Dugout Discussion
27 December 2025 529 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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One more match to go today, and it’s an intriguing one: Chelsea v Aston Villa.

Kick-off is at 17:30 GMT.

It’s fourth v third based on pre-Gameweek table places, although Chelsea have slipped down to fifth after Liverpool’s win earlier.

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca makes two changes from the 2-2 draw at Newcastle United.

One comes at centre-half as Benoit Badiashile replaces Wesley Fofana.

The other alteration sees Enzo Fernandez come in for Malo Gusto. That will mean a move back to right-back for Reece James, following his recent stint in midfield.

Estevao and Liam Delap return from injury and make the bench. 

There are two changes for the hosts, too, as Donyell Malen and Emiliano Buendia are preferred to Amadou Onana and Ollie Watkins.

LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.

Subs: Jorgensen, Fofana, Tosin, Acheampong, Gusto, Santos, Estevao, Gittens, Delap.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Malen. 

Subs: Bizot, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Hemmings, Onana, Sancho, Watkins, Jimoh-Aloba.

price change predictions
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  1. Kaneyonero
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Dubs getting more than my Ekitike (C)

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

      Up to 11...

      22 points benched with Guiu there too.

  2. Atimis
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    That Semenyo jam people keep getting is beyond ridiculous to me lol

    1. GreennRed
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      He's quite good.

    2. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Isn't fpl all about jam...or is it only when the fit, or not

      1. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        shoe*

    3. lilmessipran
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Mins are king in the long term..rugged, plays 90 week in week out bound to tick over nicely.. unless he joins City in Jan ofc

      1. GreennRed
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        Pep will turn him into another Grealish. Knock the wizardry out of him.

    4. Mr. O'Connell
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Guy who historically shoots a lot has just got a bit better at shooting

  3. Brosstan
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Only a Guiu haul from the bench can save my GW

    1. chocolove
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      No Guiu in the squad

  4. Supersonic_
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Need some Stach points tomorrow, actually started the guy this week.

    1. F4L
      10 months, 5 hours ago

      got him on bb, hes looked really good of late in this new leeds' set up. fingers crossed

  5. FC Hakkebøf
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Dubravka gave me a green arrow. Did not expect that.

    1. chocolove
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Hero

    2. GreennRed
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Fair play. 1 million times per million I'd start Raya. Glad a few Wirtz punters got rewarded too.

  6. Kno
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    A guy in my mini league actually lost points by playing his BB this week so far, -1 0 0 with only stach left to play from the bench :/

    That petrovic own goal pain

  7. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Will Semenyo get one last game for Bournemouth?

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

      He could have 2 or 3

      Gw19-21

      But the fixtures are tougher

      1. Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        I'll keep playing him til he moves, can score vs anyone & have to prioritise shifting VVD & Hincapie

    2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Bet he doesn’t even leave

  8. JBG
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Dubravka being my highest scoring asset this GW was not on my bingo card

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      At least he's not rooted on your bench like many

    2. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      I played verbruggen like a clown

      1. JBG
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        Him or Petrovic, easy choice for me XD

  9. F4L
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    will be an interesting match. think chelsea get the win , palmer watch.....

  10. lilmessipran
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Need an injured Richards to score a hat trick tomorrow to save my season.

  11. Ha.
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Saka > Rice
    King > Cunha
    Senesi > Dalot

    It’s done

  12. KeanosMagic
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Do we assume Palmer is good to bring in now? 2 games in a week doable?

    1. F4L
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      i still think theres a good chance hes on the bench vs bournemouth so he can start the next 2

    2. g40steve
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Hopefully got him in for Bruno.

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Can’t see him starting vs Bournemouth in midweek

  13. Tripleh123
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    Which midfielder for next few gameweeks?

    A. Wilson
    B. Minteh

    1. Bobby Digital
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      B on fixtures

  14. F4L
    10 months, 5 hours ago

    schade scoring hat tricks in back to back seasons now as a winger. very impressive

  15. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    When I play Sanchez, Dubs does well and vice versa. My bench team this season is doing really well.

