Dugout Discussion
26 April 2023 1897 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal just need the 2 to turn the title challenge back around!!

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

      3 and it is back in their hands!!

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

        You've got it

    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Anything’s possible.

    3. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keeevinnnn de bruyyyneeeeee

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

    Raya 10 as usual.

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

    Hows Chelsea playing. Need this Brentford clean sheet

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

      How they always play

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This

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

      Brentford terrible away from home. Chelsea must be even worse than I thought..

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        We are. Pay attention!

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

          What's with the mo Salah of hazz?

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

            Pfp

  4. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Decision made, Pinnock > TAA not Estu for 1 of this weeks FT’s

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

    0 subs by Arteta. Yeah good move.

    0 shots on target. Getting absolutely battered.

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

      World class subs like Vieira and Kiwior will stop this battering surely

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

    It might not be a bad idea to play triple Newcastle against Arsenal. The wheels are off

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

      Newcastle defense been poor for a while as well

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

      Nothing like a home game against charity Chelsea to find your form again though…

    3. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Saka n marinelli out out out!

  7. The Mentaculus
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Diaz getting 30mins could mean he's ready for a start next GW?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes.

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

      Nahhh

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

    Gotta be scary not owning TAA in next GW!

  9. tbos83
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Estupinan has been such a washout

  10. It's Fergie Time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    salah capt fail

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

      Yep 🙁

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

    Arsenal were much better with Nketiah up front. At least he stays near the box.

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

      They played some of their best football with Nketiah, but also some of their best with Jesus before that.

  12. Not again Shirley
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pretty sure I was lambasted by at least 3 on here when I suggested Forest could actually win tonight after Brightons marathon match on Sunday. Just wish I had stuck a few quid on them now.

  13. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Don't worry Arse fans__Plenty of time.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bun fans

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        😆

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

    Navas mega save

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      From?

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

        March

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Godamn.

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

    Matip G

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Exocet

  16. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    MATIPPPPPppppppppp

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

    Trent, Salah and who next week?

    1. bialk
      • 16 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Andy?

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

        Lack of clean sheets a concern though

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

    Matip G

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

      TAA assist?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nope. Robbo.

      2. bialk
        • 16 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Robbo

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

        Robbo

  19. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yes Trent common

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Another assist?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This one was Robbo

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

        Nope

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 16 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Another annoying poster . Are you DRACO in disguise. Idiot

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

      Ban

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

    Matip Rose well

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

    Robbo assist btw

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

    Emphatic finish from mytip

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

      Really poor merking by WH.

      1. Ten Hag of Bud
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Merk dem bludclaarts rudebwoy!

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

    Eurghh still no Salah

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

    Matip up high

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

    Nice 8 point swing from what seemed quite 50-50 between Kepa vs. Raya!

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

      Iversen is a better pick than Kepa. Trash GK and defence.

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

    Even the camel from cameroon scores. Where is Salah?

  27. Botman and Robben
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Raya and Pinnock on bench 🙁

  28. TomSaints
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    It’s petty but I just want that Brentford cs gone. Played double Chelsea defence and just tired of benching Brentford points.

  29. Rhodes your boat
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saw a post saying kdb always finds form when a title is on the line, looks like that is the case!

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Posted this before the 3rd goal…

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

    Rambo saves again