Dugout Discussion

Jota starts as Torres, Sterling and Mahrez benched for Man City

In the final match of Gameweek 7, Liverpool host Manchester City in a mouth-watering clash at Anfield.  

Kick-off is at 16:30 BST.

As expected, Liverpool are without the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), along with midfielders Thiago (£5.3m) and Harvey Elliot (£5.4m).

James Milner (£4.9m) starts at right-back, with Diogo Jota (£7.6m) preferred to Roberto Firmino (£8.8m) up front.

For Man City, Ilkay Gundogan (£7.2m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.3m) both miss out.

Gabriel Jesus (£8.6m), Jack Grealish (£8.0m) and Phil Foden (£7.9m) all start, with Ferran Torres (£7.0m), Raheem Sterling (£10.7m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m) on the bench.

GAMEWEEK 7 LINE-UPS

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Milner, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Salah, Mane, Jota

Subs: Kelleher, Konate, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Williams

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Jesus, Grealish, Foden 

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Stones, Ake, Sterling, Torres, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Palmer

1,389 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Noisy Neighbour
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    De Bruyne is playing like a rich man’s Mesut Özil.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Bernardo is the MC maestro

  2. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Ronaldo
    Greenwood
    Shaw.
    Benrahma
    Antonio
    Traore
    Veltman
    Sanchez

    Part of my 1st 11. No bench. Wildcard time huh?

    Salah TAA Rudiger Semedo good. 2 FT

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

    Thoughts on WC?

    Ramsdale (Sanchez)
    Cancelo, Azpi, Rudiger (Duffy, Manquillo)
    Salah, Raphina, Townsend, Mbuemo, (Luiz)
    Vardy, Lukaku, Jiminez

  4. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Jota suddenly looking dangerous this half

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

      He read on here at HT he might be subbed.

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        50,000 yelling "you're shite" more likely

  5. Tripleh123
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Which midfielder is best option? Leaning towards Gray

    a) ESR
    b) Townsend
    c) Gray
    d) Doucoure

    1. Ibralicious
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Gray looked good but I'm inclined to say Townsend in current form

  6. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Jota owners (me included) had a mini heart attack there

    1. Ibralicious
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Jota sellers* 😀

  7. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Why are the media so obsessed with Man City not having a central striker? Liverpool often play without one too... Firmino is a midfielder.

    It's no coincidence that the two highest-scoring teams in English football don't use a central striker, or that one of the greatest football teams of all time (Prime Barca) didn't use one. It's not a hinderance, but a benefit, especially when playing possession football.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Why are City interested in Kane then?

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Plays like a midfielder. He used to be an attacking midfielder at youth level. He'd drop deep into midfield to give passing options.

      2. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Kane plays as a 10 now

    2. R.C
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Sure it works but no harm in having a striker like Pool does (Jota) - can use both the tactics

    3. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      To be fair, Bayern et al have set a precedent with Lewandoski et al, making strikers cool again

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      City are great without a striker some of the time but they do need one.

      Look at when they had a fit aguero under pep. They would annihilate teams. 5, 6 7 goals

      This team is good but a true striker in this team like Kane would make it unbelievable. Be in positions that these attacking mids would never take up

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I have never seen actually seen any obsession in the media with man City not having a central striker

      I mean... Are there front page headlines saying "Man City have no central striker"? Or back page headlines even, if they don't make the front page?

      It might be referenced in passing from time to time, particularly when the Kane deal was possible, but not sure it's an "obsession" tbh

    6. Gunneryank
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Maybe. I think it's just context dependant. Some midfielders happen to have good finishing instincts. Or are basically hybrids, like wingers that having shooting boots but don't track back effectively.

      Your point is fair, although City would be even more intimidating with a true number 9 who had those silky hold up play skills to involve the 50 attacking midfielders they have.

    7. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Very true when you consider the goalscoring potential with the city midfield less so with Pool
      However how much damage could both City & Pool do with a 15-20 goal a season striker

  8. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Matip has been rock solid for almost an hour now

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Personal best?

      1. TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I'm expecting him to last the 90!

      2. Gunneryank
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        My favorite comment ever on here. Well done.

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Viagra works wonders

  9. JariL
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    This game makes it tempting to go B. Silva (6.9) instead of Grealish (8.0). The guy's class.

    1. JariL
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Has also started every game since GW2.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        It’s just such a lottery worth their line up each week. At 6.9 and those fixtures though, maybe

  10. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Cancelo yc

  11. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Cancelo Yc

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

    Cancellow

  13. Thanos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    CanceYellow

  14. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Canyelo

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      You tried

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

    Cancelo YC.

  16. Thanos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Bring on Bobby!

  17. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    On the bright side, my captain was my highest scoring player this week (so far).

    On the minus side, it was Raphinha.

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

    Although the Dias and Cancelo owners not happy with those YC. A Liverpool goal would be the icing on the cake though.

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

      Cheers, Michael Owen.

  19. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    mane goal Salah a

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Beautiful combo and sweet finish

  20. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    I'd take Jones off for Firmino

    1. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Not anymore!

  21. PartyTime
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Cancelo YC fully deserved

  22. Thanos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Mane G
    Salah A

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    SADIOOOOOOOOO

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

    And there it is!

    Mane G
    Salah A

  25. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Goal Liverpool

  26. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Mane G

  27. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Alright then. Salah permacap

  28. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    That's not Jota

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    City paying the price

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yep, so dominant and nothing to show for it

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Magic Mo