Dugout Discussion

Leicester v Liverpool team news: Vardy, van Dijk and Tsimikas start, bench for Tielemans

Following the rare sight of weekday 15:00 (GMT) kick-offs, Tuesday’s action concludes at the King Power Stadium when Leicester City host Liverpool.

Kick-off is at 20:00 (GMT).

Liverpool have made five changes from the 11 that played nine days ago at Tottenham Hotspur. Their Boxing Day match with Leeds United was postponed, giving more time for Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho to recover from Covid-19 and return to the line-up.

There are no shocks regarding much-owned trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota – all three start tonight, as do Sadio Mane and Alisson.

Their three-man midfield has changed completely, with Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joining Fabinho in replacing Naby Keita, Tyler Morton and James Milner. The final change sees Kostas Tsimikas step in for the suspended Andrew Robertson.

Takumi Minamino and Thiago miss out with minor muscle soreness, whilst Divock Origi still hasn’t recovered from a knee problem. Sat amongst the substitutes are Roberto Firmino and Ibrahima Konate.

Things are trickier for Leicester, as the hosts are without the likes of Harvey Barnes, Patson Daka and Ricardo Pereira. All are joined on the injury list by Caglar Soyuncu and Ryan Bertrand, as confirmed by Brendan Rodgers:

“Patson [Daka] will be three weeks, Soyuncu will be out for three weeks and Ricardo Pereira will be six to eight weeks. That’s so frustrating for him with how hard he has worked. It’s a fractured fibula and he’s lucky it’s not worse. Ryan (Bertrand) twisted his knee in the warm-up, which was disappointing.”

Unlike Liverpool, the Foxes played just two days ago and had to manage the minutes of Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi accordingly. Both start here, with Timothy Castagne replacing Marc Albrighton at right-back.

In-form James Maddison is chosen for the sixth consecutive time, having returned four double-digit hauls in his last five games. The 53 points of this spell average out at 10.6 per match, linking up well with Kelechi Iheanacho during a strong second half at Manchester City.

Yet their defence conceded six times on Sunday and Salah captainers will relish the sight of Daniel Amartey and midfielder Ndidi being paired at centre-back in the absence of Soyuncu and Jonny Evans. There is only a place on the bench for Youri Tielemans, as Hamza Choudhury makes his second league start of the season.


GAMEWEEK 20 LINE-UPS

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Castagne, Amartey, Ndidi, Thomas; Dewsbury-Hall, Soumare, Choudhury; Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy

Substitutes: Ward, Daley-Campbell, Nelson, Vestergaard, Albrighton, McAteer, Tielemans, Lookman, Pérez

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Jota, Mane

Substitutes: Kelleher, Konate, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Jones, Beck, Williams

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FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

2,337 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Rejoice at that result! Although I just brought Maddison in (before this match was played, when will I ever learn).

    1. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Why would you?

    2. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I’m getting him next week

      1. The-Red-1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Injured maybe?

      2. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        But I think he came off injured right. Not sure when he'll be available. I have good cover and can ride without a match.

        1. Dammit_182
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Was he?? Him and Raphinia were in the foden and bilva so any news is grateful

  2. alsybach
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Did anyone read the comment on here this afternoon, and I quote, “Salah is going to end a few people’s season this evening” ha ha ha ha

    Oh how we laaaaaarfed!!!

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Post more of them, they feed my soul

      1. Catalan Rangers
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        “I hope non-owners have a big sofa”

        1. Catalan Rangers
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          “Salah will destroy Leicester defence”

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I did, I’m enjoying it even more now lol

    3. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Replied to that one, turns out to be correct for us Salah(c) TAA & Jota owners. My season has ended. Salah to Son(c) transfer previous gameweek was the move to make with hindsight.

    4. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yes. But I read something similar similar for Ronaldo and I lost

  3. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Told y’all to sell Salah last week

    1. One More Hit
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      It’s the buying him back that hurts more

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      You are a valued member of the community.

