Dugout Discussion
26 April 2023 1897 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

The clash between the Premier League’s top two is the headline act from Wednesday’s four Premier League matches.

The action at the Etihad gets underway at 20:00 BST, with Chelsea v Brentford and West Ham United v Liverpool kicking off 15 minutes earlier.

Nottingham Forest v Brighton and Hove Albion is first up at 19:30 BST.

Compared to the Manchester City side that drew with Bayern Munich a week ago, there is only one change: Kyle Walker in for the injured Nathan Ake.

Arsenal’s only alteration sees Granit Xhaka return to fitness and oust Fabio Vieira.

In the West Ham v Liverpool game, there is just one alteration across the two teams.

The Hammers are unchanged from the 4-0 thumping of Bournemouth, while Jurgen Klopp brings in Joel Matip for the injured Ibrahima Konate.

At Stamford Bridge, Cesar Azpilicueta and Raheem Sterling are in for the sidelined Reece James and Kai Havertz.

Opponents Brentford meanwhile recall Yoane Wissa, Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen, Frank Onyeka and Mads Roerslev, as Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade and Aaron Hickey drop to the bench. Christian Norgaard is injured.

The big news from the City Ground is that Jason Steele gets the nod between the posts for visitors Brighton, with Robert Sanchez only a substitute.

Steele for Sanchez is one of three changes Roberto De Zerbi has made from the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, with Levi Colwill and Facundo Buonanotte also coming in for Adam Webster and Danny Welbeck.

Brennan Johnson and Serge Aurier replace Scott McKenna and Remo Freuler in Steve Cooper’s couple of tweaks.

Aurier and substitute Cheikhou Kouyate were, naturally, described as “not quite ready yet” in their manager’s pre-match presser on Monday.

GAMEWEEK 33 LINE-UPS

Nottingham Forest XI: Navas, Aurier, Felipe, Niakhate, N Williams, Mangala, Danilo, Lodi, Gibbs-White, Johnson, Awoniyi.

Subs: Hennessey, Worrall, Lingard, Toffolo, Surridge, Kouyate, Freuler, Dennis, Ayew.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Steele, Gross, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan, Caicedo, Mac Allister, March, Buonanotte, Mitoma, Enciso.

Subs: Sanchez, Webster, Welbeck, Undav, Ayari, Gilmour, Van Hecke, Veltman, Offiah.


Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, W Fofana, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell, Kante, Gallagher, Sterling.

Subs: Badiashile, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Joao Felix, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Mendy, Ziyech, Madueke.

Brentford XI: Raya, Roerslev, Jorgensen, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Jensen, Onyeka, Janelt, Toney, Wissa.

Subs: Hickey, Schade, Dasilva, Ghoddos, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Stevens, Cox.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Cresswell, Aguerd, Zouma, Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Benrahma, Paqueta, Bowen, Antonio.

Subs: Areola, Ogbonna, Kehrer, Emerson, Fornals, Lanzini, Downes, Cornet, Ings.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Fabinho, Henderson, Jota, Gakpo, Salah.

Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Carvalho, Thiago, Milner, Elliott, Diaz, Nunez.


Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish, Haaland.

Subs: Phillips, Laporte, Ortega, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis.

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Subs: Tierney, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Trossard, Jorginho, Vieira, Nelson, Turner.



  1. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That's what Beckham got sent off for right there

    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Its weird, he gets a yellow because he only slightly clips him. But surely you punish the intent?

    2. Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      White was acting, barely touched him

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        So?

      2. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Psssh, the bullets barely scraped his arm. Case dismissed

      3. FPL Emu
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Simeone fell down as if he had been shot, still a red

      4. Woy_is_back
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        B-O-T-T-L-E-R-S

  2. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    More, Kev. More!

  3. DropkickMurphys
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This ref hasn’t shown any card against Arsenal but first chance Dias gets one… I don’t know it doesn’t feel right

    1. The Senate
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It was the wrong colour though

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      To be fair I think he's tried to avoid giving out cards, you know how it is, you give one early for something then you set the precedent that every similar challenge warrants one, and there are going to be a lot of late tackles in this

  4. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish fail

  5. Cheeky Reijnders
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GET IN!! Have both Stones and KDB!

    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thank you

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      congrats

  6. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    It occurs that getting Salah this week was a rush decision lol

    1. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I took a hit and lost Saka. It was a hit this GW or the next anyway.

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Me too but maybe should have gone KDB against the horde

        1. Bluetiger1
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          DGW - possible will still be a good choice

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'll still likely get him in for next GW

  7. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Neco off 🙁

  8. Babit1967
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Oh no Stones first sub 🙁

  9. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Comn Salah get a quick brace!!

  10. Paqueta Rice
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Steele and Stones on my bench so far with Shaw and Ouatarra to go

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I had 32 on my bench last week ..... not best.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ouch

  11. putana
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    pathetic half from Assna

  12. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Steel3 3rd save too, what a roller-coaster for his owners!

    1. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Noice. I didn't get Steele for the clean sheets 😉

  13. JBG
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can do Watkins+Saka+Martinelli to Enciso+Kdb+Rashford for -8. Really considering it.

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why Enciso? Undav there and Ferguson and Welbeck are fit enough for the bench so likely fine to start at the weekend. He was pretty poor at the weekend too and Brighton look better with MacAllister as a 10

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Only striker I can get so I can afford Kdb and Rashford. Or could do to Greenwood or someone else 4.5.

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Kfb only performs vs big teams. Against others haaland will get the pts

  14. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Brighton triple up not looking great.

    The number of fixtures puts you off selling, but not so sure.

    1. Alan The Llama
      • 16 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Two mids might be enough.

  15. TOBY1
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    City so good tonight. Just getting up to speed aren’t they. Could be 5

  16. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Could do with a little Brighton peno

  17. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chose ake over stones in GW31 🙁

    1. Fellaini's Fro
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same. Such a bad call

    2. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      So unlucky with Ake, especially not Pep has no serious use for Laporte!

  18. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal would have won the league if Saliba hadn’t got injured.

    Maybe the board learns lesson from this.

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Doubt

    2. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I doubt they'll learn anything. They've done an excellent job in recruitment recently and I'm sure they'll try to continue in the same vein

      1. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Coming 2nd to this City machine is not a crisis.

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Arsenal have spent €180m+ this year alone and recouped less than €25m in sales, how much more do you need to spend?

    4. Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol no wayyyy. They would still bottle it

  19. thegame983
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Raya 3rd save

  20. Mweene
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This GW pretty much couldn't be going any worse so far.

    Down from 27k to 40k as it stands...

  21. Alan The Llama
    • 16 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Frank should just sub himself on. Go full Chelsea.

  22. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stones or TAA?

  23. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Brighton and Chelsea having the highest bookies CS odds this week was a trap!
    https://www.fantasyfootballreports.com/premier-league-clean-sheet-odds/

    1. FPL Emu
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      High odds means it's unlikely though 😉

  24. Andy_Social
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bowen goal

  25. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bowen G

  26. It's a Wookie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bowen G

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      disallowed

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GOAL

    Forest

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rattled it in

  28. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Some goal for Forest! Danilo

  29. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Forest goal.

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Whoooooooo

  30. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Danilo G