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
    6 months, 7 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
      6 months, 7 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
      6 months, 7 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
    6 months, 7 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
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      u will see a lot next season

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      Was thinking the same

    3. MJF
      6 months, 7 days ago

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

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        6 months, 7 days ago

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

    4. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 7 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
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      Blasphemy

  5. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

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

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

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        6 months, 7 days ago

        ‘Coleen è una schiaffeggiatrice’

  6. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Timber looking lively but 0 end product as usual

  7. F4L
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

  8. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Awful game of football

    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

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

    2. JBG
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 7 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
        6 months, 7 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
        6 months, 7 days ago

        Feels like watching two teams without attackers

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          6 months, 7 days ago

          Neither of them have strikers tbf

          1. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            6 months, 7 days ago

            Right

    3. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      Missing Traitors for this rubbish

  9. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Great clearance by Zubimendi

  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Hincapie off on 56

  11. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Hincapie out. No way.

  12. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Hinc down

  13. RICICLE
    • 4 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Thanks Zubimendi, clown

  14. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

  15. fantasist
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Hincapie off injured before 60

  16. Punned It
    • 1 Year
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

  17. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Unlucky Hincapie owners

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

      Saliba kept up with him just then

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

      Dan James still exists

    3. Captain Mal
      • 1 Year
      6 months, 7 days ago

      Got to be Van De Ven?

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

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

  20. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Get Gyok off he's like statue

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

    Szobo part 2 loading.

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      Almost.

  23. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Shocker from Slob.

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

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

  24. RICICLE
    • 4 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

    1. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      Playing like this against a weakened Liverpool team is a crime

      1. RICICLE
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 7 days ago

        I feel like reporting it tbh haha!

  25. F4L
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

  26. RICICLE
    • 4 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

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

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      That Ronaldo-technique has wildly variable results

  27. fantasist
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    All three Gabriel's on the pitch now

    1. Monklane
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      But not the coach or Arteta's son.

  28. Raoul Nogues
    6 months, 7 days ago

    A team comes in

  29. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Trossard 1 point haul

    1. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 7 days ago

      *2 CS banked

  30. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 7 days ago

    Skelly looks dreadful