Dugout Discussion
25 May 2025 1310 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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It’s the final day of the Premier League season, with all 10 Premier League fixtures kicking off at the same time (4pm BST):

starts Isak

It’s difficult to know where to begin with the team news given the numerous talking points across the country.

But let’s do so at St James’ Park, where Alexander Isak starts for the Magpies after recovering from injury.

His recall at the expense of Callum Wilson is Eddie Howe’s only alteration, but the Newcastle United boss does at least have the fit-again Kieran Trippier among the substitutes.

Everton bring in Charly Alcaraz, Jack Harrison, Ashley Young and Michael Keane, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil dropping to the bench and injured duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman missing out as expected.

It’s teamsheet carnage at St Mary’s, with five changes apiece.

William Saliba is absent, while Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are demoted to substitute duty.

In come Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri.ย 

Riccardo Calafiori is unexpectedly absent.

Ross Stewart, Yukinari Sugawara, Charlie Taylor, Lesley Ugochukwu and Jay Robinson are the new faces in the hosts’ starting XI.

Jack Stephens, Tyler Dibling and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are all injured, while James Bree and Joe Aribo are benched.

There are unexpected absences at the Amex, too, as Danny Welbeck and Pervis Estupinan miss out.

Jack Hinshelwood and Igor Julio take their places.

Ange Postecoglou makes just three changes from the starting XI that beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Mathys Tel, Archie Gray and Kevin Danso come into the team, with Sergio Romero, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison dropping out. The first two are injured.

The pre-deadline rumours were true about a Kevin De Bruyne benching, with Jeremy Doku coming in to replace him.

Nico Gonzalezย for the suspendedย Mateo Kovacic is Pep Guardiola’s only other alteration.

Fulham boss Marco Silva meanwhile brings inย Jorge Cuenca,ย Tom Cairney,ย Andreas Pereiraย andย Harry Wilson for Calvin Bassey,ย Sander Berge,ย Emile Smith Roweย andย Alex Iwobi.

Liverpool and Crystal Palace both pretty much go full strength at Anfield.

For the hosts,ย Virgil van Dijk,ย Andrew Robertson,ย Curtis Jonesย andย Luis Diazย get the nod overย Jarrell Quansah,ย Kostas Tsimikas,ย Harvey Elliottย andย Federico Chiesa.ย 

Trent Alexander-Arnoldย also starts on the bench.

As for Crystal Palace, four changes see Tyrick MitchellDaichi KamadaEberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta come in for Joel WardBen ChilwellRomain Esse and Eddie Nketiah.

At the City Ground, Forest are unchanged for their crunch match against Chelsea.

The Blues bring in Jadon Sancho for Tyrique George in their only alteration.

Brentford also name the same starting XI but Wolves make six changes, going back to pretty much full strength after some midweek experimentation.

Jose Sa, Matt Doherty, Nelson Semedo, Joao Gomes, Matheus Cunha and Marshall Munetsi all come in as Jorgen Strand Larsen (who had been a doubt for this game), Rodrigo Gomes, Pablo Sarabia and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde drop to the bench.

Dan Bentley and Nasser Djiga miss out altogether.

Another unchanged side are Aston Villa, whose opponents Manchester United side bring inย Altay Bayindir,ย Ayden Heavenย andย Victor Lindelof forย Andre Onana,ย Leny Yoroย andย Luke Shaw.

Youri Tielemansย is only fit enough for a place on the bench for the Villans.

Andoni Iraola makes three changes to his Bournemouth line-up.ย 

Marcos Senesi,ย Adam Smithย andย David Brooksย come in, withย Dean Huijsenย andย Julian Araujoย benched andย Lewis Cookย suspended.

As for Leicester City, three alterations seeย Victor Kristiansen,ย Oliver Skippย andย Patson Dakaย replace the absentย Wilfred Ndidi,ย Bilal El Khannoussย andย Jamie Vardy.

Kieran McKenna names two changes for Ipswich Town’s final match before the drop:ย Conor Chaplinย andย Nathan Broadheadย come in forย Jack Clarkeย andย Julio Enciso, who is missing from the matchday squad.

