New Fantasy Premier League Transfers 2018/19 Liverpool Edition
Hello and welcome to New Fantasy Premier League Transfers 2018/19 Liverpool Edition! This is our year! Only joking I’m too much of a realist to get swept up in that stuff and I’m sure fellow Red and resident pessimist Kop would agree with me on that. Even though I do not feel as optimistic as the majority of fans, it seems that other fans from teams around the league are getting involved in and really feel Liverpool have made a great push to challenge defending Champions Man City. Liverpool have looked at some key areas of their team and improved immensely. They have spent £164 million this summer on improving weak spots which could prove money well spent if Alisson, Fabinho, Keita and Shaqiri hit the ground running. With this new level of depth in the squad Liverpool should improve on their performances last season and it should make having Liverpool assets a very smart move. Whether you choose an old player or one of these new ones it’s up to you, but I am here to give you the low down on the new boys, so without further ado…
Alisson – 5.5 mil
This was a must do transfer for Liverpool, but I’ll be honest I didn’t think it was going to happen! Klopp was giving his backing to Karius and defending him, so I feared we would be looking at Loris Karius between the sticks for another season but finally Klopp had enough of his compatriot who has had a horrid time ever since the Champions League final. Not only did he make the high-profile mistakes that night but Karius has made mistakes in nearly every friendly Liverpool have played this summer! Enough was enough and led Liverpool to splash the cash, returning to Roma where they grabbed the amazing Mo Salah, to make the Brazilian number 1 Alisson, the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. Alisson has been highly sought after this summer and in the last year or two. His stats can make you see why the young goalkeeper has demanded such a high price. Last season he played 49 games between Serie A and the Champions League where he kept 22 clean sheets; over the course of his entire career Alisson has played 120 games and kept 49 clean sheets. This is not bad reading for the fans of a team who have had problems after problems at the goalkeeping area; so with a new shot stopper coming in there is reason for optimism for plenty of clean sheets with the likes of VVD and the “best defender in the world” Lovren sitting in front of the Brazilian. Not only do they have a new goalie to protect the net they have two new mids to strengthen the defence who are…
Naby Keita – 7.5 mil
I’ll start off with a new addition that was technically bought last season, the Guinean Naby Keita. The robust central midfielder has earned a lot of admirers during the short amount of preseason he has had. Keita is very well-known for his meandering runs towards the opposition box and causing trouble. Keita scored 9 goals and grabbed 7 assists in all competitions last season which is decent returns from a central midfielder. Keita seems to have brought a bit of steel into a Liverpool midfield that really needed it as he is a young man who loves a tackle so I’d expect him to earn plenty of plaudits for his no nonsense style of play. The one downside to Keita is the act he’s a bit of a card magnet over his 5 year career he has received 31 yellow cards and 3 red cards in club football. 9 of those yellows and 2 of those reds came last season but I suspect that maybe have come from frustration at not being allowed to move directly to Liverpool and having to stay in a RB Leipzig side that struggled throughout the season. Keita is making his way into more and more drafts as an alternative to Firmino or as a 3rd Liverpool attacking cover so this could seriously pay off if he settles into English life quickly.
Fabinho – 6.0 mil
Another addition to the Liverpool midfield is the Brazilian defensive midfielder from Monaco who many feel should have been at the World Cup. Fabinho is the first proper defensive midfielder Liverpool have had for a while and have been calling out for. This should allow Henderson and Keita to get higher up the pitch with Fabinho providing the much needed cover in the deeper role. While Fabinho has been brought in to solidify that midfield he is also adding to Liverpool’s attacking threat as he has 33 goals and 23 assists so far in his career and grabbed 7 goals last term with 4 assists. Fabinho is not too shabby at penalty kicks which make up 19 of the 33 goals he has scored in his career. You would possibly think he might take over penalty duty but with the likes of Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mané up top that might be a wait and see. Fabinho may turn out to be like his compatriot, Fernandinho, in the fact he can pop up with goals but at 6.0 mil there are likely to be better options out there.
Xherdan Shaqiri – 7.5 mil
Now onto yet another midfielder who is new to Liverpool but very familiar to us FPL managers, the little Swiss who is shaped in the weirdest of ways has proven he can do it on a rainy night in Stoke so a nice trip on the Mersey should be just right for him! Shaqiri has had a brilliant career playing for Basel, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and the mighty Stoke City so he has plenty of experience and adds more power to the already stacked Liverpool front line. I don’t see Shaqiri pushing his way into the team, especially not replacing Player of the Year and Egyptian God, Mo Salah, on the right wing. Shaqiri will probably be more of a sub player and someone who has been brought in to give the likes of Salah and Mané a rest. Shaqiri will also give Liverpool that little something they always missed when Salah was injured or rested; obviously the key players Mane, Firmino and Salah link up well but right now as I write this I am picturing a backup front three of Lallana sliding a through ball into Shaqiri who slides it across for Oxlade-Chamberlain or Sturridge (when they are fit!). Shaqiri has 66 goals and 63 assists in his career so with some very good players around him Shaqiri could flourish or flounder but it is definitely a wait and see for me as I don’t feel he is completely nailed.
