The Dugout Discussion opens up bright and early on this Bank Holiday Sunday as we look forward to a bumper feast of footballing action.
Birmingham play host to Wolves and Liverpool welcome Newcastle to Anfield first as the mid-day kick-offs see all those skippering Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez (yours truly included) hoping for a good start. Then it’s Arsenal’s turn to host Manchester United as Alex Ferguson looks to either get one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy or open up a crunch game with Chelsea next week. Finally, Manchester City play host to bottom of the table West Ham as all those backing David Silva with their captaincy are made to wait.
Full line-ups sourced from the official website on our two early kick-offs follow…
Birmingham XI: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Gardner; Phillips, Jerome
Wolves XI: Hennessey; Mancienne, Stearman, Craddock, Elokobi; Foley, O’Hara, Henry, Jarvis; Fletcher, Ward.
Two changes for the home side see Barry Ferguson and Kevin Phillips bring their many years of experience back to the starting XI in place of Keith Fahey and Aleksander Hleb. A fit again George Elokobi comes straight back in to the side, while Kevin Foley also starts as Wolves also make two changes.
Liverpool XI: Reina; Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson; Lucas, Spearing, Maxi, Meireles; Kuyt, Suarez
Newcastle XI: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique; Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez; Ameobi, Lovenkrands
Andy Carroll has to make do with a place on the bench versus his old side, so hat-trick hero Maxi Rodriguez retains his place while Dirk Kuyt stays up front. Glen Johnson also returns from injury. Newcastle are unchanged.
Three games on the trot, televised, with little room for a break inbetween. Time to settle in, head into the Dugout Discussion if it takes your fancy, and look forward to six hours of consecutive Premier League action.
