Dugout Discussion

Salah misses out as Alisson and de Gea recover from injury to start

The only Premier League match to take place this Sunday is a big one, with league leaders Liverpool hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against old foes Manchester United.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 16:30 BST.

The headline team news sees Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) miss out through injury, with Jurgen Klopp telling Sky Sports ahead of the match:

Mo was not ready, that’s how it is. He couldn’t train with the team; I don’t know where it came from that everybody said he will play. There was pretty much no chance for today, maybe for Wednesday [in the Champions League], we have to see.

With Salah missing out, Sadio Mane (£11.8m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.6m) are joined in a front three by Divock Origi (£5.3m).

Alisson (£5.8m) and Joel Matip (£5.5m) have been passed fit to play, however, and rejoin the visitors’ backline in place of Adrian (£4.6m) and Dejan Lovren (£5.3m).

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m), Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) maintain their ever-present records in the top flight this season.

Despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having said he was unlikely to play, David de Gea (£5.5m) has recovered from the groin injury that he sustained on international duty and takes his place between the posts for the Red Devils.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m) has also recovered from tonsillitis, joining what may well be a back five for the hosts given that Ashley Young (£5.4m), Marcos Rojo (£4.8m), Harry Maguire (£5.4m) and Victor Lindelof (£5.4m) all start.

Luke Shaw (£5.4m) has failed to recover, however, while Paul Pogba (£8.4m) misses out as expected.

Anthony Martial (£7.5m) is fit enough to be among the substitutes and joins Mason Greenwood (£4.4m) on the bench.

With Martial not in the starting XI, Marcus Rashford (£8.4m) looks set to lead the line again.

The corresponding fixture to this game ended 0-0 in 2018/19.

This re-match indeed sees a meeting between the two sides with the best expected goals conceded (xGC) tallies in the top flight, although that tightness in defence hasn’t translated into too many clean sheets: United and Liverpool have just two each so far this season.

At the other end of the pitch, the Red Devils have the third-worst xG from open play among Premier League clubs.

Mane was the most-bought player of Gameweek 9, with Salah the most-sold.

Wan-Bissaka and de Gea were also shipped out by almost 400,000 Fantasy managers combined.

Salah was the fifth-most-captained player of Gameweek 9, although it’s probably fair to assume that a decent chunk of the 634,160 FPL bosses who handed him the armband may have given up the ghost already.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelöf, Rojo, Young, McTominay, Fred, Pereira, James, Rashford.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mané, Firmino, Origi.

1,461 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    The way this GW is going, it'll be a Aubameyang 1 point cameo tomorrow.

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Auba injured in warm up

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Will get Rico points from bench if that happens, so I'm sure it'll be a 1 point cameo.

  2. Differential C (Mark)
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Auba and Lundstram hatties incoming

    1. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Only 3 for Lundstram?

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      What’s the point in hoping. I’ll take 2 points each

  3. Arteta
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Captain Auba could be huge game changer if he delivers tomorrow. Goal, some bonus points and I'm happy..

    1. Rik Waller
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      It's the hope that kills ya.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      GL mate, an Arse win all I want

    3. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      That's what I was hoping from Salah today 😉

  4. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Considering Liverpool were dire most of the game, great result for them ?

  5. RealVirg
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    2 bonus for Robertson brap brap

    1. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      looks like 3 now, even with Rashford

      1. RealVirg
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Fabulous!

  6. AzzaroMax99
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    The worst week ever!
    Only 10 players 🙁
    20 with Auba and Lundy. Please Lundy get me some points. With Auba’s brace. Or I am so £&@£@@ 🙁

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      That’s honestly not that bad

  7. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Alisson did not bring forth that CS

  8. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Lordstram to save the Gw.

  9. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    50 points all out (unless Robbo sneaks the third BAP and gives me 51) finally making some headway after a few stagnant game weeks. Just need Sheff U to concede and Auba to stay quiet to make it a very decent GW.

    1. Rik Waller
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Nice one. Did you captain Doucoure or something?

      1. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Vardy.

    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Congrats.

      19 for me.

      Salah (c), Aguero (vc), Son, Otamendi, Kelly get 1 point between them.

      1. Rik Waller
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Oooof. Probably make the 'Rough with the smooth' with that though. Every cloud...

      2. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Yeah that was tough in the exteme RCA

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 23 days ago

          All fair in love and war, I did enjoy , sorry fella

      3. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        I've seen RCA, real shame. But at least it's not down to bad calls, just bad luck.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 23 days ago

          Yep

  10. I Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Pope
    Alexander-Arnold, Otamendi, Soyuncu
    Sterling, Son, David Silva, Mount
    Firmino, Wilson, Abraham

    Button; Lundstram, Dendoncker, Rico.

    1 FT 1.7 ITB

    Need KDB back which will require a hit. Thinking Son + Ota -> KDB and someone. Wanted Robertson but 0.1 short of him. Which defender would you go for?

  11. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    James on a bonus point. Icing on the cake.

  12. Regin
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Any chance Robbo gets all 3 bps? That extra bps could he crucial.

  13. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    That point wins Liverpool the league, game over

  14. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Is Connolly likely to be a bench warmer?

    If Trossard comes back is that even worse for Connolly?

  15. Postman Ty
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    27 from 11 on a WC, 1 clean sheet (with a yellow) was the only return. Feels good.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      😀 good times

    2. Regin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Robbo assist and 2 bps my only return. 25 from 10:with lundstram remaining

      1. Postman Ty
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        swapped robbo for trent on the wc haha

  16. New Post
  17. Supertrooper
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Robbo assisst to be changed to Firmino?

    1. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      hope so.

    2. jtreble
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      No.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Just watched slo mo on Sky Sports defo looks like, Robbo, Firmino, Lallana.

  18. JohnnyCroat
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Oh boy... some game. And some game for points too. I had benched AWB and James in favour of TAA/Robertson once I'd heard Allison was back between the posts... was very nearly a disaster. Assuming Robertson nicks the 3BPs, I'm on a healthy 35 (healthy by this GW's standards anyway) with Ceballos/Saka to come.

    I do believe I have my FFS HU match wrapped up, 8-1 baby!

    1. Cruz88
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Robertson on 2 bonus

      1. JohnnyCroat
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Yeah, at the end of the game... and those usually change a few hours later before being added. Every chance he nicks the 3rd.

        1. Cruz88
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 23 days ago

          Could be wrong but I think it gets a final update within 30 mins of the game finishing. Monitoring as I also own Robbo but expecting two points

          1. JohnnyCroat
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 23 days ago

            Final game of the day takes longer because of other things. But yes, I have seen early games all sorted in plenty of time.

            1. JohnnyCroat
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 23 days ago

              & updated... 3BPs, tied with Rashers, James and Lallanas in Pajamas getting 2 apiece... 35 points baby! That's huge given the averages this week.

              1. Cruz88
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 23 days ago

                Awesome. Good call! Means two of my players got points in this terrible week

  19. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    39 with Lundstram to come feels like a big green arrow this crazy gameweek. Vardy & James & Tomori delivering a little...

  20. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 21 days ago

    A backline of Henderson, Lundstram and O'Connell would have cost 13m at the start of the season and earned 121 points
    Son, Kane and Pepe would cost 30m and have earned 113 points 😉