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. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino down

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

    United will end up with 9 players playing and no Red Cards 🙂

  3. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Mata is fecked as well, dang.

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

    Please just list Utd players not struggling with injury. Will be easier.

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

      Bobby Charlton & Steve Bruce.

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

      carrick

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

      OGS

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

    United have 4 players that need to be subbed at the same time !

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

    Firmino down off the ball too.

    This is a bloodbath

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

    Old Trafford is like a minefield today.

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

      Boom boom....

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

    Wheres Vidic, Keano and Jaap when we need em!

  9. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    United players falling like flies

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

    united gonna finish this game with less players than me

  11. Jekori
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Well if they keep going down like flies these really becomes a BGW for me. Come on Rash and Firmino, don't be like Mata and Herrera!

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

    Lets just cancel this gameweek and try again ffs

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

      gotta see funny side

  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino struggling

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

      hes surely coming off

      hopefully shaq on not a striker

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

    Rashford still on but limping.

    United to use all 3 subs before half time?

  15. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Millly crossing has been crap today, they need TAA

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

    OGS been training his players 3 times a day or something?

  17. Salarrivederci
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Gonna cash in on Rashford after this GW 🙂
    Only gonna hold on to Pogs.

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

      25 mins in? sounds like a Rash decision.

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

        😀
        With all those injuries Rash will be hugging the corner flags in the weeks to come.

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

    Come on Salah. Punish them!

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

    it means TAA will start vs WAT at home 3 days later?

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

      yeah

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

      should be, but knowing my luck liv will get a clean sheet today and concede next game

    3. JIMMY TUGGINS
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      My plan was Shaw to TAA this week but I don't know now, might have more pressing issues.

  20. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    This is why we need to get out of Europe. European competition is costing our players injuries. Brexit means Brexit

  21. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino coming off

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Great 🙄

  22. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Is Kola still on?

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

      Yes, was a head knock but seems fine now

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Ta

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

          he was robbed an assist (shot and Soton defender block by hand)

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

      yes

  23. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Solskjaer warming up

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

    Too much SALT is bad for your blood pressure.

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

    Oh as if Auba is benched.
    Somebody somewhere has confused this, it was Kane that should have benched and Auba started.

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

    looks like every other utd player went to the Brits except Pog, Ling and Rash

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Those three stay at home and watch Eastenders

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

    I only got 24p yesterday but up 10k2-->8k5, strange GW

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

    Sturridge is back.

    Differential.

  29. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Sturridge apparently coming on for Bobby

  30. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Sick note coming on