Dugout Discussion

Rare start for Adrian as Alisson sits out Liverpool’s Double Gameweek 26 opener

Two out-of-sorts sides meet in the last of five Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off at Bramall Lane is at 19:15 GMT.

Liverpool are in particularly woeful nick, sitting in the bottom three for form when Premier League sides are filtered by their last six, eight and ten matches.

The Reds have kept only one clean sheet this calendar year.

The good news for Jurgen Klopp’s side is that they are taking on a team that are rock-bottom of the division and who have lost 20 of their 25 league games this season.

Even the Blades have won more matches than the reigning champions in 2021, however.

Klopp has made two enforced changes to the side beaten in the Merseyside derby at Anfield last time out.

Alisson (£5.9m), absent following the tragic death of his father this week, is replaced by Adrian (£4.2m) between the posts, with Nathaniel Phillips (£4.0m) covering for the injured Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) at centre-half.

Academy goalkeepers Jakub Ojrzynski and Liam Hughes are among the substitutes, along with the fit-again James Milner (£5.3m).

Diogo Jota (£6.6m) had been on the cusp of a comeback but doesn’t make the matchday squad due to illness.

There are two changes for Sheffield United following their defeat by Fulham, with Oliver Norwood (£4.5m) coming in for the injured Chris Basham (£4.6m) in midfield and David McGoldrick (£5.2m) replacing Billy Sharp (£5.5m) up top.


Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Ampadu, Jagielka, Bryan, Baldock, Norwood, Lundstram, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Liverpool XI: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Kabak, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Jones, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 26 SO FAR…

A first blank in five matches for Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) arrived at an inopportune for Fantasy managers who had backed him with the Gameweek 26 captaincy.

The Portugal international was well shackled throughout, with his expected goal involvement (xGI) total a paltry 0.09 against Chelsea on Sunday.

Manchester United were fairly anaemic overall, mustering just two shots in the box in the stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

An easier test awaits in midweek, at least, with Crystal Palace unlikely to prove such stubborn opposition as a Chelsea side who have now kept five clean sheets in seven Premier League matches under Thomas Tuchel.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.7m) has quietly gone about his business under his new manager, averaging 6.3 points per match and starting every game since the change in the hot seat.

It was the two goalkeepers, plus Andreas Christensen (£4.7m), who took home the bonus points in west London, which gives the impression the game had more action than it actually did.

David de Gea (£5.3m) did make one excellent stop to keep out Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) but clear-cut chances were scarce.

Timo Werner (£9.2m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) were the latest victims of Tuchel’s tinkering, dropping to the bench for this dour draw.

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1,320 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Salah TCers unite

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Come onnn

  2. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes to Jota would have been great

  3. mojoindojo
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    1-1 with no Salah please

  4. mojoindojo
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Keep Sterling for next week or get rid?

    1. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Another dgw, may as well keep
      Ster owner by the way

    2. Citytilidie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      In same boat, might just straight swap him for KDB

  5. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Wheres that fella who got Bale in haha saw him yesterday

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      The 12th Man I think it was

    2. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I was thinking the same. Thought he was mental to do that but what a result!

      1. JT11fc
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Insane

    3. Bank$y
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I captained Bale

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        What is your team's ID number?

        1. Bank$y
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Couldn't post a pic but check my tweet @banksyfpl

    4. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Me? haha

    5. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Are you talking about me? 🙂

      My WC punt!

    6. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I did Grealish,Bamford >> Bale,Kane -4

  6. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    1-3 end here

  7. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Right going into hiding, see you at 9

    1. Gazwaz80
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Haha, I’ve just put something similar 🙂

  8. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Do Liverpool have a defence? Weak keeper, centre backs and midfield. Presumanly Trent and Robbo have to cover now

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      First time fielding two "real" centre backs since november

  9. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    LMS safety score currently 37

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Any way you could run a plate competition next season starting week 20 and only open to those already out?

      Looking for a way to keep my interest in the season alive and I appear to be a second half of the season player

  10. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Time to hide behind the sofa...

  11. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    shows how far Liverpool have fallen that many of us did not C / TC Salah in DGW with Sheff U

    1. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      So true. I have a feeling I may regret it.

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Some do.

      About 65,000 people i think.

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Half a team, half the confidence

  12. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Save from Adrian. What?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Offside

      1. GROBARI
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        I know,but i am suprised by that save

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          How so? Adrian is a great shot stopper

  13. Bank$y
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Point check so far for non Salah owners?

  14. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    111,134 already transferred Barnes out. Lingard making the way in.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Blanks in 28!

      1. GoonerSteve
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        game in 29 though.

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Forgot about that.

  15. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Any TAA or Robbo owners here?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      So last season

  16. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Guess the best replacement for Grealish was not Harvey Barnes...

    Who is next in line??

    1. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      El Ghazi

    2. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Grealish

    3. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      CKDB if fit

    4. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Will Grealish be back soon?

      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Who knows if we’ll find out before next deadline

    5. thewakka
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Grealish if fit, otherwise I say Saka

  17. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Nice ball,take her home Mo

  18. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Best barnes replacement under 9.5m that plays in 29:

    A) Son
    B) Bale
    C) Lingard

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      A

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        You need to remove that piece of pizza from under your A button.

  19. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    What a save

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      This is a great summary of Liverpools fortune of late

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    What a miss Salah

  21. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Please Mo. Don't let me down.

  22. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Great save

  23. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Just about to stick pins in my eyes as I think it is less painful than watching with no Pool.

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    did the commentator say salah was playing wing back?

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yes he did

  25. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Why didn't Saka not play?

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Did*

    2. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Wasn't fit

    3. mojoindojo
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Fatigue

    4. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Rest, carrying minor injury.

    5. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Rested, Arteta said he was tired after the Europa, he's played a lot.

  26. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Are Cancelo sellers buying Stone or Dias, seems harsh as all can warm the bench?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      They aren't here. Casuals selling him.

    2. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      KDB

    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Why do people sell City players after benching? Sell them after a haul

    4. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yep have bought Stones, kept Cancelo

  27. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Salah RWB 😆

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      If true, great news for non owners like me.

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Inbound blank.....feel sorry for those who gave him the armband

    3. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Orthodox right back more like

    4. Jenas
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      4pts for clean sheet locked then.

  28. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes to who?

    Will FH29 1.5itb

  29. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bale

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Kane and Bale in for Bamford Grealish.. bet you've had worse transfers eh..well played.

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Great move. Shame you didn’t go full balls in and TC him too.

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        I thought about it but thought just getting Bale in with Son and Kane was good enough.

        What made me triple up?
        Spurs fixture run to 31. Worth attacking then offload some on WC.
        Bale has looked good in Europe and against West Ham.

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Great decision that paid off handsomely, well done!

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Well played mate

  30. Bobby
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    That moment when you realise that you've totally underestimated the pivotal nature of this week. Staring down the absolute barrell here

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I was badly prepared for this GW, had to throw my TC at it in hope of grey/small green arrow.

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      How bad are you. Surely not that far behind?