Dugout Discussion

Alisson and Fabinho return to bolster Liverpool defence as Tuchel recalls Werner

Six successive days of Premier League action comes to an end at Anfield this evening as the 17th and final Double Gameweek 26 fixture takes place.

Liverpool v Chelsea gets underway at 20:15 GMT, as two defences in contrasting form meet on Merseyside.

The Reds kept only their second Premier League clean sheet of the calendar year in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United, ending a run of seven straight blanks for Andrew Robertson (£7.2m).

Chelsea’s backline has been watertight in comparison, with five shut-outs arriving in the seven top-flight fixtures that Thomas Tuchel has overseen.

Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.7m) have been a part of all of those clean sheets and both players start this evening.

The respective managers have made two changes apiece for tonight’s encounter.

Alisson (£5.9m) returns from compassionate leave for the hosts, replacing Adrian (£4.2m) between the posts.

The Reds’ faltering backline has been further boosted by the return to fitness of Fabinho (£5.4m), who takes Nat Phillips‘ (£4.0m) place at centre-half.

Diogo Jota (£6.6m), who would have made the matchday squad at Bramall Lane were it not for illness, is among the substitutes.

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) will face his former employers once again as he looks to improve on a sub-par recent record of nine blanks in his last 12 matches.

As for Chelsea, Timo Werner (£9.2m) replaces Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) in the visitors’ attack.

Jorginho (£4.7m) is in for Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) in the middle of the park, with Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) again only among the substitutes as Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) continues at left wing-back.


Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Kabak, Robertson, Thiago, Wijnaldum, Jones, Salah, Firmino, Mane. 

Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Ziyech, Mount, Werner.

1,692 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bottomed. Worth getting Reguilon for GW27 & 30 or too much of a risk or rotation?

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I am considering that move

    2. Vamos Los Celeste
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I already own him but unfortunately he is a rotation risk.

    3. mr messi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Risky

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers. May as well go Cresswell instead

  2. The Train Driver
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What club will Salah go to next season?

    1. threeputt
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fulham ?

      1. The Train Driver
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Still an upgrade

    2. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      On this form, Watford

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      One on Bold Street.

    4. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      everton

    5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Everton

      1. el polako
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He won't be happy as a squad player.

  3. threeputt
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Where's that guy earlier on who said he was +6 with Salah against Salah tc ? I'm rooting for you mate 🙂

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I’m the Salah TC. Thanks mate...

      1. threeputt
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        no not you mate, it was a cup game and you're already out

      2. Jersey Boy
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bore off pal we know you TCd Salah

        1. George Sillett
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          He will bang on about it indefinitely.

  4. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Fpl is shi* game .

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

      It gives you opportunities to express your inner feelings like this.

  5. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah & Bruno 6...

    1. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not even 6 😆

      1. Vazza
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I calculate 5 but could be wrong

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Two big game performers

    3. Zilla
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah good option in La Liga fantasy next year.

    4. fr3d
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      On the bright side, none of us captained Salah anyway

    5. michaelington
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah benched for next game?

    6. el polako
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah to Bernard seems like an obvious move for the owners.

    7. djman102
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      All out now...77 points from 20 players, plus double TC.

      The equivalent of about a 38 point regular GW. :p

    8. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic to put Pool to bed.

    9. mr messi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who do I need to get rid of first Salah or Bruno?

      1. Effe
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Salah

      2. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Salah has good fixtures ahead but tempted to get rid of him...

    10. Bushwhacker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It's not about football people, it's about minutes and rest and recuperation. These players cannot play 90 minutes every three days, it's not possible. That's why Pep roulette exists, he has 16 first team players to choose from a rotates them to keep them available. No other team has this depth or ability to do it, it's why they're winning everything.

      1. alsybach
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        They play about 40 or 50 games a season. Get a grip man!

      2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah but Klopp played the same team in a nothing match in the champions league

        1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Saying that the best players don’t rest

          Ronaldo messi

          Never seen them get rotated

          1. Bushwhacker
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Messi's missed plenty this season.

          2. I'm out of name ideas
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Messi has 34 games a season to rest.

      3. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Fair point well made, squad is vital, fact is city are the only team that can actually rotate and still win games

        Salah, Kane, Bruno, son etc have to play every game because their sides are dross without them

      4. alsybach
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Liverpool won the league by 25 points last season with the same amount of games, explain?

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          You've not noticed the schedule changes or this COVID thing then? Interesting.

          1. alsybach
            • 15 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Not much tbh

        2. Drexl Spivey
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Lack of injuries.

    11. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Which to sell first:

      A) DCL
      B) Barnes
      C) Salah
      D) Fernandes
      E) Mitchell
      F) Delete my team

      1. Totalfootball
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        F

      2. mezza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        F all day long

      3. osceola31909
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B

      4. mr messi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I’m thinking DCL to Antonio

      5. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B

      6. Well you know, Triffic
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Do it all then F

      7. MightyGar
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        G) Go all in on West Brom, Newcastle, Palace and Southampton, if it works you will be an FPL legend

    12. EWH2020
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah has blanked in 10 of the past 13 gameweeks

      1. Zilla
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yet was Liverpool's best player, which shows how bad Liverpool have been.

    13. BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      None of the prem att/mids earning their corn. 3 prem defenders the way to go for the run-in

    14. Oooo Matron
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      City players aside, best defender (6.0 max) for the next few GWs?

      1. Messiah Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cresswell?

      2. Z
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Roudiger for 4.6!!!!!

    15. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane tc and still losing ground and might end up with a tiny green arrow at best rest of my team is utter dog s***

    16. DMP
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Rival: Robinson, Hojberg, Richarlison, Kane
      Me: Johstone, Digne, Salah, DCL, Kane(C)

      LOL Tought i was going to smash my rival today... Got to laught.

    17. Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      107 All Out. Still got 2 chips and WC left.
      WE MOVE

    18. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      300 > 260 > 230 > ???

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        220

      2. Zilla
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Oh not the regressing discussion again.

      3. MightyGar
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        NUMBERWANG!

    19. Niho992
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Beautiful beautiful Salah and Bruno blanks. Did i say beautiful? Just beautiful !

    20. Ejaaz11
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Get in!

      Salah going off means I'm through by 1 point in the cup =D

      1. threeputt
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        well done, been rooting for you mate, always like a cup upset 🙂

    21. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Imagine saying after that late 2-1 win at home to Spurs in December that Liverpool would not win for nearly another 3 months at Anfield...

    22. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      salah + banes -> jota + son (-4) ?

      1. Messiah Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Jota not a starter

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          he began starting games before he got injured and is likely to from now on looking at this pool attack

    23. Kodap
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      95 all out with Kane TC considering Salah just came off, nightmare... was so confident of breaking the 100 mark again!

    24. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Feel like spending a few hits on DCL, Salah, Barnes etc would even pay off at this rate jeez.

      1. SAUCY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Trouble is there’s not many others really firing are there?

    25. lewis1290
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Liverpool plsss score , otherwise rudiger haul

    26. Z
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      113 pts- used BB....not bad or..?

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Ok

      2. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Rubbish

    27. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope>Martínez now to avoid price changes roll the FT a week?