3 hours ago
2
Defending champions Liverpool started off the season in blistering fashion with five successive wins but their form has faltered recently with back-to-back losses.
The Reds spent big in the summer and brought in a raft of new players - including British record signing Alexander Isak.
The question now is do Fantasy Premier League managers stick with the Liverpool players in their team and hope they are through the bad patch? Or is it time to bring others in?
This week's FPL expert Holly Shand and the guys from The FPL Podcast by BBC Sport debate this week's FPL talking point.
Holly Shand: We have reached a crossroads with Liverpool assets as their fixtures turn for the worse, with Manchester United, Brentford, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the next four gameweeks.
Ryan Gravenberch has been their star performer in the last four gameweeks, with three goal involvements in this spell. The competition for spaces in their forward line means that consistent minutes are not guaranteed for Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, who is still waiting for his first Premier League goal in a Liverpool shirt.
Mohamed Salah provides the biggest conundrum: he has four goal involvements in seven appearances, with three of those returns coming late in injury time. He's had two consecutive blanks and no double digit hauls, whereas last season he was regularly delivering big points. This lack of form means it's unlikely managers will choose to captain him over Erling Haaland in any of the next four gameweeks, and so he could struggle to justify his £14.4m price tag.
However, he remains the best attacking pick from this Liverpool side and he has the potential to punish anyone who sells him before Manchester United at Anfield this weekend. He has delivered 134 fantasy points in 15 appearances against Manchester United in the game.
Holly Shand: Their defence has been far from convincing, with nine goals conceded and just two clean sheets.
The long-term injury for keeper Alisson further impacts their clean-sheet potential going forward, and so even Virgil Van Dijk looks unlikely to justify his price tag compared to Arsenal defenders in this spell.
We've also seen a lot of rotation in Liverpool's full-back spots in recent weeks, with Van Dijk remaining the safest route into their backline.
Statman Dave: "I am sick of the sight of them. They are done. I don't think they will ever come back in my team this season. Alexander Isak is out. He has a single assist and he is out. Same with Mohamed Salah.
"Liverpool have been rotten this season, from their own high standards. The only player I'd own is Virgil van Dijk. The rest of them, get rid."
