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. borat
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Stones and Grealish Cs busted

  2. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Grea1ish

  3. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Grealish down to 1 point and now off, pain!

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

    Holing outscoring Haaland by a point right now

  5. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ffs that is incredibly annoying

  6. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding, LOL. Stones stuck third on bench doesn't hurt as much until he gets his 2 BAPs. A goal from Haaland right about now would do nicely...

  7. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    2
    5, 1, ?
    2, 2, 2, 1, ?
    Irrelevant, 2

    The wildcard 🙂

    1. Zilla
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      5? What a showoff.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Sorry

  8. DycheDycheBaby
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Oh well. At least the relegation battle is interesting

  9. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Grealish departs. Holding wins the hair war.

  10. Superflymonk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    It's incredible how City have managed to concede a goal every game lol! Commiserations Ederson starters

  11. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding G

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lol

    2. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He's on a hattrick!

      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        First popped out for a beer, still buzzing after Forest game 🙂

  12. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lol the Holding Haters!

  13. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holding getting 2 baps. Classic FPL.

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Worst player on the pitch. Him and Partey.

      1. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Holding 2nd best player according to the wonderful BPS.

    2. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Don't care because I own KDB who has 3

  14. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    How is Partey still on the pitch? Ref has been poor

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      So has Arteta. He should have been subbed long ago.

  15. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    If Arsenal don't win over this horrible Chelsea team...

  16. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good cs wipeout. Haaland being a bit of a tart, pushed over by smaller guys.

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mings and Raya my heroes this week.

  18. borat
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Saka has been terrible last 3,4 games.
    Should be dropped for Trossard or even Nelson

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Becoming a serial choker unfortunately, bit like Kane

  19. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Jota subbed early. Not injury related? Need to make the transfer tonight.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Didnt see how Diaz played when he came in for Jota
      They are bound to share

  20. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Think Im shipping Grelish for a KDB, Salah, Haaland attack

  21. JELLYFISH
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on these transfers guys?

    Chilwell Gabriel > TAA Coufal

    2 FTs and exact money to do it.

  22. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mahrez blind

  23. Chemical76
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Livefpl knackered for everyone?

    1. GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah its showing me with thirty odd points must be wrong

  24. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Foden and Mahrez starting v Fulham all day long

  25. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Great work Mahrez..

  26. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Congrats the Sheffield Steel_Looking forward to see you with the Big Boys next season.

  27. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    TAA or Jota for the double gameweek?

  28. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pantene ad from Haaland

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    OMG haaland

    1. GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Rank shot up by 10

  30. Superflymonk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lol Haaland's hair!

    1. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Impersonating the evil painting from Ghostbusters 2