Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Saturday

The relegation battle takes centre stage during Saturday’s afternoon action, with Sunderland, Leicester City, Hull City and Newcastle United all duking it out in their quest to beat the drop. Following the quintet of three o’clock kick-offs, Liverpool bid their Anfield farewells to club luminary Steven Gerrard, with Crystal Palace bidding to ruin the legendary midfielder’s final home appearance.

Having succumbed to relegation last Gameweek, Burnley host a Stoke City outfit that are fresh of a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Two goals in 10 matches underlines the Clarets’ travails in the final third, yet three clean sheets and just six goals conceded in eight offers hope of a shut-out. Charlie Adam is the form midfielder in the league by virtue of four goals in six starts, while Mame Biram Diouf has netted four goals in 11 appearances and is benefitting from increased pitch time in recent outings. Both sides are unchanged for this one, as Ryan Shawcross shakes off an injury to skipper the Potters.

Queens Park Rangers have nothing but pride left to play for as they welcome Newcastle to Loftus Road. Facing off against an R’s team that’s carded only one victory in 11, the Magpies search for their first win in ten Gameweeks. Newcastle boss John Carver has reasons to be optimistic, though – with Ayoze Perez notching two in three starts and top scorer Papiss Cisse making his return to the squad last weekend, the Tyneside team may yet wriggle free from the threat of relegation. The R’s make two changes as Nedum Onuoha returns from suspension at the back and Junior Hoilett earns a recall: Yun Suk-young and Bobby Zamora drop out. Newcastle make just one change as Daryl Janmaat returns from his ban to replace Vurnon Anita at right-back.

Tottenham invite Hull to White Hart Lane, as the visitors strive to propel themselves out of the bottom three. Spurs are in the midst of a slump, having recorded a single win in six, with two home defeats on the bounce. With just a single goal in his last six, Harry Kane has been subject to significant sales over the last few days, whilst in the Tigers camp, Dame N’Doye endeavours to snap a three-match barren spell in the wake of his brace at Palace in Gameweek 34. Spurs make one change as the banned Vlad Chiriches makes way for fit-again Danny Rose. Visitors Hull recall Nikica Jelavic to a two-man strike force as Sone Aluko drops to the bench; David Meyler comes in for Jake Livermore who has been suspended by the club.

Sunderland are pitted against fellow relegation rivals Leicester at the Stadium of Light in the first of their double Gameweek fixtures. Danny Graham netted his first goal for the Wearside club last time out and continues in the central striker berth. As for their opponents, the Foxes are flying off the back of six wins in seven outings. Riyad Mahrez is the man of the moment – following his brace last weekend – while Leonardo Ulloa is their form striker by way of two goals and one assist in two starts. Dick Advocat is forced to change a winning side with Jordi Gomez and Wes Brown ruled out – Liam Bridcutt and John O’Shea come into the starting XI. Andy King replaces Matt James in midfield for the visitors – James has been ruled out for up to nine months with cruciate knee ligament damage.

West Ham entertain Everton in a mid-table tussle for position. The Hammers are finishing off their campaign with a whimper – having notched a pitiful four goals in their last nine fixtures – but can draw encouragement from two clean sheets in three. For the Toffees, Romelu Lukaku continues to search for his first goal from open play since Gameweek 23. Sam Allardyce welcomes back Winston Reid from injury, while Alex Song and Carlton Cole also earn starts. Reece Burke and Morgan Amalfitano drop to the bench, while Kevin Nolan misses out due to a family bereavement. As for Everton, they surprisingly give a debut to young Brendan Galloway in the absence of ankle injury victim Leighton Baines.

The late kick-off sees Liverpool go head-to-head with Palace at Anfield. Although the Reds’ aspirations of Champions League football dissolved last week, outgoing skipper Steven Gerrard welcomes the Eagles on the back of two goals in as many matches and will be desperate to net in front of the Kop for the final time. With a solitary goal in their previous four league ties, Palace’s toils up top bode well for managers in possession of Liverpool’s backline assets.

2,706 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sp0rting
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    What a shocking performance.

    I bet Gerrard wises he'd slipped again and the Anfield turf had swallowed him up.

