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


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

    Szob. 11 more. I'm begging you.

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

      Not asking for much...

  2. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Keane same score as last GW lol

    1. fusen
      • 14 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      I was worrying he wouldn't play, turned out nothing to worry about :X

  3. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Thiago ruined a perfect WC

  4. nanxun
    • 4 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Tried to put alderete first on bench ahead of andersen right at the deadline, but game was already updating. lucky break since andersen's 4 pts coming on for ekitike.

  5. fusen
    • 14 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    VVD has 3 DefCon? What is the point of him exactly...easiest transfer to Gabriel there is

    1. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Yep

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    I cannot recall selling a player who then goes on to do a ht...shall I but thiago back by selling etikite?

    1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      I did it with Wood last year, and then Thiago today

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 days, 5 hours ago

        🙁

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

      I did it with Eze earlier this season

      Ruined that match somewhat

      But it's just virtual points

      Barely anyone cares even if you win your harder mini leagues

  7. lespaul
    • 16 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Must be a lot of Thiago sellers out there , my sympathies

    1. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Bittersweet for me. Sold him for Ekitike a couple of weeks ago and have Rice as his autosub.

    2. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Thanx. Sold him for Calvert-Lewin this GW!

    3. Tic Tacs
      • 5 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Third on bench

  8. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Everton v bentford living upto the holiday spirit.

  9. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Finally something going right this season with Rice, Thiago and BrunoG

  10. JabbaWookiee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Thiago out for a hit to get Tarkowski. My poor wife and kids having to tolerate my stinking mood for the rest of the day…

  11. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Before today's games the plan was
    Transfer out a midfielder to bring Rice back in
    But the Thiago hattrick & the Ekitiki no show with Arsenal away next has given me second thoughts.

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

    any other collins owners? great score but quite painful 😥

    1 short of 10 defcon. late everton consolation goal cost him 3 points (-1 and lost 2 bonus). pain

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

    Epic points dodging

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

      Savage

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

    People bringing back Thiago (SUN) for a blank? 😉

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      to be honest we all thought he was going to blank today...

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

        Unpredictable, he's back fit probably today so SUN at home may not be a blank ... I am keeping him because of no FT 😛

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

    7mins for that Bullet Header

  16. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Thiago saving casual’s GW

    1. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      He was always a season keeper

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

        And yet not

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

    7 mins added at Fulham

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

    Definitely not bringing Thiago back in for him to only blank next two games, rather keep Bowen

  19. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Weeks like this ruin FPL:
    Relying on the first sub to be the points haul, because managers aren’t giving accurate information in their press conferences.

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

    can fpl towers just get rid of -4 bps for goal conceded for defenders. so silly

  21. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Just like that Thiago becomes “essential” again. 7m striker with 14 goals in 20 games.

  22. EDEN THE MAN
    • 9 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Semenyo > Bruno G no brainer surely

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

      Yeah, I'll be doing that tonight. Watch him blank next 5 gw's

  23. DandyDon
    • 7 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Just as well Barry got that late consolation or Thiago to Barry would have to go down as worst transfer ever!! worst bit is i could have done Wolt to Barry instead

  24. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Best replacement for the useless Van Dijk?
    6m to spend
    Already have Gab - Andersen - Senesi - VDB

    1. Khalico
      • 10 Years
      3 days, 5 hours ago

      Thiaw.

  25. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Thiaw

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

    at least bruno g jammed defcon late on

  27. Babit1967
    • 9 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    DCL to Thiago anyone ?

    I’m serious - had DCL for a while and lost Thiago a while back so overall it has worked out but not sure I can ignore after that today.

  28. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Cody's won it

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

    Gakpo winner

  30. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    3 days, 5 hours ago

    Ofc last minute goals