[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
1 March 2015 2989 comments
James Barnes James Barnes
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Sunday afternoon beckons in two Premier League fixtures for Fantasy managers to profit from, as Liverpool and Arsenal attempt to overcome stern tests of their top-four credentials, while Manchester City attempt to narrow the gap on Chelsea. Following that, we’ve the small matter of a Wembley showpiece to enjoy, as Chelsea take on Spurs in the Capital One Cup Final. Book the sofa for the next six hours, then.

The feast begins on Merseyside as Liverpool host City at midday. Ominously for City, their opponents Liverpool are the league’s form team, boasting a run of 10 matches without defeat and five clean sheets in their previous six fixtures. The Sky Blues, though, possess the firepower to halt Liverpool’s momentum, with David Silva and Sergio Aguero both notching braces in the Champions’ last two match-ups.

The team news finds both Daniel Sturridge and Wilfried Bony on the bench as both keep significant goal threat in reserve. City make two changes to the side that lost to Barcelona, with Yaya Toure returning to midfield and Aleks Kolarov handed a start at left-back. Manuel Pellegrini elects to drop James Milner and Gael Clichy to the bench, then. Meanwhile, Liverpool make four changes to the side that lost to Besiktas on spot-kicks, as Jordan Henderson is fit to return to the engine room, allowing Emre Can to shift to the three-man defence in place of Kolo Toure. Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Lazar Markovic also come in as Jordan Ibe, Mario Balotelli and Sturridge drop out.

Gameweek 27’s swansong pits together two sides with contrasting domestic and European fortunes, as Arsenal take on Everton at the Emirates. The Gunners are licking their wounds after being brushed aside by Monaco on their own turf in the Champions League, while the Toffees will be buoyed having chalked up a 7-2 aggregate win over BSC Young Boys in the Europa League. Conversely, the Gunners are steadily accruing points in the league, spearheaded by Olivier Giroud’s three goals in four starts; while Everton have registered just one victory in their last 10 as record signing Romelu Lukaku continues to falter, recording a single league goal in his last 12 appearances.

  1. icywrists23
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    wow aguero really ... poor poor poor

  2. TheCurseOfRaheem
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Rival has Sanchez (C), gonna be a long afternoon....

  3. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    City should've brought Aguero on.

    😕

  4. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Cisse captain over Aguero seems to have worked then 🙂

    1. Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      😎

  5. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Liverpools Man of the match = Groundsman

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Absolutely awful pitch.

      1. Syd.
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        I suspect it was on purpose

        Nothing wrong with using home advantage

        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          Liverpool weren't exactly playing hoofball...

          1. Syd.
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 2 months ago

            I'm just having a bit of sour grapes. Liverpool totally outplayed City.

    2. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Lol

      1. Syd.
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Saying that Liverpool fully deserved the victory

        Far superior all over the pitch

  6. JÆKS ⭐
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    So if Sanchez gets 9 points, I'll have the same score as my main rival, Cmon Alexis!

  7. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Well played Pool

  8. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero walking gingerly

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      He always does that regardless of injury.

    2. Jimbo123
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Shut up

  9. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Rodgers = tactical genius

  10. JasonG123
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling's ownership in the top 10k and 1k?

    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      17,6% top 10k

  11. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    #ouryear

  12. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Thank you Liverpool

    #YNWA

  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Title race over

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Did you say that in 2012 as well?

      1. Jax
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Ignore him. He's only about 12

  14. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Well deserved win that. City defending was comical towards the end.

  15. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Great win for Liverpool, entirely deserved.

    City should be embarrassed.

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Great result for Chelsea, not so for ManU

      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Meh, United need to guarantee a top 4 themselves, not pray for other results. They have a chance to make Pool drop points, they need to do that.

  16. Tomeister
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else worried Liverpool arent gonna lose any more games this season?

    1. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Nope. They won't play Mangala/Kompany every week.

