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. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinelli 1 point

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

      59m of course

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

    Forest 3

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

    Repost

    Wee guys - Salah
    Shaggers - KDB

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

    What a terrible week in a terrible season of fluked

  5. Sharkytect
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ah man. This evening started off with Steele delight, and has since tumbled away. Chilwell, estupinan, martinelli, salah and grealish all letting me down.

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

      Add Saka, Pdegaard and Grealish

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

    Brighton dreadful

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

    Mee last on my bench...

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same. And Raya.

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

        Same and when you need them next week you know what happens

    2. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raya on bench!

  8. DycheDycheBaby
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hahahaha. Can't even get a 2 pointer for Martinelli. I'm just going to delete my team at this point

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

      Stick with it dude next week will be better. I’m having the same season myself a total horror show so I know the feeling

      1. DycheDycheBaby
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah man just going to gamble on different players next gameweek

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

    What a terrible gw

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

      Absolute mud fest

      1. DycheDycheBaby
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Awful

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

    Play Mart bench Saka fail :-/

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

      -1 point.

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

    Go on, Forest!

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

    Chelsea desperately want to get in on the relegation action.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Conceding 2 goals from 1 SoT is impressive

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

    as a Leeds fan, horrendous result this.

    1. Salah_Fingers
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Being a Leeds fan is a terrible result #youreds

  14. Make FPL Casual Again
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1 save for Ederson....Next shot likely a goal...

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

      Blame bamford he should’ve seen up that win last night

    2. Make FPL Casual Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Aaaand there it is, on schedule

      F it, I'm hitting him out next gw

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

    can't get kepa and chilwell out of my team soon enough

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same

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

    Name a worse manager than Lampard

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

      Gerrard

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stevie G

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Steve Bruce

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Jon Carver

        1. Hairy Potter
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Steve McLaren

          1. Hairy Potter
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Joe Kinnear

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

            Hard to beat a 0% record

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

      Stewart Houston

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

      Paolo Sousa

    6. Haalander
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Stellini

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

        Even he won a game.

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

      Nathan Jones 1000%

  17. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine double Steele penalty saves

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

    Estupinan over Stones is a nightmare

  19. Free Hat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So Potter actually wasnt that bad

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

    Toney subbed

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

      A small bit of good news this GW.

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

    Brighton 1-3 down. GK still on max baps 🙂

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

    Salahahahaha! 🙂

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

      ?

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

        Sorry, backing KDB over Salah has pushed me over the edge.

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

    March should have another assist.

  24. Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    All Arsenal haters coming out in droves here. But Arsenal should be proud of their season. yes, they slipped at the end towards the title but it doesn't take away the entertainment they provided whole season and the team camaraderie ....

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

      Arsenal may well still win the title. If not points, through City's disqualification.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm still waiting for the 2014 Carabao cup to be re-awarded

      2. JELLYFISH
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Owners will make sure that doesn’t happen

      3. Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Doubt that will happen but if Arsenal fans were given 2nd position in the league at start of the season, they would have taken it with both hands. Just because they didn't get the ultimate prize, didn't mean they didn't have a successful season and something to be proud of. I enjoyed watching them and I'm not an Ars fan

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

      Some players have really fallen off recently. Artetas selections and subs have been questionable.

      But overall good season.

      1. Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Agree, they had no bite today. This is not the same side a month back and most of the season, confidence or something is off surely

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

        It's not possible to keep pace with City's squad depth. The big suprise is that City haven't already won the league at this stage,

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have been there with Newcastle back in 95/96. Was obviously disappointed at the end of that season, but it was a great ride up until the final weeks.

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

      Agree. They have been great. Just not quite there.

  25. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chelsea's last goal that went in without a deflection was 18th March

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

      What year?

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

  26. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    has anyone found away to get Haaland, KDB & Salah in their WC team?

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

      Yep been toying with it all night last night. On WC and managed it

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

        Cool, i can't wuite manage it

      2. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Quite

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

      Why though?

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

    Johnstone and Castagne over Steele and Stones is a casual 16point swing. Bluergh

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

      Went well last week though.

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

        Yep, when the decision was out of my hands lol Steele and Stones no game. As soon as I have to make a benching decision though

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

    Does anyone Steele & Mings?

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

      I'll let you guess the missing word...

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

        Hate?

    2. Supersonic_
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

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

      Me, but bit gutted Raya's on me bench!

    4. Il Capitano
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      My ML rival does, naturally

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

      OR#1

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

        Of course, them things have to go your way up there tbf.

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

      Yessir

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

      I have an associate who burgles museums for ancient chinese porcelain.

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

    The problem with chasing at this point of the season is that you make decisions like (S)alah when (H)aaland was obviously the shield.

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

      This

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

    Might as well bring on ESR for a kickabout