, Grealish, Gundogan
        Dcl, Richarlison, Decordova Reid

        Martinez, Minamino, Chillwell, Justin .2itb

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Wow very different but looking great for DGW... save!

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

            Bench order correct? Chillwell v D Reid v Minamino is tough.

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

              Chillwell will be benched again . . .

      15. DARE TO BISCAN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pope
        Cancelo, Stones, Mee
        Salah, Gundo, Bruno, Son
        Bamford, DCL, Antonio
        (McCarthy, Shaw, Justin, Soucek)
        3.9m ITB, 2FT. WC, TC
        a) Soucek > Rodriguez

        1. DARE TO BISCAN
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          *
          b) Stones/Cancelo, Salah > Digne, Sterling/Foden
          c) something else (what're your thoughts?)

      16. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sold DCL
        Benched Foden
        Brought in Pope to bench Martinez
        Captained Antonio

        I'm really bad this season.

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

          Rough.

      17. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Rudiger quietly going under he radar.

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

          Rival capped him

      18. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Still have WC, TC and BB. Is this worth BB next week?

        Martinez (bha)
        Coufal (SHU)
        Dallas (ars)
        Bamford (ars)

        Feel this bench gets 20 pts

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I think yes 🙂

        2. Abra Dubravka
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Might get more in a later double GW? Fixture for leeds isn’t the best

      19. Abra Dubravka
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        2 FT, £5m in the bank. Anything obvious (assuming Soucek ban overturned)?

        Pope (Martinez)
        Coufal, Dias, Stones, Digne
        Gundo(c), Bruno, Soucek, Salah
        DCL, Antonio

        Bench: Grealish, Bamford, Raphinha?

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          GTG would BB if u have it

          1. Abra Dubravka
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Used it already sadly.

        2. Abra Dubravka
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          *Raphinha is Dallas

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

        Red again! On a positive note, I’m through in the cup 🙂

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

          Can’t quit on a cup run 😉

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

            Haha! I’ll be out so enough

        2. Abra Dubravka
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          1. Abra Dubravka
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Good luck Rafa! I’m out unless Dallas and Bamford get 14 tomorrow

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

              There’s still hope then mate

              1. Abra Dubravka
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Clinging on!

      21. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martinez
        Stones Rudiger Cancelo Dias
        Saka Bruno Salah
        DCL Bamford Antonio

        McCarthy Konsa Grealish Son

        Stones + Son > Mee + (G)undo -4

        Yay or nay?

        1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Team will be

          Martinez
          Mee Rudiger Cancelo Dias
          Saka Bruno Salah
          DCL Antonio

          McCarthy Bamford Konsa Grealish

          Stones + Son > Mee + (G)undo -4

          My fear is Gundo hauls in 2 teams with weak defence.

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

        What’s the current average overall?

        1. Ragabolly
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          49

      23. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Does Ederson take the next city pen?

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

          yes

        2. Abra Dubravka
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          He should! It’s about time

      24. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hey fam! Thoughts on this BB this week? TC in 26. No WC/FH remaining.

        Will do Mitchell to Mee for free.

        AREOLA
        CANCELO MEE Maguire
        STERLING GUNDOGAN Bruno Son
        DCL Antonio Bamford

        Martinez Targett Raphinha Coufal

        Players in caps have DGW.

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I would

          1. Pep Roulette
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Cheers mate

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

          I'm tempted too but have my WC left. Who you thinking of triple captaining in 26?

          POPE Martinez
          CANCELO STONES MEE Coufal Dallas
          Salah Bruno Son Grealish GUNDOGAN
          DCL Antonio Bamford

      25. DannyDrinkVodka
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Is Sterling a better captain choice than Gundogan for the double?

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

          Ederson (c)

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

          Likely to be rested for one IMHO

        3. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Rotation threat

      26. Mweene
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        People with Kane benching him next week?

        I think I might...

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Its him, grealish or Soucek. Probably grealish.

        2. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I’ve got both Kane and Son, one of them will go to bench

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

          Spurs aren’t scoring vs that City defence unless it’s a penalty.

      27. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        How many points a goalie get if they score a goal?

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

          6

          1. La Roja
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Ah just like a defender then

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

              Pretty good still!

        2. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This is city. Penalty miss is more relevant.

      28. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Kane or Vardy?

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

          Harry Cain