  2. drughi
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Feck off cout and skrtel

  3. TheCurseOfRaheem
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Pretty amusing how all the Liverpool mids blank and Lallana scores.

    1. Camp No No
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah, hilarious 🙁

  4. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Any chance of Mignolet actually getting a bap?

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      He's in line for one at the moment, pending the Opta revision.

    2. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Rediculous conceding 3 and getting baps....

  5. JayBomb
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    1 FT which 1?

    A Kane out N'Doye in
    Or
    B Fonte out Terry in

    Help thx?

    1. Shearer & Sutton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      B probably.

  6. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Now this is done.

    Score predictions for tomorrow

    Swansea v city 1-2
    Man Utd v arsenal 1-1

    1. Camp No No
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      I would take that. With an Aguero brace and Bellerin scoring from Sanchez's assist and Ospina own goal.

    2. The Sarjeant
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      3-1 to both away teams.

  7. Royal5
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    What are Anfield waiting for?

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      A gerrrard winner

    2. Sp0rting
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Until it's their year.

      1. Camp No No
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        When is it anyway? Is it, like in the Chinese calendar? Somewhere after the year of Llama but before the year of Donkey?

  8. The Sarjeant
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Score check.

    30 from 6. (2 Sunderland)

    1. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      24 from 5, 2 Sunderland and 3 Arsenal

  9. Heydudes13
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    So Gerrard has disgraced himself for one final time at Anfield.

    Legend.

    1. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Shut up fool

    2. Bouncebackability
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Deary deary me.

  10. Richd
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Pardew and Rodgers have both managed the same team.

    Name them.

    1. The Sarjeant
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Reading?

      1. Richd
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        50 points!! You win the quiz

        1. The Sarjeant
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          BOOM!

    2. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Reading

    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Pardew and Rodgers.

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Damn you.

        1. Reedy
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          FFS

      2. Camp No No
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        BOOM!

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Pardew and Rodgers.

      1. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        ha ^

      2. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Hardly seems fair for 1 second Epic.

        How's your SKY team?

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Could have been worse. I still have Downing luckily because not enough transfers to get rid. Should keep me in the top 50.

          Yours working out?

          1. In Like Flynn.
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            Sorry Epic dragged away for a min.

            Still have Mane for much the same reason in my top team. (More luck than judgement and his extra few points two games ago).
            I would like to make the top 100 by the end of the season.

    5. Reedy
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Alan Pardew and Brendan Rodgers

  11. Sp0rting
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Stevie G.

    Legend is his own lunchtime.

    1. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      It's inescapable to note that his Anfield career ended in typical fashion - with unfulfilled hype and dismal failure in the PL.

  12. Royal5
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Will Liverpool retire Gerrards #8?

    1. Royal5
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Like Baresi and Maldini at Milan.

  13. TheCurseOfRaheem
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Kane blanking today confirmed the win for his sellers. Frustrated I sold Vardy over him.

  14. Ruth_NZ
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    270 teams in the top 10k with Mane. Some happy bunnies there. 😕

    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      😎

    2. Reedy
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      This is why I hate DGWs. Mane -> a Liverpool mid was inevitable. And I definitely wouldn't have sold Mane due to Saints' shoddy form otherwise...perhaps..

    3. Scoredelario
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Hi 😀

  15. Jay_
      9 years, 5 months ago

      ______Schmeichel
      __Ivanovic Morgan Kolarov
      Sanchez Bolasie Silva Hazard
      ___Benteke Aguero Costa
      _______________________________
      Panti Grealish PVA Duff

      Team all set for next week

    • super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Lol at Mario

    • Tomeister
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Whats more likely, A spurs win at everton, or B, Liverpool win at stoke?

    • Lallana_
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Objectively the best English midfielder this generation because of his individual awards. No bias here at all 😉

      1. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Scholes would like a word.

