Gameweek 21 continues with a pair of Sunday afternoon affairs with a host of prime Fantasy cuts on show. Proceedings begin on Tyneside, where Newcastle look to halt Man City’s title chasing juggernaut. That’s followed by a trip to the Potteries to find Mark Hughes’ Stoke attempt to shackle Luis Suarez as Liverpool draw up to the Britannia.
The team news from the early kick-off at St James’ Park finds Manuel Pellegrini make two key changes. Interestingly, Martin Demichelis is immediately recalled to the defence on his return to fitness with Matija Nastasic dropping out – a good indication of the current pecking order for the spot alongside skipper Vincent Kompany perhaps, although the absence of Nastasic from the squad could well be down to further injury concerns. Similarly, David Silva’s return was always likely to see either a shift in formation or one of Samir Nasri or Jesus Navas drop out. It’s the latter that makes way this afternoon, as Nasri and Edin Dzeko take their place in the starting XI.
As for the home side, Alan Pardew is forced to shuffle the defence that faced West Brom in their last league outing with injury and suspension biting hard. With Fabricio Coloccini sidelined and Mathieu Debuchy banned, the Magpies boss drafts in Steven Taylor and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Vurnon Anita also starts in midfield with Shola Ameobi dropping to the bench suggesting a change in shape from Pardew as he looks to stifle the visitors in the middle of the park.
Look out for the teamsheet news on today’s late kick-off via our Twitter feed, while our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open for those looking for some real-time reaction.
