Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

Sunday could well be a day of reckoning. While Liverpool clash head-on with City at Anfield, Chelsea’s hopes of keeping pace with that pair in the title race will rest on their ability to dispose of struggling Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

The opening clash of the day, just minutes away, undoubtedly commands the bulk of our attention. City will arrive at Anfield looking to halt a charge from Brendan Rodgers’ side that has seen the Merseysider outfit win nine league matches on the spin. City turn up with Sergio Aguero fit but named only on the bench as Manuel Pellegrini keeps faith with Edin Dzeko and makes just one change – Gael Clichy returns as the rotation with Aleks Kolarov continues at left-back. Vincent Kompany is in the lineup despite a training ground injury on Saturday. There’s no such issues for Liverpool – Rodgers puts out an unchanged side as Mamadou Sakho retains his start at the back, despite Dan Agger returning to fitness; the Dane is named amongst the subs.

We’ll bring you the teamsheet news from today’s game in South Wales via our Twitter feed, while our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open for those looking for some real-time reactions during totday’s vital encounters.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

3,232 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Hull in Europe next season

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      *scraps cheap Hull defender from next season's team*

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    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Not necessarily.

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      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        Arsenal will either get CL spot or EL spot through the league so Hull will get EL spot even if they lose final

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        1. Woy of the Wovers
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 26 days ago

          Don't think so. If Arsenal are 5th, they'll qualify for EL through cup and the other two places both go to the league.

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          1. Woy of the Wovers
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 26 days ago

            *but Arsenal have to win cup too.

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          2. CABAYE4
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 26 days ago

            League qualification for Europe comes first.

            Hull, given they win today, are in Europe next season.

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            1. Jimmers
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 26 days ago

              That's what I thought

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    3. The Shadow
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Hull Tigers. They'll need that global marketing campaign now.

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  2. Your Mum Zohore
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Anyone putting a punt on Matic?

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    1. Wavey Wambz
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Me o/

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      1. Your Mum Zohore
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        MOTM so far...

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 26 days ago

          That's not saying much.

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    2. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Nah

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    3. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      right up doosra's street

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  3. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Come on Swans!

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  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Ba to score vs Liverpool too?

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    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      10 or 11 of em ?

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  5. Wakka Wakkas
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Bring in MIKEL and PARK THE BUS

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  6. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    come on swans

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  7. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Arsenal v Hull final..... can Arsenal break their 8 year duck and help out 6th place?

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    1. Declan
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Yes

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    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      How does this help 6th?

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    3. asdasdasdadasdasda
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      they can

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    4. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      its written .. so yes.

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  8. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Thought I should have played Azpi over Shaw.

    Come on swans

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Don't worry, N'gog's coming on.

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    2. asdasdasdadasdasda
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      +1
      Played Merte over Azpi

      Come On swans

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    3. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Played Chambers over Azpil , thought same

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    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Glad to see Demba Ba get his chance. And he takes it. 🙂

    Been underused.

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  9. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Probably old news, but 5 Live reporting Yaya out for the season.

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    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      He's dead to me anyway.

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        lol

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      2. BeachBadger
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        I might pass out a couple of the Dead teams now 😆

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  10. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    N'Gog on.

    Swansea settling for the loss

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  11. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Continue to attack now Blues . Come on 🙂

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    1. asdasdasdadasdasda
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      what a boring match

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  12. Big Bad Barry
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Sob sob yaya

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    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      He's gone. Get over it.

      He'll never have another season like this.

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  13. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    If Mirallas plays no minutes i get Azpi points...

    Will Mirallass play midweek?

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Almost certainly. Probably starts

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    2. You Must Be Jokin Ere
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Id say he will.

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    3. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Almost certainly. Martinez loves to tinker with his midfield.

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    4. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      He usually starts the home games

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    5. BeachBadger
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      I would say guaranteed. sorry.

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    6. Fray Bentos
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      yup

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    7. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      No idea. Be surprised if anyone here knows. Unless Martinez plays fantasy footy maybe.