Graham Potter makes five tweaks from Gameweek 37, withย Lukasz Fabianski,ย Konstantinos Mavropanos,ย Ollie Scarles,ย Edson Alvarezย andย Niclas Fullkrugย replacingย Alphonse Areola,ย Aaron Cresswell,ย Vladimir Coufal,ย Guido Rodriguezย andย Mohammed Kudus.

LINE-UPS

Bournemouth XI: Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez, Adams, Brooks, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson.

Subs: Dennis, Huijsen, Soler, Araujo, Hill, Scott, Winterburn, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry.

Leicester City XI: Stolarczyk, Justin, Coady, Faes, Kristiansen, Skipp, Soumarรฉ, McAteer, Ayew, Thomas, Daka.

Subs: Iversen, Okoli, Pereira, Aluko, Golding, Buonanotte, Monga, Braybrooke, Evans.


Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Lukiฤ‡, Cairney, Traorรฉ, Pereira, Wilson, Jimรฉnez.

Subs: Benda, Bassey, Berge, King, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Vinรญcius, Iwobi, Willian.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Gonzรกlez, GรผndoฤŸan, Silva, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega, Akรฉ, Lewis, Rodri, De Bruyne, Echeverri, Foden, O’Reilly, Savinho.


Ipswich Town XI: Palmer, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Chaplin, Broadhead, Hirst.

Subs: Walton, Woolfenden, Burgess, Boniface, Taylor, Szmodics, Luongo, Delap, Clarke.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Todibo, Kilman, Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka, รlvarez, Souฤek, Ward-Prowse, Scarles, Bowen, Fรผllkrug.

Subs: Areola, Cresswell, Coufal, Paquetรก, Rodrรญguez, Irving, Kudus, Guilherme, Ings.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konatรฉ, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Dรญaz.

Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Endo, Elliott, Nรบรฑez, Jota.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Lerma, Muรฑoz, Hughes, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta.

Subs: Turner, Ward, Kporha, Esse, Devenny, Nketiah, Franรงa.


Manchester United XI: Bayฤฑndฤฑr, Lindelรถf, Maguire, Heaven, Mazraoui, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu, Diallo, Mount, Hรธjlund.

Subs: Heaton, Dalot, Evans, Fredricson, Eriksen, Ugarte, Mainoo, Collyer, Obi-Martin.

Aston Villa XI: Martรญnez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins.

Subs: Olsen, Mings, Digne, Garcia, Barkley, Tielemans, Bailey, Ramsey, Malen


Newcastle United XI: Pope, Schรคr, Botman, Burn, Murphy, Guimarรฃes, Tonali, Livramento, Barnes, Gordon, Isak.

Subs: Dรบbravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Krafth, Willock, Longstaff, Miley, Wilson, Osula.

Everton XI: Pickford, Young, O’Brien, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Harrison, Alcaraz, Ndiaye, Beto.

Subs: Virgรญnia, Begoviฤ‡, Patterson, Welch, Doucourรฉ, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Chermiti, Broja.


Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkoviฤ‡, Murillo, Williams, Sangarรฉ, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Domรญnguez, Wood.

Subs: Miguel, Morato, Toffolo, Boly, Yates, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi, Silva, Sosa.

Chelsea XI: Sรกnchez, James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernรกndez, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Neto.

Subs: Jรถrgensen, Badiashile, Chalobah, Gusto, Acheampong, Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia, George, Guiu.


Southampton XI: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Wood, Taylor, Welington, Downes, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Robinson, Sulemana, Stewart.

Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Bree, Kayi Sanda, Moore, Aribo, Smallbone, Archer, Onuachu.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Partey, White, Kiwior, Tierney, Merino, Rice, Zinchenko, Nwaneri, Sterling, Martinelli.

Subs: Neto, ร˜degaard, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Trossard, Havertz, Kabia.


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie, Gray, Bentancur, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke, Tel.

