Dugout Discussion
27 December 2025 661 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

There are five more Premier League matches up now, with the reigning champions among the teams in action:

Wilson fit

TEAM NEWS

The headline team news is at the Emirates and chiefly concerns Arsenal’s defence.

Piero Hincapie is fit to keep his place after a midweek injury scare.

He may not have long in the side, however: Gabriel Magalhaes returns to the matchday squad as a substitute after injury.

The biggest surprise is the absence of Jurrien Timber.

It doesn’t end there, as Riccardo Calafiori has pulled out of the Gunners’ XI in the warm-up. In comes Myles Lewis-Skelly.

As for Brighton and Hove Albion, Fabian Hurzeler makes three changes.

Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Diego Gomez replace Mats Wieffer, Olivier Boscagli and Yankuba Minteh, who loses his ever-present starter status.

Arne Slot makes two changes for Liverpool, with Federico Chiesa coming in for the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai. This is Chiesa’s first Premier League start of the season.

Jeremie Frimpong also replaces Conor Bradley, who is at least fit enough to be on the bench. Cody Gakpo is also back from injury as a substitute.

Four changes for Wolverhampton Wanderers: Mateus Mane, Yerson Mosquera, Hugo Bueno and Tolu Arokodare come in.

It’s nice and simple in east London as both West Ham United and Fulham are unchanged. That, of course, means that Harry Wilson is fit after Monday’s knock.

Kristoffer Ajer comes in for the absent Sepp van den Berg in Brentford’s only change.

Alex Scott, Adam Smith and Junior Kroupi oust David Brooks, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert for visitors Bournemouth. Antoine Semenyo starts despite speculation over his future.

Finally, at Burnley, the hosts are still without Maxime Esteve.

Armando Broja, Bashir Humphreys and Marcus Edwards come in for Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony and the unavailable Joe Worrall for the Clarets.

Everton are without the ill Jack Grealish, so in comes Tyler Dibling. Beto is also preferred to Thierno Barry.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, Rice, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Jesus, Eze, Magalhaes, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Coppola, Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Ayari, De Cuyper, Gruda, Gomez, Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Minteh, Watson, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Wieffer, Veltman.


Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Ajer, Henry, Yarmolyuk, Janelt, Jensen, Schade, Thiago, Lewis-Potter. 

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Damsgaard, Konak, Nunes, Donovan.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Tavernier, Cook, Smith, Scott, Semenyo, Kroupi. 

Subs: Dennis, Soler, Brooks, Evanilson, Christie, Adli, Kluivert, Hill, Unal.


Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Humphreys, Ekdal, Pires, Cullen, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Broja, Bruun Larsen.

Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Anthony, Florentino, Tchaouna, Flemming, Sonne, Tresor, Barnes.

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Dibling, Alcaraz, McNeil, Beto.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Barry, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell. 


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Chiesa, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Bradley, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, Mosquera, Krejci, S Bueno, Doherty, Gomes, Andre, H §Bueno, Mane, Hwang Hee-Chan, Arokodare.

Subs: Johnstone, Wolfe, Strand Larsen, Arias, Hoever, Lopez, Gonzalez, Tchatchoua, Rawlings.


West Ham United XI: Areola, Todibo, Kilman, Magassa, Walker-Peters, Scarles, Potts, Fernandes, Summerville, Paqueta, Bowen.

Subs: Hermansen, Earthy, Mavropanos, Rodriguez, Soucek, Kante, Golambeckis, Mayers, Wilson.

Fulham XI: Leno, Robinson, Andersen, Cuenca, Tete, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Kevin, Jimenez.

Subs: Lecomte, Castagne, Reed, Diop, Ridgeon, Cairney, King, Traore, Kusi-Asare.


price change predictions
661 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Gizzachance
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Ekitike already beating Haaland, if if only ends up with an assist! fair play to captainers, never usually works going against Haaland

  2. Nomar
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Wolves are going to replace Derby County in the record books,aren’t they?

    1. Gubby-Allen
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Seems so. They have a better team than Derby had but thenlinger it goes on the harder the win will be. They are down but I get the feeling if they win one, they may get one or two more.

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      They are setting losing run records this weekend.

  3. Gubby-Allen
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    How does Ekiteke compare to Haaland in captain % this week?

    Assuming he was the second most.

    1. Feanor
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      85%

  4. Tonyawesome69
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Petrovic OG and no assist confirmed

    https://x.com/i/status/2004941160830341206

    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      I don’t get that, I’m watching it and saw the goal, Sky even thought it was a Thiago goal lol

      1. Tonyawesome69
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        Don't know what you are watching, Diakite smashed it off Petrovic before it went over the line

        https://x.com/i/status/2004941527211192642

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Robbing my Thiago points, this is beyond luck 😆

  5. Sailboats
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Its over for non Ekiteke owners (me).

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Hardly

      With one assist

      Even a second half brace wouldn't be season over

    2. PartyTime
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Wirtz doing fine for me

  6. Atimis
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Cunha Haaland (c) over Wirtz Ekitike (c) feeling like a total sheep lol have to go back to trusting myself over being afraid of EO%

    1. Gudjohnsen
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      same

  7. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Why has Thiago not been given assist for second goal?
    It’s either a Thiago goal or assist lol

    1. Gudjohnsen
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Dalot getting assist yesterday was mind boggling for me

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      It’s neither

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        Yeah but I don’t get why?