    2. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Utd fans 😉

    3. AlCapwnUK
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Burnley to thump them 5-0

    4. AlCapwnUK
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Good run in, although they do have to play United, Chelsea and Arsenal

  17. Lucy.
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    City were embarrassing.

  18. Shazaam
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Hello. I've saved my final wildcard for GW 28 and I'm looking for a team that can catch up to the leaders of my ML.

    At the moment my team wil be

    Foster, Smeichel (Might change Smeichel to Pants if I can free funds later)

    Ivanovic, Clyne, Vlaar, Rose, Wilkinson (Rose to Dawson after GW28)

    Hazard, Eriksen, Sterling, Mané, Boyd

    Costa, Kane, Hazard

    0.0 ITB

    I'll be the only one in my ML with that front three since everyone else goes midfield/defense-heavy so I'm hoping that can be the differential.

    I'm worried about:

    -Chelsea rotation.
    -How good is Mané?
    -Lacking Silva/Yaya/Sanchez/Fab/ADM

    If someone has comments or suggestions, they would be very welcome.

    Thanks and good luck

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Get rid of sterling Mane and vlaar

    2. superpav
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      - I'd be worried about lack of Arsenal cover. Keeping Eriksen for long?
      - Not sure if Rose is worth it for 1 week - can so easily end up on 4pts. You could instead do Eriksen > Arsenal mid after GW28

      (pessimistic Spurs fan)

  19. Kurtinho
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    WE GO AGAIN!

  20. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Wooooooo!!!

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      wp

  21. deshawn7
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    BAPS
    Coutinho - 3
    Henderson - 2
    Sterling - 1

  22. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    I changed my captain from Sanchez -> Aguero 40 seconds before the deadline 😆

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Sanchez could easily outscored him

    2. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Sanchez could blank nothing wrong - yet

  23. odannyboys
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Is Coutinho now a must have?

    1. Barrier Freeman
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      No.

    2. 1314
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      no way

    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      😆

      1. odannyboys
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        But i have him...so he must be.

  24. Gimli son of Gloin
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    I wonder will Liverpool players start trying to injure Gerrard in training from now on.. They seem to be about 390 times better without him.

    1. Sánchez
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      This. He isnt up to the sitting role. Since hes been out, theyve defended so much better as they are properly protected

  25. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    It's 1am and need to leave for work in 4 hours. I love the BPL!!!

    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I love sleep more.

    2. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Enjoy !!

  26. Lucy.
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Liverpool fans. Calm down. You've gone from fighting for the title to battling it out for 4th. 😛

    Great performance, great goals but you aren't Bayern 😉

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Strange comment.. 😆

      1. Lucy.
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Not really. You're all acting like you've just won the league 😛

        1. Debauchy
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          tbf - that was a BIG one for Liverpool

        2. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          Youre acting like you've been pushed out of the top 4 🙂

          1. Lucy.
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 2 months ago

            We haven't. We were out before. I'm not bitter - we're not good enough. But then again, we didn't ever expect to be even close to the top 4 at this stage. 6th or similar would still be a massive achievement.

      2. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Still bitter about last week :p

    2. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      #betterthendortmund

      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        #dortmundstillinCL

    3. Kurtinho
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Last season's title challenge was an unexpected surprise. In reality we don't have a title-challenging squad yet, but we are in title-challenging form right now and it's great to watch.

    4. Sánchez
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Were punching way above their weight last year though

  27. Nickofoz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero (C) happy or sad?

    I'll take it in a week like this.

    1. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      It's fine as long as Sanchez doesn't bag a brace.

      1. Debauchy
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        This

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      If Sanchez blanks I'll happily take it.

    3. dmhomag
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Would you take aguero (c) 10 or sanchez (c) to start at this point?

      1. Debauchy
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Bird in the hand

  28. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Massive win for us. Up the reds! 😀

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Congrats BF

  29. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Ffs, only time I ever need City to hold a team down they lose altogether.

  30. Gr3g
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    OK, im going to take a shower. I want to see Sanchez goal by the time I'm back!

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Giroud , Bellerin assist , sorry