Subs: Kinsky, Spence, Davies, Bissouma, Olusesi, Richarlison, Odobert, Moore, Ajayi.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, Webster, van Hecke, Igor, Baleba, Ayari, Wieffer, Gruda, Adingra, Minteh.

Subs: Rushworth, Dunk, Cashin, Veltman, Milner, Mitoma, Gomez, O’Riley, Howell.


Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sรก, Doherty, Agbadou, Gomes, Semedo, Gomes, Andrรฉ, Aรฏt-Nouri, Munetsi, Cunha, Guedes.

Subs: King, Bueno, Lima, Sarabia, Bellegarde, Larsen, Hee-chan, Gomes, Mane

Brentford XI: Flekken, Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Nรธrgaard, Yarmoliuk, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade, Wissa.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henry, Pinnock, Ajer, Jensen, Konak, Thiago, Nunes.



  1. Urban Cowboy.
    • 14 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Honestly thought my Diaz punt would have paid off.

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Liverpool been on the beach for a while. With hindsight, no Liverpool was the play for the last 7/8 GWs of the season.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Not with the ref today ; tbf he was close to hauling

    3. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Just unlucky today tbh

  2. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Shame Isak showed up. Would have got Sarr off the bench.

  3. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Any chance the top 500k OR cheated, will be disqualified and I can still win FPL?

    1. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Nope, but you can try and win the club world cup fantasy game

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Well I cheated, so that's one down

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      They were luckier than you ; that’s sort of cheating

  4. andymck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    So close to hitting 10 top 100k finishes in a row but went from 89k to 106k, wasn’t to me! At least I didn’t throw my money league.

    1. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      A rare top 50k finish for me but nowhere near top of my money league ๐Ÿ™ Think I might need to drop down a division!

  5. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Omg I missed the deadline and still won my ML! The excuses the other guy is coming out with now hahaha - Arsenal fan inside and out!

  6. shaunyjames
    • 13 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Snuck into top 60k and few hundred won in mini league, happy days

  7. Sun God Nika
    • 5 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Managed to win my last league against TCers !

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    FPL need to work in some ‘Rage’ chips for next season - reverse transfers, switch captain, sack manager etc…

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      They should have taken you over Mark Jaf, FPL management are a joke.

  9. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Let down by all front three Wissa, Watkins and Isak. Not brilliant but ok with finishing 313K.
    All the best next year fellas!

  10. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Are all the bonus points sorted and confirmed?

    1. Eightball
      • 5 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Not sure. I am currently 10,091 so hopeing for a random point from somewhere haha. Welbeck not being in the squad, Evanilson getting nothing, Arsenal losing the clean sheet. A little bit annoying!

  11. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    So, mentioned before but went Saka over Bowen in GW33 which I was so hesitant to do and it’s cost me 44 points

    I finished 15k… what could’ve been, gutted

    1. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Ouch, that’s rough. I brought him in on WC a couple of weeks earlier and he cost me plenty in benched points (Murphy’s 15 come to mind), but I never really considered Bowen at the time… so a bit easier to accept! Still, great rank, well played on your season!

  12. nanxun
    • 4 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    My front 3 got 5 pts.

    Midfield 4 got 57 pts. (including bonus pts.)

    Def (incl gk) got 16 pts.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Worst humble brag yet, requires math!

  13. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Kerkez Mbuemo and Bowen on my Bench.

    I knew my actual BB would only get about 5 points so i done it make me feel better.

    Hope they get rid of that chip.

  14. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    I know its early, but thoughts on this GW1 team please:

    Raya
    Gvard - Frimpong - Munoz
    Sala - Palmer - Rogers - Mbeumo
    Cunha - Wissa - Isak

    1. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Looks good but I prefer Gyokeres to Cunha for Utd attack

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        ๐Ÿ™‚

        Good season mate?

        1. Herger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          12 months, 4 days ago

          Just glad it’s over! How about you?

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 6 Years
            12 months, 4 days ago

            Same lol.

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      F**king hell ๐Ÿ˜†

    3. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Why punish yourself so soon? Have a kitkat

    4. Boz
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Must be a cheap bench....

    5. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Give it a rest?