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  14. You Must Be Jokin Ere
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Was Distin booked ?

    I believe he was and the failure of the FPL to award it has also affected the Bonus Points.

    The failure to correct errors of FACT and the game will begin to seriously lose credibility. They went back after their "sacred hour" on the Suarez one so i assume they must correct this error???

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      You assume wrong

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      1. You Must Be Jokin Ere
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        It's a farce of a game so.

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    2. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Never assume.

      It makes an arse out of you but not me.

      Or something like that.

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      1. Billy Gilmore
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        *ass out of u and me

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      2. You Must Be Jokin Ere
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        "Sorry about that Ted" seems to be their policy so.

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    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      They are not gonna rectify it.

      Corruption!!

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    4. Holy See
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Send them an angry email!

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    5. Mr Smith
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Here have a kleenex.

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  15. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Mourinho has taken a team full of talent, pumped millions into it, and turned them into Crystal Palace.

    Wouldnt Chelsea fans prefer to watch some entertaining football?

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    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      No.

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    2. Hank da Silva
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Ah, that old chestnut.

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    3. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Watch it.

      Palace got me 6 baps last night.

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    4. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Winning entertainingly > Winning boringly > Losing entertainingly > Losing boringly

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      1. Hank da Silva
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        With some judicious application of the elimination method, I'd say it's winning > losing.

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    5. The Shadow
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Do you really think Chelsea fans chose them for good football?

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    6. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      You gotta , just gotta get some silverware putting up with this , for a season. Been bit easier for us I guess....

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    7. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Albeit a version of Crystal Palace who are seriously challenging for the Premier League title AND Champions League still.

      Great that attacking teams are reaping rewards to, but the great thing about football is the tactical diversity.

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    8. asdasdasdadasdasda
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      For a neutral

      Pool vs City is 100 times better

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  16. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Best Yaya replacement if you already have Silva and Gerrard? Candidates look like being:

    A) Mata
    B) Nasri
    C) Eriksen
    D) Hazard (if confirmed fit)

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    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      I have B and C, and thinking A

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  17. JayBomb
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Any news on Hazard injury ?

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  18. The Baby-faced Assassin
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Yaya > Mata or Gerrard?

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  19. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Dreary old game this one...Fans are on good form though.

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Jose livens it up with Mikel on for Ba - against 10 men

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  20. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    wooo, 3rd shot off target for ba

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    1. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Terry close to catching Cahill in the Baps?

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      1. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        2 clearances blocks or intercweptions will do it.
        terry and cahill both precariously on 1 foul each too

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        1. Jinswick
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 26 days ago

          Cool, thanks. Terry injury time goal incoming...

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  21. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Obi on Ba off

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  22. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Mikel up front? 😉

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  23. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    3 Bonus for Cahill would be lovely!

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    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      +1

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    2. Twelve years a slave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Damn benched him

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  24. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Ba nailed on any team at 7m next season would be nice.

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  25. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Hull have no Jelavic and Long in FA cup so Arsenal have to beat them

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    1. Wakka Wakkas
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      False.

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      1. FACUPARSE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        both cup tied?? we´ll win anyway

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    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Like Citeh had to beat Wigan last season

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  26. tm245
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Nlol

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    1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      N'gag

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  27. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Lads, just got in from a rugby tournament (don't ask)...

    What happened to Yaya?

    Is he "proper" injured like ???

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Reports that he is out for season - groin injury - looked serious

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Probably out for the season.

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      1. HNI
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        hopefully true 🙂

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    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      Out for the remainder, so they say. Never met 'they' 😉

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  28. asdasdasdadasdasda
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Really liked Martinez doing the analysis for the Pool vs City game

    Even pulis was present I think when we wasnt with palace

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    1. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 26 days ago

      where was this?

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      1. asdasdasdadasdasda
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 26 days ago

        Star sports 4 (India)

        I think they take coverage from some english channel but Im not sure

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  29. tm245
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 26 days ago

    Keep completing those passes, Azpi.

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