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. tuturututu
    • 4 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Kudus, Wolt and Ekitike to Bruno G, Watkins and Thiago for -8 I don't give a f

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      WC.

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      I love these don't give a f attitude. Do it.

    3. yousunkmybattleship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Do we know how long Ekitike out for?

  2. Philosopher's Stones
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Anyone seen pundit of punts doing some score checks?

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Probably not. But I'd bet he'd love one. 51 with Haaland c, Foden and O'Reilly in play.

      1. Dubem_FC
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Might actually be a liar as people say he is. The FPL team linked to his account isn't same as the one he posts here.

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          Tbf

          He said he was ranked just above 1m, pre-WC.

          The team ID changes each year and people don't always update them

        2. mookie
          • 12 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          Don't know about him, but saw plenty in here cheering for points that were not in their daily "RMTs" and "GTGs".

  3. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    My defense looks crazy for next week.

    Who do I bench? I have to bench one.

    Gabriel Nunes Thiaw Keane Heaven

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      H

    2. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Heaven

    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Play 541 ?

    4. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Heaven. Burnley away won't be easy for United.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Burnley are the worst attacking team in the league statistically. But yeah I guess Heaven just because the other defenders have higher goal threat...

        1. Philosopher's Stones
          • 5 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          That, and I feel Burnley will score. United are shambolic.

    5. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      united not kept a cs away from home

  4. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Was set on bringing Garner in, but I now worry that Everton are going to be rubbish again

    Was looking at Wolves as a favourable fixture but it now has a Wolves win all over it

    Did Stach look dangerous today?

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      sort of. set up dcl for hitting the woodwork, that wouldve got him some bonus potentially as well. he played a bit deeper today as okafor and aaronson started but i imagine farke goes back to 3 mids and stach more advanced once ampadu comes back

      1. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Nice, thank you

        I think he’s the better play, but Garner is a defcon beast and sets a nice floor

    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Stach not dangerous at all, but covered the ground well defensively.

      1. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        I think maybe just the fixture, was surprised he picked up defcons

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Longstaff back on the bench today tho.

      1. Ha.
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        What does that mean?

  5. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Anyone see the CPL game?

    Any chance Guehi grabs another defcon for 2pts, currently on 9 DCs?

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      I’ll allow it if you do it for VdV

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Deal....will inform FPL towers we've made an agreement and request they action asap

        1. Ha.
          • 10 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          Where do I sign?

          1. Jafooli
            • 13 Years
            4 days, 9 hours ago

            Contract is in the post...

    2. Bigbars
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Showing 10 Defcons on FPL already

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Oh sweet - 2pts of the bench, nice

  6. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Except for NFO(H), the fixtures aren't great for Thiago

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      fixture proof man

      1. The Big Fella
        • 9 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        I had him for ages he only scored this week but I sold him on my WC this week

        1. Not again Shirley
          • 9 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          Same here. Can’t catch a break this season

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      That's what everyone said about the Everton fixture too.

    3. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      90 mins and on pens. This season that is enough to warrant a place in your FPL team.

  7. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Damn. Looks like Saka's price will drop tonight. I'm pretty sure he will score and assist vs Liverpool, but I want to beat the price drop.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      I am keeping him for sure

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        even though he'll drop in price? do you have Rice?

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          doing etikite and szbobo to thiago and rice for -4.

          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            4 days, 9 hours ago

            hmm so you'll have Saka and Rice? Nice. Typically, I had them both for ages but sold Rice this game week. Utter fail.

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 11 Years
              4 days, 9 hours ago

              sorry bout that. I sold thiago so I feel your fpl pain...

              1. The Big Fella
                • 9 Years
                4 days, 9 hours ago

                I sold both plus Thiaw and Wilson

              2. Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                4 days, 9 hours ago

                Cheers. I sold Thiago a few weeks ago! I think a lot of people did tbh. He hasn't hauled for aaaages.

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      I'm confident in him returning v Liverpool. We still don't know if Palmer will be worth investing in

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Yeah for sure.

    3. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Keeping him but I do also have Rice

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        hate myself for selling Rice this gameweel. I need to sell Timber to bring Rice in. (currently have Gabriel, Timber, Saka)

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          at least you have gabriel, I don't 🙂 gl

          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            4 days, 9 hours ago

            Yeah, I feel a Gabriel goal vs Liverpool from a Saka corner.

