[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
8 February 2014 2351 comments
Mark Mark
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The day’s eight Premier League fixtures begin with a lip-smacking encounter at Anfield and end with a tumultuous derby in South Wales. Let the drama, goals and Fantasy points flow.

Proceedings kick-off in just over five minutes with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool hosting the league leaders. The Gunners arrive on Merseyside having won six of their last seven, halted only by a spritely Southampton showing on their previous away trip. Before that, Arsene Wenger’s side had won three consecutive matches on the road and only City have scored more goals on their travels all season. Similarly, Liverpool’s home form is strong. A total of 33 goals is again only bettered by Manuel Pellegrini’s side and the 2-2 draw with Villa in Gameweek 22 was the first time they’ve failed to win on home turf since back in September, when Southampton turned up and took the points back in Gameweek 5.

The statistics point to an almighty tussle, then, with the potent pairing of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez facing up to an Arsenal centre-back duo who have not tasted defeat as a partnership for 31 matches. Something surely has to give.

The team news from Anfield finds the home side unchanged with Raheem Sterling keeping his start in what could be a 4-3-3 or a standard 4-4-2 from Rodgers. Wenger makes one alteration – Jack Wilshere returns with Lukas Podolski dropping to the bench.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to steer you through this early kick-off and will be ready and waiting for today’s three o’clock encounters.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,351 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    How many people have transferred out Arsenal defenders already?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      They won't play at Anfield every week.

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    2. Jax
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      their next four fixtures are good then spurs, chelsea, man city, everton in a row.

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

        they'll concede to United guaranteed

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    3. FantaCity
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      no, but I transferred out Skrtel last night . . .

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      1. Nomar
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        Ouch!!!!

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      2. Jax
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        hahahaha

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        1. FantaCity
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 5 months ago

          thanks for the sympathy vote 😉

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  2. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Rooney and Johnson to?

    A) Sturridge and Gerrard
    B) Sturridge and Eriksen

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    1. Nomar
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      A

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      More like "I better go get ready to go on"

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  3. Acquafresca
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Ozil off for Arshavin.

    4-4 FT.

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    1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      There wont be a repeat.

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  4. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    8 point hit on the cards 😀

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    1. Declan
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      ^this

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    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      -4 for me 😉

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  5. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    On the brink of ridding my self of mert

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    1. Walsh
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Don't be rash mate!

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    2. Benteke10
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Get rid after gw 29

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  6. Balotellitubbies
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone with the tech skills to create an app that mutes Michael Owen?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      No. But I'll pay a tenner for it if you need a feasibility study.

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      1. Balotellitubbies
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        We could just dub random Chris Kamara quotes over him. 😆

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    2. jdoyle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      You'd be a rich rich man.

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  7. JT's Dog
    12 years, 5 months ago

    God Owen even on adverts
    Does he do weather also

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    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      i'd prefer joe pasquale on commentary

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    2. WipWapJaws
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Pitty he work out a way to stay on the pitch....

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      1. WipWapJaws
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        *couldnt* opps.... it is a bit late here

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  8. The Japanager: Roberto Newm…
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    gotta wonder what would have happened if they had called the first goal offsides.(since, you know....it was)

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      itd be 3-0

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  9. Licky
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Cue Liverpool cocking this up royally.

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      That's not your link so.

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      1. Licky
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        I'm not obliged to be an optimist. 😉

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  10. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    @BT Sport Viewers

    Why not mute the TV/stream and play BBC radio 5 in the background?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Will they match?

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      1. Nice to Finally Michu
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        Close enough

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      2. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        May do. If not, people on streams can pause and play etc until they do. If you have the radio on tunein radio you can skip back 10 seconds.

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    2. Heydudes13
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Radio's ahead.

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        Then pause the TV for a few secs

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      2. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        Get Tunein radio app and play it on there. You cab pause and rewind.

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    3. Oi! Shadders!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Alan Green?

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  11. ElementWire
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I'll take a draw at this point

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    1. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      😆

      If I were you, I'd take the 4-0 loss

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  12. Just A Hat
    • 17 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Leeds!

