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
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jota knocked and winded in the back by Coufal

    Still down.

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

      Looks fine

      West Ham GOAL

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

        Paqueta rice does it

        Trent busted

    2. JELLYFISH
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Well done agent Coufal

  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    OMG Paqueta

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

      Antonio assist

      Sweet strike

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

    Can we have a Chilwell goal please?

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

    Bought Trent for attacking returns anyway

  5. Alan The Llama
    • 16 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Luckily I didn't get TAA for cleansheets.

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

      Just for his 1 assist every 4 games then

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

      Yeah he's the quarterback now, probably needs a new fpl classification next year

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

        How many points for a CS in this new quarterback position?

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

          None, but half points for over the crossbars

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

    Antonio assist, he might be a nice pick for the double

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

    Trent fail

  8. Ten Hag of Bud
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shiverpool!

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

    Didn’t buy Trent for points anyway

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Haha.

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

      😆

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Trent having a mare here

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Unlike him... 😛

  11. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    The battle to Stay Out the Basement is on!

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

      West Ham will be fine - too many good players and they're starting to play well.

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

    Klopp losing it again

    1. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Back to Turkey he goes

  13. FCSB
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Ake going to be back for DGW34 or should I sell??

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

      Sounds like it’s more GW36

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

        Best to sell then?

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

    Was a bit surprised how popular Liverpool assets were for this week - maybe people didn’t check the home vs away form!

    1. Supersonic_
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Attackers worth a punt, especially with the double. Defenders not so much. I suppose you get Trent for AR anyway

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

      I don't think too many were writing home about CS chances.

    3. Old Bull
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s why people keep thinking they’ve turned the corner and found their form only for it to end up in tears yet again

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

      Egg, meet face

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

      Lol, nice one.

    6. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Woops!

  15. Shark Team
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I won’t be surprised at all if City score 4+ today

    1. Supersonic_
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Haaland all 4

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

    Mac sot

  17. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    And they're off! C'mon, Gunners! Make a match of it!

  18. Alan The Llama
    • 16 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gakgoal

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

    GAKPOOOOoooooooo

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

      A?

  20. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gakpo G
    TAA A

    1. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sweet

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

      Ok I'm not coming on here anymore. 1st thing I see as soon as I come on here

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

    TAA assist

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

    Oh Gakpo a week too late

    1. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Can I have my Free Hit back?

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

    Ah yes, now he scores

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

    I'm not sure if any of you have heard but the winners of tonight's game at the Etihad will be most in control of the title's destiny

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

      For City, yeah. Barely, for Arsenal.

  25. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ramsdale sloppy.

  26. Marvin.
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No OMG for Gakpo Bemba?

    1. Old Bull
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He’s fallen off his stool in shock

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

    BJ close

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

      After Ramsdale sloppy?

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

        🙂

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

      Not in my house

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

    Bought TAA for Gakpo's goals anyway

  29. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How the hell was that not a pen.

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

      What game

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        City Ars. Partey clipped Kdb - no ball what so ever.

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

    Haaland (C) fail already 🙁

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Timing