  16. NABIL - FPL otai
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Just Semenyo goal and 3 assists.

    Need a big act from Le Fee and Mukiele tomorrow to save my GW.

  17. g40steve
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Semenyo & Dubravka, just wow!

    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Semenyo getting 2 bonus in a 4-1 loss is mad but I ain’t complaining lol

  18. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Matty Cash going LARGE tonight

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Eating 10 Burgers before the game, is he?

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        And the brace 😉

  19. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    If only Esteve would have played, would have been perfect subbing in for Timberrrr

  20. riot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    happier about frimpong cap 5 pointer than whatever monster haul schade pulled

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      stinky boast post srry

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        Differential points always hit the sweetest.

  21. adstomko
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Timber > Gabriel tonight for exact money?

    1. F4L
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      probably wait, need arteta to say how gabriels is feeling after being out for a while and getting mins.

      i guess if calafiori is out it might help gabriels case of being rushed-ish back if arteta doesnt want mls starting so hincapie can go LB

      1. adstomko
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        Problem is that I’d be priced out going Gabriel if one of them go up/go down in price

        1. F4L
          10 months, 4 hours ago

          yeah fair, i dont think gabriel will be rising soon but not sure about timber.

          hmm its a risk. go for it if needs be i guess, obviously will want gabriel long term at least anyways

    2. lilmessipran
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Monitor price rises but that's a move I'd be happy to make

  22. Fabreghastly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Time for Maresca to puncture AV's bubble

  23. F4L
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    west ham are proper average. i really can't see how they beat the drop

    1. THE Wild Rover
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Average is a bit generous

  24. Pep's Money Laundry
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Those on FH19, which keeper are you going for?

    I'm currently thinking Forest v Everton is the fixture to target

    1. FDMS All Starz
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Henderson vs fulham? Palace are always good for CSs

      1. DROP IT LIKE IT'S HART
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        Palace have gone off the boil recently. The injuries and absences esp in defence have started to bite.

    2. Punned It
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Pickford for me.

  25. Yes Ndidi
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    out of the cup 37-62 (and the other guy still has Chalobah to play)

    Time to concentrate on the league

  26. GENERATION X
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Never been all out on a full gameweek with 3 games to go, just hope my 52 green arrow holds.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      A lot will be in the same boat. Just Le Fee to come here.

    2. djman102
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      From livefpl, most active managers only have 1-2 players left. Id guess Rogers and Sunderland defense biggest threats.

  27. FDMS All Starz
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    What’s the FH template for gw19?

    1. Fifa las vegas
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      I’m actually not even sure, after huge tinkering already, and for sure more to come as I’m not happy with it, I’ve landed on this.

      Sanchez
      Gabriel, Frimpong, Dalot
      Wirtz, Cunha, Foden, Cherki
      Haaland, Ekitike, JP

      1. Fifa las vegas
        10 months, 4 hours ago

        Means I’m taking out Saka, Rice, Rogers and O’Reilly from current team which doesn’t feel right even given the fixtures

        1. GreennRed
          10 months, 4 hours ago

          Stick Obi on bench and get a 5th mid?

        2. The Big Fella
          10 months, 4 hours ago

          I have a similar dilemma in that I am happy with my attacking team for this week so unless I did it on purpose to bring in differentials I would only be changing the bench, the keeper and some defenders. I am debating taking out Foden but leaving the Arsenal boys as I think Sunderland away for City will be tough. I’d try and bring in Palmer if I did that.

          1. Fifa las vegas
            10 months, 4 hours ago

            Is Sunderland’s home form way better than away? Considering city scored 3 against them in the reverse fixture.

            1. djman102
              10 months, 4 hours ago

              I don't think Sunderland have lost at home this season

  28. Firminooooo
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Dubravka and Verbruggen the perfect pair. 11 points every GW. Keep it going!

  29. lilmessipran
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Can't wait for GW20 to come around so that I can get rid of VVD, has been an absolutely terrible hold stinking up my team.

  30. Kaneyonero
    10 months, 4 hours ago

    Roger masterclass again please

    1. Kaneyonero
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Rogers even

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Love a good rogering

    3. GreennRed
      10 months, 4 hours ago

      Jolly Roger