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Leeds v Newcastle team news: Elanga + Barnes benched

30 August 2025 572 comments
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Leeds United v Newcastle United rounds off Saturday’s Premier League football.

Kick-off at Elland Road is at 17:30 BST.

Leeds’ line-up shows two changes from Gameweek 2.

Lukas Nmecha and, facing his old club, Sean Longstaff come into the starting XI.

Joel Piroe drops to the bench, while Ao Tanaka is injured.

New signing James Justin is named among the substitutes.

There are some real surprises with the Newcastle line-up.

We knew that Anthony Gordon and Joelinton would miss out through suspension and injury.

But the benching of Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes is an eyebrow-raiser.

Jacob Ramsey is handed his full debut, while William Osula makes his first Premier League start for the Magpies.

The recall of Sven Botman hints at a formation change, too.

Jacob Murphy comes in for Elanga, meanwhile.

LINE-UPS

Leeds United XI: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Gruev, Stach, James, Nmecha, Gnonto

Subs: Darlow, Justin, Bornauw, Bijol, Harrison, Aaronson, Okafor, Piroe, Calvert-Lewin.

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Livramento, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Murphy, Osula.

Subs: Ramsdale, Hall, Lascelles, Thiaw, Krafth, Barnes, Willock, Miley, Elanga.

572 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Sting
    1 year, 1 month ago

    anyone know why Barnes and Elanga were benched?

    was it purely tactical?

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  2. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Just in from my 7th game of the season AFC Totton 2 Eastbourne Borough 1 in the NL South.

    A great second half. Totton coming back from a goal down with a winner on 86 mins! Soaked to the bone after three hours stood on the terrace. Only downside today I took Enzo out on Freehit for double Spurs mids!

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    1. Three Pints of Schlager
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Seven games already?
      I assume you are not married with children.

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      1. Three Pints of Schlager
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Or are you a scout?

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      2. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        AFC Totton season ticket holder along with my 15year old daughter. Life long 40+ years Utd fan. Attended 25 live games last season not too bad. Watch quite a bit of cricket too went to the Hundred last week and also do lots of motorsport Goodwood events etc. Gets her out of the house and off her phone! Sports obsessives!

        Next game Tuesday evening vs Chesham.

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  3. have you seen cyan
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Not watching, but what was Howe thinking with this line up. No surprise it’s 0-0.

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  4. _Ninja_
    1 year, 1 month ago

    With Isak likely going to Liverpool are Ekitike and Gakpo risks now? Is Ekitike likely to play on the left?

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    1. Mr.K
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I don't think Isak is anywhere near fit to start?

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      1. _Ninja_
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Its a 2 week international break now though. he's still been training just seperately

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    2. el polako
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Isak should go to Man Utd, to make them even better.

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    3. Brosstan
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I dont like owning Ekitike for 9.0 with Isak in the same squad, thats for sure. Salah becomes a better Liverpool option due to security of minutes. He always had that but now the other Pool assets even less so.

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  5. g40steve
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gnoto off he’s blind to movement around him!

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  6. Brosstan
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Does Mark own van de Ven? That was a clear OG

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    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He doesn't
      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/795/event/3

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      1. Brosstan
        1 year, 1 month ago

        That team is an absolute shambles.

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        1. Moon Dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 year, 1 month ago

          He should order his players by price, I agree.

          Disgraceful behaviour.

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  7. g40steve
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Tripps off
    Hall on

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  8. g40steve
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Murph off
    Elanga on

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  9. fedolefan
    1 year, 1 month ago

    God, that banner is never going away right.

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  10. Three Pints of Schlager
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    A longa wait is on.

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  11. Tonyawesome69
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Barnes and Elanga benching is thought to be tactical.

    Seems strange to change from standard 433 to 532 setup. The main outlets for Newcastle are typically the WFs. Feels like Howe overthought this fixture rather than trying to dominate with their normal style of play.

    https://x.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1961818960975823258?t=UyYiJfn90BAyhV04k2Xqjg&s=19

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  12. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Fabio Borges free hit this week:
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/4783108/event/3

    Triple Manchester United midfield + Salah (C). Surprised there's no Haaland.

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    1. Brosstan
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Salah non cappers in shambles

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  13. ☈☾
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Cunha injury doesn’t look bad

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Based on what?

      We won't know the full extent of the hammy injury until he goes for scan

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      1. ☈☾
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Was walking off normally after the match

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        1. Brosstan
          1 year, 1 month ago

          You can walk with a partially torn hammy no problem. You are months off being able to run.

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        2. Tonyawesome69
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Ah the classic 'walking normal after the game' prognosis haha

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    2. Brosstan
      1 year, 1 month ago

      It looked like a classic hammy. If hes out for less than 2 months Ill be extremely surprised.