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Tell me what to do next week

      1. Sheffield Wednesday
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Tell me what to do next year

  4. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Salah non owners - what are the lottery numbers for this weekend?

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0000

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0-0-0-0-0-0...just off to the tip to drop off me Salah sofa!!

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0 just like salahs score

  5. F4L
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Damn what could've been if that Kane second stood with the Salah blank

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

      Never enough is it

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        not when you're lagging a bit behind 😆

    2. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yep, gutted about that. Still, a return I'll take and KDB to come.

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        nice KDB pick, City will be on an even bigger high tomorrow now due to the Liverpool result

    3. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      What could have been with Salah scoring the penalty.

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        fairs but Salah missed, Kane took his chance, just ruled offside because of a body part footballers barely use

  6. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Hendo, Ox, Keita, Milner. Why Liverpool are miles off City.

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Serious difference in quality depth.

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

      Still better than McFred

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Not taking their chances in games like tonight too. City are clinical.

      Early goal for Liverpool tonight puts Leicester in a hole. It’s why they say goals change games, and the longer you go without scoring the more chance you give your opponent to get one against the run of play at the other end.

      To use another cliche, this is the reason why they play the games.

  7. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Gutted with that performance. Next weeks game could be playing for second place.

    FPL wise, Trent(c) still feels like a small win!

  8. JariL
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I was hoping a bit more than combined 7 points from my Salah(C), Jota, TAA and Maddison in this match...

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Do we still fun with this game folks? 😆 😛

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I got zeros from Bachmann and Salah (C), but I am old enough to realise that it’s just a game and there are far more worse things happening to people in the world today.

      Sucks for sure, but that’s FPL for you. Next GW could be more of the same or completely different. You never know.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Horror film entertains, horror GW ... entertains 🙂

      2. King Carlos
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Great attitude this

    2. King Carlos
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Oh, absolutely! Lol!

      Gotta love this game

      1. King Carlos
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Triple pool owner*

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Same here

  10. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Can someone tell me what 150% of zero is please (smile)

  11. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Those Amarty points are like a trophy

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

      Lottery ticket, asap!

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Crazy people still owns him

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

    Interesting time for this poll...

    What % of FPL is skill & what % is luck?

    1. Jon Snow
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      10% luck 20% skill?

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      100% skill

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Theres just a lot that isnt understood

      2. Riverside Red
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Have you won the football pools recently...using your skill

    3. One More Hit
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The skill element is timing (e.g saving your chips and taking a longer term view)

      The luck element is Leicester getting spanked by City days ago, and making Liverpool look ordinary tonight. Or, less controversially, the postponements flying in at the moment

    4. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      75% luck, 25% skill.

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

      90% luck
      10% playing every week
      0% skill
      It’s like people debating lottery numbers

    6. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      75% skill and 25% luck

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Fifteen percent concentrated power of will

    7. F4L
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      things balance out over the course of the season

    8. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I’ve always considered it to be 50/50. Covid postponements somewhat skew that imo, although we’re all in the same boat, it inevitably kills some teams more than others by chance.

    9. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully Qaiss doesn't see this

    10. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      65% skill 35% luck imo

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        this, covid can increase it to like 45% tho

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Agreed

    11. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      65% skill at least

    12. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      42% patients

      28% luck

      30% judgement

      So a majority for temperament.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        * patience

    13. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Skill to get in top 10k, pretty much luck between 10k and 1st.

    14. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      It's not a case of % vs %. Skill will get you into the top 25-500k depending on the season. The rest is luck.

    15. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      70/30 skill...100%

    16. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Mixture of both.

      But the people in the top 100 now have probably never been there before and likely never will get there again.

      Next season that could be you. That’s why we play it every year.

    17. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      50% pain

    18. King Carlos
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      100% fun

  13. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    LOL at current top10k average captainers score at 2.41.

    Huge swings possible this gameweek, for the lucky few.

    1. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      TAA (c) over Top10k captain average with 4 points.

