How should FPL managers invest in Liverpool?

With an attractive run of Liverpool fixtures starting from Gameweek 9, FPL managers are seeking the best players to own.

Last season was disappointing for Jurgen Klopp’s side, although some late form saw them pip Brighton to fifth place. A positive start this time has been slightly halted by a late defeat at Spurs and a draw at Brighton, although the latter improves on January’s 3-0 defeat.

Currently fourth, Liverpool are about to begin a nice-looking run of fixtures. It ranks top of Fantasy Football Scout’s Season Ticker between Gameweeks 9 and 16.

Whether it’s with a Wildcard or standard free transfers, here are a few good ways to purchase some Liverpool coverage.

LIVERPOOL FPL ATTACKERS

As a team, Liverpool rank joint-fourth for goals (18) and joint-third for big chances (27). Only Newcastle having a better expected goals (xG) tally than their 16.92.

The credentials of Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) are already known. An elite FPL asset for numerous years, he’s blanked just once so far and Sunday’s 15 points make him the game’s top scorer alongside Ollie Watkins. Nobody else matches his three double-digit hauls or nears his nine big chances created.

Any pre-season beliefs that he’s too expensive and such money would be better spread elsewhere have quietly been cast aside.

Maybe if he had an attacking team-mate with guaranteed minutes, things would be different. But, of the four names competing for the other two spots, it’s only Luis Diaz (£7.5m) starting most matches.

On two goals so far (but the truth is three), what holds back both Diaz and Darwin Nunez (£7.4m) is Klopp’s reluctance to start far-travelling South American talents immediately after the international break. As Liverpool v Everton is Gameweek 9’s Saturday lunchtime kick-off, it could be a repeat of Gameweek 5 where both Diogo Jota (£7.7m) and Cody Gakpo (£7.2m) started instead.

There is growing interest amongst the FPL community for Darwin, though. With three goals and three assists already, it’s a similar story to 2022/23 in that he’s explosive but unreliable – not helped by rotation. His eight big chances are more than Salah – fourth overall – from just 334 minutes and he’s a reason why no team has hit the woodwork more than Liverpool. Three of the six have come from himself.

The Uruguayan’s 6.3 points per start is the club’s best after Salah but he’s top for minutes per chance (19.6).

LIVERPOOL FPL DEFENDERS

The bad back line of last season continues into this one. In 2022/23, Liverpool conceded the third-most big chances (101) and now they’re one of the worst for allowing shots (115).

Only five teams have conceded fewer goals (nine) but their expected goals conceded (xGC) is higher at 11.58. What doesn’t help is their insistence on going 1-0 behind. Six of their last eight domestic matches have begun this way, meaning they’re stuck on one clean sheet.

Goalkeeper Alisson (£5.5m) is their highest-scoring defensive asset and Andrew Robertson (£6.6m) betters the more expensive Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.9m) for goals, chances created and expected goal involvement (xGI). The Scot is actually the team-leader for setting them up (19), creating one every 38 minutes.

He may have lost some set-pieces to Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) but one thing Alexander-Arnold does have over Robertson is more attempts (five to two).

To save money on both full-backs, Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) is FPL’s fifth-best defender for shots (eight). The four above him have all played more minutes.