Dugout Discussion
21 August 2021 1861 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Four Premier League matches kick off at 3pm BST today, including reigning champions Manchester City against newly promoted Norwich City.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United, Crystal Palace v Brentford and Leeds United v Everton are the other top-flight fixtures taking place at the traditional Saturday afternoon start time.

The headline team news comes from the Etihad as Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.

Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva are all recalled to the starting XI, with Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho dropping to the bench.

An ankle injury keeps Kevin De Bruyne out, while John Stones isn’t part of the hosts’ matchday squad.

Norwich are unchanged from the side that lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool last Saturday.

That’s also the case with Brentford, as Bryan Mbeumo gets set for another out-of-position run-out alongside Ivan Toney.

Summer signings Conor Gallagher and Joachim Andersen get their first Palace starts, with Christian Benteke also recalled. Jordan Ayew, Jairo Riedewald and Jean-Philippe Mateta drop to the bench.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith makes two changes to the team that lost to newly promoted Watford last weekend, with Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz replacing Matt Targett and Marvelous Nakamba.

Targett’s benching means that Ashley Young starts at left-back.

Joe Willock starts for Newcastle as Steve Bruce makes three changes to the Magpies side that lost at home to West Ham last Sunday.

Willock replaces the injured Jonjo Shelvey in midfield, with Fabian Schar and captain Jamaal Lascelles coming into defence in place of Emil Krafth and Ciaran Clark.

Kalvin Phillips and Junior Firpo are make the Leeds line-up after fitness-related benchings in Gameweek 1, with Robin Koch and Rodrigo dropping to the bench.

Yerry Mina for Mason Holgate and Alex Iwobi for Andros Townsend are Everton’s two alterations.

GAMEWEEK 2 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young, McGinn, Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, El Ghazi, Buendia, Ings

Subs: Steer, Targett, Wesley, Hourihane, Tuanzebe, Nakamba, Hause, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka

Newcastle XI: Woodman, Murphy, Schar, Fernandez, Lascelles, Ritchie, Hayden, Willock, Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin

Subs: Gillespie, Clark, Joelinton, Lewis, Hendrick, Krafth, Fraser, Gayle, S. Longstaff

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Kouyate, Schlupp, McArthur, Benteke, Gallagher, Zaha.

Subs: Butland, Matthews, Tomkins, Ayew, Mateta, Kelly, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.

Brentford XI: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry, Janelt, Onyeka, Mbeumo, Norgaard, Canos, Toney.

Subs: Goode, Forss, Wissa, Fernandez, Ghoddos, Dervisoglu, Bidstrup, Sorensen, Roerslev.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Struijk, Cooper, Firpo, Phillips, Raphinha, Dallas, Klich, Harrison, Bamford.

Subs: Forshaw, Roberts, Klaesson, Helder Costa, Rodrigo, Summerville, Shackleton, Cresswell, Drameh.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Richarlison, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Kenny, Holgate, Delph, Townsend, Begovic, Gbamin, Davies, Kean, Branthwaite.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Walker, Gundogan, Rodri, Grealish, Silva, Torres, Jesus.

Subs: Steffen, Ake, Zinchenko, Mendy, Fernandinho, Sterling, Mahrez, Doyle, Palmer.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Lees-Melou, Gilmour, Rupp, Cantwell, Pukki, Rashica.

Subs: Gunn, Omobamidele, Dowell, Tzolis, Sorensen, McLean, Sargent, Mumba, Idah.

FANTASY5

There’s still time to enter today’s Fantasy5 contest, in which you can win £10,000 without paying a penny.

Simply pick five players from the nominated Gameweek 2 matches and, if they all exceed their Fantasy ‘points targets’ (a par score set by Fantasy5 for each asset), you’ll be in the money.

The deadline is at 3pm BST – so get those entries in now.

We’ve selected our own picks for Gameweek 2 in the article below, with Ted Talks FPL following suit.

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  1. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I lucked out on Gundogan > Grealish for -4 this gw

    Phew.....

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

      That is luck.

      Gundo YC and Grealish getting a fortunate goal.

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

      Ok

  2. Ady87
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Saw Villa went 2-0 up and that it was a pen and can’t believe El Ghazi has taken it hahahaha fml

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Whats unbelievable about the 100% club penalty taker taking the penalty?

      1. TheTinman
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ings also 100% penalty taker for villa

        1. 3 A
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Ings is junior even he is 30 y.o

      2. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ings is the talisman and had a great record for southampton

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

    Man City - You have to deal with Pep Roulette. And then they get goals with no assisters and own goals. sheeesh!

  4. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Do something Raphinha!

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

      Approved

    2. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Firmly on the chopping block for me with internationals looming.

  5. FFSbet.com
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez what a punt

  6. tambourineman
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling goal, Jesus assist

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

      He's back!

  7. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How has Wilson looked?

    1. Thanos
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Poor, will probably sell him for DCL

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Missed a 1on1 that he really should’ve finished

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling

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

      OMG?

  9. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez you muppet. For the love of god, who should we buy from city lol

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

      Noone. Will spread the goals.

  10. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Raz G
    Jesus A

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

    Well done Jesus punters.

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

    Jesus essential

  13. Alexis Nonsense
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ings not on pens then... No hauls incoming!

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

      Not till Watkins/Bailey are fit anyway.

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

      He will be soon. Just need Watkins or Bailey to come back so Ghazi doesn't play

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

        That’s assuming El G doesn’t keep his place

  14. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    That's a really disappointing outcome. I thought Gundogan got into great positions. Aw well, that's FPL...

  15. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jesus is gold

    1. People in Preston
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      And the Saviour of Mankind.

  16. Chalobah's Witness
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    what the hell made me pick Sanchez over Martinez today?

  17. TheDragon
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I see it’s 4-0 to city

    Presume I’ve got a huge score as a Torres, Gundogan, Mahrez owner?

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

      Damn.

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

      Well.. sorry to break it to you.

    3. TheTinman
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You deserve punished for having all 3 of them

    4. The Sociologist
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sorry for your loss

  18. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Norwich doing their duty.

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

    Brentford looking good for 2/2 CSs

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

      Raya in every WC template

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

      They’ve played some worst teams in the league…

  20. The Train Driver
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How's Buendia looking? Gave him another chance, time to ship now?

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Non existent

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

    Ok, now time for the consolation Pukki Pretty Please

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

    Jesus is now competition for Mahrez at RW too 😉

  23. Superflymonk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Well played Mahrez cappers whos your vice?

  24. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez to come on?

  25. Pacer.
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    City game is pure comedy

  26. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez time now!!

  27. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    City fans and players getting excited.

    It's bloody Norwich

    Get humbled by Spurs again

  28. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Keeping Gundo was a stupid decision, have to start listening to myself more and read less comments…

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

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    BRIGHTON : Sanchez, Webster, Duffy, Dunk, Gross, March, Mac Allister, Lallana, Bissouma, Trossard, Maupay
    Subs: Steele, Connolly, Mwepu, Moder, Alzate, Zeqiri, Caicedo, Roberts, Richards

    WATFORD : Bachmann, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Masina, Etebo, Cleverley, Louza, Sema, Dennis, Sarr
    Subs: Foster, Ngakia, Rose, King, Deeney, Fletcher, Hernandez, Sierralta, Baah

  30. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Why does Pep hate Mahrez

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He needs a rest. Played every preseason match and the the GW1 match