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. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    And then he scores.

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

    There’s the Haaland goal.

    Even took his hair and off for it,

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

    Because you're worth it, Erling.

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

      Cringe

  4. Zimo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hauland

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

    Haaland: 'It's like a shampoo ad'!
    Lmao!

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

    What a crap gw...

    Maybe that -8 to get Grealish and Rashford not such a great move...exact funds etc

    But, maybe Rash makes up for it vs Tot

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

    Boooo.

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

      M 🙂

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Goldilocks goal

  9. sminkypinky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tarzan!

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

    City 4

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

      Haaland

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

        Foden A

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

    Devastating

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

    Nooo I nearly got away with no Haaland

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

    It's all in the hair! Just like Samson!

  14. Hooky
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland the Highlander!

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

    Goal disallowed for excessive hair

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

    All piss taking aside, great effort Arsenal!

    Taking on an FFP cheating, oil state club is next to impossible unless you have a perfect AND lucky season...

    Top manager, top young squad.

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

      Even as an Arsenal fan have to admire this city side.
      They are a treat to watch execpt when battering Arsenal

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

    Haaland scoring with his hair down is a meme

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

      Lovin' the 'highlights'!

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

    Even his own hair in front of his face couldn’t stop him lol

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

    What a guy

  20. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yep, that'll do. Stones still annoyingly on a BAP, though.

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

    Zinchenko gonna cry again?

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

    Foden outscores Grealish ... Classic!

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

      Typical

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      So glad I went KdB and Maca (even still), instead of Grealish and Jota.

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

    Arsenal nowhere near the same level as City. Should be happy with top 4.

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

      Arsenal will do well to get Top4 next season!

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

      Today

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

    Ben Shite getting lippy.

  25. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Haaland lloking like Triple H in that melee

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

    Arsenal handbags at the end__Back ro the Charity Shop.

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

      😆

  27. Stranger Mings
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saka & Kane to salah & jota ? Thanks

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

      Well depends how Kane does tomorrow.

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Could sell Watkins instead

  28. Superflymonk
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hearing talk of Salah alternate captain next week? Come on, it's not even close, Haaland all the way unless he get's benched.

  29. Gunners in Haaland
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hairland

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

    Any injuries this evening?

    If not, I will bring in Jota before his price rises