Dugout Discussion

Salah and Jota start together as Klopp benches Mané against Aston Villa

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Diogo Jota (£7.0m) start together for Liverpool as they host Aston Villa in Gameweek 31.

The two players contributed to the Reds’ impressive finish against Arsenal in Gameweek 30 and were both inside the top-five most-bought players for the most recent round of action.

Sadio Mané (£11.8m) is the man to make way this afternoon, dropping to the bench for the second time in four Premier League matches.

That means Jota starts on the left-hand side of Liverpool’s front-three, spearheaded by Roberto Firmino (£9.0m).

Curtis Jones (£4.4m) misses out as a precaution which means Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.3m), James Milner (£5.3m) and Fabinho (£5.4m) are the midfield trio today.

Nathaniel Phillips‘ (£4.1m) stock remains high, earning his fifth Premier League start from a possible six alongside Ozan Kabak (£5.0m).

There is also plenty of revived interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) this afternoon.

Having produced 33 points across his last five matches, the Liverpool right-back was purchased by 190,000+ managers ahead of the Gameweek 31, the most new owners for any defender this week.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are still without Jack Grealish (£7.5m) who recently suffered a setback on his return from a shin injury.

Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) and Trézéguet (£5.2m) provide the width either side of Ollie Watkins (£6.5m) while Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) and Douglas Luiz (£4.8m) both feature in midfield with John McGinn (£5.5m).

Gameweek 31 Line-ups

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Kabak, N Phillips, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum, Milner, Fabinho; Jota, Firmino, Salah.

Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Cash; D Luiz, Nakamba; Trézéguet, McGinn, B Traoré; Watkins.

Gameweek 31 so far…

Fantasy Premier League managers who swerved from their Leeds assets found their Gameweek 31 win at Manchester City hard to watch.

Stuart Dallas (£5.1m) was the second-most benched player for the latest round of action but bagged a brace at the Etihad Stadium.

To add insult to that decision, Patrick Bamford (£6.6m), the third-most sold Fantasy asset ahead of Gameweek 31, provided the assist for his opener.

From a Manchester City perspective, this match was all about Pep Guardiola once again.

Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m), Rúben Dias (£6.2m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.2m) were all unused substitutes while Ilkay Gündogan (£6.0m) and Phil Foden (£6.0m) both emerged from the bench for one-point cameos.

Ferran Torres (£6.9m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) got the only attacking returns of the afternoon.

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Stuart Dallas
  • 2 – Bernardo Silva
  • 1 – Oleksandr Zinchenko

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1,221 Comments Post a Comment
  1. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Could do with Rudiger giving Kepa a smack layer

    1. EWH2020
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Later

  2. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah sitter

  3. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah misses a big chance

  4. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah massive chance missed

  5. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would have been a Jota assist..

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Even more unbelievable

  6. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jota >> Salah fail

  7. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Suddenly remembering what it’s like owning Salah these days

  8. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mings captained Salah for sure

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Haven't Villa staff been banned from playing FPL now?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not before Targett was told to get Grealish in 😀

  9. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Dallas double after been taken out on wildcard. Fantastic lol

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Would you have got him off your bench?

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don't worry. A lot of us who kept have him rooted to the bench anyway 😀

      Even in you'd kept on WC you wouldn't have started him.

      1. ReindeerHotdog
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        100% this.

        And if someone did get him on a WC and started him you'd definitely be questioning their logic.

      2. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Exactly ... if I kept him on my WC he would have been third on my bench so I’m over it ...... but when you mini league rival has him 2nd on his bench and only three games in he’s 100% coming in I had to laugh (and stifle a cry) ...

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mings such a liability.

  11. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I thought FPL was meant to make footy more fun to watch? This is torture!

  12. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This is Liverpool’s best team imo. Jota far more clinical and overall better than Mane. Milner suits Klopp a lot more than Thiago too

    1. ReindeerHotdog
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wow. Huge claim there.

      Jota in better form than Mane but not a chance he's a better player.

      Mane and Salah on either side of Jota works really well.

      Firmino doesn't offer enough going forward or defensively these days. Been a great servant and has a cult appreciation but surely time for him to go.

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This season Mane has been horrid. Only scored 7 goals from over 20 big chances. Jota on the other hand scored 8 from just 7 big chances. Firmino is needed to start the press and make the team tick. Without him against Madrid the press was awful and there was no fluidity in the attack. Don’t need 3 goalscorers in the team. He’s needed for the balance of the team

  13. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah!?