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  13. d1sable
    • Has Moderation Rights
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Owen makes watching football painful

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  14. Rice Pudding
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    He totally meant that

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  15. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Glad I benched Sagna 😀

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  16. The Chosen One...
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Mert > Cahill 😎

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    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      west brom will score v chelsea midweek. fail.

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      1. The Chosen One...
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        And United will score against Arsenal midweek genius

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        1. Jax
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 5 months ago

          no mate.

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  17. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Wenger wishing he bought some goals instead of Kallstrom in the window

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    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Don't think that would have made any difference today to be fair. Liverpool have been class.

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      1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        So used to Arsenal holding the ball and passing it around. Haven't seen them get bossed in midfield like (with speed and possesion) this since they lost to Swansea

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        1. Sheep Flavour
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 5 months ago

          GD LFC fan. They have been very good. Best 45 min performance of the season.But Arsenal were weak to not buy another decent striker and defender to be honest.

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          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 16 Years
            12 years, 5 months ago

            Bitter toffee speaking, I'm a Hibs fan and this fool knows it, he just doesn't like the fact that I tell him at work how much better Pool are than Everton. Arsenals defence has been fairly solid recently dude. I don't think anyone seen this coming.

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        2. GREENDREAMS11
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah it's not what you normally see from them but credit to Pool, they have been great from the off, How much better will Pool be with Enrique back instead of Cissokho

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  18. Jax
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    stephen warnock scores...for leeds. former liverpool eh, legend.

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  19. Shatner's Bassoon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    BPS at half time:

    Gerrard 12
    Skrtel 9
    Sturridge 8
    Sterling 7
    Coutinho 6
    Suárez 6

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    1. MCH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      ty

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  20. AK ⭐
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Where's that Toparse guy? 😆 😆

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    1. Elwood
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Praying

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    2. Licky
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      On a flight to St Petersburg.

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    3. AK ⭐
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Super Oscar Baby would be laughing his guts out..

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  21. super zlatan
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Eriksen > mirallas seem a good move next week?

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  22. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Could have had Draxler, Vucinic, Mitroglou...

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  23. FACUPARSE
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    This game is over, Arsenal will probably be third at the end of play...

    But hopefully this will make us realise how to start a big game better. If we beat United on Wednesday we'll still be in a good position.

    SuperBabyOscar you have as much class as a tramp in a suit

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    1. Just A Hat
      • 17 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Surely Wenger should know how to start big games by now?

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    2. SuperOsçarBaby
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      stop reading at 'start a big game better'

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    3. RabMac
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      I was sure the capture of Kim Källström would have consolidated top spot.

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    4. Sheep Flavour
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Sorry but Arse has been there for how long? if he doesnt know how to start a game now he never will!

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  24. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I think Wenger will be considering bringing Rosicky on to compete in midfield. If he's brave and has balls, he'll take Ozil off.

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    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Get Podolski on too

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      It's really tricky what to do now because our problem is that we are passing too slowly and we are being royally caught out of position when we lose the ball. We need faster passers to actually pose Liverpool some questions. But Liverpool are set up to counterattack so that could make things worse too.

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    3. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      I think he ought to give Ozil a good rollicking and fire him up. He's been far too casual for this sort of game.

      If there isn't an immediate improvement in his work rate, get him off. Make the message clear.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 5 months ago

        Sadly Wenger's track record indicates he doesn't have the balls, apart from the Vermaelen dropping

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  25. GlasgowFF
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    To be fair, the first goal was offside and it wasn't even a free kick in the first place.

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  26. joinho
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    So glad I benched Mertesacker 🙂

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  27. Sheldon420
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Gerrard playing so deep and watching his long passes is giving me a brain boner.

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  28. Tim Canterbury
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    Suarez non-captainers coming up for air from behind the sofa? 😀

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    1. MCH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      Only to make tea. Will be back there after HT.

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    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      12 years, 5 months ago

      I'll take 4-0 & I have SAS

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  29. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 5 months ago

    I suspect my cup opponent used his second WC just for our cup match, I mean why on Earth would you use it right after you Wildcarded already?

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