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. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah INVOLVED in celebrations

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

      heavily involved

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

    Only a matter of time before Salah punishes us sellers.

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Yea that cleanie point is annoying. Could do with a Sheff goal here

  3. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    As a Pool fan, never thought Id be this happy about being 2 up vs Sheffield. How times have changed

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

      Clearly this man has been without a win for so long.

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

      Anything to plug the holes with a B team playing this season

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

    Any Salah cappers out there? I pray for you

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

      Theyll need all the prayers becuase they have absolutely nowhere to hide

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Can you see me?

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

          I can oh yes i can

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I accept your prayers

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

      Me 🙁

    4. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Figured they'd have 2 goals with no Salah involvement and Ramsdale would be prime Neuer the first half, but still captained him

    5. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      TC unfortunately

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

    Curtis Jones the only good thing to come out of this season for Liverpool.

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

      Jota too until he got injured.

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

        The season was mostly fine until everyone got injured

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

          It was a nice four weeks.

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

          What injuries?

          😆

  6. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Bruno>KDB(c)?

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Salah to KDB

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

        I am doing this

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

    Well actually it was always my ploy to own all these popular players and have them blank. Just need my low owned differentials to perform.

  8. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Good thing the linesman is having an assistent in Salah

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

    20 minutes left for Salah to score a brace

  10. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Can someone just tell him it’s Adrian and not Alisson. Getting it wrong once is fine but it’s getting out of hand now

    1. Says
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      he even earlier said Alisson is away on compassionate leave. He must be confused about how he is also playing in goal.

    2. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      i remember once watching a Bayern game where commentator called Douglas Costa "Diego Costa" for the entirety of the match

  11. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Keep the blank up Salah. Show these people why Kane was better

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

      Son says hi

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

    Congrats to rudiger owners on the 12 pointer

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

      thank u :*

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

    We've got Salah for the Chelsea game anyway, right...right?

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

      Does like a goal against Chelsea

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

      Thought you were singing that awful song.

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

    Lol linesman a Sheff Utd fan

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

    OG probably

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

      Confirmed

  16. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah to KDB going to be popular next gw

  17. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Maybe will hit WC30

    But when to use BB ? Is there will be another gw ?

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      It’s no possible likely be

  18. Forgetmeknot
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    As probably the only mane owner on here - will his assist be removed?

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

      Yes.

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

        Goal disallowed and assist removed - injury, red card or OG next to complete the hat trick?

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

          😛

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

      From that angle behind the goal it looks like it's not on target

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

    Firmino celebrating that his goal might be downgraded to an assist.

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

    Looks like og imo

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

    Bobby shot not actually even hitting the corner flag, was actually going for a throw

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

    OG confirmed

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

      Yep

    2. thewakka
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Good call

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

    Never in doubt. Own goal. Firmino assist

  24. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Need to upgrade Salah to Lingard soon

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

      True dat

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

      Upgrading Salah to Harrison Reed

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

      Things we thought we never say

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

    This game is hard

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

    Salah off Pens

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Milner came on?

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

        About to

  27. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah to anyone?

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

      John Fleck's an upgrade.

    2. thewakka
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Yup

  28. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    as salah owner I've started to accept the inevitable.

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Try being a Salah TC

  29. Hig1990
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Best Barnes replacement? Only brought him in this week...7.5M to spend

    Salah, Foden, Bruno, Raphina, Barnes*

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

      A gw29er assuming you're not using any other chips.

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

      Lingard the obvious form pick or JWP if you want a punt

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

    Salah off pens.