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Liverpool v Everton team news: Isak + Wirtz subs

20 September 2025 675 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The 247th Merseyside derby gets Gameweek 5 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) underway.

Liverpool v Everton kicks off at Anfield at 12.30pm BST.

TEAM NEWS

As many suspected would happen, Alexander Isak is only on the bench for Liverpool this afternoon.

More surprising is the demotion of Florian Wirtz to substitute duty.

Wirtz and Isak are two of four players who drop out of the Liverpool starting XI from the midweek win over Atletico Madrid.

Andrew Robertson and Jeremie Frimpong also make way.

Hugo Ekitike, Alexis Mac Allister, Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez are the quartet that return to the Reds’ line-up.

Wirtz’s benching will presumably see the versatile Dominik Szoboszlai play in a more advanced role.

As for the Toffees, there’s just the one change from Gameweek 4.

Vitalii Mykolenko is back from injury, so Tim Iroegbunam drops out.

James Garner had been deputising as a makeshift left-back but Mylolenko’s return to fitness means that Garner can return to his usual central midfield role.

LINE-UPS

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Wirtz, Isak, Jones, Robertson, Frimpong, Ngumoha.

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Beto.

Subs: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Barry, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam.

price change predictions
675 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Gakpo (c). Woooooohoooo!

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Good luck to all Gakpo captainers!

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      1. Free Hat
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        Just you then...!

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    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Didn't go there because of Gandhi... but I hope he hauls anyways

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  2. Zimo
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Wirtz benching is probably better for owners. He might get something against tired legs. Only missing out on 1 extra point if he started.

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Hope is not a strategy.

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      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        Hope = planning to fail?

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      2. Haa-lala-land
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        Rebellions are built on hope

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    2. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Said no one ever

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    3. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Consolation

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    4. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      He's been awful his place is on the bench alright

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    5. BobbyV
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      ….and about 65 minutes

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  3. Tonyawesome69
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Looking forward to this game. I think Everton attack should do well, particularly if they target Kerkez at LB

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  4. el polako
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Florian Wirtzually nothing.

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  5. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Fingers crossed for Isak and Wirtz 1 pointers

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  6. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Semenyo now at 44% ownership
    Was at 4.9% GW1!

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    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      And what a price rise in 5 weeks!

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    2. Sting
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Most of my ML have Semenyo, Joao Pedro and Spurs defence

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  7. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Wildcard is very tempting now

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Activated

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  8. MGD
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Wonder if this is good or bad for Gakpo minutes

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    1. Sting
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      bad I’d say - he’s likely to be subbed off if ineffective

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    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Better than not starting at all which was being suggested by few.

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    3. The Mentaculus
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Maybe they'll try Wirtz on the left if Slot wants a more solid 3 CMs for this fixture? But probably doesn't make much difference; guess he's getting subbed at 60-70 anyway

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    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Don't think it matters. Gakpo’s xMins has likely dropped now that Isak is available.

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      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        It’s just somebody’s opinion

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        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 16 days ago

          Yes my opinion...

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          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 16 Years
            2 months, 16 days ago

            🙂 I mean the xMins of models. They’re just weights (parameters) that someone adjusts to get the result they like or some historical result.

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            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 6 Years
              2 months, 16 days ago

              xMins doesn’t have to be related to models. It can be folks estimated minutes based on a player’s recent minutes, fitness, and the availability of other players. Also, in some projection models, users can change xMins manually.

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  9. el polako
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Gandhi vs Mohammed

    Bring it on.

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  10. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    updated

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  11. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Updated

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  12. RashFraud
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    WILDCARD ACTIVE

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      o/

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  13. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Well who the f... do I bench next GW -_-??

    A) Reindeer (Bur H)
    B) Kudus (Wol H)
    C) Mbuemo (Bre A)
    D) Wood (Sund H)

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    1. space mercenary
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Wood

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    2. gergin
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      So easy. Mbuemo or any other Man Utd asset you have.

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      1. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        If you are benching Mbeumo you should sell him asap

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  14. How Green Was My Arrow
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 16 days ago

    The 3Ws
    Wirtz
    Watkins
    Wood (got him in GW2 )
    has totoally ruined my season so far.

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  15. TheBrazilianRonaldo
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Bullets dodged this season: Villa players, No Forest Double Up, The Chris Wood Madness (he's garbage),
    Bullets taken this season: Mark Guiu and 4 Chelski players, Wirtz, West Ham Diouf (despite getting 2 assists!), mindless price drops.

