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. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Palmer stinks. He’s a shadow of his former self. He shouldn’t be in the Chelsea team on this form, let alone England.

  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Game is so boring. Being played at walking pace.

    1. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      The City we have come to know

    2. Glasner Ball
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Welcome back, glad to see you have you got over both Rogers and Cunha scoring this weekend.

      1. Glasner Ball
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Rogers assisting and Cunha scoring 🙂

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    A or B?

    A) Palmer and Mane(bench) -4
    B) Watkins and Le Fee(bench) free

    1. Under my Cucurella
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Easy B

  4. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    he couldn't blank 6 times in 9 GWs could he? 😯

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Malfunctioning

  5. MVDP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    City playing in two days time… pffft… chances of Foden starting again have to be slim. Hardly essential.

  6. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Bench one of:

    A.Szobo
    B..Xhaka
    C. Woltemade

    Currently on A

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Bench A sell C

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      szobo

  7. trinzoo
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Best 1st GK to get? I'm on Sanchez.

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      with rodri back im backing donna, second half of season city. although maybe hes overpriced

      with chelsea sacking manager would look at getting roefs over sanchez

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Great fixtures, why not?

      1. trinzoo
        • 11 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Isn't he injured?

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Well he is today, but I think they said it was minor

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      dont laugh but I d pick pickford on wc

      1. Radulfo28773
        • 4 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        I got Keane if that’s any consolation

  8. MetallicaJack93
    • 2 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Pick two to transfer in

    A. Watkins
    B. Thiago
    C. DCL

  9. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    which move to fund szobo to rice?

    a foden to rogers
    b etikite to thiago

    for -4

    cheers

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      A

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        thanks

  10. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    What would you do with 3FTs? VDB/Ekitike needs to be sold?

    Areola
    Timber Gabriel Keane VDB*
    Cunha Saka Foden
    Ekitike Haaland Thiago

    Verbruggen LeFee Andersen Devenny
    (3FTs & 0.1itb)

    1. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Is Ekitike out for Arsenal?

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Hamstring injury, don't know how bad

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Minor

      2. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Hamstring. I would be surprised if he plays vs Burnley. But I don't know.

  11. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Who would you buy?

    A. Gordon
    B. Schade
    C. Bruno G
    D. Another?

    1. Kiyoshi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      C

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Have C

      So B

  12. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    4 days, 8 hours ago

    Rice and BrunoG in top 3 mids this season sums this fpl season up perfectly . Absolutely dire

    Missing the fpl days of wingers scoring braces/hatricks

    or for those of us who have been playing for nearly two decades the lampards gerrards Dempseys

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      I often agree with your posts these days

      But BrunoG or Rice would improve all teams

      Chelsea for instance could be top with them

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        from a real life perspective i agree. just talking wise, id prefer more explosive players

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          The tortoise v the hare comes to mind

          Consistency is key

    2. Absolutely Muñozed
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        yes very hard to find any consistent players

      • Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Nah - been playing myself since 2002 and this game continues to stretch you. You just need to adapt. Great season.

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 6 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          im in the top 30k but this season has been anything but enjoyable

          1. Lanley Staurel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            Similar to me rank wise. Just enjoyed the variety of players appearing and Defcons.

      • Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Yep. And title favourites top scorer has 5.

    3. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Time to sell Haaland?

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Where would you put the money?

        1. Philosopher's Stones
          • 5 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Booze and hookers

          1. Lanley Staurel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            They both play in Man Utds back line dont they?

      2. MVDP
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Yes. Who did you have in mind?

        1. Philosopher's Stones
          • 5 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Kroupi

      3. Yes Ndidi
        • 6 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Haaland > Mane -4 already done

      4. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        No chance

      5. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        For Salah?

      6. Glasner Ball
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Brave

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

      Chabolah or O’Reilly to Gabriel?

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        OReilly, with Chalobah's fixtures are getting greener

      2. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Can’t sell Oreilly with those fixtures

        1. Royal5
          • 14 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Rodri back as well

        2. Glasner Ball
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Yep, keep Oreilly

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      At least this week we don't have Jamie Carragah on MND

      Just as I started typing that

      He's on later

      Easier to switch off with no game upcoming

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        I don't always mind him in game

        But his post match Liverpool analysis does drone on somewhat

    6. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 days, 8 hours ago

      Who to buy?

      A. James
      B. Tarkowski

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Tark

      2. SINGH
        • 7 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Isn't his full name James Tarkowski?

    7. Absolutely Muñozed
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Haaland and Gabriel only essential players this season.

      • Captain Mal
        • 1 Year
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Enzo 10, Palmer RW

      • The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Temp manager doesn’t have the bottle to sun Palmer, so he picks on the young kid

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          *sub

      • tuturututu
        • 4 Years
        4 days, 8 hours ago

        Wc team, some feedback and tips would be appreciated, thanks

        Kelleher, Darlow
        Gabriel, Nunes, Mukiele, Alderete, Acheampong
        Palmer, Saka, Cherki, Bruno G.
        Haaland, Watkins, Thiago

        1. tuturututu
          • 4 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Miley 5th mid

        2. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          rice on wc surely? not keen on your keepers. gl

      • Absolutely Muñozed
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          just when i finally move out O'Reilly he will become essential

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            lol

        • Biggsy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Time to ditch Haaland? No goals in 2 and a half games

        • Glasner Ball
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Neto lol rubbish.

        • Make United Great Again
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Now Sanchez isn’t nailed. Having to use a keeper transfer is so boring.

          1. Biggsy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            Should just get Raya. Nailed 2-6 points every week. Never more, never less

            1. Make United Great Again
              • 13 Years
              4 days, 8 hours ago

              Too expensive. And I’ve got 3 Arsenal

              Timber Gabriel Rice

            2. AC/DC AFC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 days, 8 hours ago

              I've got Raya

              If I want Rice he's gotta go with Gabriel and Saka

              Unless I ditch the star boy?

        • Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Neto sitter missed

        • FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          How did Neto miss

          1. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            Like blowing a pen

          2. Glasner Ball
            • 13 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            Guy earns £160,000 week and he misses that

        • FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Don’t you effing dare Gvardiol

        • The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Gvardiol subbed 50 min

        • Pompel
          • 11 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Question of the day - will O'Reilly make it to 60 mins ?

          1. Glasner Ball
            • 13 Years
            4 days, 8 hours ago

            If he keeps a clean sheet and no yellow I will take a sub "after" 60mins 🙂

        • SINGH
          • 7 Years
          4 days, 8 hours ago

          Ekitike for Thiago or goal machine Watkins?