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. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Maybe the points are coming from the Chelsea game?

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I doubt he will start

  2. Neevesy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Sheff U parking the bus to protect the 1 - 0 defeat

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Very Spursy

  3. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    I wonder if Salah took himself out of his FPL team.

  4. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah may as well be playing in Sheffield Wednesday's ground...

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Would struggle to get in the Owls first XI on current form.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      When fans are back in stadia

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Corona hotspot

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Jota knew Salah would be playing RWB, his transfer makes sense now.

  6. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Why didn't TAA get the assist ?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Cross was cleared to Jones

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Rules.

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Big deflection so didn't reach intended target i guess

  7. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Is Brewster in danger of getting dropped from Sheff Utd’s first team squad?

    They can’t buy a goal and yet his minutes are getting fewer and fewer

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Wilder is lost having an attacking player

    2. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      saving him for Championship

  8. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    what is this Salah tweet people are talking about?

    1. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Salah said he’d scored some goals. Good start that he’d remembered what his role in the team was

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        lollll hillarious that fpl has got to this level

        1. Supersonic Marv'
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          I think players will be banned from playing soon.

          1. Hect.OR 98th
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Yep. It will go the way of betting.

  9. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Points avalanche in the second half of the DGW. I remember Podolski(c) about 8 years ago. I think he was benched and got one point in the first fixture, then got something like two goals and an assist in the second game where no one expected points.

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I own Barnes - there are no points coming

      1. Hect.OR 98th
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        That's just bad luck from a good selection.

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Yeah, hopefully Sterling starts midweek and gets a double digit haul

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      McBurnie offside gets corner ...

  10. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    7000 gameweek rank right now, that doesnt happen very often lol (BB is active).

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      In the Estonian league?

    2. LSK
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Nice. What score are you on?

      1. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        78

        1. LSK
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Good score. I must be up there too then. 79 - 4 so won’t be too far behind.

    3. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      fantastic!

    4. Patson Dabaka
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      93 here, gw rank of 600 absolutely buzzing

      1. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Nice, hope we can get even more with fixtures left

        1. Patson Dabaka
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          How many players left? I'm 15/30 - hope DCL and Digne blank twice

          1. JJeyy
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            15/31 (including cap)

  11. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Jota is the answer

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Doesn’t actually solve the biggest problem

  12. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    That ball was out before Trent crossed it, right?

    1. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Wrong

    2. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      nope, it was clearly in. more than half of the ball to be precise. ..

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I'm going mad then because this looks out to be me.

        https://twitter.com/SkySports/status/1366123839642624000

        1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          If it was out we wouldn't get the call

          Whole ball has to be out right?

      2. Muchentuchel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        it's the angle
        I guess you're talking about the photo where the ball has already left the foot. Optical illusion.

        1. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yeah there's some wizardy going on.

          1. Supersonic Marv'
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Never trust twitter as a source dude. Golden rule.

  13. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Is Bale a legitimate option now?

    1. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Today he was. Personally I don't trust Mourinho's team selection or Bale's fitness. A transfer waiting to happen.

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I’d say so yes

    3. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I’m assuming he’ll get limited game time. Mind you if he can keep playing this well, he might be worth the risk

      https://www.tottenhamblog.com/2021/02/27/jose-mourinho-hints-spurs-attacker-wont-play-every-game-in-busy-run-in/

  14. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Bobby lucky goal

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Mane assist

  15. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Bobby G

  16. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Even Firmino has scored ugh

  17. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    BOBBBBBBY

  18. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    OG i think

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Nope going in

      1. Treadstone
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Nope watch it again it was going wide.

      2. SackWenger
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Not sure how you challenge that and get it wrong - it was clearly going wide of the post until deflected.

  19. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah was about to tackle him

  20. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Firmino grin spotted... On the moon.

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Of course that was off target 😆

  22. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Good,now take out Salah(C) and rest him for Chelsea

  23. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Own goal surely that’s hitting the corner flag

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Can’t see them calling that

  24. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Looks like an own goal

  25. lindeg
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah worth about a half bag of crisps

  26. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    True champions after all

  27. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Should be an own goal. Firmino was most likely trying to cross it. He doesn't shoot.

  28. Nerdlinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Probably OG but they're never calling that

  29. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    own goal imo, the replay from behind the goal shows it going across goal