        1. Royal5
          10 months, 5 hours ago

          Watch the raplay

    3. Royal5
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Nah, a defender clared in the keeper

    4. Utopsis
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      It's not an assist. He shot, hit the keeper, comes out, defender smashes against keeper and in

      1. a wat di rass
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        it's time the assist assister got points

        1. Mother Farke
          10 months, 5 hours ago

          Nah, the game would be shabite if everyone got points for every action.

    5. Atimis
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Sold by content creators?

  8. PartyTime
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Wlorian Firtz you beauty!

  9. Feanor
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Konate shocking

  10. Fifa las vegas
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Rogers is going to need to score a brace again to save the GW 😆

  11. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    What is Frimpong doing. Played 10 positions last 3 mins might as well take the gloves off Becker too.

  12. #1 Arne Engels Fan
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Does Rob Edwards have no shame? Setting up every game with the sole intention of not getting battered, only to end up getting battered anyway.

    1. Utopsis
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      His season won't be defined by results at places like Anfield

      1. #1 Arne Engels Fan
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        I meant more so that his approach is working against them. Liverpool have been shaky defensively all season yet they've made no attempt to put any pressure on them.

        Just sitting back and hoping not to concede more than 3 goals for 90 mins is hardly what an away end full of travelling fans want to see

        1. Utopsis
          10 months, 5 hours ago

          Remember they are completely short on confidence as well. If they try to play against Liverpool they will get destroyed. Don't blame him for trying to keep things tight and hope for a jammy goal in the dying minutes.

  13. Nightcrawler
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    correct decision re the brentford second goal

    nobody's even mentioned thiago's initial shot was actually going off target until the defender challening him deflected it towards the goal.

    no chance he gets the assist

  14. Ha.
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Thanks to whomever talked me out of Frimpong

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Better than Kerkez 🙂

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Always go with your gut

      1. Ha.
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        Amen

    3. Count of Monte Hristo
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Look in the mirror and say thanks then. Ha.

      1. Ha.
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        Nah

    4. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      He was the top Pool player for the preseason

    5. LarryDuff
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Man up

  15. Kaneyonero
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Frimpong Wirtz and Ekitike triple up looks enticing

    1. Ha.
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      (It’s Wolves)

    2. Fifa las vegas
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      That’ll be the FH pick for me next week. Guaranteed to end in tears

    3. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Ekitike is different class. Wirtz playing better. Frimpong showing some potential -from an FPL perspective

  16. Royal5
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Rice on 3(!) defcons >:(

  17. lilmessipran
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Need Senesi to shite some defcon points in the second half as I am not at all hopeful of an injured Richards starting tomorrow.

    1. Gubby-Allen
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      He got up to 6 but back to 5.

      Should be fine though.

  18. Gubby-Allen
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Could you lose Defcons once you have them?

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Yep. It happened to Xhaka last week

  19. BrockLanders
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Ridiculous that's not a Thiago assist.

    1. Utopsis
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Are you trolling? Because that is never ever a FPL and I own him

      1. Utopsis
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        FPL assist*

      2. Sailboats
        10 months, 5 hours ago

        It was definitely his assist. I own him and im not watching the match

    2. Royal5
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Damn rules etc

    3. Stimps
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      He did all that work for now assist, mental

  20. Mighty Duck
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    So, Chiesa wasn't the guy whose place Salah unfairly occupied.

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      I don’t think wide on the right is the gig for Chiesa tbf.

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Ngumoha should get some minutes he would shred this lot

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      He’s matched Salahs output so far

  21. pundit of punts
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Bournemouth defense fallen off a cliff

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Always on away games

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Adams was holding that midfield together

  22. THE Wild Rover
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Last time I bought Rice he got benched, I got him again this week and he plays FB. I think we were just not meant for each other 🙁

  23. Kaneyonero
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Rice and Andersen poor Defcons this gw

  24. Kaneyonero
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    This game needs a Saka Rice combo

    1. el polako
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      Sake.

  25. el polako
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    This game sucks.
    It just sucks.

    1. Sailboats
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      I agree

  26. Kaneyonero
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Reckon Chiesa goes off for Gakpo in the SH

  27. lilmessipran
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Minteh warming up

  28. Saka White Rice
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Any news on why Van Den Berg decided to p*** me off today?

    1. Mother Farke
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Van Den Iceberg sinks ranks at Christmas.

  29. SomeoneKnows
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Early transfer thoughts: 1FT + 0.7itb who should I prioritize replacing?

    A) Semenyo
    B) Minteh (despite BUR next)
    C) Lacroix

    Raya
    Timber, Lacroix, Keane, Andersen
    Saka, Foden, Semenyo, Bruno G.
    Haaland, Eketike

    (Dubravka, Minteh, Gudmundsson, Guiu)

    1. lilmessipran
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      A as I am unsure of his mins with a move imminent.

    2. Ha.
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      A

  30. Pep Roulette
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Just one goal from Ekitike would be lovely