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. Gemma817
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Now that BB is out of the way. I'd like to get rid of some benching headaches and have some ITB.

    Transfer Barnes to
    a) Saka
    b) Lookman
    c) ?? (Preferably a player who plays BGW29)

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

      Lingard?

      1. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Great shout although does play Man U in 2 GW's time so would need to be benched for that.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Grealish.

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Saka or Lingard

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

      Trossard

  2. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    For GW29 planning to transfer in with a couple of hits to get around 8 players. WC GW30 current plan.

    I reckon a Barnes & DCL => Bale & Maja punt is on the cards.

    Giving

    Martinez* – (Areola)
    (Stones – Cancelo – Digne – Rudiger) - Coufal*
    (Salah – Bruno – Gundo) – Bale* – Son*
    Bamford* – Maja* – Watkins*

    Then work out final couple of transfers next week.

    Crazy?

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

      I’d hold DCL if he gets a double in 28

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

    Anyone else considering playing the Pep roulette and TC a City Asset next week?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      not for me

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      No, though a nailed on Aguero could be tempting.

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Only city players I would feel slightly comfortable with captaining is Ederson or Dias! Prefer Kane against Palace

  4. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Apologies if it’s be asked many times before folks but what’s the consensus of which gameweek the Villa vs Everton and Spurs vs Southampton games will be resheduled for???

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      GW28 - Villa v Eve
      GW32 - Spurs v Sou

      https://mobile.twitter.com/BenCrellin

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Nice one!!! Cheers mate thanks that this!!

  5. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Burnley defenders were shocking today. Wait and see Spurs v Fulham before getting Bale.

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Just spend 0.2 more and get Son

  6. TH14 - INVINCIBLE
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Is game week 29 the last sensible opportunity to use the FH chip?

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Probably is yes.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Depends on your team. You can survive 29 with 7-8 players that have high ownership like Kane, Son, Martinez etc.

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I'd be content with 8 fairly well owned players myself.

      2. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I'll be looking to use it in GW33 as Fulham, City, Soton and Spurs have blanks. Another possibility is DGW36 or 37. There are talks to have fans in stadiums around then and could be some rescheduling

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Here is the post about it from Ben Crellin

          https://twitter.com/BenCrellin/status/1365789984704323592?s=19

  7. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Play:

    Digne (che) OR Dallas (whu)

    next week? Hmmm.

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Either Dallas or the player that has the highest CS odds from the bookies

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Yeah. Favour Dallas, TBH.

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          He either starts OOP in midfield or at full back then moves to midfield during the game so will always get an opportunity of an assist or goal. I can't see Leeds keeping a CS against WHU. Antonio will score

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

      We haven't lost under Tuchel, but also our attack is struggling.

      Arguably West Ham are in just as good as form but aerially they are going to dominate Leeds IMO - can't see a LEE clean sheet.

    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Lucas

  8. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    28pts from 9 including captain...youch

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

      How many left to play though?

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        12 all going well

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

      43 (-12) from 11/26 (Kane TC) ... thankfully it's only 1/2 way through the gw but it's been a terrible first half

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        40(-12)...hopefully we can enjoy a much better second half!

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

          Hopefully - Salah and Bruno can't do any worse and Cancelo should play, but there won't be any sightings of Barnes terrorising the Burnley defence 🙁

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            It's my midfield diffys Pereira and JRod that I want to haul

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

    After all the hype and a -16 hit I only gained 700 places but I do still have 7 players left including captain Kane so hope still

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      You took 4 hits and were expecting a massive green arrow?

      1. wantsharptv
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 27 days ago

        Yep but have to consider top 7k still good at this stage. So have to somehow see the positives