Thanks for reading New Fantasy Premier League Transfers 2018/19 Liverpool Edition. This article was written by MattX
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Great article thanks Matt. The keeper position has been an alarmingly ignored position for too long. As a United fan I (albeit reluctantly) am increasingly concerned that Klopp is building an excellent squad, they have strength in depth which has been an issue for a while. The likes of Clyne, Matip, Milner, Henderson, Shaqiri, Ox, Sturridge, Wijnaldum is a pretty good bench…..
Couple of questions for you and indeed other Liverpool fans…
what do you see as Klopp’s preferred first XI?
And will Sturridge impact on Firmino’s gametime / position? Klopp been talking him up saying he has a future at the club etc etc.
Certainly not a Liverpool fan but here’s my stab
Alisson
TAA (Clyne will get gt), VVD, Lovren, Robertson
Keita, Fabiano, other place could be anyone depending on opposition.
Salah, Firmino, Mane
As for Sturridge who knows I doubt it. However if he finds any sort of form 6 million will be criminal
Hey Cookie. Cheers mate. I agree with you that Klopp seems to have depth now that he didn’t before (cue this season to be plagued with injuries!) The bench was always a concern for me I think in the CL final for example Liverpool had Ings, Solanke, Mignolet and four defenders as replacements so not ideal!
As for the starting XI. I’d agree with Smash except I would say Hendo will be in that team more often than not. So with Fabinho and Hendo as holding defenders Keita is looking very appealing to go on his run abouts. When Ox comes back it’ll be a bit harder to pick who starts but the likes of Milner, Wiji and Lallana will probably have to settle for sub roles.
Ox is out for the season isn’t he Matt?
He’s out till atleast Christmas I believe but it could be a bit longer. I hope he’s back before the end of the season though. He was really improving before that injury.
Not a Liverpool fan either
I have shockingly been confused with one though. To be fair since I have no team in the EPL, Sometimes I am seen defending a team and since I like the way LFC and City play, I can see where people might think that. Strangely, I have never been accused of backing Arsenal or United. 
Smash, I agree with you on that set up and the thought of who plays in the midfield 3. Gomez should see the pitch also, I would think, but not sure on that.
Hi guys!Who is watford main striker now..is it troy or gray?
No idea not sure why you would want either in my opinion
Ok..any suggestion for striker not exceed 6mil?
Austin would be my choice at that price
Agree with Cookie. Austin though think you need to stretch to Arnie/Tosun or play 3-5-2
Thnx guys!
Maguire is going to end up at United ain’t he
with his goal threat he’ll then be attractive at 5.5mln. Attractive may be the wrong word to use about Maguire…..
Ha ha slab head himself. If he goes he’s a must have. Might even sacrifice him not playing the first game
5.5 would work great. Be exactly what we discussed in the committee about 5.5 players from big teams rising a la Otamendi and the cheaper (last season) Davies. 😉
another draft…. what you guys think?
Looks good to me. Don’t think Piloington plays though
Read somewhere that Gunnarson should be a starter for Cardiff at 4.5. Haven’t looked into it mind!
nice info – thanks !
That’s who I have currently though not looked into it
Bloody ‘ell, Smash. We are useless
Ha ha yep just presumed he’s got to be better than Stephens. I know a lot have been talking about Ward but not sure he starts
Just loooked him up he plays but will only get odd assist or goal basically a 2 pointer
I’ve never really put much focus on my fifth mid anyway. In a 3-4-3 my subs are usually a £4.0m who might not play and a defender and midfielder (both £4.5m) who will get minutes. I hate having points left on my bench!
better maybe?
Lovely article Matt, many thanks for this. I definitely think you guys have done the best business so far. Simple, straightforward management – identify the weaknesses and deal with them. You’ve done that and then some. I think you’re very serious contenders now and should be even more exciting to watch than you already were.
Only thing I’m stuck on, as I imagine many will be, is whether to go 3 Liverpool attackers or 2 and a defender. I think the signings add weight both ways. I’m currently on Robertson, Salah and then either Keita or Firmino.
Currently on Salah obviously, Firmino alternative is Lacazette at this stage. Keita new to the league and may have disciplinary problems so will wait and see. Robertson I’m on currently but May prefer Lovren or TAA in future because of price
Exactly my thoughts, Smash. I’m not sure how Sturridge will impact Firmino’s position on the pitch (and how frequently Sturridge will be on the pitch). I imagine Firmino will adopt a sort of Coutinho role when/if they are on at the same time. I currently just have Salah and Robbo.
Yeah I doubt Sturridge plays. At 6 million would be a bargain. If he does it will impact Firmino and it’s an easy switch
Cheers Init. I agree with a proper DM this season the team might relax a bit more up front and just go for it so that could mean even more goals haha.
I can’t decide on the Liverpool 3 I go with. Right now I’m liking Salah, Robertson and Keita but I’m actually thinking of just going with 2 and spreading the cover but who knows.
On a separate note, just noticed this, looks awesome –
Looks like I need to get prime after all.
Yeah this looks brilliant!
Damn, it really does.