Dugout Discussion
8 January 2026 582 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Gameweek 21 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) concludes at the Emirates Stadium, where Liverpool must face Arsenal without Hugo Ekitike (£9.0m)

It’s a huge clash between the league’s leaders and reigning champions.

TEAM NEWS

For the second successive match, Ekitike hasn’t made Liverpool’s squad because of a hamstring issue. Get your autosubs ready!

Arne Slot’s only change from the weekend brings in Jeremie Frimpong (£5.7m) for Curtis Jones (£5.4m), allowing Florian Wirtz (£8.2m) to keep starting.

Whereas tonight’s hosts have made two alterations to the victorious XI versus Bournemouth. Bukayo Saka (£10.2m) and Leandro Trossard (£6.9m) replace Noni Madueke (£6.8m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8m), who join the likes of Eberechi Eze (£7.3m) and Mikel Merino (£5.7m) on a strong bench.

Arsenal are still without Riccardo Calafiori (£5.6m), as the Reds don’t have Mohamed Salah (£14.0m) or Alexander Isak (£10.3m).

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Subs: Kepa, White, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Norgaard, Madueke, Merino, Jesus, Martinelli  

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Wirtz, Gakpo

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Jones, Chiesa 


price change predictions

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

582 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Gordon to Rice a no brainer?
    Currently have Gab & Saka from Arsenal but will have Gab, Timber and Rice by next few gw’s.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      He is the best mid in the Prem playing for the top team

    2. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Gordon to anyone. Awful player, only good for pens & then when they get them he's off the pitch anyway.

      Rice has been a great own for me over several months now. Couldn't stand to look at Gordon in my team longer than 3 GWs.

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

    there were so many good matches yesterday. they didnt pick the best 2 to have on the other days this GW 😐

  3. JBG
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Don't think I've ever seen a current PL holder park the bus like this. Not even trolling.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      u will see a lot next season

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Was thinking the same

    3. MJF
        3 months, 5 days ago

        You didn't watch Chelsea under Jose in big games, then?

        1. JBG
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Tbf Slot is playing against prime Rooney, Scholes, CR, Giggs, Henry etc. So very understandable he'd be doing this.

      • BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Haha you are so biased. Pool defence has been awful this season and you are complaining when they have kept PL winner candidate number one's xg close to zero and created better chances?

    4. FCSB
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Manifesting an Arsenal clean sheet and a Rice goal 1-0 FT

      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Blasphemy

    5. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Vardy goal and assist in the Serie A today - still cracking on

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Never mind that, how's Rebekah's Italian coming along?

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

          ‘Coleen è una schiaffeggiatrice’

    6. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Timber looking lively but 0 end product as usual

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

      are arsenal waiting for liverpool to score to finally wake up?

    8. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Awful game of football

      1. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Last seasons champions Vs this season's champions elect. The best the PL has to offer...

      2. JBG
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Feel like I read this, but also think this for myself, way too often lately.

        The entertainment value of Football is so bad atm.

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          There have been individual moments of quality but a lot of low quality football. Some games that have been high scoring but Sunday league like

        2. Royal5
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Feels like watching two teams without attackers

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            3 months, 5 days ago

            Neither of them have strikers tbf

            1. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              3 months, 5 days ago

              Right

      3. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Missing Traitors for this rubbish

    9. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Great clearance by Zubimendi

    10. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Hincapie off on 56

    11. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Hincapie out. No way.

    12. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Hinc down

    13. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Thanks Zubimendi, clown

    14. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      How is this the best that English football has to offer?

    15. fantasist
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Hincapie off injured before 60

    16. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Can I get some defcons, please? Is that too much to ask?

    17. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Unlucky Hincapie owners

    18. Capocannonieri
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Frimpong is a handful, so fast.

      I would hate to track a dude like that.

      I think he's the fastest dude in EPL

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Saliba kept up with him just then

        1. Capocannonieri
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Stuggled, but he did, took a good route

          Frimpong is probably 4.1/40 speed in American speed measures

      2. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Dan James still exists

      3. Captain Mal
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Got to be Van De Ven?

        1. Capocannonieri
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Van De Ven is a Freak athlete

          I would put that kid at Central Forward and he might be Haaland 2.0

          Tottenham does not know what they have

    19. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Liverpool don't play many low percentage passes. It's square ball after square ball

    20. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Get Gyok off he's like statue

    21. Capocannonieri
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Alright, I need Gabriel and Timber rested, they did their 60 minutes of work.

      Then 2 Liverpool goals to doom Raya and Rice holders

    22. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Szobo part 2 loading.

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Almost.

    23. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Shocker from Slob.

      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        He should be given a defcon point for that clearance into th stand

    24. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Really did not think I’d be almost falling asleep for this game, utterly disappointing

      1. Sun God Nika
        • 5 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Playing like this against a weakened Liverpool team is a crime

        1. RICICLE
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          I feel like reporting it tbh haha!

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

      city should just get guehi done and in. this title isnt over

    26. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Was that a shank just then? Is it possible to shank a football? That was disgraceful haha!

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        That Ronaldo-technique has wildly variable results

    27. fantasist
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      All three Gabriel's on the pitch now

      1. Monklane
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        But not the coach or Arteta's son.

    28. Raoul Nogues
        3 months, 5 days ago

        A team comes in

      • Kaneyonero
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Trossard 1 point haul

        1. Kaneyonero
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          *2 CS banked

      • Royal5
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Skelly looks dreadful