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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Thought?. Ings if he getsa move. Pedro and Kolasinac watching if nailed.
Ings at 5.5m could be the answer to a lot of our prayers – or mine, anyway – if he gets a regular 90 mins somewhere.
Otherwise I’m in the ‘bring Aresnal in after a couple of games’ camp so would have Kun – who potentially has Huddersfield at home in GW2 – instead of Auba for now.
Check out the Man City fixtures and try to squeeze a couple more of their players in. I know player rotation is a complete ballache but there could be a lot of points on offer there.
At the moment I’m on Kun, Sane and Ederson. Ederson for the season hopefully, Sane will turn into KDB once the latter’s back, and we’ll see about Kun.
Thanks. I have tried all ways to fit more City players in but can’t get Auba out of my team. I want Aguero but the cost of both is too much. Fair comment though.
Martliss
I like it and I agree on Aubameyang, he’ll be with me from the off with a City midfielder in behind I think.
My concern with bringing Auba in after a few weeks would be that Aguero’s fixtures from GW2-7 are an absolute dream. I wouldn’t have the cojones to drop him! I don’t really see how else you could bring in Auba without a hit (unless you have Kane/Kaku, which I’m assuming you don’t!).
I totally agree. Ideally I would like both but can’t seem to make a decent team around them.
Hello there Kralin, it has been some time. Glad to see you again!
Not really sure what to make of this team probably just a bit too risky. Triple Arsenal, will Kolasniac start, Monreal is still there, Shaw is a risk though I have him, PVA is he worth 5.5 I’m not sure he is. In midfield Pedro has got to be a risk because of minutes and Rambo still has a question hanging over him because of his contract. Ings don’t appear to be close to a move either
There’s definitely some risk in the team I agree but I am also looking that all those players you rightly mentioned are moveable before the season to decent alternatives. Is PVA overpriced? I would have to check but I believe he gets a lot of goals per minutes and good starting fixtures.
And this?
Good evening all.
Matt – thanks very much for the lowdown on the Liverpool newbs. Agree with everything you say.
Reckon this could be their year (no joke).
Cheers pal, quality effort as always. :thumbup:
GP, stop it!!
My money is where my mouth is though mate.
I’ll buy you a few pints if you’re in the money come next May
I’ll buy you!
I’ll need a few pints
Who said you were invited?
You leave me no choice, I’m putting a few quid on your lot.
Oh FFS! Looks like this won’t be our season..,
Hi everyone, I’m new to the site! I see some familiar faces already. Hoping for a good year of fantasy together.
via GIPHY
Good to have you on board! Loads of articles to sink your teeth into already and I hope you will share your thoughts (no weird ones though, please
) with us too 
I seem to have a lot to catch up with, can’t wait to start reading. :shroom:
Hi Santa.
I want a bike. A remote controlled car. A new football. I’ll add as we go along.
Rosco probably wants a bike too, although I’m guessing he wants one that speaks and doesn’t cost too much
A unisex one?
Will it be two-tyred?
(Here all week).
It’s a good thing the week is nearly over then, GP!
Hi Sergio, they’re a good bunch here and our ‘old’ friends are slowly arriving mate. Have fun
I want a qualification for Scotland for the Euros
I think you need to ask God for that not Santa
😉
I asked God and he sent me to Santa.
LOL GP.
Ally McCoist progressed to the quarters of WC this season.
I bring gifts, not miracles. 😀
Great to see you here
SergioSanta.Will be good to hear a bit of Troy Deeney love.
Haha, the unsung hero.
Thanks for a great article Matt.
Looks like a must to get some scousers in this season.
Seemingly more nailed than players at other top clubs.
Good job it ain’t Southampton players you need to bring in, ain’t it?
Or Scouse Feeder Club as they are now called
Maybe it’s wishful thinking but I think they will struggle this season
Let’s hope so! *sharpens pencil and salivates at the prospect of MH pressers…
Roma are the new Southampton
Barca’s feeder club?
Quality article Matt. I must admit that when we signed Keita I didn’t expect him to make it into my FPL team. However, I made a draft earlier and he found his way into it.
I’m hedging my bets with Keita (in that I want to see how he gets on before taking the plunge).
I know what you mean. I’d go with Ramsey or Mikhi if they had a better start.
The minor (or typical fantasy ‘fear’) headache I have is that in owning Robertson, Salah and Firmino then getting Keita in will involve two transfers as it’s very unlikely I’ll be swapping him for Salah.
