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. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Useless haaland

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

    Haaland miss

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

      Would’ve been Grealish points

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

        Yeah would have been a lovely assist.

  3. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Haaland is finished!

  4. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Take Haaland of at HT, pep!

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

    Grealish A coming for sure

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

      He’s defo nailed playing like this

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

        Leagues won. Might be rested.

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

    Chilwell & Gabriel > TAA & Coufal

    Exact funds - yes or no?

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

    Partey clown

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

      Tried the same trick on Haaland as he did on that girl.

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Watch out, he’s got some avid defenders around here.

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

    Real Madrid the only thing standing in the way between City and the treble. City an overall better side but Madrid in the CL is something unique and you have to factor in Pep’s boiled brain syndrome during crunch time UCL.

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Madrid shipped 4 to City’s feeder club yesterday - it’s over.

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

        Doesn’t count. La Liga title is over and they will be making sure they stay fresh and fit for the CL. You should know this.

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

      If he can avoid overthinking things like he nearly always does at CL SF time then it may be their time. But I agree, something extraordinary about how Madrid always seem to create these moments where they can turn an entire tie

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

      They ll beat real Madrid but lose to one of the Milan sides in the final. Just like they lost to chelsea against all odds 2 years ago

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

      Out of curiosity, which team do you support?

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

        Celtic

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

        I ll be happy if anyone other than real Madrid win the CL

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

          Me2, much as I like Ancelotti

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

    Salah not troubling the baps, I see

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

      He is troubling me however.

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

    Wow Holding did something good.

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

      Almost as if he's not terrible enough for you to keep whining about him

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

        Why are you chasing me on this? Do you like his new hair?

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

          It's pretty good hair, yeah

  11. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Estu very poor not hitting the target there

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

    Don't own him but Grealish does look a genuinely great option. Could be the most nailed City player too outside of Ederson too.

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

      I have him but benched him

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

    Ramsdale saves

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

    City's choice and weight of pass is spot on nearly every time. It's so impressive

  15. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How is still 1-0??

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Arsenal's luck is endless this season!

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

      KDB scored from distance. Perhaps Ramsdale should have saved

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

    How has Haaland not scored here. Arsenal look terrible.

  17. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Time to sell!

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

    Saka, Martinelli and Jesus have been completely ineffective

  19. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Started the wrong GK... yet again. Ramsdale on bench, Kepa IX.

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

    Williams very close

  21. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Brighton tiring early.

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

      Just done 120 going to be running on fumes soon

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

      If that is so then it does not bode well for 4 games in two weeks in GW36/37

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Loads of days off after 35!

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

    Frank has not got a scooby

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

      Chelsea already knew that and yet here he is...

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea should have gone for new experience Manager back in December
      like Aston Villa/Wolves & even good old Crystal Palace - just shows an experience
      manager over young with enough games can turn it round. Besides injuries which can hit
      all sides all Chelsea needed was a number 9

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

    If only arsenal would have beat a relegated saints and not twice thrown away a 2 goal lead it wouldn't have mattered if they lost 5-0 also today. What a bunch of chokers

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

      Still have the Geordies and Seagulls to play though.

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s all Holding’s fault Saka missed a pen and Ramsdale’s been throwing them in!

    3. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bottle jobs

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

    Stones G offside

  25. Paqueta Rice
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Take Partey off, been awful

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

      I mean, at least he's been involved. They could take Xhaka and Odegaard off and you wouldn't know it

  26. Free Hat
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Arsenal may bless the gods this half if it remains 1 0

  27. Sharkytect
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Onside

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

    Auba, muddy lol

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

      Given by VAR 🙂

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

    This is go8ng to be given. 2-0

  30. borat
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Saka absolutely poor last 3-4 weeks. Seems his mind is somewhere else. May be Utd, Newcastle or Man city