Dugout Discussion
18 October 2025 808 comments
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Five more Premier League games get underway at 3pm BST, with all three newly promoted clubs in action – so many Gameweek 8 Bench Boost outcomes ride on the next few hours.


TEAM NEWS

Starting with ‘El Boostico’ (rubbish), there’s one enforced change for Leeds United as Jack Harrison replaces the injured Noah Okafor.

Daniel James and Lucas Perri have recovered from injury but are only among the substitutes.

Scott Parker, meanwhile, makes three changes to his Burnley side, one of which is injury-related as Lyle Foster is absent with a dead leg.

Zian Flemming, Lesley Ugochukwu and Jacob Bruun Larsen come in, while Loum Tchaouna and Josh Laurent drop to the bench.

Jaiden Anthony is fit to start.

In another match that features a number of budget picks being ‘boosted’, Sunderland host Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 7%-owned Omar Alderete has recovered from injury and is joined in the starting XI by Chris Rigg and Dan Ballard, with Arthur Masuaku and Simon Adingra making way.

Wolves bring in Rodrigo Gomes and the fit-again Matt Doherty for the injured Hwang Hee-chan and the benched Jackson Tchatchoua.

There’s a surprise benching for Josko Gvardiol at the Etihad, which naturally comes a day after Pep Guardiola praised the Croatian’s powers of recovery.

Oscar Bobb is also demoted to substitute duty and Rodri misses out, with Nico Gonzalez, Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku handed recalls.

Omar Marmoush is on the bench after recovering from injury.

There are also three changes for Everton, who can’t call upon ineligible loanee Jack Grealish.

David Moyes brings in Carlos Alcaraz, Beto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry make way.

The absence of Evanlison, and a start for £4.5m forward Eli Kroupi, is the headline news from the Vitality. Evanilson misses out with a calf injury.

Alex Jimenez and Justin Kluivert also come in, with David Brooks injured and James Hill benched.

Crystal Palace are unchanged.

So too are Newcastle United for their trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, who bring in Georginio Rutter for the unavailable Brajan Gruda.

Kaoru Mitoma misses out again.

LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Dunk, van Hecke, Kadioglu, Ayari, Gomez, Baleba, Minteh, Welbeck, Georginio.

Subs: Steele, Tzimas, Watson, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Coppola, Oriola.

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon

Subs: Ramsdale, Schar, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Ramsey, Miley.


Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Ugochukwu, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman, Bruun Larsen, Cullen, Florentino, Anthony, Flemming

Subs: Weiss, Edwards, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Pires, Broja, Mejbri, Laurent, Barnes.

Leeds United XI: Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Harrison

Subs: Perri, James, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Justin, Gruev.


Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Richards, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Clyne, Devenny, Canvot, Lerma, Sosa, Hughes, Esse, Nketiah,

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Truffert, Senesi, Diakite, Scott, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Kroupi.

Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Smith, Cook, Adli, Hill, Milosavljevic, Christie, Gannon-Doak.


Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Ake, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Stones, Gvardiol, Lewis, Kovačić, Cherki, Silva, Bobb, Marmoush.

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

Subs: Travers, King, Coleman, Aznou, Dibling, Rohl, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Barry.


Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Ballard, Alderete, Mukiele, Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Rigg, Le Fee, Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Geertruida, Talbi, Brobbey, Mayenda, O’Nien, Adingra, Masuaku.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Johnstone, Doherty, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Munetsi, Trindade, J Gomes, Arias, Larsen, R Gomes.

Subs: Sa, Wolfe, Agbadou, Arokodare, Mosquera, T Gomes, Hoever, Lopez, Tchatchoua.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DC) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

808 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Do something Minteh

  2. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Reijnders is everywhere

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Benched him after weeks of misery. Expecting a couple of returns from him.

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Will be suprised if he doesn’t return anything here

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Except in the points

  3. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Imagine having Krapi Jr on a bench boost! Someone must have

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      I have Kroupi last on bench, but no boost.

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        I would have boosted

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          5 months, 20 days ago

          Got Reinaldo so never considered it. Had been hoping though that Kroupi would get a start soon and make boost possible. Evanilson will just be tired probably, but if injured, Kroupi might get a good run.

      2. SUPERMAN
        • 13 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Same. May just play it next week though. Not that I expect a brace.

  4. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    If this is what Kroupi Junior has to offer, just wait until we get Kroupi Senior.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Lol - very good!

  5. el polako
    • 8 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    That was never a Semenyo assist.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      It isnt in football terms. But in fpl rules it is

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Kroupi wasn’t intended target - ball was cleared by Guehi and then Kroupi running into the box put it in the net.