  8. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    -52% rank with Foden and Haaland C to go.

  9. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    So Enzo is marking Haaland for corners that should end well. About a 3ft height difference.

  10. MetallicaJack93
    • 2 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Thiago in for Bowen/Ekitike?

  11. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Any news on Ekitike? How long is he out?

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      From my team....forever

  12. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Anyone got worse that this to deal with urgently:

    Ekitika, Cunha, Guehi, VDB, Dorgu & Esteve, yikes....

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Actually is that WC territory? Could also ship Sanchez, and maybe Foden,...

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 3 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        possible wildcard

    2. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Smells like a WC

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        It actually does doesn't it....ha, time to burn so soon lol

    3. Dubem_FC
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      What's Cunha doing in that list??

    4. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      What's up with Cunha?

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Cunha plays Burnley next

      A short trip north to the Pennine Lancashire hills

      Hold your nerve

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Okay Cunha can come off the list

  13. it lies in the proles
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Chalobah and Etikité to Gabriel and Thiago?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      You need Gabby, bit I reckon Chalobah had a big run coming up

  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Oh Phil 🙁

  15. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Sanchez not involved due to "muscle" injury
    Probably the one inside his head
    He's not the best at making decisions

  16. Tic Tacs
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Had Foden, did nothing for weeks so doubled up on City defence adding Nunes to O'Reilly. Foden starts hauling every week and City leak goals, go back to Foden and drop Nunes. Foden stops scoring points and Nunes outscores O'Reilly every week. Adding to crazy bench points and Thiago hauling today after benching for first time, safe to say it doesn't feel like my season.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      I done the same tic tac toe with Foden O’R and Nunes

    2. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Yep, being doing sh** like that for 14 years now, not sure why I carry on lol...

  17. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    understat now has thiaw at 2.58xG for the season, in only 17 matches. pretty impressive considering he never really scored at all while at milan

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Yeah Thiaw has looked good all season.

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        yeah. dont own myself but owners were rewarded big time today

        wonder if he can match milenkovic's 5 goals of last season. bit similar, new cb to the league making a big splash

  18. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    I don't really like the idea of selling Ekitike. A nailed Liverpool striker who plays Burnley & Bournemouth after Arsenal

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Well, that’s why we was handed this gift now he’s injured. Liverpool shocking as well

    2. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      It’s a good point but reckon I’m going with Haaland, DCL & Thiago. Pool are obvs better than both Leeds & Brentford but these guys are the talisman and on penalties and will get points. Ekitike doesn’t take pens & will share minutes.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Well, don't

      Even bench and then play the games forward

  19. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    If Caiceido were playing, he'd bag the winner in this game. Very subdued at the Etihad. Chelsea look solid...so far.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Cold
      Wet
      Manchester rain

      As opposed to the tropical stuff

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      any news why not in the team?

  20. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Reece James should’ve had 2 yellows already

  21. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    The fact that Chelsea still don't have a shirt sponsor is nuts, when clubs will put an advert on a players left ball sack, if they could...

  22. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    What an awful game 🙁

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Zero SoT

  23. KeanosMagic
    • 3 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Would your lose Cunha or Foden for Palmer?

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Why would you want Palmer?

    2. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Neither

  24. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Bench one of:

    A.Szobo
    B..Xhaka
    C. Woltemade

  25. mad_beer ✅
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Sold Rice this week for Bruno G. It could have been so much worse. Do I get him back by doing Saka to Rice?

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 8 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      I did Wilson to Rogers.

  26. The Mighty Hippo
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Which one to bring in for Ekitike?

    a) Watkins
    b) Thiago

  27. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    James Pearce ~ Slot on Ekitike: "Hugo travelled. He felt something during the training session. Scan showed it was DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)."

    https://x.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/2007873864458731675?s=20

    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Is that good or bad?!

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Good

    2. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      That sounds very minor, right?

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        I think so, should be cleared in days - Dr Tiger

        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 9 hours ago

          Lol

  28. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Bernardo Selvish

  29. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Be funny if everyone buys Thiago back again next week lol

  30. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 9 hours ago

    Cherki is decent for defcons isn’t he!

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      If only he could make a pass

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        4 days, 9 hours ago

        Guy has most assists don’t he

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 9 hours ago

      Cherki little monkey