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

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

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

    What the hell was that all about

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

    A Martinez clean sheet would be peak 2021 FPL

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

    It’s the hope that kills you most isn’t it

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      How Shawshank.

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

    Salah plz punish sterling cappers like they deserve to be

    They say salah has been off from last 7 games...sterling has been off form since last season

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

      So much this.

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      +1

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No Salah has been out of form since crystal palace away

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

      Many of us own Salah. But the best team in the country playing Leeds at home is a far far better fixture than Villa at home when Liverpool have been so bad there recently. Salah was the sheep captain this week.

  5. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah(c) fail

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

      Grow up boy

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

        “Danny boy” 🙂

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

      Defo

    3. Says
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      how many points did he finish on?

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

    Jota should score that

  7. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What are the chances of Burn not starting? Dias didn't play and Dallas is my 5th defender.

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

      Good.

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

    TAA close.. then Jota close..

    Martinez cleanie it is.

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

    Jota should do better there

  10. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Another save please Marty

  11. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Robertson + Jota (c) were so close

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

    Liverpool going to regret these misses.

  13. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Liverpool should be 3 up

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

      Ahhhh should Land....

  14. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Alisson you filthy girl.

  15. FPL DONKEY
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Missed the deadline and left Dallas in my first 11

    Also had an active wildcard with a half finished team with no Salah

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

      Masterstroke.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You’re as bad as me.

    3. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Living up to your name haha

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    When will Salah be subbed in ?

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

      He’s playing

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Next GW

  17. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’m an idiot who loves the ‘upside’ but was still fuming at myself for falling into sterling trap a few weeks ago

    Surprised to see fpl legend mark do the same!

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

      Dull wildcard and tamplate, along with no faith in Salah pushed him over the edge. It not that bad move, but Salah alternative was Sterling, that was the problem.

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

      Was a good call. 17 goal contributions, nailed and up against the leakiest side in the league. Just wasn’t meant to be

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

      All the great Fpl players gambled this week.
      Mark.
      Lateriser
      Christina.

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

        Hey Christina, did you subsequently move Raz onto Son for this week?

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

    WCers who took out Dallas and Bamford punished.
    Now they will be punished for taking out Martinez for Mendy.

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

    Own Martinez with no Salah(C), Jota or Trent but I’m a Liverpool fan. I don’t know what to think

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

      Martinez pen save with Milner scoring the rebound would be nice

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

      Support your team. That’s why you started watching football in the first place. Not a game.

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

      LOL

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

    Liverpool clinical ... not.

  21. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    C Salah has been close
    TAA has been close
    Jota has been close
    Stones was almost close many times

    This gw will be closed with everyone having been close.

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

      Sounds like a recurring story. I’m on the verge of a huge score every week. It’s the hope that kills you

  22. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What’s worse?

    A. Taking out Dallas, bamford and Martinez on wc.

    B. Benching all 3.

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Can't judge A in one game. So B.

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

      damn! underestimating this small teams is really wrong.

  23. MrZ
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Luck certainly play more role this year.

    Dallas has a goal in him, but scoring 2 goals against the best defence is beyond my thought.
    Same thing happened last gw when Tuchel's mean defence ripped by WBA.

    1. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Reply fail

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

      Common factor here is UCL, but still yes. I don't think I've suffered as much extreme variance in expectations in other seasons compared to this.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        On paper Pep's team is still strong. Especially when Leeds 1 man down & Bielsa made a defensive substitution. 2 goals from Dallas is pure luck

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

      9-0 Man Utd vs Southampton.
      6-1 Spurs vs Man Utd
      5-2 Leicester vs Man City
      7-0 Liverpool vs Palace

      Been a strange season. But RCs have influenced a lot of those 'weird' games. And VAR has increased the number of RCs being given.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Pls.add 2-5 Che vs WBA (hurt to write this)
        Best defence vs wasteful side.

        Should scream CS even after the RC (Tuchel also made a defensive substitution).

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

      Sort of agreed

      The strange thing about the City result was just Dallas getting two. Parallel to the Stones brace against Palace. Both results were quite plausible imo.

      Don't particularly see why it being City makes a difference. They let in 2 to Southampton recently who aren't half the side Leeds are.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes that's what i call pure luck.
        Most people would have put Raph instead (including me) other than Dallas, coz he's been Leeds's main threat lately.
        Annoyingly some dude in my ML forgot the deadline & still have dallas in their 11

  24. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    As soon as I bring in Taa and Salah, they are back to being rubbish again.

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

      Haha i feel ya

  25. Our Tiny Windows
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Aguero captain and Dallas vice captain ahaha!
    A very lucky 34 points!

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wtf, how

  26. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’ve broken jota apologies all

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

    What happened to the Egyptian king...just totally out of it...

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

    Vardy over Salah and Sterling on wc was the real move.

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

      For 24 hours

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

    Carragher creaming over Firmino’s touch

  30. Says
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Carragher just orgasmed live on TV