Dugout Discussion
4 January 2026 977 comments
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After Leeds United and Manchester United cancelled each other out at Elland Road, the Premier League action continues with four 3pm GMT kick-offs:

TEAM NEWS

The absence of Hugo Ekitike from the Liverpool matchday squad is the headline team news.

The Frenchman misses out due to a minor fitness issue.

Andrew Robertson and Jeremie Frimpong drop to the bench, with Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo coming into the starting XI.

Issa Diop, Timothy Castagne and Tom Cairney start for Fulham.

Kenny Tete, Sander Berge and Kevin make way.

At Goodison Park, David Moyes makes two changes to the side that beat Nottingham Forest.

Michael Keane and Jack Grealish replace Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl.

Keith Andrews brings in Aaron Hickey, Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard for Brentford, with Rico Henry, Jordan Henderson and Keane Lewis-Potter dropping to the bench.

Jacob Murphy for Harvey Barnes is the only change for Newcastle United from Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Burnley.

Yoane Wissa consequently starts up front again in place of Nick Woltemade.

Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento return from injury as substitutes.

Oliver Glasner gives new signing Brennan Johnson his Crystal Palace debut as he replaces Justin Devenny.

Tottenham Hotspur give chances to Ben Davies and Mathys Tel.

Djed Spence and Palhinha drop to the bench.

Sunderland are unchanged from the side that drew with Manchester City in midweek.

LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dibling, McNeil, Grealish, Barry

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Beto, Rohl, Aznou, Armstrong, Welch, Campbell

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey, Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Jensen, Schade, Thiago

Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, van den Berg, Pinnock, Nelson, Henderson, Lewis-Potter, Peart-Harris, Donovan


Fulham XI: Leno, Diop, Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne, Lukic, Cairney, Robinson, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Jimenez

Subs: McNally, Lecomte, Amissah, Berge, Ridgeon, Reed, Traore, Kusi-Asare, Kevin

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Gakpo

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Ramsay, Frimpong, Gomez, Robertson, Nyoni, Chiesa, Ngumoha


Newcastle United XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, J Murphy, Gordon, Wissa

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, Barnes, Livramento, Woltemade, Willock, A Murphy, Ramsey

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi, Clyne, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell, Johnson, Pino, Mateta

Subs: Benitez, Uche, Esse, Canvot, Sosa, Rodney, Devenny, Benamar, Drakes-Thomas


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Davies, Bentancur, Gray, Kudus, Odobert, Tel, Richarlison

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Spence, Bergvall, Palhinha, Williams-Barnett, Kolo Muani, Scarlett

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

Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Ballard, Hjelde, Neil, Jones, Tutierov, Mundle, Rigg


Introducing The Eye Test 2
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  1. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Le fee assist

  2. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Should that be a Bruno assist?

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      think maybe too many deflections sadly

    2. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      That’s what I thought

  3. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Ekitike's absence gets Wilson off my bench, excellent.

    1. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Likewise. Not too bad.

  4. Machine Gun Skelly
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      okay really, Thiago, Bruno G,Thaiw, VDV, Wilson and Schade haul, and all high owned players, and i don't have any

    • TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Serious bench jam.... Wilson and Thiaw on for Minteh and Ekitike

      1. Sandy Ravage
        • 9 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        congrats

      2. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Nice!

      3. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Wow nice

    • Zilla
      • 8 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Thiaw seems like a way better pick than Hall.

    • FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Honestly this game is just infuriating. When it rains it pours. I’ve just used the WC and had Thiaw in every draft but decided to remove him last minute. This amongst many other poor decisions

    • Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      All the popular picks banging this week. Non-Foden owners get behind the sofa.

    • Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Bruno G might be a lock in my WC23.

    • AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Newcastle second goal

      With a flick on

      https://x.com/i/status/2007855361295110264

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

        Is that a Joe Linton fantasy assist?

    • Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Mukiele 0 DC in second half..

    • HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Konate with 1 defcon… 1…. ONE!

    • Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      They aren't showing the lines for that Wirtz goal.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        They don’t do lines with this technology

        1. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 days, 5 hours ago

          Grass lines aren't straight?

          1. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            3 days, 5 hours ago

            I thought you meant the VAR lines

          2. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 days, 5 hours ago

            Maybe it was communication error between VAR room and ref again?

      2. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        It was clearly offside in replay. I feel robbed since I have Andersen as 1st sub for Ekitike.

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 days, 5 hours ago

          They showed it earlier

        2. Supersonic_
          • 4 Years
          3 days, 5 hours ago

          Snap plus the two lads breathing down my neck in ML have wirtz

    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Dawson is so rude. He always shouts as loud as he can, regardless of whether someone else is reporting on a goal.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Yeah, really unlikeable.

    • Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Wilson YC

      1. Effe
        • 15 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        ;(

        1. Effe
          • 15 Years
          3 days, 5 hours ago

          Sorry reply fail!

      2. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Niiiice

      3. Philosopher's Stones
        • 5 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        STOP THE COUNT!!

    • PogChamp
      • 14 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Thiago, BrunoG, Thiaw, Wilson. I’m having a super Sunday.

      1. Supersonic_
        • 4 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Nice one

      2. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Amazing

    • Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Get that one Defcon Bruno

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

        He's on 10 points as it stands

    • Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Bruno G was an excellent buy

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Not when I sold Rice for him 🙁

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

          7 points difference

          1. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            3 days, 5 hours ago

            Hopefully 5

    • Vasshin
      • 7 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Was Thinking of benching Semenyo(Tot H) next week but with Gordon(Leeds H) constant 60 mins performance, should I bench him instead?

      Or choose 1 to bench from?
      Semenyo (tot H)
      Gordon (leeds H)
      Bowen (nfo H)
      Rogers (cry A)

      Thanks

      1. Vasshin
        • 7 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Also have Thiago (sun H) but with his 2 goals this week. I removed him from the list to bench

    • Effe
      • 15 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      1 more def con please Xhaka

    • adstomko
      • 9 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Did Wirtz > Rogers because Wirtz had a tight hamstring.
      Kept Ekitike over Watkins, and Ekitike is out with a tight hamstring.
      Sums up my luck.

    • Supersonic_
      • 4 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Wirtz off - fraud

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

        FrimpgON

    • Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Andersen, Bruno G and VdV all 1 DC from Defcon points for me. Tense...

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

        6 mins added on at Spurs

    • Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      11 more defcons Szob. Please.

      1. Supersonic_
        • 4 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        There is still chance....

      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        😆

    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Wilson hits the bar with an open goal

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

        Close

        Keeper. Messes it up

    • REDMOND IN SANDALS
      • 4 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      common Raul

    • g40steve
      • 7 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Fire sale of Palace incoming

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Def been poor recently

    • AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Four

      Brentford

      1. Effe
        • 15 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Thiago?

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

        Bees buzzing in Liverpool

        Thiago hattrick

        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          3 days, 5 hours ago

          Nice

    • Machine Gun Skelly
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Thiago bro

      • TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        Thiago hatty