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. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Dumb question, but there it goes: if something goes wrong and three starters of mine don't play, but all three on bench get minutes, they all go in anyway regardless of order, right? There's no 'limit' or such a thing

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

      3 def minimum

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks!

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

      As long as it doesn’t trigger an invalid formation

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Nice. Cheers!

    3. Podge
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      no such thing as a stupid question

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thank you. 🙂

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

        Is it healthy to stick cheese up ya bum?

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

          Yes of course, that’s why we do it every evening after dinner

          Right guys?



          Guys?

        2. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Depends on how you like your fondue

    4. banskt
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      There's no 'limit' or such a thing. All will be subbed.

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thank you!

      2. banskt
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        too late.

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

    Sarr post...

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

      Kelleher!!

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

    Sarr post 🙁

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

    Hoping Hwang proves his worth today

  5. Ligdon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What a save CAOIMHIN

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Wasn’t he in Squid Games?

      1. Ligdon
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        The Gaeltacht version on TG4 yes !

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

    unreal save

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

    Sarr in the mood now.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Sarr. Not Sarr.

  8. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    No Rudiger, Raphinha, Jota or Jiminez. If anyone needs me this afternoon, I'll be hiding behind the couch

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

    Ok Sarr has woken up all of a sudden

  10. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Was offside anyway

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

      It wasn't for Sarr's effort.

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

      Sarrs shot wasn’t

      The beating Tsmikas & floated cross a minute later wasnt either

  11. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Jimenez, Raphina, Jota, Dias and Rudiger owner. I think I'll just switch off for the day my week is already over 😆

    1. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Almost all of those were expected. Chin up!

    2. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Any bench!

  12. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Why the f is Armstrong benched?

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

      Ralph wants a goal from his forward.

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

      That is annoying. Didn’t see it coming =[

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

        Was 50:50 to get Armstrong or Saka do not looking great!

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

    Wonder how costly no Jota, Dias or Raphinha will prove with only two playing subs...

  14. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sarr starting to look lively. It's be great if he could grab something

  15. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Jenas is a superb pundit, spots things that you don't see till the replays

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      They see the replays earlier

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I think he has good eyesight first time round. He is on the gantry tho which helps.

      As always easy to take a pop at the commentators!

    3. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Really hope this is sarcasm.

    4. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Has to be joking.

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

      Should criticize his old team mate today

    6. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      He is a fantastic pundit

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

      You are right

      He spotted something off the ball going into matips eye

      When actually he was poked in the eye at the corner

    8. boc610
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      good at saying "don't get me wrong"

  16. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    No Dias is annoying but Livra off the bench anyway. Delighted with Cancelo / Mahrez starting and dodged a bullet going Toney over Armstrong. We move

  17. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Imagine the scenes on here if Son does start after all the rotation today!

  18. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Livra in for Dias, White in for Raphinha, possibly Bissouma in for Grealish if he's a no show. Could be a bad GW.

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

    Standard merry go round

    Sold Semedo for Dias (not unhappy about this)
    Kept Jota, Sold Sarr for Foden
    Armstrong first sub

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Foden could turn it around for you easily enough...

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

        indeed and the Sarr blank helps

  20. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Oh wow, just seen this 1k OR team

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/898061/event/8/

    -8 to bring in Torres, Dias and Armstrong in

    Also owns Jimenez, Jota, Raphinha, Thiago Silva

    😮

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

      man that's awful

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

      Rest in peace to that team

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

      Ouch.

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

      What on earth….

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You can be lucky for 7 gameweeks

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

        Exactly, they are on 514 points. They can survive a bad week

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

      Steven Gerrard’s son…

    7. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ouch

    8. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Scout or Content Provider ? 😉

  21. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    That offside rule where the attacker doesn't touch the ball but because the defender decides to play the ball it means no offside is one of the most ridiculous and inconsistently enforced rules in the game.

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

      Yeah don't love it. Think the defender would have gone for it anyway, but had he not, it's offside... Punished for defending.

      1. TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        They should open it up to discretion

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Being offside forces the play.

      5 nil

  22. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Wow Dias. That's a gut shot and a half.

    Disappointed by Armstrong too. But easy swap go Hwang I suppose.

  23. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Firmino hatrick

  24. BIGREDDOG
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who's 9 for wolves

    1. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hwang

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

      Hwang and Traore up top.

  25. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I'm just relieved all my First XI start. Few of my ML rivals can say that, and some have inadequate benches

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

    Bobby Hattie

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

    OMG firmino..

  28. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Time to get Jota out.

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

    Neco gets Trents assist.

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

    beautiful assist by neco