Dugout Discussion
21 August 2021 1861 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

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.

#ad 18+

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

  1. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pen toon

  2. One More Hit
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Every player except Salah and Toney have returned so far.
    Toney, your time is up

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

      I'm ditching.

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

    No Pen.. OMG

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Why ffs?

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

        Offside.

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

      YC rescinded?

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      OFF

    4. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      The way the grass was cut you could even see it was off using different grass cuts as a guide. That was even before the VAR line appeared.

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

    If Wilson and Raph score my week just went from fair to horrible very quickly.

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

    Offside Wilson
    No pen to Newcastle

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

      can't be a YC for Martinez then?

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

      Absolutely killer as a Wilson owner

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

    Don’t pass to Harrison day it seems

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He's been awful both games, no idea what's going on with him

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

          Probably wishing he was riding the City bench. I’ll sell him this week so he can get a good score next week though!

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

      Peter Walton agrees with on field decision.2 minutes later VAR overturns decision and Walton agrees with VAR. This dude should have his own comedy show.

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

        He's basically just a referee's spokesperson.

        He'll back up whatever the referee decides at the time.

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wilson offside.

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

      Does Martinez YC get rescinded as it was offside?

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

      That should be a red card for dangerous play.... wtf

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

      Martinez YC cancelled an no pen

      His luck is endless!

    7. Gunneryank
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Oh my stars and garters!

    8. TomSaints
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Martinez was such a terrible pick.

      Hero last year but not at all worth it at 5.5

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

      Get another Raphinha…

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

        Let's gooo Raph!!!

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

      Lucky Martinez, Mings owners

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

      Get a peno Toney…

    12. BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      VAR still spoiling the game with hairline offsides

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

        by hairline offsides you mean offsides?

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

      Wtf so only Man Utd get the advantage??

      That's as tight as anything

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

        You seem surprised United play by different rules...

      2. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes. We own VAR

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

        His toe is clearly in front

      4. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Even looking at grass cuts was clear offside for Wilson you will see it on MOTD

    14. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      When it's your day, it's your day. Raph what a star 😀

      1. TomSaints
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        And you dodged Salah (c). Great day

      2. Weeb Kakashi
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Did you go with Raya ?

    15. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Only points I have from 3pm games are on my bench...

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

      That's disgusting mind

    17. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      RAPHINHAAAAAAAAAA

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

        2?!?!

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

        Brace?

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

        3-2?

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Nope

      4. just a man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Slow stream?

        1. luke
          • 16 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Just annoying

    18. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      How's Buendia looking?

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

      Disaster saturday as a Salah (c), Gundogan, Ayling, Wilson owner. Have Ings though.

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

      Yellow card will stand apparently

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

        How?

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

          No idea why

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

        So it should

      3. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        dangerous play?

      4. Bank$y
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It should be a straight red. Neck breaker

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

      Why does Emi still have the yellow?

      1. TomSaints
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Weird one. But l think it’s the same if you get a card on the bench?

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

        Reckless

    22. Nanoelektronicar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      So much so about benefit of a doubt.

    23. Random Name
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ok if that's offside then how was Bruno's not? Someone said the lines should be touching...

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

        Agreed

        Makes no sense whatsoevere

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

        it just depends on how thin they make the lines

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

      Sheffield United going to do a Sunderland and go down again?

      1. One More Hit
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Losing mentality is difficult to shake off (conscious they picked up a few wins towards the end but they were doomed for a long time)

    25. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If there are points for everyone why there are no points for Toney?

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This years Werner