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    3. F4L
      1 year, 1 month ago

      might be the same as delap

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  14. Bluetiger1
    1 year, 1 month ago

    is Johnson (Spurs) injured as noticed sub after 53mins - apologies if already an update

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Seemed tactical

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    2. _Ninja_
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Nah just really poor

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      1. g40steve
        1 year, 1 month ago

        This

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    3. Three Pints of Schlager
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Spurs are first contender for the trap of the season award

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  15. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Calvert-Lewin still has Flubber attached to the bottom of his shoes then...

    Hopefully he rediscovers some form soon. Would be a nice option to have.

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  16. Sgt Frank Drebin
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Surprisingly quiet about Isak's move. Newcastle still not even close to buying 2nd striker. We'll see tomorrow, but does anyone else think it might not happen?

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    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Probably a game of who blinks first 😆

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  17. Three Pints of Schlager
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    OMG, what a boring game in Leeds.

    Highlights so far:

    1) DCL came on
    2) mmm

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  18. g40steve
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Bank those 9 points Gudmund

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  19. Atimis
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gudmundsson you beauty! Glad Dorgu sat the whole game

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  20. Bobby Digital
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Ha! Bank that CS Gudmundsson!

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    1. Planet Head
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Possible baps as well, come on

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      1. GoonerSteve
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Played him due to Ballard injury. Get in.

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      2. Effe
        1 year, 1 month ago

        🙂

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  21. Brunsvigeren
    1 year, 1 month ago

    If I already have 3 Pool players and I buy Isak now, and he transfers to Liverpool. Will I be able to have 4 Liverpool players?

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    1. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yes

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    2. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yes, but your next transfer has to be a Liverpool player out. It's forced on you.

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      1. Brunsvigeren
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Okay, but a funny one to play with, just activated WC 🙂

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  22. Mr. O'Connell
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gudmunsson 3rd on bench good for team value

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  23. 824545201
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gudmundsson taunting me from the bench with yet another 9 pointer.

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    1. g40steve
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Missed first, no way that’s happening again 😉

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      1. Bobby Digital
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Ditto

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      2. Atimis
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Yeah

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    2. _Freddo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Was forced to start him because of Ballard.

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  24. ☈☾
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gudmunddson on my bench is annoying. Didn’t think Newcastle would be toothless

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  25. g40steve
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gudmund +1.25M rise 😎

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  26. Flynny
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Is that gudmundsson injured?

    I need him for a start in gw4.....

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    1. Bobby Digital
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Looked like a cramp

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      1. Flynny
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Cheers
        Hope so

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      2. Effe
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Thanks. Hope it was just that.

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      3. g40steve
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Covers more distance than the United team

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  27. Brosstan
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Dorgu not starting 🙁
    Dorgu would have gotten 1 point anyway 🙂
    Gudmundson on the bench 🙂
    Konsa ahead of him on the bench 🙁

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Luck can't be planned 😉

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  28. Gudjohnsen
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Delete team or not?

    Sanchez, Dubravka
    Saliba, Cash, Guehi, Van De Ven, Gudmundsson
    Cunha, MGW, Semenyo, Reijnders, Ramsey
    Haaland, Watkins, Goykeres

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    1. g40steve
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Nah,

      Remove when FT allow Cunha, Watkins.

      Did you play Gudmund?

      If not give yourself a slap!

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  29. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Has DCL got more pace now? Looks in good physical shape.

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  30. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Rodon with an 8 pointer rooted to the bench. This should have been my BB week.

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    1. Nomar
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I started him this week

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    2. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Outscoring all my players put together almost bar Bruno(C)

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    3. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      You could never have known he'd get a CS to Newcastle.

      Especially after the way they played against Liverpool with 10 men. Newcastle have looked strong so far this season.

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        If I set up my bench for a boost for this week I'd have:

        Dubravka (LIV), Tosin (FUL), Rodon (NEW), Sarr (BOU)

        It's pretty good! I boosted in GW1 though for 15 points so it's not too far off.

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        1. Moon Dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Yeah that's a tough call.

          I've never really rated the bench boost, so I just used it on a 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.0 - 4.5 bench in GW2 for 14pts. Pretty satisfied with that 😆

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        2. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 year, 1 month ago

          It's less attractive of a Bench Boost when you had Dorgu who Tosin (8) autosubs on for.

          Would have been a 11 point BB. Okay. Not bad. Not great.

          Unlucky with Rodon but not many predicted a clean sheet.

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      2. Nomar
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Newcastle were playing away from home, have a load of injuries and zero strikers. It was likely they would struggle in this game.

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    4. Gubby-Allen
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Is it not 7?

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      1. Zalk
        1 year, 1 month ago

        yep

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