    What about you?

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    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Not picking overpriced Villa assets doesn't count as dodging, it's just good decisions

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  16. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Freehit punts

    Kevin
    Ndoye

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  17. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Have exact cash to do

    Watkins Salah Aina> Haaland Palmer Saliba(-4).

    Dont need any price rise/Drops by Monday

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Sounds good, have Haaland, so thinking Salah/Watkins to Palmer/Isak

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  18. TheBrazilianRonaldo
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Checked my team for GW6, and happy to roll a transfer, or maybe BB. Lot of easy fixtures for likes of Haaland, Palmer, Semenyo, Beto, The Reindeer, Caicedo, Tark. Look like WC into week 7.

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  19. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Stop selling Reijnders ffs

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  20. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Wish I knew Warts wasn't going to start, think that might benefit Pool attackers more. Would've C Gakpoo then.

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  21. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    "Wirtz Nightmare"

    FPL team name of the year!

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  22. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Best Salah replacment for gw6 onwards….

    Midfield of Semenyo Xavi Grealish Reijnders

    If I go for Saka or Palmer I won’t be able to afford Gyokeres in gw7

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    1. F4L
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      mbeumo

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    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      We are selling Salah why?

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        To get Haaland for gw 6

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        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          2 months, 16 days ago

          Oh ok, I own both

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          1. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 16 days ago

            Same, but might selling Salah to get Palmer and Isak for next gw

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            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 12 Years
              2 months, 16 days ago

              I thought about this option but Salah just too good

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              1. RamaJama
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                2 months, 16 days ago

                Let’s see if he can continue like midweek, think he hasn’t been near worth 14 mill in PL so far this season

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        2. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 16 days ago

          Correct

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  23. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Bring in Gabriel or Virgil?

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    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Gabriel

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    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Gabriel, Liverpool leaky

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    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Yeah cheers lads

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  24. F4L
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    hopefully isak can get 30 mins

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Guess 20-30, depending on result

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    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      You brought him in?

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      1. F4L
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        yeah... lol. oh well 🙂

        need ekitike not to do much at the very least. was impressed with isak midweek

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        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 16 days ago

          With his injury history and lack of preseason, he has to be matched carefully. Maby he’ll start next week

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    3. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Max 30 mins

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  25. El Presidente
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    £500M seating on the Liverpool bench

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    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      £500m spent this window and only Ekitike seems like a decent buy so far, and he’s gonna get benched for Isak. Shocking business.

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      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        Foooooooool of a Took!

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  26. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Probably shouldn’t be surprised that Wirtz is benched. Meryside derbies can be very physical and he looks really lightweight so far.

    *Courtesy of Capt Hindsight

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  27. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    people still have Wirtz?

    maybe its people following content creators and AI

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    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      A lot of big FPL accounts started him on Twitter.

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  28. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Is this the week where Watkins rewards his dullard holders?

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    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      No. Aston Villa are not functioning.

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      1. Qaiss
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        They’re not functioning until they are

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        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 16 days ago

          The team is stale. Like a mouldy piece of bread.

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    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      He needs to score a hatty at the very least to reward owners. So, no, this isn’t the week he ‘rewards’ dullard owners. They deserve what they get.

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      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        This

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    3. Haalander
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      I hope so or Is he another possible drop to the bench this week

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  29. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Wirtz is a generational talent, he'll come good and then the haterz will have to eat their words.
    Nobody has made more runs off the ball than him; owners just need to stay patient and gather more data.

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  30. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 16 days ago

    Good management from Slot. He has recognised that highly physical games against low block teams arent going to be games Wirtz will excell in so has dropped him. Szoboszlai is stronger and more dynamic. A better fit in this fixture.

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    1. Qaiss
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      You can’t say things like this about a player that cost more than £100 million

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      1. Cold Palms
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 16 days ago

        Waste of money you would think

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      2. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        You can and I did.

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      3. Zalk
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        His price tag doesn't change what type of player he is.

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      4. The Son-dance Kid
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        Of course you can.
        His transfer price is irrelevant when it comes to man management.
        The bloke is 22. His best years are still ahead of him. Saying "oh he should do x because of his price" is such a shallow outlook

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 16 days ago

      Remember when Pogba got four assists in one game and got told it was “expected” cos he cost £89m

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      1. Zimo
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 16 days ago

        The guy who said it is senile. Can't hold it against him.

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