Dugout Discussion
7 January 2026 1398 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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A whopping eight Premier League fixtures to come this evening, with six kicking off at 19:30 GMT and another two underway 45 minutes later:

TEAM NEWS

The tinkerer is back: there are five changes from Pep Guardiola this evening, one of which sees returning loanee Max Alleyne – who isn’t even listed in FPL! – come in at centre-half.

Abdukhodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku are also handed recalls.

Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are injured, while Nico O’Reilly, Rodri and Rayan Cherki drop to the bench.

Pascal Gross is in for his first Brighton and Hove Albion start since his return from Borussia Dortmund, with Maxim De Cuyper and Jack Hinshelwood also brought in.

Joel Veltman, Brajan Gruda and Charalampos Kostoulas drop out.

As for the other Manchester club, the big news is that they welcome back Bruno Fernandes from injury for tonight’s game with Burnley. The Portuguese playmaker starts in place of Leny Yoro.

Hannibal Mejbri, Maxime Esteve and Marcus Edwards come in for Burnley.

Antoine Semenyo starts as expected for Bournemouth in what could be his final match for the Cherries.

Andoni Iraola brings in Eli Junior Kroupi and Lewis Cook for the injured Justin Kluivert and the benched David Brooks.

There are five changes for Tottenham Hotspur, one enforced as Mohammed Kudus is absent.

Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani, Djed Spence, Lucas Bergvall and Joao Palhinha are back in the starting XI.

Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies and Archie Gray are demoted to bench duty.

Sander Berge for Sasa Lukic is Fulham’s only change as they prepare to face Chelsea.

The Blues welcome back Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo from injury and suspension, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and Andrey Santos are promoted to the side.

There are two changes apiece at Brentford, who have Sunday’s hat-trick hero Igor Thiago in their starting XI.

The hosts bring in Rico Henry and Keane Lewis-Potter for Aaron Hickey and Mikkel Damsgaard, while the Black Cats’ Regis Le Bris prefers Dan Ballard and Chris Rigg to Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda.

At Selhurst Park, there are also two changes for each side.

Crystal Palace’s alterations are enforced: Jefferson Lerma and Nathaniel Clyne are injured, so in come Jaydee Canvot and Justin Devenny.

Lucas Digne and Jadon Sancho replace Ian Maatsen and Emi Buendia for Aston Villa.

And would you believe it, also two changes apiece on Tyneside.

Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes come in for Yoane Wissa and Jacob Murphy for the hosts, while Leeds welcome Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon. Noah Okafor and Sebastian Bornaauw drop to the bench.

Up at Goodison Park, Everton bring in Harrison Armstrong for Tyler Dibling as they prepare to face an unchanged Wolverhampton Wanderers.

LINE-UPS

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Cook, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Kroupi, Evanilson.

Subs: Forster, Soler, Brooks, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Milosavljevic, Rees-Dottin.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Palhinha, Bentancur, Xavi Simons, Bergvall, Tel, Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Richarlison, Gray, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett, Williams-Barnett.


Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Schade, Igor Thiago.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris, Donovan.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Geertruida, Hume, Xhaka, Le Fee, Adingra, Rigg, Brobbey.

Subs: Patterson, Cirkin, Neil, Mayenda, O’Nien, Mundle, Hjelde, Jones, Tutierov.


Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi, Devenny, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Johnson, Pino, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Uche, Sosa, Richards, Rodney, King, Benamar, Casey, Drakes-Thomas.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Sancho, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Buendia, Torres, Garcia, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba, Maatsen, Bogarde, Hemmings.


Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, Garner, McNeil, Grealish, Barry.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Beto, Dibling, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, S. Bueno, H. Bueno, Gomes, Arias, Hwang, Arokodare, Mosquera, Mane, Krejci, Tchatchoua.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Andre, Moller Wolfe, Strand Larsen, Lima, Chirewa, Lopez, Ojinnaka.


Fulham XI: Leno, Diop, Anderson, Cuenca, Castagne, Berge, Cariney, Robinson, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Raul

Subs: Lemcomte, Sessegnon, Amissah, Reed, Lukic, Ridgeon, Adama, Kevin, Kusi-Asare.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Delap.

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, James, Fofana, Hato, Estevao, Garnacho, Gittens, Joao Pedro.


Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Alleyne, Khusanov, Ake, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Lewis, Mfuni, Cherki, Rodri, O’Reilly, Mukasa, McAidoo, Heskey.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Kadioglu, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Gomez, Hinshelwood, Ayari, Mitoma, Gross, Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Boscagli, Coppola, Tasker, Gruda, Milner, Howell, Watson, Welbeck.


Burnley XI: Dúbravka, Walker, Laurent, Esteve, Humphreys, Pires, Mejbri, Ugochukwu, Luis, Edwards, Broja.

Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Ekdal, Sonne, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Anthony, Tchaouna, Barnes.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha, Šeško.

Subs: Bayındır, Maguire, Malacia, Yoro, Mount, Mainoo, Fletcher, Zirkzee, Lacey.


Newcastle United XI: Pope, Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, J.Murphy, Livramento, Wissa, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey

Leeds United XI: Perri, Justin, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Gruev, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Darlow, Byram, Bornauw, Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto, Okafor, Piroe, Nmecha.


price change predictions
  1. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Fletcher Jnr to come on and score the winner for his dad….

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Only one of the Fletchers made the bench - cruel parenting!

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 18 hours ago

        Yeah, poor form, both or neither…

  2. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Cunha > Bruno gonna be a popular move…

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      It will be, but the play is to have neither in 22/23

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 18 hours ago

        22 MCI will have goals from both sides…

  3. mookie
    • 12 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    "bla bla bla... we and the analysts put a lot of work in it, because of the short turn around." - Fletcher

    Did I hear that right? Are the analysts who I think they are?

    Ready to put the house on Burnley.

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Team selection done on FPL form at Man Utd, to save money….

  4. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    N. O'Reilly only sub today for city, a little surprising

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      I need him to come on. Bench is bare bones

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 18 hours ago

        Who does Bare Bones play for?

    2. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Pep said he's carrying a few niggles and fatigued, so here's hoping he stays on the bench

    3. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Was due a benching, but with RAN away and Gvardiol breaking his leg I thought we were safe for a couple of weeks.
      Van Hecke subbing in

  5. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    You can de-flag Sanchez now FPL…

  6. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Looks like Frank has gone a bit more offensive tonight with his lineup

  7. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    And we’re off…need some points this GW, geez…

  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Four points from 5 players today, any good?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      No good

      I got that wrong...

      Doh!

      It's 5 points from 4!

  9. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Man City are conceding here

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Almost did

  10. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    I need both the Fernandes in my team ASAP

  11. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Gross with a free header 6 yards out and central

    No cigar

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Return of the GroB…

  12. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Tel goal

  13. Sandy Ravage
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Pep dropping Cherki and conceding the title

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Donna looks like he’s in for a busy night.

  14. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Bournemouth defence so bad they let Tel score

  15. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    0-1 Spurs (Tel)

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Xavi Simons assist

  16. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    SSN showing all the action from every game as it happens 🙂

  17. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Tel goal

  18. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Petrovic is a poor keeper

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      His bank manager likes him

  19. FCSB
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Reckon Ekitike will start tomorrow?

    1. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Nope

    2. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      probably coz I took him out, hat trick

    3. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Hope so…

    4. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      No, he'll be lucky to make the squad

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Nah

      Unless he made rapid progress today and tomorrow

  20. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    The thing about Foden is I have no clue why he started scoring a few weeks and why has he stopped now. Just reacting to points potential after points chasing.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      To be fair, part of the reason he has stopped has been down to some wonderful saves the last few gameweeks and assist chances not being taken

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 18 hours ago

        Ok sounds good.

    2. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Because players can't score every week indefinitely. Haaland hasn't scored in 3 either.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      It's a fine line between a goal or a decent save

  21. Sun God Nika
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Cherki o Reilly and senesi owner

    Let’s goo

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      To the pub?

  22. MarcusAurelius
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    As a new Tark owner I’m hoping Wolves go back to being useless

  23. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    How is that not a foul by Dunk?

  24. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Keane was keen and scored

  25. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Keane g

  26. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    KEANEEE

  27. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Keane you beauty

  28. Glasner Ball
    • 13 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Johnson close, rapid there.

  29. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Does Tarkowski not score? Just Keane?

    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Just defcons

  30. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 18 hours ago

    Why has Pep dropped O'Reilly when he is already short in defence?

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      OST likely because he doesn’t want to be even shorter in defence in the long run

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 day, 18 hours ago

        *Most

    2. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 18 hours ago

      Fatigued + carrying a few niggles