Dugout Discussion
1 January 2026 608 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Two more Premier League matches to come now as Gameweek 19, and the first half of the Premier League season, draws to a close.

It’s Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland v Manchester City.

Kick-off in both fixtures is at 20:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Pep Guardiola has kept changes to a minimum over the last month or so but he’s made two tonight.

The most surprising one comes in defence as Nathan Ake comes into the side in place of Josko Gvardiol.

Further forward, Savinho replaces Tijjani Reijnders, who drops to the bench alongside Gvardiol.

Jeremy Doku is also among the substitutes after recovering from injury.

Just the one alteration for Sunderland as Eliezer Mayenda is brought in to replace the benched Chris Rigg.

And there’s also just one solitary change for Brentford, who prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur.

Jordan Henderson is back in the starting line-up to replace Mathias Jensen.

Igor Thiago starts a midweek game for the first time this season.

Thomas Frank is back at his former club and makes three changes, one enforced due to the injury sustained by Lucas Bergvall at the weekend.

Joao Palhinha benefits from the Swede’s absence.

Cristian Romero returns from suspension to replace Kevin Danso, while Wilson Odobert gets the nod over Randal Kolo Muani.

Brennan Johnson is nowhere to be seen as he prepares to put pen to paper on a move to Crystal Palace.

LINE-UPS

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Lewis-Potter, Henderson, Schade, Igor Thiago.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Jensen, Nelson, Damsgaard, Konak, Donovan.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha, Gray, Bentancur, Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert.

Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Dragusin, Danso, Tel, Davies, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Olusesi.


Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin, Xhaka, Geertruida, Mayenda, Adingra, Le Fee, Brobbey.

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Rigg, Isidor, Mundle, Hjelde, H.Jones, O’Nien, Tutierov.

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

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Doku, Rodri, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Mukasa, Lewis, R. Heskey.


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:

Sunderland City

price change predictions
608 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Haaland A

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Offside

    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Bugger offside by studs

  2. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    silva just off jeez

    1. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Off by a boot it seems!

  3. HVT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Are we getting press conferences tomorrow?

  4. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Is Ake slang for Ache? Because that man is always in pain or injured

  5. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Cant even hedge against Haaland by betting on him to score because goal scorer odds are always so laughably terrible.

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Goal scoring odds are set to even out the gambling, not the actual expected outcome.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        They're set to the actual outcome with a load of margin in the bookmakers favour.

        1. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 28 days ago

          The bookmakers want to encourage gamblers to choose both sides. Make their money off the vig.

          1. Mr. O'Connell
            • 13 Years
            4 months, 28 days ago

            True, but not with goalscorer bets seeing as you can't bet someone not to score.

          2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
            • 15 Years
            4 months, 28 days ago

            Exactly. Bookmakers’ odds reflect how much money has been bet on each outcome, not the true likelihood (how can that even be known ahead of time?) Their goal is to balance the book to guarantee profit and limit risk. The odds only approximate actual probabilities if you accept the ‘wisdom of the crowds’ i.e. the aggregate bets happen to reflect reality

          3. Brosstan
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 28 days ago

            My point is the vig could be much lower and they would still make money. The vig on goal scoring odds is particularly awful

            1. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 28 days ago

              The "vig" as in the edge they give themselves on the bets.

              1. panda07
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 months, 28 days ago

                Margin

    2. Naatie
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Do you always turn matchdays into moandays. Damn

      1. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        Youre the only poster on here with a higher moan to positivity ratio than I lol.

  6. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    ffs collins are you ever gonna score this season

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Did he miss one?

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        so close to scoring, vicario just saved on the line

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 28 days ago

          🙁

    2. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Did you see the chance Lacroix missed earlier? Saved off the line by Guehi...

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        ah damn, no didnt get to catch the whole fulham match. seems like some CBs this year just dont have that goal scoring touch. or luck on their side

        feels nice to have gabriel back, at least he knows where the goal is! 🙂

      2. F4L
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        like you've got vvd, vdb, collins, lacroix, milenkovic, senesi just to name a few all on 0 goals currently half way into the season

        1. Captain Mal
          • 1 Year
          4 months, 28 days ago

          Yeah, and all of them have had their fair share of chances. Tarkowski and Andersen, too (also missed a big chance today)

  7. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Coming off at what looks like my worst FH ever!

    Thinking I will go back to 2 x Arse atb (Timber & Gab). Not sure who to swap Rice out for though?

