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. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What we would give to hear Peter Walton's view on that...

  2. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    game is bent, no other explanation for that farcical decision.

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yawn

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

        Yawn.

      2. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        the narrative is that it VAR and incompetency, majority of the folk feel that was onside, yet trained eyes can't see it? give me a break, game is bent.

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

      I said months ago.

    3. Penang Sandman
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      now I expect another one of your bud who said City buying the league after the red card

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

    People in charge of VAR guessing again! I actually wanted some technology before it came in but it’s been ubsurd this season with offsides. Just scrap it to save us fans the pain next season. How many more seasons til they get it right!? Not a liverpool fan or any fantasy interest in that goal. I’ve certainly watched less football this season, probably because it has reduced my enjoyment watching matches.

    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same

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

      Disagree. VAR has applied the offside rule consistently. Have seen numerous goals been given offside in similar circumstances. Bamford, Traore, Firmino to name a few.

      If you don't like the rule change the rule.

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This

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

        You do understand that where the game is paused, and where the lines are drawn is a human. So its all subjective, where one var stops the frame, can be different from the next, so they won't be consistent.

        Especially when talking about decisions as close as the one today, or last night.

        1. Steve Chance
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I don't think they will ever understand that.

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

          Yes. But still consistently applied. As technology improves the decisions will improve.

          But still a damn sight more offside decisions being called correctly post-VAR than pre-VAR. That is progress.

        3. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          They have like 500fps per second cameras, so they can quite well spot the moment when the ball was touched. The margin of error is very small. I'm not a fan of how VAR handles the offside rule, but we need to speak facts.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCOK7-kc_8o

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Still a person making that decision, and the trust in those people is highly suspect in some of these calls.

            1. Sgt Frank Drebin
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Yup I understand the issue. It would probably be better if some algorithm took the decisions, but I'm not sure it is possible. And while maybe they can spot the right moment when the ball is kicked, I'm not sure the lines are so precise. But we would need probably to knowm ore about the whole process.

              1. Postman Ty
                • 9 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                You're right the biggest issue is the lines, even with their crosshair technology for height. I think changing it to feet would be much better - they're not always on the ground but the closer to the ground the easier it is.

  4. Kane and Ablett
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    VAR is always right ... but it deals with the facts and provides exact measurements, the rules need to change, judge offside on feet only or the attacker is onside until there’s daylight but no one in their arm chair knows better than the man in stockley park

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What are you on about? How does Var provide exact measurements? Nowhere have I seen a break down between the camera’s FPS/ how you measure the frame the football leaves the passer’s foot/the accuracy of the lines drawn on the screen.

      The entire thing is seems devoid of any facts and is all very nebulous. This is why people are frustrated.

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

        Same facts as when goals were analysed on MotD 15 years ago and were being called offside by Lawro and Hansen after the event.

        VAR has improved goal decisions as they pertain to offside.

        1. In Bale We Trust
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Hard to say there’s been an improvement when you take into account the stoppages in games, the sanctity of the goal celebration being defiled, the complete lack of clarity on it all. It’s a mess in my opinion.

          1. Steve Chance
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            The dilution of celebrating is such an underrated negative aspect.

          2. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            It's a mess, yes, but it's undoubtably had a positive impact. You could never go back to stomaching 2 yard offside calls and blatant penalties or red cards missed or wrongly given. The celebration aspect sucks, and the lack of clarity is a huge problem currently in England at least, but overall things are far better; it's easy to forget how bad things were.

      2. Steve Chance
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        All beneath the guise of being 'factual'. If the camera isn't exactly in line with play and square to it, the angle of distortion could easily give a misguided offside call.

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      And if a player scores with their head?

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Honestly I'm fine with that. Players have to lean forward when running and if a defender is facing the other way they have an inherent advantage in producing an offside. It would make it very clear in decisions which is the important part - consistency. I think anyone would agree that the super close calls should favour the attacker for the enjoyment of the game.

