Dugout Discussion
24 February 2019 1626 comments
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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. Zenith UK
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Deulofeu & Auba > Sterling & Rondon a no no (-4)?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      yes

    2. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Selling Deulo after a hat trick? Lol no

    3. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe maybe

  2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Alison clearance fail

  3. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Can’t see Rashford playing on Wednesday, hopefully having a bench actually pays off now

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Agree. Martial will probably return
      Sanchez lukaku martial front 3

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Nope very doubtful

    3. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Tempted to sell. Downgrading son for -4 and get Kun back in.

  4. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba time!!

  5. Holmes
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Damn you Auba and Emery!

    1. sunzip14
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Blocked my Deulofeu points

  6. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    hoping for a 0-0.

    Get in the baps Robbo/Shaw!

  7. TAT
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Yes – Auba point!!!

  8. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    A Salah(c) goal would be sweet

  9. Grounderz
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Shaqiri on, looks like full on attack for Liverpool. Thought one of the front three might be offloaded for Shaq.

  10. Richd
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Son captain looking good!

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      The obvious choices are often the best.

    2. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Was torn over Auba vs. Son vs. Anderson.

      Looks like I made the right call 😀

  11. FPL Pillars
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba has scored braces from this position twice :O

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

      Won’t this time now i’ve capped him

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

    Place your Chelsea substitution bets:

    Barkely > Kovacic
    Willian > Higuain
    Pedro > CHO

    1. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      That’s about right

      And if he had 4th sub he would swap kovacic and Barkley again

  13. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    CMON AUBA.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Lucky chucky

  14. aborg
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Thank God for Auba. But if it was not for Iwobi injury he would not have come on it seems !!

    1. FPL DONKEY
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Nah... he was coming on for Laca before Iwobi's injury

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He was set to come on for Laca just before iwobi pulled up, he is now playing wide rather than in the middle

  15. Richd
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    If Valery scores I’m gonna do a naked YouTube fpl round up

  16. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    The only winners of this GW are double LIV def owners

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      TAA 🙁

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

        I hate him.

    2. Richd
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I wanna know why Trent didn’t play

        1. Richd
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Oh nice one. Cheers pal

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

          Thanks. So not TAA vs Palace either?

    3. DandyDon
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Or liverpool + Utd Def owners...

  17. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba captainers rejoice

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

      At what?

      1. FPL DONKEY
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        2 points

  18. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    How will Arsenal lose their CS today?

    1. Kno
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      auba OG pretty please

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        😀

    2. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      i dont know but what i know is that kola will be involved in it

    3. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Bednarek

  19. The Wise Owl
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I was hoping Auba didn't play, I had Pogba as VC.

    1. sunzip14
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I had Deulofeu coming on

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Ooh nice!

        1. Zenith UK
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Not anyone... gutted.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      same here Salah as VC, 4 points lost as things stand.

  20. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Southampton turning it on now

  21. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba YC written all over this.

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

      Not really

  22. Richd
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba nailed for the mid week fixture guys 🙂

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Of course. Will probably start the next five now.

    2. TAT
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      How many will be keeping him, though? I'm not sure I can take another GW without Kun…

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Wasn’t he “nailed” for today? 🙂

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Nah. Only the owners claimed that 🙂

      2. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Nope, he wasnt. Benching was expected

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

          Wasn’t though

  23. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    An own goal ruled offside, don’t see that too often. Smalling only just.

  24. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Need a Robbo to Salah goal now as I’m losing out on Shaw clean sheet from the bench now with Auba(c) coming on

  25. Zenith UK
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Why Emery? WHY? What a effin' tool! What was the point in that? Like genuinely. Mug. Absolute mug. You have a game in 72 hours and you're gonna risk you're number one striker when you're two up? No wonder Arsenal are the joke of English football.. Fuming. There goes Deulofeu's 23 points on the bench and a Salah VC (still hoping he shows up).

    1. Eytexi
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Lol

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      😀

    3. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      never bench anyone vs cardiff

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Absolutely this.

        1. Zenith UK
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          One return in his last 8. I only swapped him out to fund Vardy in. Risk didn't pay off this time. Beauty of FPL right?

      2. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Who to bench then? 😐

        A) Digne (car)
        B) Doherty (hud)
        C) TAA (WAT)
        D) Son (che)

        1. Zenith UK
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Son. Tempted to lose him myself

        2. Sandy Ravage
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          TAA

    4. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Instead of posting this utter garbage you need to realise something. He's a football manager not an fpl manager.

