Dugout Discussion
24 February 2019 1626 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Come on VVD, do yer Ting Man!

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

      OG?

  2. Jon Snow
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Salah CS LOCKED

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

    Salah CS banked lol

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

    Salah CS banked

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

    Imagine Auba scores an own goal and then pedigrees Kola through the Spanish announce table and they both get sent off!

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

      No

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

      Best comment of the day

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

        Not really

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

          Auba captainer?

  6. jimmyabs1987
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Ffs! Why would you take Salah off!

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He has been crap today...but obviously he could change that in one moment. Not anymore though

      1. jimmyabs1987
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        He was my only differential in my ML beleive it or not! Is TAA in for 10 min and a goal too much to ask?

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

      Cos he's been crap today.

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

    Salah cs locked in

  8. L'Aeroplanino
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Salah fail

    1. Weasel51
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A 3 point captain is a success this GW to be fair

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

    Captain midweek.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez

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

      Sterling probably 😎

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

      Mo for me.

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

    Salah OFF.

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

    Salah rested

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

    Salah has never scored or assisted vs United. Surely no one relevant captained him?

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

      He’s scored more then all other options 😉

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

    Champions win this type of game.

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

      City wouldve won this 4-0

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

        This

    2. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Sometimes Champions draw this type of game too...

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

    Salah off 😮

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

    Phewww.. salah off, thats a relief

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

    Salah has more blanks than lily savage

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

      less than auba

  17. tibollom
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    2 FT and 0.9 ITB... what would you do with this lot?

    Fab, Stek
    Robbo Doherty awb bamba pereira
    pogba salah son jota camarasa
    rash jim auba

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

      WC

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

      Auba to Aguero is the obvious move this week

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

        Explain

  18. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Deulofeu captainers have the last laugh

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      All three of them

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

        Was there that many?

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

    Salah off? There is absolutely zero excuse or explanation for such a stupid maneuver. These managers really have no clue any more than John Joe Smith off the street.

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

      Sack Klopp, hire Enlightener

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

        I'm down. I actually think I could do just as good a job, if not better. But I'm high on myself and my intelligence, so that's where I'm comin' from.

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Umm ... a midweek game ?

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

        Umm, current game still going on. And they play Watford midweek. Don't give me that crap.

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          He was awful today, his touch was off, he was subbed to give fresh legs and someone else a chance to turn the game and to give Salah a break ... it’s normal and happens ... get over over it lol

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

    Young unnecessary YC and dangerous FK.

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

    Shaq yellow.

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

    Kaku for MOTM!

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

      Pogba or Lindelof, more like.

  23. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Milner you bloody Plonker!

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

    screw yourself, aubameyang. do something, dammit.

    1. L'Aeroplanino
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      laca auba combo please

  25. EMBOLOFAN
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    this is the worst match ive ever seen

  26. Magumbo
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Auba so close!

  27. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Score Auba!

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

    Shaq 0 pointer

  29. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Salah was useless today shirked responsibility and does not look like he has the bottle to win a title.

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

      no service

  30. Paul
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    C'mon United!!!