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. 

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 Gonzalez for the suspended Mateo Kovacic is Pep Guardiola’s only other alteration.

Fulham boss Marco Silva meanwhile brings in Jorge CuencaTom CairneyAndreas Pereira and Harry Wilson for Calvin BasseySander BergeEmile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi.

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

For the hosts, Virgil van DijkAndrew RobertsonCurtis Jones and Luis Diaz get the nod over Jarrell QuansahKostas TsimikasHarvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa

Trent Alexander-Arnold 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 in Altay BayindirAyden Heaven and Victor Lindelof for Andre OnanaLeny Yoro and Luke Shaw.

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

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

Marcos SenesiAdam Smith and David Brooks come in, with Dean Huijsen and Julian Araujo benched and Lewis Cook suspended.

As for Leicester City, three alterations see Victor KristiansenOliver Skipp and Patson Daka replace the absent Wilfred NdidiBilal El Khannouss and Jamie Vardy.

Kieran McKenna names two changes for Ipswich Town’s final match before the drop: Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead come in for Jack Clarke and Julio Enciso, who is missing from the matchday squad.

Graham Potter makes five tweaks from Gameweek 37, with Lukasz FabianskiKonstantinos MavropanosOllie ScarlesEdson Alvarez and Niclas Fullkrug replacing Alphonse AreolaAaron CresswellVladimir CoufalGuido Rodriguez and 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, Soumaré, McAteer, Ayew, Thomas, Daka.

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


Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Lukić, Cairney, Traoré, Pereira, Wilson, Jiménez.

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

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, González, Gündoğan, Silva, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega, Aké, 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, Álvarez, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Scarles, Bowen, Füllkrug.

Subs: Areola, Cresswell, Coufal, Paquetá, Rodríguez, Irving, Kudus, Guilherme, Ings.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Díaz.

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

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

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


Manchester United XI: Bayındır, Lindelöf, Maguire, Heaven, Mazraoui, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu, Diallo, Mount, Højlund.

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

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

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


Newcastle United XI: Pope, Schär, Botman, Burn, Murphy, Guimarães, Tonali, Livramento, Barnes, Gordon, Isak.

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

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

Subs: Virgínia, Begović, Patterson, Welch, Doucouré, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Chermiti, Broja.


Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Domínguez, Wood.

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

Chelsea XI: Sánchez, James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernández, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Neto.

Subs: Jörgensen, 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, Ødegaard, 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: Sá, Doherty, Agbadou, Gomes, Semedo, Gomes, André, Aït-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, Nørgaard, Yarmoliuk, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade, Wissa.

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



  1. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Everton well in the game?

    For anyone watching or listening??

    1. djman102
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      From BBC commentary: "It has been all Everton in these last few minutes..."

    2. Brehmeren
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Newcastle close just now, Tonali, then Isak

  2. pakornk
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Isn't Emi Martinez looking to go to Man Utd? He should let in some goals.

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      He'll do that if he goes there !

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Well that will impress them won't it?

  3. DeSelby
    • 3 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Best league in the world.

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Been shocking this season hasn’t it

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      What are the other leagues like if 16th and 17th place can get to a euro final

  4. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Nothing from Bowen yet ahh

  5. La Roja
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Neto sitter

  6. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Mateta 1st on my bench phew

  7. Andy_Social
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Mateta goal - disallowed

  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Big miss for Chelsea

    Would have been Palmer assist to Neto

    6 yards out

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Would have liked this very much

  9. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Mateta goal offside

  10. TOLV TUMS
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Mateta goal chalked off

  11. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Villa look awful

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Apologies finally started Konsa so they will turn to crap

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    isak denied by pickford!

  13. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Dullest GW38 I can remember, but all signs pointed to that. Hopefully it picks up 2nd half

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Hear hear. Would you mind making us all a cocktail in the meantime? What’s your favorite?

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Mojito for me

        1. TOLV TUMS
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 months, 24 days ago

          Excellent and underrated. Really good when made well

      2. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        lol don’t drink much actually

    2. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Is it ok to mix dark rum with white rum?

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Absolutely - that’s called a ‘split base’ in cocktails

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Only if you snort the white and pour the dark in your eye

        1. TOLV TUMS
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 months, 24 days ago

          This also works

        2. SpaceCadet
          • 12 Years
          10 months, 24 days ago

          That sir, sounds like a party

  14. WVA
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Palace the best team in the world right now?

  15. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Typical Utd, all over AV who will break away and steal one soon

  16. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Up to the top half of the table, lovely 🙂

  17. King Carlos
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Lol... people have ZERO patience here...

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      The goals are flying in

      Relatively speaking

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Long haul

    2. fantasist
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      10 games at once, we expected lots of goals after 35 mins

  18. DeSelby
    • 3 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Gordon, a diving cheat, dives to get a foul called on Ashley Young, a cheating diver.

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Tell him what you really think.

  19. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    How disappointing, usually loads more goals on final day - Fpl nowhere near as fun and good as it used to be.

    Of course the first goal was Sarr who everyone has benched lol

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      No Kane, no gain

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Years ago that mate, golden years

  20. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Liverpool continuing their 'on the beach' form

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Salah can stick to that

      Possibly

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      it is shocking with the millions they get paid. should play for their life every game.

  21. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Patience, gentlemen, patience.

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      16 goals by this point 4 seasons ago!

    2. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      … and ladies, lol.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Keep it in your pants beaver

        1. BeaversWithAttitude
          • 7 Years
          10 months, 24 days ago

          Hahaha… maybe

  22. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Going back to sleep.....what a borefest

  23. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Must own players next season

    Florian Wirtz for me

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      At City?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        He's not going there

        Other possibilities I think

        1. TheBiffas
          • 5 Years
          10 months, 24 days ago

          He's basically signed for Liverpool

          1. Marvin.
            • 9 Years
            10 months, 24 days ago

            Don't jinx it dude for heavens sake. I've never been more excited about a signing in my life.

            1. TheBiffas
              • 5 Years
              10 months, 24 days ago

              Lol same, I couldn't believe it at first but from what I've seen it's basically a done deal

              1. Marvin.
                • 9 Years
                10 months, 24 days ago

                Stop saying that!

                1. TheBiffas
                  • 5 Years
                  10 months, 24 days ago

                  It's a done deal!

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Whoever Arsenal sign at ST, Gyokeres or Sesko

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Werner 2 bookmarked

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Hahaha - too soon

    4. fantasist
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Gyokeres

    5. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Rogers

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Rogers will be a 7.5 or 8 million next season

    6. Ballistics
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      MBoomstick

    7. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Rice

    8. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Some 4.0 Sunderland defender who nods one in in preseason

      1. TKC07
        • 6 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        Barco II

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          10 months, 24 days ago

          Exactly

  24. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Hendo, what a save

  25. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Capping Salah the last few weeks has been a pointless exercise

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Yes, I’ve been doing it for my sins also

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Not captaining him for weeks mid season was equally as pointless for me

  26. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Good chance for Bournemouth

    Free kick

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Wissa to Potter close to a second goal

  28. The_FF_King
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Wish there was a way to speed up all the games like on Football Manager

    Soooo slow

    1. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      Loooool

    2. fantasist
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 24 days ago

      So you're basically looking to control time lol

      1. The_FF_King
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 24 days ago

        yes, I guess I am 🙂

  29. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    diaz denied by henderson and also would have been salah assist

  30. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 24 days ago

    Come on Wissa, join Mbeumo on 20 league goals

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/27205334