Dugout Discussion
30 December 2018 2155 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Two more Premier League matches kick off at 14:15 GMT today, as Manchester City look to bounce back to winning ways against Southampton and an in-form West Ham United make the trip north to face a Burnley side who shipped five goals on Boxing Day.

The headline team news at St. Mary’s is the benching of Leroy Sane, with the German winger missing his first Premier League match since Benjamin Mendy picked up his latest knee injury ahead of Gameweek 13.

Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez start in a front three with Sergio Aguero, while the influential figures of David Silva and Fernandinho return to the City midfield.

Aymeric Laporte is the only defender to keep his place from the defeat to Leicester, while Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are not part of the 18-man squad.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has made six changes to his Southampton side and appears to have ditched the three-man backline, too.

Danny Ings, Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong are among the players to make way, with 18-year-old defender Kayne Ramsay making his debut against the reigning champions.

Marko Arnautovic makes a quicker-than-anticipated return to the West Ham United starting XI and lines up in Manuel Pellegrini’s side for the first time since Gameweek 15.

Felipe Anderson and Robert Snodgrass start in midfield for the Hammers, who have five wins in their last six league matches.

Sean Dyche has rung the changes after the 5-1 trouncing at the hands of Everton on Boxing Day.

Joe Hart is dropped to the bench as Tom Heaton makes his first league start since September 2017, with wingers Dwight McNeil and Johann Berg Gudmundsson also returning to the team.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.

West Ham United XI (4-4-2): Fabianski, Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Snodgrass, Anderson, Arnautovic, Perez.

Southampton XI (4-5-1): McCarthy, Ramsay, Stephens, Bednarek, Targett, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Lemina, Romeu, Elyounoussi, Austin.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Danilo, Laporte, Kompany, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Silva, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez.

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  1. seewhyaxe
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    City needs sterling sane magic in second half

    1. Adriano
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      They do link up really well. City missing cohesion in the final 3rd right now

    2. Rash
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed, pep should bring both on

  2. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Quick feet there.

  3. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Scared not to have Salah for next week now... was leaving it til GW22 to drop Kane

  4. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sneaky feeling for a Kun red card today..

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      He is prone to the red mist when things are not going well

  5. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Laporte and Ederson owners fuming....as they have been for a while

    1. Richd
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I have Ederson. Not really fuming no. It’s fpl

  6. BigBillyBass
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Salah > McNeil (-4)?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Already done it mate.

    2. Adriano
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      It's too late... You missed the train 10 mins ago

      1. BigBillyBass
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        It’s okay, I bought an off-peak return

  7. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Button; Jimmy, Doherty, Hojbjerg benches... has to be a few out there!

    1. Pierce34
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I bet the no. 1 in the world started them all alongside Kante.

    2. HamezMace
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Mini league rival has Lossl, Doherty, Duffy and Ings

  8. HamezMace
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    City so poor defensively, makes me wonder why teams were so afraid to attack them last year.

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      They accepted defeat before KO.

      1. HamezMace
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Exactly, but why?
        It's good to see teams have figured out that you have to attack them to get something out of the game, but why did it take 6 months to work it out?

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No Mendy, No CS

    3. F_Ivanovic
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Honestly it's just the style that Pep plays. We saw 10 mins ago how it nearly worked when they played it out from the back and Mahrez had a shot that went wide. And now it failed because of a youngster that obviously isn't as comfortable as the rest of them on the ball.

      But playing out from the back is always going to result in some defensive cock ups no matter how good you are. If it's +ev long term though it makes sense to play like that.

      1. Pierce34
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        That's way too much sense spoken on match day.

      2. HamezMace
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Don't get me wrong I love the style of play, it's great to watch, and they're a great team.

        But last season, pretty much every team set up to never even cross the half way line, which makes no sense as they were/are clearly weak at the back...you're telling me Delph, Otamendi, Stones are premium defenders?

  9. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    set to be my worst ever gameweek, its guarenteed shaw will nto start it has to be

  10. Chirsbom
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    If you still have City defence for CS then your are doing something wrong..

  11. LeicesterA
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    My ML rival is so jam, it’s so annoying. Doherty and Højbjerg coming off his bench. Ugh. And he had Firmino!

    1. Positive vibes
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Unlucky then mate

      1. LeicesterA
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Ta. I’ll take sympathy!

  12. DAZZ
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Cant see City beating Liverpool at this rate

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      More than enough time for Pool to slip.

    2. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Neither can Pep

    3. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I couldn't see them beating Liverpool at any rate.

      1. Critical Observer
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        They bossed them at Anfield earlier in the season and were a Mahrez's brainfart away from claiming 3 points.

        Not worried in the slightest.

    4. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      They have to win imho. A draw or a lose and they have probably lost it.

  13. BenDavies
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pep will probably keep sterling on for 90 as he will remember that 90th min screamer from him last season against southampton.

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Probably not in the starting plans for Thursday too.

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Valid point but Yeah I’m happy to have Jiminez at any point.

  14. Team Bobcat
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is Arnie a hindrance to west ham. They are being completely outplayed. This hadnt been the case on his absence.

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      This, posted similar

    2. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Even against Watford ?

    3. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      They are just tired.

  15. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Holberg the Baggio of bench fodder midfielders !

  16. Lucackadoodledoo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Cmon Saints. Bring it home

  17. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Arnie in the side & WHU look rubbish?

    1. yakirh
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I think most are watching City

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Watching both split screen 🙂

    2. Team Bobcat
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I have noticed this also

  18. bialk
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sane and Laporte to Hazard and Doherty with my 2 FT?

    1. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sure

    2. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Looks solid to me. Exect sane to start the next game though.

    3. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sounds good

    4. Positive vibes
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

  19. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pep grumpy

  20. Tommyg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero very rusty.

  21. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    1 Premier League title in 3 seasons good enough for the squad that City has?

    Pep under pressure 😉 😛

  22. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Right, benching Laporte against Liverpool it is then

  23. DAZZ
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    2 clean sheets in last 10 for Man City. Bound to be Liverpool goals, Salah (c) anyone?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      1 in 10 actually

      vs west Ham

  24. Positive vibes
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Who is better for long term
    A. Fabs, Alonso
    B. Alisson, DLuiz
    Ta.

    1. bialk
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B.

  25. BIG TONES
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Currently have triple LIV defence, which one should I downgrade in order to get Salah in?

    A) Robbo
    B) TAA
    C) Van Dijk

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B TAA a rotation risk

  26. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    CLEAR PEN!

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Naaah

  27. Catastrophe
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Surely should have been a Southampton pen there.

  28. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    if Salah and Maddison got pens.....

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Exactly this. One rule for Salah and another for everyone else.

  29. LSK
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    With the league already won, is there a danger of Salah and Robertson being rested midweek for the FA cup game?

    1. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      😆

  30. Ruinenlust
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Zinchenko very lucky there