But for all that I’m happy with the slightly extravagant Liverpool trio I have. For now, anyway.
I have been haunted by an irrational fear for weeks that Keita will score in GW1 and Salah won’t.
As it stands I only have Salah & Keita.
No defenders Kop? Reckon Fabinho and Alisson should at least help in that respect.
Not yet. I do like Robbo at 6.0m but I’ll need to find a few shillings from somewhere!
Liverpool were only bettered by City and Utd last season in terms of clean sheets. Bearing that in mind, plus his attacking chops, Robertson seems a nice option to me.
I could see a few going for Alisson as well, given his distribution and potential assist points (though maybe that’s pushing things a bit).
I reckon Ramsey and Miki have a decent start. When better to play City and Che than when City have a makeshift def and Che have a late coming new manager?
Yeah not sure on Arsenal as a whole. Robertson appears to be good value as with VVD as nailed a lot of the premium defenders are either 6.5 or not nailed
It might be a good time to play both City & Chelsea but that doesn’t make them easy games!
I think your (Martliss’) point is a good one and a few people will be chuckling grimly if Arsenal beat City 3-0 on the opening day. But City have such good fixtures it seems almost a dereliction of duty not to have their players.
I can’t see City dropping too many points early on.
Interesting Kop who are your front three just can’t see Keita out scoring Firmino
He won’t outscore Firmino but he might provide better value for money.
We will get a better idea once Chelsea play City. Could all change after that
Good answer Kop but your keeping your team close to your chest
Don’t worry Silvers, I’m not hiding anything
my team is still on autopick. I didn’t save the draft I made earlier.
Kralin that’s exactly where I am on Roberston, I reckon I’ll have him.
And yeah, I’m not entirely sure where that second paragraph was going either!
I thk the problem is we will have to have a 4.5m & 5m or two 5m MF players to get Salah & 3 half decent Fwds
Yeah a wait and see for me. He could pick up a fair amount of cards
I’m normally very cautious with players new to the Prem, however good their previous record is. And delighted as I am with Liverpool’s transfer business, three of them are exactly that. Keita, potentially, looks very brill indeed he’s clearly very happy to be there.
However in the ‘real’ world of fantasy, for me at that price the Arsenal and Everton players look like they could be good value and nab a few points; and I’m thinking Mata at 6.5 could be handy until some cheap 4th midfielder superdude turns up. Though I currently have Martial in.
Mata goodnight be a good shout mate
Mata could be * that’s one hell of an autocorrect there.
Thoughts on my latest draft? Will likely change
Looks good. Similar to mine after weeks of tweeking.
Thanks Martliss
Then I ain’t commenting on it 😉
I like it! Bench is weak but so is mine aha. I don’t really like rating other people’s teams as I end up just bending it round to my team! FWIW I’d only question your choice of Cedric, but then I know he is popular on these boards. Holgate is one I have my eye on. Has he got his number 5 shirt yet?
I’m not sure but Everton got hammered by Blackburn other night and Holgate did not play. Got to be either Jags or Holgate. Yep bench sucks I think Peltier and Gud start though
Jags played the 2nd half last night and apparently just looked what he is now – a bit old. Holgate is nursing an injury right now.
Thanks one to watch. Williams is finished I’m still expecting Everton to sign a CB. Presume Keane will play
Very nice indeed. Wow. Made my socks roll down then back up again.
I’ve not analysed your bench much but like you I’ve punted on Peltier being a starter – unlike you though I’ve also punted on Bennett being the same, in a desperate attempt to save money. And like you I’ve gambled a bit on Shaw. I’m torn between Cedric and Daniels. Not much in it.
Really nice team.
Ha ha thanks Kralin. I think Bennett, Peltier and Bissaka May all be starters at this stage. Definitely Cédric over Daniels for me. Bournemouth have a new LB yeah he’s suspended to start but not worth the risk
Or could do this
I prefer that one Smash. Not sold on Cédric though but I don’t know what your alternatives are there.
Initially I thought there was loads of decent 4.5 defenders. Now I’m not so sure. I’m pretty comfortable with Cédric I think Saints will be closer to the middle this year
I think Daniels, Cedric and Tomkins – possibly Cook, Dunk – all seem to be vying for that crucial 4.5m spot. I was blissfully unaware of the threat to Daniels.