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. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    The week I finally bring in Pickford...of course they concede early

  2. DandyDon
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    You're all welcome. Put Barry in for Thiago today so was always going yo back fire! Very high risk, 0.1% ownership but as the home team and with Thiago not scoring in 6 thought it was a good bet!

  3. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Not owned Everton defence all season. Watched my ML rivals get 9/10 pointers every week from Keane and Tark.

    Finally bring in Tark this week.

    FML

  4. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Good I kept Thiago

    1. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Finally something going my way since Rice-gate

    2. DandyDon
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      My choices this week were keep Thiago or keep Cunha so at least i kept Cunha. Haha. As always with FPL should been option C do absolutely nothing!

    3. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Something going your way for once 🙂

  5. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Sold Thiago for DCL fml

    1. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Same on WC

      And Cunha

    2. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Same here – he's done sod all for weeks

  6. wiseguy
    • 4 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Saka is like a cockroach, somehow always surviving in my team. Thanks for nothing Hugo.

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      I’m keeping for Burnley

      1. wiseguy
        • 4 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        That was the plan but I'm feeling strongly drawn towards the Wissa Wagon

  7. Glasner Ball
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Lovely save Hendo

  8. #1 Salah Hater
    • 1 Year
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Kudus down injured

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Subbed

  9. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Everton CS busted. Like it.

  10. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Striker merry go rounders who sold Thiago for DCL punished.

  11. Philosopher's Stones
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Fantasy football sites probably are amongst the top 5 places on the planet where the most whining takes place. Especially during matchdays. And that top 5 list includes your karens and FPL virgin.

    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Where do I place?

  12. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Kudus off injured

  13. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Schar header from Hall cross

    Henderson saves well

    Corner

  14. JBG
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Please be Bruno G goal

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Gordon, Wissa assist

  15. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Goal

    Newcastle

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Gordon gets it

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        BrunoG lofts it through and Wissa slips him in

  16. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Gordon goal

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Wissa A i think

      1. Sgt. Schultz
        • 9 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        yup Bruno G AA

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Offside

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        Indeed...ruled out

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        V close

        Unlucky

        Great move

  17. SouthCoastSaint
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Sold Rice, Thiago and Cunha on wildcard

    Bought 2 Everton back line, Calvert lewin and Bowen.

    I am terrible at FPL,

    Laugh at me

    1. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      That's a shocker mate - I sympathise.
      I sold Thiago for DCL after barely any returns for weeks

  18. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Wissa A

  19. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    GORDON

  20. jacob1989
    • 3 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Yes gordon!! Got him on wc!

    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Damn offside

  21. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Gordon goal, Wissa A

    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Might be off?

      1. Glasner Ball
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        It is

  22. Glasner Ball
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Offside 🙂

  23. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Clean goal by Gordon

  24. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    It’s a close one this offside

  25. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Gordon’s streak of a year without an open play league goal still in tact

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      *in the PL

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        Did say “league”

  26. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Oh lord….

  27. Tic Tacs
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Thiago scoring when benched but blanking when played sums up FPL for me.

  28. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    That Thiago from Brentford looks like a good FPL player and apparently on pens.

    I might do Ekitike to Thiago.

    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 19 hours ago

      Haha. I’m getting Déjà vu.
      Might buy him for a guaranteed 2pts per game

      1. The Mandalorian
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 19 hours ago

        And he plays Sunderland next, a newly promoted team. Should be easy points for that Thiago chap

  29. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    FML rival getting Thiago in for Ekitike

  30. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 days, 19 hours ago

    Might just have to get Thiago back in for Etike.