Dugout Discussion

Alexander-Arnold and Aubameyang benched as Martial misses out

A shortened Blank Gameweek 27 culminates this afternoon, with two Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 14:05 GMT.

Manchester United take on Liverpool in an intriguing clash at Old Trafford, while Arsenal welcome Southampton to the Emirates.

There were some notable omissions from the four starting XIs upon the release of the teamsheets.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – the second-most-popular captaincy pick of Gameweek 27 – and Mesut Ozil are among the substitutes at the Emirates as Alexandre Lacazette leads the line for the Gunners, who appear to be playing in the same 4-2-3-1 shape they adopted against BATE on Thursday.

Sead Kolasinac returns at left-back after being handed a breather in the Europa League, while Sokratis is fit to start at centre-back.

Angus Gunn gets the nod ahead of Alex McCarthy for the Saints, while Stuart Armstrong will provide support for the “out of position” Nathan Redmond in attack.

Matt Targett is handed a swift recall at left-back as Ryan Bertrand drops to the bench.

Anthony Martial has failed to recover for Manchester United, though Jesse Lingard is fit enough for a place on the home bench at Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata again join Marcus Rashford in a three-man attack, though United have lost Nemanja Matic to a training ground injury – Scott McTominay steps into midfield alongside Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera.

United’s back four is the same one that kept a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge last Monday.

Jurgen Klopp has sprung a surprise at right-back, meanwhile, opting for James Milner over Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool’s starting XI is otherwise perhaps as expected, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino again forming the front three and Jordan Henderson joining Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum in central midfield.

Salah, who has only one goal in seven matches against the “big six” this season, is again the leading captaincy candidate for Gameweek 27, having been handed the armband by over 1.3 million FPL managers.

Manchester United XI (4-3-3): De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Rashford.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson, Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Fabinho, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno, Lichsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Lacazette.

Southampton XI (3-5-1-1): Gunn, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Stephens, Valery, Hojberg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Targett, Armstrong, Redmond.

1,626 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bat Man
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Laca to Aguero-4?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      yeah might do that

  2. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A Rashford to Aguero (and captain), funded by Son to Barnes for -4

    B Aubameyang to Aguero (and captain) free

    C No changes and carry transfer captaining Jimenez v Huddersfield

    Existing set up with no changes for 28 is

    Boruc
    Doherty Van Dijk Kolasinac
    Salah Son Hazard Pogba
    Aubameyang Rashford Jimenez

    Steele Lascelles Bednarek Gunnarsson

    1. Bat Man
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Tough. C and captain Auba?

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      i am looking at A.WITH sterling and the other barnes

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yes that’s another option I could do thanks

        1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          just a bit vary he might miss one of the next 3 and whether getting mane is a better option

  3. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bournemouth have lost 8 consecutive away games conceding 23 goals

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Don't forget the Holy super Goalie Boruc though!

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        😛

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      been better with boruc between the sticks, though

  4. Avo24
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kun and sterling starts for city and they will have fixture in 3 days, if they play full time now, is it too risky to bring them? I cant accept anymore rotation

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm considering Hazard to Sane

      • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        well i am pretty sure both wont play all 3 atleast sterling .Kun less prone to rotation if jesus out longer

    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      good news and bad news.

      Bad news is you did shyte

      Good news is everyone did shyte

    3. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Man Utd's medical staff covered more ground than Romelu Lukaku in the 1st half.

      1. Party time
          5 years, 1 month ago

          🙂

      2. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Were United's performances vs PSG & Liverpool good enough?

        No attacking intent today at the Theater of Dreams vs their biggest rivals and outplayed and classed in every way vs PSG.

        Ole seems to have no problem beating the smaller teams but the two big teams he's played his teams don't look up to it.

        1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Did a good job today under the circumstances

        2. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Today was a good result after 3 enforced first half subs although I do think Ole shouldn't have brought Lingard on, couldn't have been anywhere near fit.

        3. Manani
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          hard to attack when your striker is playing with only 1 leg. COnsidering the injuries (and liverpool still being the top team by standing), hard to blame Ole for the performance

        4. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          for a team that has been woeful for a number of years (vs expectations and expenses) then yes, he's steadied the ship. They're beating teams that they should be beating and are getting competitive in games against better sides.

          PSG may have ripped them a new one, but they'll do that to plenty of other sides too. Simply put, UTD aren't on that level yet.