      1. Zenith UK
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        So you're 2 up at home, got a fixture in 72 hours so you play and risk your number one forward? Not even like he's resting Laca's legs with a straight swap... Easily could've brought on Monreal as better defensive cover and protect the 2-0 lead. So my comment applies to both FPL and real life.

        Didn't realise I wasn't allowed to express myself on this public forum.

        1. George Sillett
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Where did I say that you weren't allowed to express yourself ? - please let me know .
          Your F0L head has trashed your powers of logical thinking.

          1. Zenith UK
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            "Instead of posting this utter garbage" < telling me what to do rather than express myself.
            "logical thinking" < did you even read my reply? I more than logically explained my reasoning for why Auba shouldn't have come on. If he'd started the game cool, but to bring him on in the 75th minute was stupid. He's not there to provide defensive cover so why you trying to score more goals when you're 2 up? If he did want defensive cover then Monreal on, play him left wing (more likely to track back) move Mhiki to the right wing. Logic.

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

              Blah blah blah

            2. Deulofail
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Risking Lacazette for Saturday's game (or ultimately Iwobi for both games) by giving him the full 90 is also a risk. It's a balancing act. Certainly not "stupid".

              1. Zenith UK
                • 9 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                So he risked Laca because he never pulled him off anyway and again, (I swear people don't read) he could've brought on Monreal as the alternative, thus Iwobi wouldn't have have played the full 90?

                1. Deulofail
                  • 10 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  See Slouch's reply below. You don't really know the ins and outs of Emery's decision, so it's a bit of a reach to criticise so heavily. Bringing Monreal on would mean a knock-on effect for the other players and the system, which may not be so well rehearsed in training (and throughout the season), and could be a risk in itself. Sorry it meant you lost out on points.

            3. George Sillett
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Since when has Arsenal attempting to protect a lead been a logical step ? Their defensive ability is questionable to say the least . So the logical thing is put on another attacker to pressurise the opposition further up the pitch.
              Your argument is very much tainted by FPL eyes tbh - it's just that you won't admit it.

              1. Zenith UK
                • 9 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Actually it's factored by how the majority of teams play when 2-0 and looking to see out a game.

                1. George Sillett
                  • 10 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  OK you carry on in complete denial. It doesn't affect the rest of us. I felt sorry for you. This level of self delusion must be a supreme handicap in the real world.

    5. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Lmao

    6. sunzip14
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      RIP my Deulofeu points too!

    7. DandyDon
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Ouch

    8. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      There's a concept which few people consider around these parts, which is maintainance of form, fitness and familiarity. Aubameyang might play better in 72 hours given the opportunity to have a run around today, not saying he will, but wrapping him in cotton wool can have an undesirable psychological (and even physical) effect.

      1. Zenith UK
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I complete understand this, trust me I do, but he played 72 hours ago and has another game in 72 hours. To bring him on when 2 up is a big risk. What if he ends up in a crunch tackle or pulls a muscle. All for a 15 minute run out? Genuinely not worth the risk.

      2. The Enlightener
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        They don't get paid like they do to be so mentally back and forth. They shouldn't, at least. No way, man. He is a professional who has played this sport his whole life. A few minutes running around on the pitch is gonna be the difference in how he performs in a few days?

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          He's human no matter how professional he is. I didn't say it would be THE difference. It's just a matter of maintaining momentum. Nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. It's not like he would be charging around, desperate to score when they are 2-0 up.

  26. Ghost Gooner
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba YC, would be hilarious 😛

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      bugger off mate

    2. TAT
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Bound to happen.
      (Owner and (C))

    3. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Imagine the moaning and crying 😆

    4. Eytexi
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Or the optimistic view: Auba RC would be hilarious.

    5. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      And you call yourself a gooner

      1. Ghost Gooner
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Got La(c)a 😉

  27. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Kaku looking like a natural on the flanks ! Wow!

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

      He's actually good in the wing. Has a good cross on him, too.

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        yeh, on the right with left foot crosses!

    2. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Out wide, literally.

    3. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Wasn’t there a game for Everton that he did this and destroyed the opposition defence?

      think it may have been vs Chelsea under Martinez...?

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

    Pleeeease score Utd

  29. tm245
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    It seems Aguero has been hiding a lot of flaws in my team lately.

  30. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Salah off
    Origi on