Dugout Discussion

Mane’s absence explained as Klopp benches Firmino for trip to in-form West Ham

Liverpool are without the services of Sadio Mane (£11.9m) for their match against West Ham United this afternoon, which kicks off at 16:30 GMT.

The Senegalese winger, who was transferred in by over 130,000 Fantasy Premier League managers following his 15-point haul in Gameweek 20, misses out with what Liverpool say is a “minor muscle injury”.

The Reds add that the problem is “expected to be only a short-term issue”.

His manager added ahead of kick-off:

In fact, only one of the Reds’ regular front three makes Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI today.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is joined in the reigning champions’ attacking trident by Divock Origi (£5.2m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.4m), with Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) only among the substitutes.

Along with the two changes to his front three, Klopp has replaced the injured Joel Matip (£5.4m) with Nat Phillips (£4.0m) at centre-half.

The Hammers are unchanged from the side that won 3-2 at Crystal Palace and David Moyes has even named the same nine substitutes from that victory.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Thiago, Shaqiri, Salah, Origi.

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1,925 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Steve McCroskey
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Martin Tyler's heavy breathing is killing me

    1. Steve McCroskey
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Shameless top post

    2. Saka Punch
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      lol

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ask him to get off if he’s too heavy.

    4. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Every week, the geeza in general annoys me no end.

    5. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Hang up

    6. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      some people pay good money for that service !

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I sold Bamford for Richarlison for a hit.

    17 points down the pisser!

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ouch

    2. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Cancelo captaining evens it out 😉

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Not how it works! Boooooooooo!

    3. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Our boats are tied together: Wilson to DCL (-4) for me.

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Oof. After such a good week.

    5. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Same but not for a hit but also had DCL, what a Toby I truly am

    6. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wow, brutal week. Very unlucky

      Chin up - we go again next week!

  3. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Entertaining first half. Thiago decidedly average.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Thought it was extremely boring tbh.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Expected better 😛

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Would like to see some goal entertainment from Antonio for sure !!

  4. Tinkermania
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Bruno to Son? Bruno scored a penalty against Villa on new year's day. He has only managed a single assist since then in PL. UTD penalties have dried out.

    1. Londongeezaa
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      And if Son blanks today?

      1. Tinkermania
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Not getting him in for today.

        1. Londongeezaa
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          My point being that Son’s form will not be great either

          1. Tinkermania
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Fair enough. Historically he has delivered good returns when Kane is out. And he has an ageing Chelsea defence and WBA in next 2.

  5. Niho992
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Wonderful pass by Thiago. What a player

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Beauty.

  6. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Absolutely nowhere to hide for Salah cappers like me

    Dont love to see it at all

  7. Lucky Z
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling to captain?

    Well rested. No chance he will be benched 2 games in a row, right?

    1. Londongeezaa
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      That’s my thinking

    2. Tinkermania
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Sounds good. He will start but could be taken off if they are cruising.

  8. Londongeezaa
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    OMG Salah had a shot on target

    1. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Rejoice!

  9. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Salah sighting & sighter.

  10. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Phillips looks decent.

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah and been very good in air duels

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Phillips has surprised me

    Done well v antonio

  12. SAUCY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Would Dallas have got any BAPs earlier if he hadn’t have got a YC?

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      2 baps

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Sorry none thought he finished on 24

      2. FPL Dakes
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Aw ffs

    2. ivantys
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No his BPS is 8 behind Barnes'

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      no

      1. SAUCY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks all

  13. JELLYFISH
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Best replacement option for Kane? Bamford and Antonio my other strikers

    Considering Watkins and Wilson

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Keep Kane. He’ll be back next week

      1. JELLYFISH
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        It’s an option if he is I guess

      2. ‘Tis the Season
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Lol rubbish

    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Watkins DCL
      Never sold on Wilson
      I think Everton to the p.. of Newcastle and they got what they deserved

    3. Sif
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      At this point might as well wait on news.

  14. ivantys
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    This is gonna be a boring 0-0 draw.

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Looks that way so far.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It’s our speciality.

  15. FPL Dakes
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Would love 1-0 Hammere, Antonio G Coufal A.

    Obviously further increases the Salah problem though...

    1. ivantys
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Would love this as well even though I don't own Antonio.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Surely a Coufal goal would be better?

    3. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I would like anything from either Salah or Antonio as my rival has neither. Also he made up 30+ points on me just from the Leicester-Leeds game ffs

  16. Warblers
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    This is season is like some epistemological or theoretical physics discussion in that there are no right answers....

    1. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Just stick it in the onion bag.

  17. Flair
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Phillips dominating the BPS, owners in good shape.

  18. Postman Ty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    This is going perfectly so far. Maybe Liverpool get a bit desperate and start taking long pot shots for some easy save points.

  19. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Why does Klopp recently run down the tunnel when the players take their time anyway to get there?
    Attention seeking?

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Or setting stuff up for when they’re in there maybe

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Hmmm good point. But thought that was someone else's job

    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Quick wee before everyone

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      To heat up the strudel.

    4. Captain Vantastic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      To check BPS.

  20. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Time to bring Bobby

  21. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Mr Brightside being wasted in an empty stadium. So sad.

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Criminal

  22. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    6 and a half blanks in a row now for the 12.5m Salah. He has been one of the main contributors to my demise in this awful season. Only time I've owned him has been during this run of blanks. Unbelievable really.

    1. ivantys
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      How in the world he has not dropped price at all

    2. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah it’s been unbelievable. And he’s been a differential the whole time for me except when my rival only had him for FH in 19! Basically he’s gotten me nothing.

  23. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thiago is obviously a technically good player and good at passing. But he just doesn't have the energy that the midfield of Wijnaldum-Fabinho-Henderson brings.

    Liverpool at their best make teams feel like they are smothering you. But recently teams have found it much easier to play through Liverpool.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yes the pressing and the wuick decision making just isnt there anymore

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yes Liverpool have definitely lost a bit of intensity this season.

    3. citizenkane
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Agree 100%

    4. FantasyTony
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed, he's a top player but Liverpool need a more industrial midfield for their current setup.

      Tough one for Klopp tbh, I dunno if it's worth restructuring the team to accommodate him.

    5. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      They just have no edge anymore. Almost like Jota was essential for them in attack, presented an actual worry for defenders.

  24. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Firmino or even Minamino needed to link it all.

    A hero Origi may be but he’s not good enough.

  25. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Captained Salah but have potential jammy Cresswell and Coufal clean sheets subbing in.

  26. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Out of cup
    Opponent c Sterling but vc Jesus
    Need miracle goal from Coufal and two from Salah...
    Dream on....

  27. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    0-0 Written all over it now.

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      As a Dallas seller but Coufal keeper that would ease the pain considerably

  28. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Live FPL is confusing me with all the autosubs

    What’s the average number of players people will have in the Spurs game (after auto subs/ vice captains)? Around 1.0?

    Just want an understandong of how badly my rank will fall with no players on that game

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Pretty much Son EO

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Use 'the if scenario' tool maybe?

  29. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Need some advice here. Should I save my FT or use it to sell Vardy?
    3.0 IDB
    1 FT

    My team for gw22 for now:

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Dias Cresswell
    Salah(C) Bruno Grealish Barnes Gundo
    Antonio Bamford

    Forster Dallas Mitchel Vardy*

  30. Flair
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Looks like I'll be silly and captain an attacker again next week. Holding (C) anyone?

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I just can’t captain a defender - with an attacker yiu always have hope.

      With a defender that clean sheet goes and it’s pure misery

      Granted Wolves may never score again with it Jimenez