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. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    At what time should I delete my team?

  2. Casual Player
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    So is everyone tripling up on the Spurs front line now?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Nah

      1. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Just trying to catch the vibe of the last few pages of comments.

  3. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah TC HT fail, dreadful weekend for my team with no Spurs!! Need a week off now.

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

      It's more like 60% than HT, Liverpool got the "easy" game out the way...

  4. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    So satisfying to see a Salah blank as a non owner! 😀

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

      I'll join you next week, done with him for now!

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

      Wait til you find out his GW isn't over yet 😛

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

      Better to be lucky than good.

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I will call it skill rather than luck for not owning him for that 6 gw witch doctor curse blank and DGW blank for now

        Gotta pick right players at the right time

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

          😛

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

          DGW blank 🙂

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Same for me with Bruno, Salah was inches from a goal, gutted..

  5. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Shame SHU couldn't score against Adrian and week CBs, any other team would have scored at least 1

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

    Super Trent 🙂

  7. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Captain Sensible article named Salah the top pick. What is going on here...

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      90 mins to go bro

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

      Mental pick really, despite the somewhat positive stars.

      The scout picks didn't even go for him.

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

        Lol. Stuck to the touchline all game and another day he has a brace. Hoping for the best in a few days time.

    3. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Sabotage?

  8. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Should've gone with gut and done Salah>Son. Hope Sterling>Foden instead pays off vs Wolves

  9. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Lovely Salah blank.

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

    A fairly shíté day of fantasy football.

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

    Salah clean sheet point haul

  12. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    No Salah, please tell me the damage gracefully

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

      2 pts

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        🙂

  13. NETFLIX & CHILWELL
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Just sat in the bath listening to XX 'Angels' pondering my TC choice of Salah.

    x

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

    Kane tc‘s very unlucky today, best decision of the 3 by a mile

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

      What about DCL?

    2. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      DCL TCers gonna be the real winners I hope.

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

        Oh yes we will ! Monday night games always bring some spectacle, could be goals galore there

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I just went C. Was close to TC but decided to keep not sure why

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

      Lucky deflected goal?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        It barely changed direction, was in anyway

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

          Pope disagrees.

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Pope can do one lol

    4. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      3 more points. Gutted

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

      However you want to chop it. Kane scores a deflected goal, could've had more surely. Salah misses 2 he finishes most of the time. Bruno TC, think that was the worst of the bunch by some distance.

    6. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Yen, Kane should have at least double his score. I Was lucky with my KDB g2g, he did one thing the whole game and got points for it.

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

    TAA cleanie and 3 baps... I'll take it. He's outscored my whole midfield!

    1. Party time
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Juicy points

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

      So decision to sell son ahead of salah already backfired and added to the wound I brought in Barnes for son to accommodate Kane..

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

        I couldn't get both Kane and Son only Kane. Can't fathom selling a Spurs attacker

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

          Yeah I was gonna say. Hard to feel that much sympathy for you I'm afraid! Sorry!

    3. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Salah blank feels good after taking him out this week.

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I took Bruno out, so blank was perfect

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

      Salah loves goals v Chelsea narrative better be facts not fiction.

    5. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I'm sure there are a few, like me, breathing a sigh of relief. My KDB over Salah pick has worked for the 1st part of the game week at least.

      Leicester have been the only disappointment so far. Hopefully Barnes injury isn't too bad.

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

        Barnes is out for 6 weeks.

      2. Evil Greg
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        He's out for 6 weeks. I think Soucek is about to have several thousand transfers in!

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

          Probably Lingard ahead of Soucek

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

            But yes, agreed he'll get plenty new owners

          2. dunas_dog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            But will not play week 28

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

              * Lingard that is

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

                Wouldn't bother me. I'd rather have Lingard going forward.

      3. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Six weeks. Ouch.

        Leicester are like a hospital ward. Might be time to offload. Had high hopes for Barnes and pereira on WC.

    6. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Kane with 3 more points than Salah and Bruno. I feel robbed

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        The gap will increase don’t worry 😉

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

          Only if you used TC

        2. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Hope so KK 🙂

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

      Still a 36% green with Salah(TC). That goal goes in and it’s a 60% green. Pain

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Very painful.. So close!!

    8. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I guess you could call my bench boost a success when they've somehow managed to outscore the combined efforts of my outfield starters excluding Kane

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

        Same boat this week as well for me. Fun times.

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

      Salah to KDB right away?

      1. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I did Fernandez to Salah and Mitchel to Dunk right now for -4 just 0.0 itb (Salah might drop in price tho but don't care!)

    10. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Bruno can still rescue it vs Palace. Be patient lads.

    11. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Pretty shocking couple of days. Kane triple did okay. Bruno blank, Burnley double d blanks, Sterling benching, Leeds blanks...rip.

    12. Tinmen
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Has Dier lost his place then folks?

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

      Had to let TAA go to get the funds for Kane, unluckkkkkyyyy

    14. jackoasean
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Thoughts on swapping out Barnes for minimino? I know he has a slight injury problem but expected back next week and has a double game week.

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

        I'd just wait for pressers. Would rather punt on El Ghazi I think.

    15. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I took a - 20 this week.

      Mee to Veltman (before he scored),
      Minamino to Barnes
      Grealish to KDB
      Salah to Son
      Bamford to DCL
      Ings to Kane.

      Satisfied with how its panned out so far.

      1. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        -20? That's never called for.

        1. Evil Greg
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Well it's pretty much worked, cancelled all my rivals, better setup for gwk29, I'm happy anyway.

    16. Blanka
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Bruno > KDB for the double?!

      Have exact money.

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

        Do it