Six three o’clock kick off’s lend Saturday a traditional feel, with Arsenal’s potentially bumper trip to Loftus Road closing matters later this evening.
There’s a slew of double Gameweek assets on show, as Swansea host City at the Liberty, Gareth Bale is unleashed on former club Southampton and Wigan make the trip to the Hawthorns for a “do or die” fixture. Expectations will be ludicrously high, then; it remains to be seen of Saturday can deliver early profit on those points hits.
The Dugout Discussion is now open for those who fancy some real-time chatter and will be with you throughout today’s action.
The team news finds Roberto Mancini stirring the wrath of many a Fantasy manager by resting Carlos Tevez to the bench, recalling James Milner and Matija Nastasic with Joleon Lescott also dropping out. Sergio Aguero starts as the lone striker at Swansea. Micheal Laudrup makes just one change in opposition with Nathan Dyer coming in for Ki Sung Yeung in the middle of the park.
Martin Jol makes three changes to his Fulham lineup as they host relegated Reading: John Arne Riise, Sascha Riether and Damien Duff make returns as Kieran Richardson, Stanislav Manolev and Alex Kacaniklic drop out. Hal-Robson Kanu replaces Nick Blackman for the visitors.
Alan Pardew is able to welcome back skipper Fabricio Coloccini to firm up his defence which is without suspended right-back, Mathieu Debuchy: Danny Simpson also starts, then. In attack, Hatem Ben Arfa earns a start as Moussa Sissoko misses out through injury. West Ham are unchanged once again.
At Carrow Road, Chris Hughton makes three changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Stoke as Javier Garrido, Anthony Pilkington and Wes Hoolahan come in for Steven Whittaker, Alexander Tettey and Kei Kamara. Villa are unchanged after their superb 6-1 win over Sunderland last time out.
Andre Villa-Boas is able to recall Aaron Lennon at home to Southampton. Scott Parker is absent from the matchday squad to allow for Lennon’s return; Benoit Assou-Ekotto replaces Kyle Naughton in defence. The Saints make three changes with Luke Shaw replacing the suspended Danny Fox at left-back. Morgan Schneiderlin misses out with a dead leg so Guly comes into midfield, whilst Maya Yoshida picked up a knock in training so he is benched with José Fonte making a return in central defence.
Steve Clarke is without Marc-Antoine Fortune for the visit of Wigan so he turns to Markus Rosenberg in attack as the Baggies retain what looks to be a 4-3-3. Youssouf Mulumbu returns from suspension to take his place in midfield but James Morrison can only make the bench having reportedly suffered a groin problem in the win at Southampton. Billy Jones returns at right-back to replace Steven Reid who is also ruled out with a minor injury according to reports. The Latics are also forced into a change with Maynor Figueroa ruled out for the season: Ronnie Stam earns a start, then, whilst Ben Watson comes into midfield to replace James McArthur who drops to the bench.
