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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. tuturututu
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      WC.

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    2. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

      Do we know how long Ekitike out for?

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  2. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Anyone seen pundit of punts doing some score checks?

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    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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      1. Dubem_FC
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 10 days 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.

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

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        2. mookie
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  3. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    My defense looks crazy for next week.

    Who do I bench? I have to bench one.

    Gabriel Nunes Thiaw Keane Heaven

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    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      H

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

      Heaven

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    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Play 541 ?

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    4. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 10 days 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...

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        1. The Philosopher
          • 5 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

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

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    5. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      united not kept a cs away from home

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  4. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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?

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    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 10 days 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

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

        Nice, thank you

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

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    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

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

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

      Longstaff back on the bench today tho.

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

        What does that mean?

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  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Anyone see the CPL game?

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

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

      I’ll allow it if you do it for VdV

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

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

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

          Where do I sign?

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

            Contract is in the post...

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

      Showing 10 Defcons on FPL already

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

        Oh sweet - 2pts of the bench, nice

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  6. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

      fixture proof man

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      1. The Big Fella
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

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

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        1. Not again Shirley
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

          Same here. Can’t catch a break this season

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    2. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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    3. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  7. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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.

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

      I am keeping him for sure

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

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

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          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 10 days 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.

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

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

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              1. The Big Fella
                • 9 Years
                3 months, 10 days ago

                I sold both plus Thiaw and Wilson

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              2. Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                3 months, 10 days ago

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

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    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Yeah for sure.

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    3. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Keeping him but I do also have Rice

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

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

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          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  8. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  9. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  10. MetallicaJack93
    • 2 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Thiago in for Bowen/Ekitike?

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  11. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Any news on Ekitike? How long is he out?

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

      From my team....forever

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  12. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Anyone got worse that this to deal with urgently:

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

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

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

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      1. Bluetiger1
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        possible wildcard

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

      Smells like a WC

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

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

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    3. Dubem_FC
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      What's Cunha doing in that list??

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    4. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      What's up with Cunha?

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    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Cunha plays Burnley next

      A short trip north to the Pennine Lancashire hills

      Hold your nerve

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

        Okay Cunha can come off the list

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  13. it lies in the proles
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Chalobah and Etikité to Gabriel and Thiago?

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Oh Phil 🙁

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  15. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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  16. Tic Tacs
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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.

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

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

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  17. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Yeah Thiaw has looked good all season.

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      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 10 days 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

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  18. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

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

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    2. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days 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.

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

      Well, don't

      Even bench and then play the games forward

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  19. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

      Cold
      Wet
      Manchester rain

      As opposed to the tropical stuff

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    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      any news why not in the team?

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  20. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Reece James should’ve had 2 yellows already

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  21. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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...

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  22. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    What an awful game 🙁

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

      Zero SoT

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  23. KeanosMagic
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Would your lose Cunha or Foden for Palmer?

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    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Why would you want Palmer?

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    2. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Neither

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  24. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Bench one of:

    A.Szobo
    B..Xhaka
    C. Woltemade

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  25. mad_beer ✅
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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?

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

      I did Wilson to Rogers.

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  26. The Mighty Hippo
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Which one to bring in for Ekitike?

    a) Watkins
    b) Thiago

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  27. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days 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

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    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Is that good or bad?!

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      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Good

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

      That sounds very minor, right?

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      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

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

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

          Lol

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  28. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Bernardo Selvish

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  29. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Be funny if everyone buys Thiago back again next week lol

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  30. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Cherki is decent for defcons isn’t he!

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    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      If only he could make a pass

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Guy has most assists don’t he

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    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Cherki little monkey

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