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. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Doucoure wagon YC

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

    Loading up on Leicester assets for next week

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

      This

  3. Ibralicious
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    8 minutes for Mahrez to go get a 2nd

    Let's f go.

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

    I own Torres, Grealish and Mahrez

    and captained Torres.

    1. Ibralicious
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Do you want a medal?

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

        For captaining the wrong player? I suppose I could, ja

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

    Even if Harvey Barnes blanks against West Ham I can't sell him before playing this Norwich team.

  6. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Oh get the F in Mahrez! And goodbye from my team

  7. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    LESSGOOOO MAAHHRREEZZZ

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

    Mahrez out scores Salah in 5 mins 🙂

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

    Oh dear a travesty of 3pms for me with just Pukki and Mbuemo in action

  10. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How much more patience for Toney?

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

      Selling him for Ings

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

      None

    3. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It’s a brutally demanding game … not much …

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

      He’s going for me. Can’t see a direct route to Lukaku though, might see if there’s a way to bring in Vardy

  11. viciousrumour
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    MAHREZZZZZZZ

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

    Doucoure yellow

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

    That Mahrez jam is nearly as bad as Ings' last GW.

    Pure unadulterated filth!

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

      Would have had 20 points if he'd started tbf

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

      whats jammy about a sub scoring?

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

      Oh well won’t happen again hopefully 🙂

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

      That’s the opposite of jam. Should’ve started and hauled. Non owners lucky

  14. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dias. OMG. I’m absolutely flying

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

      Oh MY god

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

    I genuinely feel bad for Norwich. Injury crisis last time in the PL, now covid and Liverpool + City as first two games...

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

      Should treat everything before the international break as pre-season. Get the players fit and organised.

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

        except you know, 9 points up for grabs

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

          Marathon not a sprint. Norwich's season starts after the IB.

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

    Time to target Norwich…..leaking goals for fun.

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

      Leicester next

  17. Pukki Party
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    ManCity clearly in need of a striker

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

    Literally points for everyone EXCEPT TONEY!!!!

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

      Wilson ? Mbuemo ?

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

      He's gone for me
      How have Mahrez cappers got so lucky!

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

      Nothing for Mbuemo or Pukki either 🙁

  19. Cheeky Onion
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rode out speculation about Gundo injury all week, ate the price drop, bang 5 past Norwich with everyone involved. As my only differential in the squad, that one stings.

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

      And a yc to rub salt in the wound

      1. Cheeky Onion
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Only YC on the pitch

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

    Gray hooked 5.5m watch list!

  21. Fer Fuch's Ake
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez to start vs leaky Ars?

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

    Toney -> 4.0 bench fodder for -8?

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

      Looking like Toney to 4.5 Barnes to Son

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

        agreed.

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

    Toney was a trap.

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

      Werner mk2

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

    Haha what a twist in the Mahrez saga! You owners must be having a laugh now. Watching Brentford for a while and Toney has a forlorn look on his face.

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

    Mahrez owners deserve the points

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

      Lol

  26. Isco Disco
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrezzzzzzzz
    Finally!!! Get inn

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

      Finally? Itms GW 2 lol

      1. Pukki Party
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Some of these guys started playing late june lol

  27. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Going with Toney over one of Raphina/Benrahma proved to be a mistanke so far :/

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

    Buen YC

  29. Crouching Tiger
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Damn.. points for everyone.. Mahrez, Raphinha

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

      And yet…….not really

  30. Khark
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    From a great gameweek 1 to a total disaster. FPL at its finest.