Dugout Discussion

Man City v Chelsea team news: O’Reilly starts, no Sanchez or Cucurella

4 January 2026 775 comments
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The final match of Gameweek 20 sees Manchester City and Chelsea square off at the Etihad Stadium.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Pep Guardiola makes three changes from Thursday’s goalless draw at Sunderland.

Josko Gvardiol, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders come into the starting XI.

Nathan Ake drops to the bench, while Nico Gonzalez and Savinho are injured.

Nico O’Reilly starts for the hosts at left-back.

Calum McFarlane will be in the dugout for Chelsea today after Enzo Maresca’s sudden departure.

He makes five alterations to the side that drew with Bournemouth.

In come Filip Jorgensen, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro.

Robert Sanchez (muscle), Wesley Fofana (illness) and Moises Caicedo (suspension) miss out, while Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap are named among the substitutes.

Marc Cucurella remains absent.

LINE-UPS

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Doku, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, Heskey

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto, James, Enzo, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, J Pedro

Subs: Slonina, Merrick, Tosin, Hato, Santos, Garnacho, Gittens, Delap, Guiu

LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout this season is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DefCon) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

Introducing The Eye Test 2
775 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    59 points - finally a good GW after two bad ones

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Congrats

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      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Thanks

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  2. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    2FTs Best move or moves here?

    Foden -> Rice/Bruno G?
    Ekitike -> Thiago/Watkins?
    Get Gabriel?

    Petrovic
    Timber Dalot Thaiw
    Saka Foden Rogers Cunha Cherki
    Haaland Ekitike

    Dubravka DCL Alderete Guehi

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    1. Bucket Man
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Jealous of your side. Would roll. Unless you can afford Gab for Timber possibly

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      1. _Ninja_
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Cheers, Sadly 0.1 off that move on its own

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  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Play one folks:
    A. Ekitike (ars)
    B. Virgil (ars)
    C. Stach (new)
    D. Dorgu (bur)

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    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      D

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    2. Bucket Man
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      A. Dorgu first sub

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    3. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      D, I' currently set on playing Dorgu Heaven over VVD Ekitike...

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  4. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Noticed that Saka price could drop.. if only people saw his record at home against Liverpool. I wouldn’t sell just yet.

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Didn't even know he could sing.

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  5. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Was there any info from Pool when they will provide any update on Ekitike?

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      'After missing out on the squad that made the trip to Craven Cottage, Ekitike's availability to face league leaders Arsenal on Thursday is in doubt.'

      from daily records. not sure about burnley. I think I am selling

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      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Damn, could just get Watkins but not sure

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      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Ughh Watkins in then 🙁

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  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    etikite and szobo to thiago (who I just sold...) and rice for -4 ?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Watkins?

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        would leave me too short in cash

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    2. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Nah, move on from Thiago

      Get Mane / Kroupi and spread the cash elsewhere

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        why? he ll be in such much confidence after that performance. will k jnr get any decent minutes?

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    3. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Would be tempted if we ignore that game vs Burnley

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        cheers. I could sell bowen for etikite if fit before burnley..bit mad I know lol as I have just bought bowen.

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  7. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Yep, my original team has outscored my WC team, well done me

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      This is the way

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    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      More than 28 points though.

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  8. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Omg Timber!!

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    1. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Refreshing paid off?

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      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Looks like it

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  9. FCSB
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Disappointing end with O’Reilly conceding, 65 all out, is that around average?

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    1. Voronins Pony Tail
      • 2 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Way above

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  10. Voronins Pony Tail
    • 2 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Do I have the bench right?? I can’t bench boost as I’m on a WC (opinions on that welcome)

    Kelleher
    Tarkowski Nunes Gabs
    BrunoG Rice Cunha Cherki
    Watkins Haaland Thiago

    Dub, Rogers, Mukiele, Gud

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      not keem on keeper. i think your team lack flexibilty to bring saka/palmer if needed.

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      1. Voronins Pony Tail
        • 2 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Agree on the GK’s. Awful but not many CS to be had at the moment

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    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Looks good. Are you expecting a bit of Cherki rotation when Semenyo moves?

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      1. Voronins Pony Tail
        • 2 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Certainly a risk…….do you think it’s likely?

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        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

          A bit but not much on current form. He's great to watch. Semenyo deal not done yet.

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  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Get Thiago or Watkins for Etikite?

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      I am selling for thiago as I need the funds. i think both good options

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  12. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Can get to Rice from any of my mids, but obviously the cost difference will impact future transfers, of which I expect there will be many.

    Who to lose, then?
    1. Foden (his annual streaky spell looks to be over, & would allow VDB upgrade)
    2. Cunha (before Burnley?)
    3. Gordon (Leeds at home though, & early sub today, had the ball in the net at least)
    4. Wilson (As good as any in the price range)
    5. KDH (no problem holding an injured 5m player 3rd bench, but also have VDB & Ekitike to contend with now)

    Any thoughts please?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      5

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  13. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Would you do Ekitike to Watkins for a hit? Have Rogers already and already taken a hit

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    1. Joyce1998
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      I woud hold for now if you've already taken a hit plus you got Rogers for villa coverage

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  14. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    How bad is Ekitikes injury?

    Moving him before Burnley could be more point dodging.

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Too early to tell.

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    2. Joyce1998
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      I read something earlier that it was minor but ya never know, should hope he would be okay for Burnley

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        A few were banking on big returns from players v Burnley and Wolves which didn't quite go to plan. Pool aren't such the force of last season either.

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        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

          v true

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    3. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Reckon he'll start v Arsenal tbf. Seemed precautionary.

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  15. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    do you think foden will start v brighton?

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    1. Bagpuss
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Not sure - was thinking of selling him for Rice personally

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  16. Ray85
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Szoboslai for free to Enzo? Was planning to bench him next week and then play v Burnley.

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  17. NotsoSpursy
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Ekitike to Watkins seemed obvious earlier but now thinking Thiago.

    What do you think ?

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    1. CYN
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      I am going to hold a bit longer

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  18. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Which defender to bring in? Want to come off double Arsenal defence to bring in Rice.

    Man City def, Thiaw or Cash maybe?

    Current team;

    Pickford (Dubravka)
    Gabriel, Van Hecke, Timber, (Keane), (Dorgu)
    Foden, Saka, Szobozlai, Cunha (King)
    Haaland, Thiago, Ekitike

    1FT - £0.0ITB

    Thanks in advance

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Saka to Rice.

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  19. CYN
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Start Stach, VVD or Alderete next GW?

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  20. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Another pair of blanks for Foden & Haaland.

    Time to sell one of them, maybe?

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  21. tuturututu
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 9 days ago

    On WC, what can I improve?

    Raya, Darlow
    Gabriel, Nunes, Chalobah, Alderete, Nallo
    Palmer, Cherki, Rogers, Rice, Miley
    Haaland, Watkins, Thiago

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