Dugout Discussion

Ricardo Pereira continues in midfield for Leicester as Saka, Aubameyang on Arsenal bench

After starting at right-midfield in Gameweek 25 as Leicester beat Aston Villa 2-1, Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) is again playing ‘out of position’ in the first of Leicester City’s Double Gameweek 26 fixtures.

With James Maddison (£7.3m) sidelined for this weekend at least, Brendan Rodgers has possibly gone for a slight change of shape as Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.6m) looks set to partner Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) up front.

Over one million FPL managers paid out for the services of Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) ahead of DGW26. The England hopeful starts in his customary left-wing position.

With Pereira playing further forward, Luke Thomas (£4.2m) earns a second consecutive league start at left-back.

The defender will not be facing Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) from the first whistle, however. After admitting on Thursday that the winger is fatigued, Mikel Arteta has duly handed Saka a rest.

He drops to the Gunners’ bench alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m), Hector Bellerin (£5.1m) and Thomas Partey (£4.9m).

“We’ve had some problems in the last 48 hours to recover players – players with some muscular issues. We had to freshen up. The reality is that there are other players who are fighting for chances and they deserve the chance to play.” – Mikel Arteta

They are also joined by Rob Holding (£4.4m), who makes his return to the squad after suffering a concussion in the Gameweek 25 defeat to Manchester City.

Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) continues at left-back after making his injury return in the Europa League this week.

Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m) is the major absentee from an FPL perspective as Crystal Palace welcome Fulham to Selhurst Park.

Having started in Gameweek 25, the left-back drops to the bench with Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) favoured by Roy Hodgson for the Eagles’ first DGW26 tie.

Scott Parker is also fond of a full-back switch, with right-sided defender Kenny Tete (£4.3m) returning to the Cottagers’ XI. That leaves Antonee Robinson (£4.4m) on the bench, as the versatile Ola Aina (£4.5m) switches to left-back.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m) returns to the Fulham matchday squad but has not displaced Josh Maja (£5.5m) up front. Parker’s men also have another match this gameweek, with Spurs visiting Craven Cottage on Thursday.

Leicester City XI (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Thomas, Soyuncu, Evans, Castagne; Barnes, Ndidi, Tielemans, R Pereira; Iheanacho, Vardy.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tierney, Mari, David Luiz, Cedric; Xhaka, Elneny; Willian, Smith Rowe, Pepe; Lacazette.

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Van Aanholt, Cahill, Kouyaté, Ward; Eze, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Townsend; Ayew, Benteke.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete; Reed, Anguissa; Lookman, Loftus-Cheek, De Cordova-Reid; Maja.

1,370 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Looked nasty for Barnes that

  2. mwa1t
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Harvey no 🙁 first week I’ve owned him all season

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Same

  3. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Aina substituted off for Robinson.

    FYI for the 3 people this affects and 2 of those are the players themselves.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      😆
      I have Aina in NAL team. Hate that substitution

  4. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Great, Barnes down injured.

  5. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes blown his knee

  6. mattk lfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Well thats not good

  7. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes off Under on?

    1. MoSalad
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Looks likely

  8. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Oh my word!

  9. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Harvey Barnes is finished.

  10. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    All I want is a Burnley 1-0 with Tarkowski goal 🙂

  11. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Harvey Barnes pulls up with a muscular injury.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Or left knee?

    2. mwa1t
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Think it’s his knee

    3. MoSalad
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I think it was knee

    4. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      he over extended his knee

  12. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes going off

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yep

  13. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    WTF BARNES :((((((

  14. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes coming off lol

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      On a stretcher.

      Not so lol.

    2. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      If his knee's f****d then it's not really that funny.

    3. Patson Dabaka
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Wow man. You suck.

  15. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes in horrendous pain

  16. bialk
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Made -8 for Barnes.

  17. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Looks nasty for Barnes

  18. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Barnes finished 🙁

  19. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Most transferred in Barnes coming off.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Can't see him playing the second with an injury like that

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Glad I got Ashley Barnes instead, phew

      • Zladan
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Barnes knee is done in.

        My ML rival captained him!

        1. MIGHTY JOE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Dear me. Rip.

      • Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Curse of the most brought in player...

      • Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Ah damn. I brought him in for a hit too. Every week lately this has happened. More importantly though, hope Harvey is ok and it’s not serious the guy is having his best season yet.

      • JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        DGWs are just awful traps.

      • HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Barnes. It had to be him. My ML rival is SO unbelievably lucky.

      • Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Looks a serious injury

      • mwa1t
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Barnes is definitely out for next game too by the looks

      • Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        That's a bummer

      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Lol Barnes good performance last week stopped me doing Barnes > Son.

        Top Transfer curse strikes again.

      • DRIZ ✅
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Kept Grealish instead of transferring for
        Barnes 🙂

        1. JabbaWookiee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          What a weird decision