        1. SW6
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          As would Lampard

      2. brianutd-why always we? 20
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Chadwick one Gerrard Nil

      3. Scoredelario
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Yep they're very objective awards

        1. Lallana_
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Gerrard in a few months:

          https://vine.co/v/OdaqALpbEuO

      4. Ruth_NZ
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        FIFA Player of the Year (Silver) 2005
        Ballon D'Or (Silver) 2005
        FIFPro World XI 2005
        FWA Footballer of the Year and Fans' Player of the Year 2005
        PL Player of the Season 2004-05, 2005-06
        PFA Team of the Year 04-05, 05-06, 06-07, 08-09, 09-10
        UEFA Midfielder of the Year 2008
        UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament 2004
        PL Player of the Decade 2001-10

        Those are just some of Lampard's individual awards.

        On top of which he has 3 PL Winners Medals. 4 FA Cup Winners Medals, 2 League Cup Winners Medals, 1 UCL Winners Medal and 1 UEL Winners Medal.

        If you really want to use awards and medals as a criteria I doubt there is much to dispute.

    • Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Who do I transfer out for GW 38?

      A.) Giroud
      B. ) Cazorla

      Worried about rotation

    • brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Steve Gerrard Gerrard he kisses the badge on his chest, and puts in a transfer request, Steve Gerrard Gerrard

    • Scoredelario
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Just imagine how different the world would be right now if Gerrard hadn't slipped and let demba ba in. It seems like he has failed to get his arse up off the floor ever since.

      1. the Penman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Well, they would have lost that game 1-0 instead of 2-0, so, no difference.

        1. The Machine
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah they would have everyone in chelsea half at 0-0

    • Bouncebackability
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      So much hate on here and it is really very sad. Back in the day there was respect. Gerrard is a legend, which is a term that gets thrown around far too often. When players like Neville, Giggs, Carra and Gerrard retire or move on they should be acknowledged. Any of you who are laughing or slating him just highlight how disrespectful and ill mannered you are.

      Yes it was an awful performance and not a good way to end, but thanks for the memories Stevie, you've been a pleasure to watch these last two decades.

      1. Jay_
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Well said

        • brianutd-why always we? 20
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          No hate just funny

        • Camp No No
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          There's a lot of space between hating and not accepting somebody is the greatest of his generation.

        • Scoredelario
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          That was a different era and it goes both ways. Look how Gerrard reacted when asked about Chelsea giving him an ovation

        • Hibbo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Football is tribal and everyone is entitled to their opinion and be disrespectful if they choose, unfortunately.

          1. Bouncebackability
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            Oh I agree, but it was tribal back in the day too. Could go to Wembley and mix with opposing fans. Can't do that now safely. Very sad and unfortunate.

        • The Mandalorian
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Too many sheeple these days who grew up without any principles, they have more respect for the kardashians which says it all really.

          1. gravless
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            are you sober?

            1. The Mandalorian
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 5 months ago

              U must live in a bubble, U only have to look at the crimes committed, kids killing kids enough said.

        • Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Legend how? Because he was at Liverpool for a long time and wasn't terrible?

          1. Annie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            Nice over exaggeration

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 5 months ago

              It's a question, still no answer.

              1. Annie
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 5 months ago

                I agree legend is one of the misused words, merely stating you're being a little harsh.

          2. Bouncebackability
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            By asking that question, you live up to your name.

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 5 months ago

              What's the answer?

        • Bouncebackability
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          I feel so old, I remember his debut.

      2. Shifty
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Top 10k average 18.7 (4.5 played)

        Overall average 16.6 (4.7 played)

      3. Vatroslav
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Today points - 19
        Mane on bench - 23 🙁

        1. Bun Rab
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Could be worse, this guy has Mane, Rose, Panti on bench... http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/139243/event-history/37/

          1. Vatroslav
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            :O I'd have a heart attack... that's 51 points 🙁

      4. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Ninja Warrior is brilliant.

      5. The Machine
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Where the feck is willis when you need him??

        still remember his commentry during the liv-che game last season 😆

      6. Coldplay
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Lads don't know if you're aware but there's a new post.

      7. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        22 from 6.

        Yuk

        1. sinik
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          top10k average is 18.7 with 4.5 played, that's a green.

      8. Scratch
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Which would you take

        Panti, Ozil, Giroud, Defoe
        Ospina, Coates, Ramsey +2