        5. Deeney-is-a-god
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          With all the injuries they had I think the way they completly shut down liverpools attack were good. In addition United created a couple of chances as well (lingard and smalling). So not too bad

          You also have to consider that this is pretty early on and it takes time to implement the style he is going for, poch, klopp and pep also used time to implement their tactics

        6. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          question is, is Liverpools form in 2019 good enough?

          aside from bournemouth, they've failed to win a game by more than 1 goal, lost twice, drawn 4 of the 9 games and failed to score in their last 2 games

      3. balint84
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Firmino to Kane right now

      4. Manani
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        did a -4 to bring in Pierera and FAnderson for 2 blankers.

        and somehow still lost points from the trade. A GW to forget definitely

      5. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        the only 2 template players i dont own hauled and all others didnt .So annoying

      6. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Which minute will Sarri bring Kovacic on for Barkley?

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          72

          Tied on

      7. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Any one in the top 100k that is threatening to quit the game, please post your ID and password here so I can take over your team .....

        Alternatively quit moaning instead and start fighting for top 10 k rank finish 😉

      8. balint84
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        play
        A) Ederson vs West Ham + Bennett
        or
        B) or Rui Patricio vs Hudder + Bennett

        1. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Everybody against Huddersfield. Remember winning lots of money the season Aston Villa lost almost every game during spring and Hudds is in same mood currently.

      9. Patch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Talk to me people

        What happened with Rashford pls? May take him out for an early Barnes or King.

        What is up with Firmino pls? May focus on Mane instead as the third Pool slot or otherwise TAA...

        Would you keep Son and Pogba or ditch to Hayden in order to bring Kun in?

        Talk to me people

        1. balint84
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          drop Son if you Have Kane
          drop Poga if you have Rashford
          drop both you better have Kun

          1. Patch
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Interesting observations, I have too much tied in Pogba so I will keep but jaw droppingly surprised you would ditch Rashford before Pogba

        2. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          would suggest waiting for pressers or an update - he played but clearly had a knock.

          1. Patch
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Ok thanks will do, will either put out for Kun or just roll a FT in GW28

      10. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Aguero down after 2 seconds.

        ... then up again 😀

      11. aborg
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        As an Auba owner, if Aguero plays the full 90 mins shall I still switch Auba for him for free or shall I keep Auba ?

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I’m planning on keeping Auba one more week. Then getting Aguero. But lots can happen in between.

      12. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Right, minor tinkers then. Speroni and Danilo >>> Guaita and Diop done.

      13. C'mon the Fylde
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Who would you ship Suarez for?

        6.7m to spend when I do.

      14. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Guaita
        Pereira Robbo Jonny
        Mo Mane Son Jota
        Kun Jimi Rondón

        Fab AWB Camarasa Luiz

        Is Son to Pogba an of course? I fancy Palace this week and don’t fancy Chelsea at all.

      15. FredrikH
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Fabianski
        Robbo Doherty Bennett
        Son Salah Mane Pogba
        Auba Rashford Reid

        Hamer F. Anderson WB Clyne

        Im thinking roll FT and get rid of Son/Pogba and Auba for Haz+Arnie/Higuain gw29.

      16. grooveymatt65
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Who to captain this week out of sterling, salah or aubameyang?

        1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          If Sterling has full 90 mins here, you're not worried Sane might start instead of Sterling? Or Sterling will less pitch time?

          1. grooveymatt65
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Probs go salah

        2. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Salah vs Watford brings good memories

      17. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        What do we think about Son then? Poor fixtures, Kane back (thus fewer opportunities) & a blank gw. Swap out for a little more expensive Mane (Liv), would have Salah & Mane then...any other cheaper options if Son out is an idea?

        1. FredrikH
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Hayden at NEW to free up some cash. Maybe gamle on Maddison/F.Anderson to come good.

          1. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah, i like this Hayden, could be a great call re cash release too, big differential too. Food for thought, thanks.

      18. Pasqualinho
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Chelsea are playing well. City were 14-0 up in the semi-final at this stage.

      19. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Which teams have no blanks?
        Pool, Newcastle??

        1. Grumbledook
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Unless I'm mistaken:

          Bournemouth
          Burnley
          Chelsea
          Everton
          Leicester
          Liverpool
          Huddersfield
          West Ham

          Then there is one of Fulham or Newcastle depending on the next round of FA Cup matches.

        2. LSK
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Newcastle can blank in 33. Leicester, Bournemouth, Burnley and West Ham are safe I believe

        3. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

      20. grooveymatt65
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Who do people think i should captain this week out of sterling, salah or aubameyang?

         

        1. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Salah vs Watford brings good memories

      21. Waynoo
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        shocking game