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. Tic Tacs
    • 6 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    FPL team deleted

    1. wowo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      No mate. 39 pts on bench here and 3m rank. Still insisting!

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      don't do it

      This season been my worse since starting in 2011/12 - My poor selections, the extra transfers / extra chips taking away the FPL I used to enjoy.

      Keep going since half a season & will be thousands of teams created not being managed with chips you had still gain ground - My goal
      is to gain millions not thousands which will be very interesting in my second half charge.

      FPL content creators need to relook at possible less extra chips - Afcon (x5) chips not needed & DFCON - not really a fan of - preferred
      old formats with possible the manager chip.

      Another thing to get away from 'AI' generated teams to reclass midfielders - like Salah/Saka from midfields to forwards then more skill in
      choosing the teams - less tempplate teams

  2. Machine Gun Skelly
    6 months, 14 days ago

    who got the assist for reed

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Kevin

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      kevin the greatest winger the prem has ever seen

    3. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Kevin

    4. The Road to Turfdom
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      friends with Perry

  3. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Liverpool dropping points. Things you love to see!

  4. tuturututu
    • 5 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Gordon or Bruno G for next 2?

    1. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Bruno

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      The one who can find the net

    3. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      I’m stuck with Gordon for the time being, but my god he’s sickening to own. Hopefully change of fortune next Gw

    4. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      bruno g was everywhere today and really passing eye test recently

    5. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Bruno G

  5. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    The guy's not started a game since 23/24

  6. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Bye bye Vvd, not getting trapped into the it’s Burnley soon, who will probably nick a goal anyway

    1. wowo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Byebye Guehi as well.

  7. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    With all the jam about, would officially like to declare I'm getting Guehi 0pts of the bench for Ekitika blah...

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Actually for VDB, getting Xhaka 4pts for Ekitika

  8. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Pool FT

  9. Bigbars
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Haha.. Sky cameras picked up that colourful language... pure emotions

  10. Vinyl78LP
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    equaliser should at least dilute the controversy of Liverpool's offside goal.

  11. Vardi Gras
    • 1 Year
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Saka to Palmer or Bruno F
    Have Rogers, foden, brunoG and wilson

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Bruno if fit

  12. Machine Gun Skelly
    6 months, 14 days ago

    I got 42 points w/ foden and haaland (c) u guys?

    1. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      57 points with O'Reilly / Foden / Haaland (C)

    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      27 with Foden and Haul to go

    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      48 with donna, foden and (h)aaland to go

    4. A Moon Shaped Pool
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      68 with Haaland (C) and Foden to go

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        congrats

    5. Babit1967
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      53 with Haaland (C), Foden & Gvardiol left.

  13. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Lol, went for a pee and forgot to pause. Came back to see Gakpo celebrating, pressed rewind to see it, making me miss the Fulham goal too. 😆

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      What a screamer to miss haha.

  14. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    WC Team with a nice bench. Thoughts?

    Roefs (Dub)
    Gab Thiaw Chalobah (Mukiele, Gud)
    Rice Rogers Foden Palmer Bruno G
    Haaland Thiago (DCL)

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Looks alright on paper anyway

    2. Dragon Arcana
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Looks nice would prefer double Arsenal defence than the bench headache you’ll have every week with that front 8

  15. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    This is a really bad week to have a bad gameweek!

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Fortunately I have Bruno G & Thiaw.

  16. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Worth going extra for Roefs or stick with Areola?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Roefs is immeasurably better than Areola.

  17. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    I ao much deserve Thiaw Bruno G and Wilson points

  18. fedolefan
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    What a GREAT GW!!! Full of 17 pointers. Just need one last 17 pointer from Nico to turn a dark red arrow into a green one.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Haaland Hattie or Foden Brace + DC seems kinda obvious now.

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        fingers cross would be nice in FPL terms,
        otherwise would still like a Chelsea result
        cannot see that today

  19. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Bruno G and Thiago thank you very much!

  20. fantasist
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Those who did Thiago > Ekitike now gonna do Ekitike > Thiago

    1. Deer-in-headlights
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Waiting for somebody to talk me out of that move.

  21. Nightf0x
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Will van hecke get 2 pts deducted ?

    1. A Moon Shaped Pool
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Why?

      1. Nightf0x
        • 11 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        9 defcon not 10

    2. fedolefan
      • 12 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Yeah he will. He’s gone down to 9 defcon

      1. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        Nope still at 10 and still got his 2 points

  22. F4L
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    are there people out there who benched rice and thiago eek

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      surely Ekitike brings most of them some joy

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Yes and they are getting rewarded for poor decisions!

    3. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Guy in my ML benched both along with Wilson!

    4. fantasist
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Only Rice but luckily Ekitike didn't play

    5. WVA
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Yep, shockers, yet still getting them from the bench

  23. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Don’t know where to turn now, wildcard seems rash but team a shambles this week. Not sure who I’d really get either though.

    Gordon stinking up the place, no Bruno, Wilson, Thiago and took Rice out for fecking Garner to make room for Gabriel. Not great long term.

    Don’t know whether to go Ekitike to Watkins or just downgrade to Thiago again and bulk up the midfield. Or even wait it out and see what the story is with Ekitike.

    1. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Feels, my friend. Feels.

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Ekitike to Thiago (Brentford at home)
      & then look at the Ekitike fixtures
      GW21 Arse (A) / Bur (H) / Bou (A)

  24. MikeS
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Vvd has to go absolutely terrible player, only kept him due to other priority transfers but he's absolute trash

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      He’s awful, been stuck with him and continue to be so, now Ekitike to move on

      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        Not sure it's even worth benching him to keep for burnley now he's so bad it's laughable

    2. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Did VVD -> Gabriel last night. I recommend it, you will feel better.

      1. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        Already got Gabriel

        1. MikeS
          • 11 Years
          6 months, 14 days ago

          Not sure who to bin him for anyone I think, long term plan maybe bin Raya and get second arse defender instead here's my backline:

          Raya
          Gabriel -tarkowski-vvd-mukiele-dorgu

          Other one I have been considering is bvd to nunes or other city defenders

  25. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    From 5k to 15k, what a shitty GW

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      (only 10K) not great at top end of table but much worse when you drop hundred of thousands - still half a season to go Lilmessipran - continue the great first half - one bad week
      does not define your season

  26. fedolefan
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Can score posters also please add their OR. Let’s not leave that out please.

    1. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Bad week this week?

      1. fedolefan
        • 12 Years
        6 months, 14 days ago

        This week?

    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      if anyone wants comforting.
      27 pts with 2 to play
      623k > 864k Drop

  27. WVA
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    I just don’t understand how you can be lucky enough to get Thiago off the bench for Ekitike, HTF does he score a hat trick the week Ekitike randomly misses out completely, ridiculous, shame how the game is just complete luck.

  28. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Rank got destroyed by 3pm matches. Absolute carnage. Looking like a hit minimum next gw. Hopefully cherki salvages something

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Tbf

      Only 4 matches yesterday

      The 4 at 3pm had lots of picks active

      It's tough with 12 million+ teams

      The ghost teams still get points

      At least a low chip use week

  29. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    That's a Liverpool fan calling that VAR review decision for the Wirtz goal..

    Is it just semi -automatic?

    2 1/2 minute review must mean human error

  30. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 14 days ago

    Not owning Thiago has really hurt. Got saved by Thiaw otherwise would be staring down a very large red arrow.