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 6 Years
          5 months, 20 days ago

          intended target doesnt matter as long as the touch by opposing defender is in the box

    2. MADCHESTER UTD
      • 10 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Agreed. How was it an assist when Geuhi diverted it to kroopi. Should be recinded

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        rules have changed

        1. MADCHESTER UTD
          • 10 Years
          5 months, 20 days ago

          Yeah I get now it is classed as an assist but I hope they review that next season.

    3. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Semenyo told me at half time he intended to hit krapi

  6. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Semenyo has to finally be considered for captaincy every week. Similar to Palmer 2 years ago when nobody took him seriously for the armband

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Dissimilar to Palmer, he doesn't need pens every GW

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      No need to go there while Haaland is on form imo

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Haalands form has gone now, sucked away by the IB.

    3. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Is he not already?

      If not Haaland if would be him for me

  7. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Pep continuing to hang around at Man City when the party was over last year. Boring, uninspired stuff.

  8. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Transferring Rutter to Sarr trolling already.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Only HT

      1. Yes Ndidi
        • 6 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        I know. Still trolling though.

  9. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Bournemouth top of the league

  10. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Reijinders passing the eye test but not any points.

  11. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Gyökeres to Kroupi incoming :mrgreen:

  12. F4L
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    ndiaye will get dc points

  13. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    how’s minteh playing? looking at him for either GW9 or GW10

  14. Silecro
    • 8 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    It all points to Salah doing a 20 pointer tomorrow vs utd, cannot go different

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      More likely to be Gakpo than Mo!

  15. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    El Kroupi 3rd on bench is killing me 🙁

    Though good for price rises I guess

  16. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Evanilson in my first XI....

    Kroupi Jr first on the bench 😀

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Haha well played

  17. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Evanilson not even in the squad today?

  18. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Haaland looking like Salah today. Invisible

    1. iFash@FPL
      • 2 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      How do you see him, if he’s invisible?

      1. Aster
        • 5 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Long blond hair

  19. Aster
    • 5 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Petrovic such an underrated GK. Chelsea made a huge mistake.

  20. zon
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Ndiaye 12 defcons in 45 minutes

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Ridiculously good.

  21. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Selling both Porro and VDV in the coming weeks. Which one to sell first for Senesi?

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      VdV

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Thanks

  22. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Yikes, I benched Petrovic and Senesi for Vicario and Krejci

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Now that's Krejci.

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Even in hindsight I wouldn’t have doubled up away to Palace but I’m sure I would have played Senesi.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        I had Gabriel and Caliaflori with Semenyo vs Muniz and Sarr vs Senesi. So I went Krejci.

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 12 Years
          5 months, 20 days ago

          Fair enough, I try to avoid defenders v attackers also.

  23. LosBlancos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Will Kroupi be the starter? Where did Evanilson dissappear to?

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Only if Evan is injured imo. Probably just tired.

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Calf injury. Article above

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          5 months, 20 days ago

          Oh, interesting. Can play Kroupi next week then maybe.

      2. LosBlancos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        Ta

  24. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Gyokeres will be the unlikely hero of this low scoring week. Brace or hatti inbound.

    1. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      I think Fulham will win.

      Could score though.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        I heard some Arsenal fans say Fulham is a bogey team. With only Timber and Gyokeres, I wouldn’t mind Fulham scoring at least.

  25. ZeBestee
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Did Ndiaye 》 Sarr

    Looks like ametuer move so far.

  26. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    I love how Gvardiol actually told people not to buy him ahead of this gameweek :mrgreen:

    https://x.com/BBCMOTD/status/1979242050420904264

  27. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Wildcard positive is that no one I dropped has scored or assisted yet 🙂

  28. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    dont have ndiaye but he looks like someone u can just set and forget. tie to get him

    in tougher games he's very likely to get defcons at least + possible attaccking returns

    in easier games he's likely to get atacking returns + possible deacons

    and then u have penos on top of that

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Another of those don't captain, don't bench sort of assets.

  29. F4L
    • 11 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    senesi already at 10 defcon already, hes just ridiculous.

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      *nearly sorry, on 9

      1. lilmessipran
        • 13 Years
        5 months, 20 days ago

        The only essential player in the game

  30. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    5 months, 20 days ago

    Think I need to get behind the Ndiaye pick a bit more.. can get attacking returns in the easier fixtures, does defcon in the difficult ones + on pens..should have been there, mad I went with Gordon..doesn't do anything at all

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      5 months, 20 days ago

      Content creators were such turncoats when it came to Ndiaye. A few weeks ago they all said he was essential in wildcard teams. He then blanked for one week and they all said to sell him. Hilarious stuff.