Dugout Discussion

Jota benched as Alexander-Arnold returns to Liverpool starting XI

Diogo Jota is the main omission from the Liverpool starting XI this afternoon as Watford welcome the Reds to Vicarage Road in Claudio Ranieri’s first match in charge.

Kick-off is at 12:30 BST.

Jota is only among the substitutes for the visitors but Trent Alexander-Arnold has recovered from a groin injury to return at right-back, with James Milner moving into midfield.

Caoimhin Kelleher lines up between the posts, meanwhile, with Brazilian duo Alisson and Fabinho not involved after representing their country in the early hours of Friday morning.

Naby Keita starts in place of the injured Curtis Jones, with Roberto Firmino brought in at Jota’s expense to line up alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Salah has been massively backed with the captaincy in Gameweek 8, with not far off 90% of the top 10,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers handing him the armband.

A total of 3.5 million Fantasy bosses captained Salah overall, while he was transferred in by just over a third of a million more FPL managers ahead of this morning’s deadline to swell his ownership to 63%.

The Egyptian’s highest-ever Gameweek score of 29 points came against today’s opponents back in 2017/18, and he has 10 attacking returns in six meetings with the Hornets.

As for the hosts, Ranieri has made three changes from Xisco Munoz’s final starting XI as Watford boss.

Francisco Sierralta and Joshua King are out injured, with Craig Cathcart and Cucho Hernandez replacing them. Ozan Tufan is benched, meanwhile, with Adam Masina taking his place.

It’s a 4-4-1-1 on paper for last season’s Championship runners-up but it remains to be seen if the veteran Italian has other ideas come kick-off.


GAMEWEEK 8 LINE-UPS

Watford XI: Foster, Rose, Ekong, Masina, Cathcart, Sissoko, Femenia, Sarr, Dennis, Hernandez, Kucka.

Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Louza, Cleverley, Pedro, Sema, Gosling, Fletcher, Tufan.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, van Dijk, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Henderson, Robertson, Matip, Alexander-Arnold.

Subs: Adrian, Konate, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jota, Minamino, Tsimikas, Origi, Williams.

MATCHDAY LIVE WATCHALONG

1,403 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Unreal player this man

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

    What a goal

  3. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Unbelievable from Salah!!!!! He is in brilliant.

  4. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Pretty decent goal from Salah there.

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

    Bloody hell. He's gonna get 400 pts this season isn't he...

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      300 more likely

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    MESSI IS IN THE HOUSE

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    One of the best goals seen

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

      Today, yes.

  8. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Best in the world

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      On current form he genuinely is

  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    That's even better than the City goal haha

  10. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Get max baps Mo….need another

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Bobby asssit right? Will be hard.

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Ah, didn’t realise more points for Bobby

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Needs 2 more goals at least for that

  11. Diddly Squat
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    And there it is

  12. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    King Moooooo

  13. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    That is why you captain him. Just superb.

  14. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Better than Messi

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Juuuhhhuuu

  15. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Salah unreal

  16. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Link to goal please

  17. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Serves me right for not capping Salah.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      yep, your tough call

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thought new manager bounce would work in Watford favour.

        Oh well, least I get his points.

  18. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What a goal!

  19. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    And Jose sold this wizard!!! Clueless

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Goal of the season every week 😎

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      *every month

  21. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    imagine trying to be too clever and not own Salah in fpl
    might as well go play checkers

    1. mojoindojo
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Oh I did. Got him in this week.

  22. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Best Goal Ever

  23. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Salah on Cheat Code

  24. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Pure filth

  25. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    And the Salah 'regressing' post go down the toilet.

  26. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Please just sign him up on the contract

  27. Joey Tribbiani
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    future ballon dor winner

  28. DaniCT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    OK. Match done, Salah Off for rest.

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Kloppo Gruber: Thank you, Mr. Cowboy, I'll take it under advisement.
      [to Salah]
      KG: *Hit it, again.*

  29. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    OMG I missed the Salah goal

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

      Popped his boots back onto the right get at half time & did the trick

      Also Watford defended like drunken traffic cones on ice skates lol

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

        *right feet

      2. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Lovely

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

    TAA next to join the party

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Jota when Firmino gets subbed

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Sorry but what did you have to say about Salah?