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. TKC07
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Do we get assist points for Estu for forcing Pen Save..?

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

    Steele better not be taking bonus points away from my three midfield darlings

  3. CABAYE4
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Steele you beauty!

    Great save as well - bet Brighton fans wished he’d been subbed on for the pens at Wembley.

  4. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Man of Steele!

  5. Paganoi
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Estúpido

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

  6. The Final Boss
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I am due a pen save from my keeper for a season and a half. Kepa come on boy..

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You mean you never had both your keepers save a penalty each in a double gameweek when your benchboost is active!

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I've never had a keeper I've played save a pen in all my years of FPL

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

    Danilo sot

  8. Salan
    • 16 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Steele saves a penalty, then MacAllister later scores a penalty please.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Oh its going to happen

  9. Red Star Toro
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wonderful, what a differential!

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

    What a donkey he’s been.

  11. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wish my keepers would face a penalty each week! 5 points and a highly likely 3 bonus

  12. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    First time I have owned Brighton players ... apologies for the blank from Mitoma, March & Estupiñán:(

  13. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Steele, what a differential he has been for whoever went for him! Fair bollocks 😆

  14. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Encisco miss

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Tee'd up

  15. EDUARDO DA SILVA
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Elstupido will cost my Dunk cleanny.

  16. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Brilliant run from Mitoma

    Set up for a point blank save from no.20

  17. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    You can certainly overthink this game at times

  18. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rio Ferdinand thinks that Arsenal winning the league would significantly alter their transfer strategy. If they don't win, they'll be looking for young players. Wtf is he on

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Brain cells has never been his strong point.

    2. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's just merk'ing you! You've been merk'd mate!

  19. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That pen save got me into top 10k for the first time in 6-5 years. STOP THE COUNT!

    1. Dušan Citizen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What's next? March goal and Henry 1st sub for Schar with a cs and an assist?

  20. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    of course steele is on my bench ,OF COURSEEEEEEEEEEEE

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Should have started him

    2. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who did you play ahead of Steele?

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      On bench vs. Forest? Who you playing?

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

        Forest always score at home

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gotta be a parody of an FPL player by now?

  21. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Obviously my main rival has fecking Steele in goal

    At least it increases his chances of playing next game, so I can get him in

  22. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mitoma lively

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      find of the season imo

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Billy bargain will sell for mega bucks

      2. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This! Furuhashi and Hatate for Celtic and especially Mitoma have been great hidden gems from Japan.

    2. It's a Wookie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      To be fair Douglas Bader would look lively against Nevo Williams

  23. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    The budget Mings + Steele combination could be a combined 30 pointer this week if Bright keep a cleanie! 5% ownership of the pair

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Including OR#1 of course! Darwin goal incoming probably:
      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/158332/event/33/

      1. Shultan
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        & still got his WC

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ooh, impressive. Finished 215 OR last year too!

    2. Dušan Citizen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      And I got them both!

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Beautiful - nice one!

  24. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So Steele now has a penalty save and an assist in the last 5 gameweeks.

  25. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    March is completely and utterly out of the game

  26. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Great my ML rivals WC off to a great start with steele penalty save
    Other players he has that I don't are
    Salah, jota, TAA, isak & stones
    So expect returns for all above

  27. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anything more nailed on than Chelsea 0-0 Brentford?

    1. FPL Emu
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Toney will score, 100%

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Got to get through that Chelsea back 8 first

        1. FPL Emu
          • 15 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Even I would probably get through that

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

      Would suit me!

  28. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Disaster. If I didn't have estupinian wouldn't have benched Steele for Kepa.

  29. Starskyb
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sorry to be that guy, but reaching out as the community might understand and offer some comforting words....

    Was On wildcard and checked the Brighton team news pre deadline about Sanchez predicted start so swapped steele out for Webster as my 3rd Brighton. Now steele saves a pen and Webster doesn't start!!!

    I know it's irrational and it's a game but that made me feel pretty crap at the moment at my decision!

    1. Differentiator
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      biggest fish to fry than fpl bro 🙂 so dw too much

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is what it is. de Zerbi was coy on which keeper would start so either guess would have been acceptable.

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      We all empathise with you unconditionally

      1. Starskyb
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks guys. I'm surprised how hard it hit me to be honest! Usually i love this game. I guess it was more intense with wildcard week and the different drafts etc.

    4. Shultan
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That's harsh!
      Hopefuly your 2nd keeper & sub does well 🙂

    5. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 16 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You just need to learn how to pick better players , that's all

    6. Make FPL Casual Again
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It's gonna be OK, just let it all out, you'll be a too fpl player again don't you worry ....

      1. Make FPL Casual Again
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        *top

    7. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      These things are infuriating.

      I go the captaincy choice between Ronaldo and Sapah for about 8 successive weeks last season.

      My vice captain's got 99 points in that time, my captain's 13.

  30. Hutchiniho
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How many game do you think Ake will miss?

    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      3.5

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Talked about uncertainty about Real Madrid and that's after GW35

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Time to sell