    Rice & Senesi to Gab & 6.4mid (will play most weeks)

    Gravenberch is an option.

    Any suggestions?

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Stach/Garner/Xhaka

  8. EL tridente
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Best midfielder up to 6.4?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      I've been looking too

      Don't like most of them

      I'd probably go down to the £5m mark

      Especially if you don't have Guiu

      Otherwise Enzo? But not next week...

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      when ndiaye comes back think it'll be him at that price point. for now not sure

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Garner

  9. CYN
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Time to move on Andersen now?

    Struggling to see a good replacement under 4.6 though unfortunately...

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Alderete

      1. CYN
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        Got Mukiele already so bit reluctant to double but yeah, Alderete is nice for defcon.

        1. Ha.
          • 10 Years
          4 months, 28 days ago

          Gudmundsson even if he’s not going to play Liverpool every week

  10. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Who's watching Brentford Vs Brentford?

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Brentford fans probably

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Nope, don't have Amazon Prime so only Sunderland v Man City on here.

  11. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Almost got Gvardiol on there. But Ake second coming of Lazarus.

  12. Boleyn Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Evening All. Yay or nay to these transfers? Thanks in advance

    Hincapie, VVD & Semenyo > Gabriel, Tarkowski & Rogers (-4)

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Shame it’s not for free but probably worth it

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Oh yeah

  13. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Stach last two games 4 and 5 for me. Doesn't get much better than that.

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      14 and 15 would be much better than that

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        That doesn't sound like my 25/26 season narrative.

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      its honest work

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Sunderland looking good

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Nailed on City CS

  15. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Robby close

  16. Bigbars
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    fake donarumma injury to hold up play... like clockwork

  17. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Hold Wilson or get rid ?
    Didn’t watch the game fixtures start to turn…

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Not much on offer around his price point
      Maybe Garner at Everton but KDH probably better when back
      Wolves 7 Leeds at home in 21 & 23

      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        *&* not 7

      2. FantasyClub
        • 5 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        Yeah I did check the alternatives no one stands out. KDH is the one at the price point

  18. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Brobbey is a unit

  19. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Crowd doing a great 12th man job. So different to Anfield.

  20. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Which is the priority transfer - have exact funds to do one:

    A) Virgil to Gabriel
    B) Thiago to Bowen

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      A

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      A

  21. Four Letter Wirtz
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    I have triple City with Haaland (c) and yet I find myself cheering for Sunderland

  22. DROP IT LIKE IT'S HART
    • 13 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Did Ekitike get any DEFCON? I'm that desperate.

    1. Monklane
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Take a wild guess on that one.

  23. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Nico down

  24. Questions for Zophar's GW20 Q&A article
    zøphar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Taking questions for the Gameweek 20 Q&A, send them in! Answers will be posted in a separate article

    Will be writing after the conclusion of tonight's matches so feel free to wait till then

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Should I change mine team name from Margot Brobby to Kayode Ugly? Thankee!

      1. zøphar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        like it, I've been thinking about changing mine to "Zouma Kicked Gittens" but I'm afraid I will be in big, big trouble, and I don't want to be in big trouble

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Would like your inputs on squad structure moving away from 352 to perhaps 442 or 451

    3. zøphar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      easy guys, dont everyone reply at once

    4. Mini League Fatigue
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      In an underwhelming week of scores, it feels like (Haaland aside) there are very few reliable haulers, instead bunch of streakers where getting in early makes a big difference to rank (Foden / Rogers / Cherki recent examples). So, who should we be getting in on early for the next hot streaks?

  25. DROP IT LIKE IT'S HART
    • 13 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Rodri is back.

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      DM

  26. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    todays' matches not exactly jam packed full of entertainment....

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Watching the darts, deffo a better watch than GW19....

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 months, 28 days ago

        Back to back 180's to kick off the final QF....sweet

  27. Four Letter Wirtz
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    It's so blatant how Man City just use a timeout when things are not going well

    1. putana
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      a bunch of teams do it

    2. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 28 days ago

      And then you have Ruben Dias crying because teams play too defensively against them. Embarrassing...

  28. putana
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    when a player is down injured the manager should have to be on the bench. No giving messages to the team

  29. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Must be the lowest scoring GW so far

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Horrendous GW

  30. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 28 days ago

    Rogers or Cherki?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Rogers

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 28 days ago

      Cherki isn’t nailed, and being invisible tonight won’t help his cause.