    2. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Accidentally captained Martinelli who got 6 points with the double for being captain,! Never thought it would beat Ronny and Mo!

  14. RogDog_jimmy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    No Salah didn't hurt - captaining Jota did.
    Should have gone all-in against Liverpool and gone with Foden.

    Oh well. LiveRank currently the lowest it's been all season 210k. Hopefully I can dig my way out.

  15. Grande Tubarão
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Salah owners very lucky he managed to get up to 0 in the end

  16. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Schmeichel 15 points
    Alisson + TAA + VVD + Matip + Tsimikas + Salah + Mane + Jota + Firmino = 14 points

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

      Kasper vs the ghosts.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Well done Kasper [C]-ers!

  17. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    400 OR!!!!!
    Thanks to Son (c) last 2 weeks and Salah/Ronaldo non-owner ...

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Well done.

    2. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Impressive. Enjoy it.

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

      Fantabulous

    4. JariL
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Well done!

  18. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Hope now Foden(C) finally delivers

    1. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Could be huge.

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Good punt. Hope he - finally - gets a start

    3. Tommy J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Snap!

  19. KirkhamWesham
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    My rivals had Salah, sold him, downgraded Ronaldo and brought back Salah for a hit.

    It's funny to think what's going through their mind.

    1. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Imagine if he'd scored the penalty. Idiotic comment.

      1. KirkhamWesham
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        But he didn't. That's why I'm buzzing. I cheered the miss.

  20. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Would love to have a beer right now with the Pool supporters from here that laughed at the Man Utd - Newcastle 1-1 score...

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

      They've been laughing at United for nearly a decade and it won't change too soon.

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

        Meh, one league title doesn’t make up for the 30 years previous 😉

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

          It does 🙁

        2. The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          So much this...

        3. SINGH
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Lol Liverpool fans thinking they are relevant after a fluke league title during which the 2nd placed team was 20 odd points behind them and then proceed to finish 4th the following season. Just a Leicester/Blackburn lite.

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

            😆 Liverpool are light years ahead of United at the moment all the same

          2. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            It may have been a fluke, but it happened and is in the history books.

            Nothing you say is going to change that, nor is it suddenly going to erase the joy and celebrations that those Liverpool fans experienced for weeks after winning the title.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Can both drink to Man City continuing to run away with the league

  21. Kaneyonero
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I said it Salah would blank

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      You did, love it

  22. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    People who sold Salah are the type of people that watch Mrs Brown's Boys and use their hip to shut the fridge door

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like I didn’t pick the wrong week to stop drinking

    2. Saka Rice
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      People who sold Salah are the type of people to sell a player because they use logic. Most top 10k managers sold him regardless of his output today

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        This

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Salty?

    4. Bod
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The last bit is oddly specific…

    5. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I think they're just people who thought that Son would play both games and outscore him

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      If this was actually real, wouldn’t he just pick completely random low ownership players and then do reverse voodoo on all the players he owns so that they outscore everyone else and he won FPL.

  23. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    That penalty changed the game. It gave Leicester ballz

    1. Jon Snow
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Mane missing that sitter was big too

      1. AIRMILES
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        That miss was even worse than the penalty.

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

      Missing 3 chances in 3 seconds didn't help...

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      And Mo lost his in the prossess

  24. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Must have been some Triple Captain chips burnt on Mo this week. Anyone know?

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No one serious, I'd imagine

  25. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I actually rolled a transfer this week... Yay me!

  26. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Jota captain for the win….
    A bit

  27. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    A massive Ronaldo fail next please FPL gods, thanks.

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Oh yes please

  28. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    The real geniuses will be the ones that never buy Salah back.

    Plenty of ways to skin a cat.

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

      Why on earth would anyone ever skin a cat ?

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Its a saying, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
        It means to achieve the same goal, but do it in a different manner, or to aknowledge there are different ways to achieve the same objective.

        Altho, im not sure on the varying methods used to skin a cat

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Really odd opinion in the one season where to this there has definitively been only one way to skin a cat