Dugout Discussion
18 August 2025 319 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Gameweek 1 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) comes to a head this evening, with Elland Road hosting its first Premier League match since May 2023.

Everton are Leeds United’s visitors tonight, with the game getting underway at 20:00 BST.

Jayden Bogle is fit to start for the hosts, having missed the last fortnight or so through injury.

He’s the only change from the final pre-season XI that Daniel Farke sent out, with Isaac Schmidt making way.

That means that Lucas Perri is between the sticks, with £4.0m FPL goalkeeper Karl Darlow only on the bench.

Summer recruits Sean Longstaff, Lukas Nmecha and Sebastiaan Bornauw are also among the substitutes, with fellow new boy Dominic Calvert-Lewin – who only signed on Friday – not in the squad.

Speaking of recent signings, Jack Grealish is on the bench for the Toffees.

So too is new striker Thierno Barry but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall makes the starting XI following his early-August move from Chelsea.

Beto leads the line for David Moyes’ side, who are missing key defenders Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko through injury.

Two more full-backs, Nathan Patterson and Adam Aznou, are absent, too.

LINE-UPS

Leeds United XI: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Tanaka, Stach, James, Gnonto, Piroe.

Subs: Darlow, Byram, Longstaff, Aaronson, Harrison, Ramazani, Nmecha, Bornauw and Gruev.

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Gana, Iroegbunam, Alcaraz, Beto, Ndiaye.

Subs: Travers, Tyrer, McNeil, Barry, Chermiti, Grealish, Coleman, Armstrong, Onyango.


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  1. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Don't think I've ever seen anyone get judged so harshly after 1 GW than Wirtz. I wonder if these people watched the Crystal Palace game... Best player on the pitch and got an assist. And now all of a sudden he's the new Werner

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I read a comment where someone said he was related to Ali Dia and George Weah.

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      He was poor.

      I won't be getting rid of him. But the thing that concerns me is Ekitike. He seems to have that arrogance about him where he wants to be the man. That is good for Ekitike if he keeps the scoring up as he will hog the points in FPL, but not for Wirtz.

    3. Ghost Ship
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Gyokeres says hi.

  2. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Did Grealish realise he was going to be warming another bench?

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Strange comment, he's only just signed

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      What? He hasn’t played for ages. He will be nailed, and their most important player, if he finds his enthusiasm again.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      He's not had a pre-season which is pretty important.

    4. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      no real preseason

      If played at number 10 not on the left wing
      you will see the Grealish of a couple of years
      ago - Spurs should have gone for him anothr
      Gazza

  3. Viper F
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Come on Ndiaye!

  4. Unknown1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Cunha or Mbeumo for Gw3?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I think Mbuemo, because of set pieces. But tbf, either one can haul.

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      both 😉

      think mbeumo will spend more time in the box, cunha likes to drop deep. so he probably edges it if you only want 1

    3. NoOneCares
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Gudmundsson looking good.

    4. Unknown1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Thanks for reply. Yeah only one for Saka replacement. Edging towards Mbeumo

  5. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Who are people starting at the weekend..... Sanchez or Dúbravka?

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Both will concede IMO, so Sanchez

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        This is like a championship game for Burnley and we all know how good their defence was in the championship last season.

    2. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I'd go Sanchez

    3. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Sels

      Dúbravka on the bench

    4. Hairy Potter
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Ask Zoph

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 11 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Then blame Zoph

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Never again. He's the reason I'm currently Haaland-less.

        1. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
          • 1 Year
          11 months, 3 days ago

          He makes your decisions for you?

  6. martynteresa
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Prediction. Dan Jmaes is going to run Mykolenko ragged and secondly high chance of a penalty because Dan doesnt go for the byline Dan goes straight in towards the penalty so Tark and Myko are going to have a job on their hands

    Penalty for Leeds. The assist Dan James, The taker Prioe

    Dan is good for 8 goals 8 assists this season

    PS I support a club that deosnt like Leeds.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      lol, Mykolenko isn’t playing

      1. martynteresa
        11 months, 3 days ago

        oops, didnt check the everton line up but whoever is LB has a problem lol

        1. martynteresa
          11 months, 3 days ago

          Bogle back from inury too on that same side

  7. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    2-1 to Leeds United?

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      half prediction I agree if Leeds win with your score AC/DC AFC

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I would like Leeds CS and Piroe goal

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 4 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        (same with clean sheet)) FPL reasons only I would like Personally but with Rodon getting an assist or
        goal on top - really horrible GW1

  8. Bluetiger1
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    My prediction depending this evening game Leeds United v Everton
    which do you feel

    a. Leeds win 2 v 1

    or

    b. Everton away win 0 v 3 (Beto two goals)

  9. MarcusAurelius
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Free hit or wild card this week?

    On 73 after Bench Boost with KDH to play. Plan was to free hit GW2 but now I’m thinking wild card to keep hold of the price rises. Already brought in Semenyo and Ekitike just need to decide which chip to play.

    Current team for GW3 if I do free hit

    Sels (Areola)
    VDV Cucu Frimpong (DeCuyper) (Diouf)
    Salah Reijnders Palmer KDH (PMSarr)
    Watkins Bowen Wood

    Or pick a new starting 11 and roll with it with a wild card? Would lose price rises on Ekitike and Semenyo and soon to be Haaland it seems

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      play wildcard GW2 keep price changes

      GW4 possible after the International break - Free Hit

      Nice team

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        If it's a nice team then WC is stoopid just for sake of a couple of price rises.