    6. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Wouldn't go Palmer with UCL!

    7. Captain Beefheart
      • 12 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      You cannot be serious

    8. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      No Wirtz?

  15. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    29,419. Pretty happy to sneak into the top 30K with all the 50/50s I’ve got wrong this season.

    1. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Congrats man!

  16. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Nail biting stuff.
    Salah goal securing a new PB 4.3k rank.

    Tailed off in the final month from 1k and got close to not beating my 5.6k goal .

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      How do you set a goal for a game of luck? Congrats though!

      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        My goal at the start of a season is always to beat my best ever rank.
        5.6k has stood since Leicester won the league.
        Lots of luck, I agree. Not taking as many hits has helped me too.

    2. Boz
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Great stuff! Onto the top 1k next season!

      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Thank Boz.

  17. BIGREDDOG
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Captaining Saka cost me about 300 quid

    1. BIGREDDOG
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Went from 2nd in cash league to 5th

  18. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Goodbye cruel season

    1. BIGREDDOG
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      This bro

  19. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Rank 1,198 ๐Ÿ™‚

    ML won with 84 entrants all paying £20 each, so £1,680 pocketed ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      congrats

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Noice

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Nice

    4. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Well done

    5. Boz
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Mega season!

    6. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Congratulations!
      Will Saka & ESR share in the bounty? ๐Ÿ˜‰

  20. Original Sin
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    68 points all out. Ended up with 40k Rank. Quite happy with it

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Quite? Congrats great fortune is upon you

    2. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Nice, congrats ๐Ÿ™‚

  21. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Pretty happy to sneak into the top 164,421 with all the 50/50s I've got wrong this season.

  22. djman102
    • 16 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Bowen(C) gets me 69 points to just make it into...the top 300K. :p

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Awesome final day captain.

  23. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Now...what to do for the next 82 days...??

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Clair Obscure Expedition 33

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Seconded. And Blue Prince

  24. Boz
    • 13 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Finished at 45k, best rank for 7 years. Definitely getting harder to push onto the top 10k. Sarr over Eze on GW30 WC was a killer.

    See you all in 2 months!

    1. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Congrats man, great rank!

  25. Silecro
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    First forray into top 10k, finished with 6k OR. Extremely happy since my previous best finish was 35k, and Im playing for 8 years

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Brilliant rank, especially these days!

      1. Silecro
        • 8 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Thanks man! Also ideal day as a fellow Chelsea supporter. Was a bit conflicted in supporting Villa (3x players) and Chelsea ๐Ÿ˜€ but happy with how that came out also

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          12 months, 4 days ago

          I was so nervous watching our game. Didn't enjoy the feeling or the football!

          After we drew to Ipswich wrote our chances of UCL off.

          5 wins in the last 6, after that Did the job when it mattered.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Massif

    3. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Congratulations

      1. Silecro
        • 8 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Thanks!

    4. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Awesome!

  26. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Mini-league came down to the last 10 minutes.

    Salah (C) vs. Evanilson (C)

    If they had capped Salah they'd have beaten me by one point.

    KDB to Bowen at 14:29 saves me.

    Blimey that was uncomfortable :mrgreen:

    1. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Congratulations!

  27. GC123
    • 4 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    1 Salah goal away from winning my ML. Damn you Gravenberch!

  28. Super-Anders
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Semenyo kinda the only GW38 pick doing anything it seems? Besides Bowen, Salah and Mbuemo that everyone has. My FH without Semenyo was bang on average and I got passed by a guy in my ML that had to play Sarr.

  29. Stevecat
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    2nd by 2 points ffs. Lesson learnt. Play your tripple captain in a double game week. I chanced week 36 being a double and it wasn’t and then I made the disastrous choice of evanilson. Beaten by someone getting 80 points on a bench boost to my 46. I need a beer.

  30. iFash@FPL
    • 2 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Top 280k overall. I was in the top 15k at a time. ๐Ÿ™

    Early WC to bring in Saka & Palmer (FOMO) cost me.

    We go again next season by God’s grace. ๐Ÿ™‚