  14. MightyGar
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Positive signs for Jota and Salah combining well

  15. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    salahhhhhh!!!!!

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      1 goal in the last 7

      1. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        he's like a charm, can't get rid of him even if he blanks the entire season.

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not including Europe or internationals

  16. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Dallas 1st sub.

    Any chance any of these don't start?

    Coufal, Veltman
    Lingard, Son, Fernandes
    DCL, Kane

    I think unlikely. Arse.

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ooft ... unlikely but you just never know ...

  17. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Yep cheers for that Salah, typical as my captain

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's already matched my Gundogan captain. Congrats!

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hehe, just unbelievable though as I bring him back in and instantly reminded of why I got rid in the first place, only capped him as there was no other standout

  18. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Liverpool will concede

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No they won't since I have Philips

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Can FFS sort the privacy rubbish out not prepared to apply changes to every article to stop the pop ups 🙁

    Place is going downhill fast compared to how it used to be !

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah is a bit of a joke

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It'd not ideal but I've switched to Firefox (Android) and added the unlock origin extension.

      Deals with it until they fix and you can switch back to your browser of choice.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        On iOS here & ads are appearing bottom on iPhone

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Liverpool looking better at least.

    0-1 Watkins inc...

  21. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Firmino has zero confidence in his abilities right now.

    1. fusen
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      just like everyone else then

  22. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins, Salah and Jota.

  23. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Just seen Sterling's EO at 14%. Never drink and FPL

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’d imagine that’s a heavy concentration of sheep following Mark Sutherns

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No, Sterling was straight in many teams (mine included) when he didn’t start against Dortmund.

        Mark didn’t even wildcard until 5 on Friday. And how can you even talk about sheep when Salah scores once in 7 games and then has an EO over 100?

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I couldn’t go near him after seeing his goals, assists, XG, and XA over the last 4 seasons

          The decline has been as shocking as it has been consistent season over season for 4 years now

        2. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Agree with the blind faith in Salah.

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            It’s more than that, it’s people not knowing who to captain themselves and so doing what others do or playing based on EO. I could never play that way, irregardless of getting a solid rank.

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Having not owned Salah for months I felt it was time to surf the catch up wave & got him in this week

            Mark will do the same next week, and his sheep will follow 🙂

        3. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I'm sure there were plenty of sheep that jumped on it when they saw Mark was going with him but as you say Sterling was being talked about on here before the FT whistle was blown against Dortmund.

        4. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Salah is the top scorer this season. Sterling has been shite all season

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Yeah, we know but it’s stupid to say captaining Sterling is a ‘sheep decision’ when Salah and Pool have been so bad at home recently. They’re both not in good form.

  24. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This game has Martinez 10 pointer written all over it, f*** this s***

    1. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I was just saying this exact thing.

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He’s made one save....

      1. Brimble82
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        In 1/4 of the game.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          4 saves would be 1 point?

          1. Brimble82
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I’m aware.
            4 saves = 1pt
            90mins = 2pts
            CS = 4pts
            BPS = 3pts*

            But you know that.

            *could be.

  25. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins playing hell of a game.

  26. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah (C) fails.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      26 mins ...

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Later than usual.

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      11 years user or 11 years old?

  27. hueycho
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Such a typical liverpool home game today, cant finish, no creativity...sigh...

  28. WVA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    After that City Leeds game no-one can ever say that FPL is not all luck.

    Like everyone else I sold Dallas and Bamford on my WC, took the correct punt on Sterling and I'm screwed.

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s about luck yeah. But you’ll still play it next year. As will everyone else here.

      Btw, I have sterling too cap and he just reminded us how he’s the most overrated player in the league. If he played for Arsenal, he’d be way way worse than Pépé.

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      The Dallas thing is pure luck. 17 points against City is a pish-take.

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Surely by taking a punt on Sterling you are simply saying this is just luck and so making a self-fulfilling prophecy.

      That is what a punt is - putting odds to one side.

      That the second highest scoring forward returned isn't that much of a stretch. It's what he does. The Dallas brace is one of those things.

    4. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sterling will never be a ‘correct’ punt

  29. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah and Jota will both blank today.

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Shut your filthy mouth.

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'm a a Jota capper and Salah non owner btw.
        Just don't like the look of Liverpool today.

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Martinez CS secured from the beginning of the game.

  30. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Everyone calm down. Loads of time for Salah

    1. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes, there’s the whole of next season