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

      Should be simple, if it's visually off-side then it's offside - Once they start having to draw lines etc. then it should could as onside

    4. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That's just not right at all. Var is run by humans who still make decisions and can impose bias. I'm a VAR advocate but don't be naive.

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

    Classic Liverpool of late, good start, Salah misses great chance, opponents score, it stays 0:1.

  6. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez, Watkins & Dallas all on the bench.

    Week fail.

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

      45 to go

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

        He will get all 3 off bench in 45?

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

          Misread. It's late over here in Aus.

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

      All sold on wildcard here .... standard WC immediately kicks in the nuts.

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

      But ask yourself, how many times out of 10 would you have started any of them?

    4. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I see your bench and raise you sold on WC

    5. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      To think I've had so many weeks like this, but I got 6 points from my bench boost...

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

    They need to adopt Wenger's proposed approach for offside. Football needs more goals.

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

      This.

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

    Who scored LFC offside goal?

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

      Bobby Firmino

    2. FPL Alaska
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Firmino, Robbo fantasy assist

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Firmino

    4. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If you look at what they tried to do at City earlier, they did everything they could to make the game work for City. And then you look at something like that and you can't believe your eyes. Cheating in the Prem is real. I just can't believe it, the sport is dead.

      1. Muchentuchel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        sorry, wrong place for my comment

      2. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Are you old enough to remember the 2009 Champions League game between Chelsea and Barcelona? Referees have been cheating a long time.

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

    Miss the good old LiVARpool days.

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

    They should show a Birdseye view of the offsides

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

      Agreed

    2. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why? It'd be near useless unless you had one directly above each player, following them around.

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

        They do it in cricket with Hawkeye and in tennis, it’s useful because it’s much easier to see if players are in line or behind or In front

        Some of these offsides look miles on but the stupid lines disagree

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

          Easy in cricket and tennis because the lines are in a fixed position. Not the same in football.

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

            Have you seen the VAR cameras they’ve attached to stadiums? I dread to think the cost of them, if there is a will there is a way

            1. Postman Ty
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Just think how many cameras they could buy with $1,000,000 that nobody would even notice missing from a transfer fee or player salaries.

        2. Mighty Banana
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I can't speak for cricket, but with tennis it's not watching a player, only the ball and static lines that don't move, so I think it'd only help checking whether a ball has crossed a line. Where players move constantly and the 'line' moves, I don't think it'd be as simple.

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

    Wildcard template looks to be in tatters .... immediate buys regret and mass refunds demanded .... oh the humanity of it all!!!!

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

      I’m actually quite content with my team. All I’m going to do is sell Sterling > Bruno.

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

      Completely wrong

      Bad outcome this week doesn’t mean it’s a bad wildcard team at all

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

        Haha ... there was a little sarcasm in there ... who would use the phrase ‘ the humanity of it all’ if they were being serious.

        I’m happy with my WC going forward but it’s not a great start for me.

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

          And ‘refund demanded’ and ‘buyers regret’ .... I’ll have to lay it on really much thicker next time ...

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

    Went from zero to three Liverpool players from the first to the last WC draft. Really wish I had gone with the former…

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

    Oh FFS.

    If you look at what they tried to do at City earlier, they did everything they could to make the game work for City. And then you look at something like that and you can't believe your eyes. Cheating in the Prem is real. I just can't believe it, the sport is dead.

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

      Cheating is always involved. They just need to change how VAR works with offsides. If they need to draw tiny lines like that, then it’s a goal.

      There’s been many examples in past seasons of blatant incorrect calls without VAR, such as Cardiff getting relegated because of it. The problem isn’t VAR, it’s the people who are controlling it.

      1. Muchentuchel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        100% agreed

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

      City lost though. So how did "they" (whoever "they" are) win?

      1. Muchentuchel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        they didn't win but they tried so hard and you could easily see that.

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

          Who are "they"?

          The Illuminati? The Stone Masons? Some aliens trying to control Earth?

          Deluded conspiracy theories

          1. Muchentuchel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            what conspiracy? Have you watched all the decisions that went against Liverpool this season? This is quite obvious some kind of betting scam.

