We’ve a full ten fixtures to absorb this afternoon as 2014 kicks off with a bang. With many Fantasy managers already considering the winter wildcard, there’s much on our minds right now – it remains to be seen if today’s action is set to hand us a new bandwagon or two to force our hand.
We begin with a lunchtime encounter at the Liberty Stadium as Swansea play host to City. Manuel Pellegrini’s men go in search of a fifth straight win but are devoid of the talents of David Silva, after a needless booking against Palace in the closing stages of Saturday’s clash. The Swans approach this fixture in abject form – without a win in five and with just four goals to their name in that same spell. City will fancy their chances.
The teamsheets show a long list of predictable changes from Pellegrini as Pablo Zabaleta, Aleks Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Alvaro Negredo all make returns having missed out on the starting XI against Palace. David Silva’s absence seems to have handed Edin Dzeko a stay of execution – he retains his start up front in a 4-4-2. As for Swansea, Michael Laudrup makes two changes with Angel Rangel and Wayne Routledge drafted in for Dwight Tiendalli and Roland Lamah who both drop to the bench.
As always, we’ve opened up our Dugout Discussion chatroom for a day that promises points aplenty.
10 years, 5 months agoFull Team News:
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Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Ryo, Gnabry, Bendtner
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Cardiff: Marshall; McNaughton, Caulker (C), Turner, John; Whittingham, Medel, Kim, Noone, Mutch; Campbell.
Subs: Lewis; Hudson, Cornelius, Smith, Gunnarsson, Cowie, Maynard
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Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Ward, Bolasie, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Puncheon, Chamakh, Jerome
Subs: Price, Moxey, Parr, Jonny Williams, Bannan, Gayle, Phillips.
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Norwich: Ruddy, Whittaker, Turner, Bassong, Olsson, Fer, Johnson, Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Redmond, Hooper.
Subs: Bunn, Martin, R Bennett, Josh Murphy, Becchio, Elmander, van Wolfswinkel.
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Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Amorebieta, Senderos, Riise; Duff, Parker, Sidwell, Richardson; Taarabt, Berbatov.
Subs: Kasami, Kačaniklić, Hughes, Dejagah, Bent, Bettinelli, Dembele
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West Ham: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Diarra, McCartney, O'Brien; Collison, Noble, Nolan, Diame, Taylor; Maiga.
Subs: Adrian, Jarvis, Rat, Downing. C.Cole, J.Cole, Potts
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L'Pool: Mignolet, Johnson, Cissokho, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Aspas, Sterling, Suarez
Subs: Jones, Rossiter, Kelly, Toure, Moses, Alberto, Gerrard
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Hull: McGregor, Figueroa, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Meyler, Huddlestone, Koren, Livermore, Sagbo, Elmohamady
Subs: Harper, Rosenior, Graham, Fryatt, Boyd, Faye, Quinn
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Soton: K. Davis (c), Chambers, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw, Cork, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Lallana, Rodriguez, Ramírez.
Subs: Gazzaniga (GK), Clyne, Yoshida, Lambert, Ward-Prowse, Hooiveld, Gallagher.
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Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry (c), Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Schurrle, Mata, Hazard; Torres.
Subs: Schwarzer, Kalas, Essien, Oscar, Willian, Eto'o and Ba.
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Stoke: Sorensen; Cameron, Shawcross (c), Wilson, Pieters; Walters, Nzonzi, Adam, Whelan, Assaidi; Crouch
Subs: Butland, Muniesa, Pennant, Palacios, Jones, Arnautovic, Ireland.
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Everton: Howard (c), Baines, Mirallas, McCarthy, Lukaku, Barry, Barkley, Pienaar, Coleman, Stones, Alcaraz
Subs: Robles, Hibbert, Jelavic, Oviedo, Naismith, Osman, Vellios.
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S'land: Mannone, Celustka, Bardsley, Diakite, Roberge, Cattermole (C), Ki, Colback, Ji, Giaccherini, Fletcher.
Subs: Dossena, Larsson, Gardner, Johnson, Altidore, Borini, Pickford.
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Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Luna, Westwood, Bacuna, Weimann, Delph, Agbonlahor, Benteke.
Subs: Steer, Bowery, El Ahmadi, Kozak, Albrighton, Tonev, Donacien.
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WBA: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob, Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Brunt, Anelka
Subs: Myhill (gk), Vydra, Berahino, Gera, Morrison, Long, Lugano.
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Geordies: Krul; Debuchy, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko; Remy, Shola Ameobi, Gouffran.
Subs: Elliot, Haidara, Yanga-Mbiwa, S.Taylor, Anita, Ben Arfa, Cisse.
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