        1. MarcusAurelius
          • 10 Years
          11 months, 3 days ago

          It was always my plan to get bench boost out the way and then use either free hit or wildcard. I get your point though. Bit late now Iv made the transfers and I’m not taking a hit

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            11 months, 3 days ago

            WC more important to preserve than FH in my view. I would sooner FH.

        2. Bluetiger1
          • 4 Years
          11 months, 3 days ago

          Fair shout

      2. MarcusAurelius
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Thanks man. I’m leaning more towards wild card. Possibly with Haaland and Salah

        1. Bluetiger1
          • 4 Years
          11 months, 3 days ago

          Already played GW2 Wildcard - disaster GW2 & gone with Salah & Haaland as cannot do any worse

    2. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Would lose price rises if I free hit I mean*

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Neither

  10. Miracle brown
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Hello

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      It's good to be back........

  11. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Wood rising tonight

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      A FFS classic…

  12. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Pulled the Wildcard, currently looks like this

    4.5 Dubravka
    Cucu Porro Muñoz Dorgu Acheampong*
    Salah Semenyo Rogers Reijnders PMSarr
    Haaland Ekitike 4.5

    Which 4.5 GK? Roefs, Petrovic

    Both Spurs boys to be benched against ManC

    1. Robcar24
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Like it!

    2. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Looks good I’m looking at doing something similar. You not worried about having no Arsenal for next game?

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Good point, I would want Saka for Leeds at home but I would definitely want some Arsenal defence long term.

      2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        I'd totally get some Arsenal players if I was Free Hitting, but for one Gameweek, I'm not sweating not having any. Arsenal hasn't been great

  13. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Leeds will be gassed by HT, all out attack like it

  14. riot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Looking forward to seeing Grealish off the bench this week or next, no great fixture run in the near future but with a little rotation should be a huge differential.

    GW 5-12 isn't terrible if Everton are well coached (which I expect). Pool and Manu playable for sure, Spurs and City

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      * b2b 8 & 9 might be blanks but cheap enough to bench

  15. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Gudmund so close

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Warming my bench

  16. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Can't believe I actually own KDH... What was I thinking? Reijnders is only 0.6 more.

    1. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I know and I had 0.5 itb and switched Milenkovic to Frimp last minute when I could have got Reindeer

  17. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Everton def looking shaky. Attack poor.

  18. grooveymatt65
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    So this is my team for this week, already done KDH to Reijnders, really can't decide between captaining Watkins or Salah or punting on Evanilson what do people think?

    Sels
    RAN Porro Diouf
    Rogers Palmer Reijnders Salah (c) Wirtz
    Watkins Evanilson
    Dubravka Guiu Tosin Esteve

    0.0 ITB 0ft

    thanks!!

    1. Sting
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Like the Evanilson punt but may be safer to go Salah who has the annoying habit of playing the full 90 and getting late returns

    2. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I am also an Evanlison owner but I really wouldn't consider capping, I'd rather punt on rogers

  19. NoOneCares
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Gudmundsson looking good.

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Starting Gudmundsson and Reinildo this week, quite enjoy rolling the dice with 4.0 defenders.

  20. The Reptile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    KDH touched the ball once I think

    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      On for 3 baps currently. Lol.

      1. The Reptile
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Wtf

        1. riot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          11 months, 3 days ago

          world class touch

  21. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Everton have gone past half way line, not for long!

  22. ash and swanson inc
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    I dont normally post teams but wondering which looks best to you lot of experts!

    sels / dubravka
    cash / De Cy / Aina / Alt Nouri / VDV
    Semenyo / Gakpo / Reijndeer / Cunha / Kudus
    Haaland / Wood / Richarlison

    or

    sels / dubravka
    Gudmunsson / De Cy / Aina / 4.5 / VDV
    Semenyo / Rutter / Reijndeer / Salah / PMSarr
    Haaland / Wood / Watkins

    free hitted in 1, always planned to WC in 2 as my trigger finger is too jumpy...

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Rutter being subbed off early concerned me last week idk if I'd buy

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      A looks great, would just change Cash and Richarlison.

    3. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      No experts here.. just residents of the Fantasy Hotel California.

    4. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      B looks good but would downgrade Watkins and upgrade defence

    5. ash and swanson inc
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Cheers for comments! was hoping people would respond as leeds game a bit dull

  23. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    This game has 0-0 written all over it

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Until somebody making a blunder probably

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Just top left corner for me

  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Who are your 3 Leeds players?

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Gudmundsen

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Yeboah, Cantona, Viduka

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Showing your age 😉

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          11 months, 3 days ago

          Ha, I’d have picked Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer and Allan Clarke 😆

          1. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            11 months, 3 days ago

            Ferdinand

          2. tutankamun
            • 16 Years
            11 months, 3 days ago

            Bremner, Hunter, Jordan

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              11 months, 3 days ago

              Thugs

    3. DeSelby
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Cantona, Giles, and Bremner.

    4. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Radebe, Kelly, Kewell

  25. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    That was out?

    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Only by a metre. Play on.

    2. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      I could see that first time .
      Watching it live .

  26. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Are Everton aware there's another half to the pitch?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      Yes, the plan is to play there in the second half

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Flol

      2. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        😛

      3. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Nice 🙂

      4. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        😆

        Moyes got it covered.

      5. Reedy
        • 15 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        😀

      6. The Reptile
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 months, 3 days ago

        Ha ha ha! You're not wrong

  27. The Train Driver
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    This Ampadu guy looks good. Pretty attacking as well as good for DEFCON. Also on long throws.

  28. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    DCL at Leeds now, unsure if he adds much to their squad. Serious lack of goals for a striker.

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 3 days ago

      & speed vs injuries

  29. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 3 days ago

    Leeds look like a team which will huff and puff a lot but won’t score. Just like last time they were in PL?