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

              You should take your evidence to the papers and blow it wide open.

    3. Penang Sandman
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      oh here you are

    4. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      All the idiots come out on match day don't they?

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

    Anyone has a time machine to do an annulment of my 16pt hit for the Liverpool Boys?

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

      Did you bring in 4 or 5 pool players? 🙂

  15. Garth Marenghi
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Odds Shaw doesn’t play versus Tottenham? Need those Dallas bench points

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

      Should play.

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

    What on earth is Allison playing at for that goal, stupid moron.

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

      That had to be a save, just had.

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

    1 goal in 6 and a half games at home for Liverpool

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      They're due?

  18. aborg
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will DeGea be playing this GW? What has happened to him lately?

  19. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What happened to the "different phase" ruling - even if Jota was offside, the goal was scored in a different phase

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

      Kane scored the other day and son was miles off on the phase before

      God knows

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

        That goal wasn't even checked for offside.

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

          They pick and choose when to go to VAR

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

            This is true.

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

          Haha so it wasn’t just me who saw that ? Madness isn’t it

          What happened to ‘interfering with play’ that seems to have died a death of some sort

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

    Veltman and shaw are you going to play this week guys?

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

    Can they change the offside rule so that if it isn’t clear and obvious they give the attacker the benefit in doubt. Between different frame rates and lines drawn a lot of the decisions aren’t even correct

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

      No you can’t because that’s a grey area and open to the discretion of some moron at stockley park, it needs to be black and white but also not what it is now

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

        The current situation is also at the discretion of some moron at Stockley Park. Drawing lines from the hand of the attacker is literally against the rules of VAR. Daylight robbery

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

          True, it’s laughable

  22. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins coming in for KDB and Bruno VC. Not too far after all.

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

      *bad

  23. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Been out all day, sorry if it’s been asked but how has Liverpool looked? Has Salah done anything of note thus far?

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

      Missed a sitter.

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Story of his season it seems...

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

      Looked alright. Can't finish to save themselves.

  24. Bees4Lyf
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Big second half from Liverpool needed

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

    Oops the hit to get and start Phillips not looking too wise now.
    Need a towering header from him!

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

      I wish I got him over Trent. 4.0 and not getting clean sheet is fine, 7.3 another matter.

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

        This is true, was very annoying to need a hit to rid of Kilman with 0ITB!

  26. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Klopp is finished

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

    Interesting if Hawkeye rule in tennis applied in football, teams can't moan everytime the referee decision against them.
    VAR is good but slowing the game.

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

      Tad easier to implement in Tennis & Cricket. The objects to measure against are static (same for Goal Line Tech which works well).

      Not to say they haven't got money in the game to develop something.

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

        Not the tech, but the rule.
        In tennis the challenge is capped. Players can only use the Hawkeye technology to challenge referee about 2 or 3 times in a match.

        That way the players doesn't challenge everytime they feel the decision against them.

  28. seanie3
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    typical, I get rid of Dallas, Bamford, Martinez on my WC and bring in the big three for liverpool.. that went well..

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

      Same, I even went with Wood instead of Watkins on the WC

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

      Same here. Ok I would probably bench Bamford and Martinez anyway.

    3. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same, but would of benched Leeds players if I hadn’t

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

    Same people moaning about VAR offsides now are the same people who moan when (pre-VAR) there were offsides missed by assistants which led to goals being given.

    Shows how many people will always moan.

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

      You really believe this VAR in PL having no bias? Your world is so clean.

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      True. VAR is very positive development in general but they do need to look at the ridiculously marginal offsides. If it's that tight, how can they be sure of the exact time the ball leaves the players foot, or that the lines are perfectly exact?

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

      In the past there were clear offsides - they might have been missed by the assistant but were obvious after any quick replay. Those types of incidents were they ones we were "sold" VAR on - no one was asking for the sort of pedantic checking we now get. Everyone use to be happy with the concept that the attackers use to be given the benefit of the doubt

    4. Steve Chance
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This is simply not true.

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

    Salah, Bobby or Jota to be replaced Mane early 2nd half?