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. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Think this will stand. White may be playing him on

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

    Arsenal deserve a lot of credit for making this season a proper title race, notwithstanding what happens tonight. Would of been over months ago otherwise

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

      *have been

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

      Nonsense. They had the title in their grasp and gifted it to ManCity. Their last 3 games are unacceptable results.

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

    This is on

  4. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That awkward moment when I own KdB and am happy when a goal assisted by him is waved off...

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      And then it's not. Stones third on bench. Terrific.

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

        KDB and Stones but wanted the game to be on second half.

  5. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Nooo...I left Stone on the bench!

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

    Just about cements Stones in my FH team

    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mine too I think

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

      congrats

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

        Next GW

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

    Arsenal mudded, great to see!

  8. Total Foot 5
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Open dem floodgates ...

    2 x 0 mci

  9. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    City 2-0! Yess !!

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

    Ederson, Dunk for nailedness vs Steele, Stones. Need to get more risk averse.

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

      The opposite even

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

    Gooners better be gone sooner 😛

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

    My bench cleaning up

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

    Mitoma HUGE miss

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

      He's peaked

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

    Screw this game. See you all next season.

    1. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      OK Cartman

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

        Lmao

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

    Yaaas Stones!

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

    4-0 job this.

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

    I quit

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

      Same

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

    Was that Holding playing him on at the back? Awful defending

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

      No Ben White

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

        Centre forwards defending there. Needed to hold the line and that'd be a mile.off

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

    assist?

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

      You really need to ask?

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

      Kev

  20. Total Foot 5
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gloves come off!! Fight

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

    Saka lost it

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

    Bye Arsenal you bottlers yassss

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

      if it does happen and Arsenal crumble will be hard next season as Champions League
      & this season so mucked up due to World Cup - performances in way like the season when
      Leicester one - certain teams will only be better - Chelsea/Liverpool/tottenham

  23. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Not many have KDB at least

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

      Feeling smug 😉
      Zinch + Grealish -> Castagne + Ødegaard (-4) for GW32 to field XI
      Saka + Martinelli + Ødegaard -> KDB + March + Mac Allister (-8) for this GW ahead of next GWs BB.

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

    Ooh KDB over Salah is tempting now for next GW's transfers!

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

    Why don't they draw/show both the lines anymore? Is it because they are eyeballing it or the tech isn't reliable?

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

      looks miles off when you just watch it - VAR has made this a different game

    2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      VAR didn't even show the moment when KDB hit the ball.

      I'm not a Gunner (who wants to be an arse anyway?), but I think VAR just made a very dodgy decision. Can't wait to hear Arteta's comment on this.

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

    When KDB is on it, there have been few ever better!

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

    Send Dias off. Make it interesting

  28. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wee guys - Salah
    Shaggers - KDB

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

    Go Citeh!

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

    So the only title race left now is in Bundesliga. Hopefully Dortmund can end the decade long dominance by bayern