Dugout Discussion
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, 1 day ago

    59 points - finally a good GW after two bad ones

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

      Congrats

      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Thanks

  2. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 1 day 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

    1. Bucket Man
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

      1. _Ninja_
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Cheers, Sadly 0.1 off that move on its own

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

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

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

      D

    2. Bucket Man
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      A. Dorgu first sub

    3. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

  4. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Didn't even know he could sing.

  5. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day 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

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Damn, could just get Watkins but not sure

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Ughh Watkins in then 🙁

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Watkins?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        would leave me too short in cash

    2. Stimps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Nah, move on from Thiago

      Get Mane / Kroupi and spread the cash elsewhere

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

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

    3. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Would be tempted if we ignore that game vs Burnley

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

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

  7. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

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

      This is the way

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      More than 28 points though.

  8. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    Omg Timber!!

    1. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Refreshing paid off?

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

        Looks like it

  9. FCSB
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

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

      Way above

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

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

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

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

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

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

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

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

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

  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    Get Thiago or Watkins for Etikite?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

  12. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 1 day 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?

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      5

  13. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

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

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

  14. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    How bad is Ekitikes injury?

    Moving him before Burnley could be more point dodging.

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Too early to tell.

    2. Joyce1998
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 1 day 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.

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          v true

    3. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

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

  15. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    do you think foden will start v brighton?

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

      Not sure - was thinking of selling him for Rice personally

  16. Ray85
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

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

  17. NotsoSpursy
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    Ekitike to Watkins seemed obvious earlier but now thinking Thiago.

    What do you think ?

    1. CYN
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      I am going to hold a bit longer

  18. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 1 day 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

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Saka to Rice.

  19. CYN
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    Start Stach, VVD or Alderete next GW?

  20. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    Another pair of blanks for Foden & Haaland.

    Time to sell one of them, maybe?

  21. tuturututu
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 19 hours ago

    On WC, what can I improve?

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