Dugout Discussion
17 January 2026 815 comments
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The Manchester derby kicks off Gameweek 22 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

United v City gets underway at 12.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Both sides have had cup ties since their last Premier League outings but if we’re comparing today’s starting XIs to Gameweek 21, both head coaches have rung the changes.

New interim Manchester United boss Michael Carrick makes four alterations from the 2-2 draw at Burnley.

Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are back from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and straight into Carrick’s first starting XI.

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko are the high-profile casualties of their recalls. Those two drop to the bench.

The more predictable changes see Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo come in for Ayden Heaven and Manuel Ugarte.

If it is a 4-2-3-1 as many are anticipating, then Patrick Dorgu looks set for another ‘out of position’ run-out on the wing.

As for Manchester City, Antoine Semenyo makes his first Premier League start for his new club.

The winger had lined up in both of City’s cup matches this week but gets his league bow here, replacing Tijjani Reijnders from the Gameweek 21 side.

Rodri for Nico Gonzalez is also a straightforward switch in midfield.

Pep Guardiola has had his hand forced with one change, as Matheus Nunes is not in the squad due to illness. Rico Lewis gets his first Premier League start since August.

LINE-UPS

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo.

Subs: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Yoro, J Fletcher, Mount, Ugarte, Cunha, Sesko.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Mfuni.

price change predictions
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  1. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Armpit hair offside

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

    Foden to Bruno?

    1. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Yeah but I’d do it after City vs Wolves.

  3. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Bruno robbed of a goal and an assist

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

      Or.... Correctly ruled out?

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

        Don't be spitting facts when this should be about feelings

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

      Lol

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

    pep needs to sub a winger off for reijnders and get bilva tucking in from out wide staying more compact

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

      Pep needs to do nothing, this is perfect XD

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

      I’ll let him know thanks.

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

        can you tell him to sub Haaland off too while you're at it 😉

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

    Put the ball in the box ffs

  6. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Doku to be subbed of at half time imo

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

    Can't believe I last second changed the armband back on Haaland. Ekitiké bound to score five.

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

      hatrick confirmed

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

    Shaw is a sneaky rat

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      More of a capybara

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

        Lol

  9. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Is the bot okay?

    1. Raoul Nogues
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Looked injured

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

      Robot limping

    3. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Don’t even know if Foden plays against wolves next week

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

        What has happened to him? Looks lost

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

      Haaland looks hurt

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

        Shaw & Maguire sandwich

    5. Graziano
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Glad I didn’t captain the big man. City are playing badly the last few games. I was quite confident it would be a blank.

    6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Haaland without service is a worse player than Gyokores without service.

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

        Least touches in this game, but only needs a couple of decent ones

      2. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Brilliant striker, average footballer

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Agree

    7. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Haaland hurt then lashing home in anger lol

    8. Free Hat
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Been a long time I actually want Utd to win this derby. They deserve it on this showing, (so far)

      1. Raoul Nogues
          3 months, 5 days ago

          They could have scored 3 or 4

      2. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Of course I’m a sheep and chicken out from going Ekitike (c) ffs!

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

        bruno looking like the bruno who joined the league in january and ripped it up averaging 8 ppg or whatever it was

        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Yup, helps when he is played in the correct position, Amorim was somehow blind to it and thought he was a DM 😆

        2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Correct position

      4. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Haaland
        - Described as 'exhausted' by Pep
        - Away from home
        - Facing Man Utd with a potential new manager bounce
        - Previous 4 GW scores had been 2, 2, 2, 6
        - Early KO/Gandhi rule
        - Man Utd 6th best xG conceded in the last 6 GWs

        Potentially the 80%+ captaincy rate might have been a bit too optimistic! Lets see in the second half

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

          I went with Ekitike

          How about yourself?

        2. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          I was set on Ekitike but everyone on Haaland scarred me…

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

        Yeah so I should have capped Ekitike & bought Bruno instead of Enzo 😆

        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Still time for a Bruno penalty miss

      6. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        At least one attacking return for Bruno against City before everyone jumps on would be ideal...

      7. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Haaland penalty imminent

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

          From the bench, he was struggling limping off

      8. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Going to be hard to keep Foden even for Wolves. Be even harder if he doesn’t start!

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Pity Bruno has Arsenal next

          1. Babit1967
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 5 days ago

            Yeah that’s my thinking to give it one more week before the switch.

      9. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        There it is

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          ??

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 5 days ago

            Halftime

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

          Glad you've finally found your panties, mate.

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 5 days ago

            😆

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

        how was that not a khunsanov backpass?

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

          Again?

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

            it just seemed quickly glossed over, united players didnt even really appeal for some reason

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

        The game isn’t finished yet

      12. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Cherki needed at 60mins

        1. lilmessipran
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          45*

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

        Keane verdict Dalot red card offence got away with one Ref & VAR bottled it

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

          I'm so confused

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

          He wouldn't have agreed if that was him tackling

          Probably not even a yellow back then.

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

            Looks bad in the slow mo’s

            1. Scapegoat Salah
              • 9 Years
              3 months, 5 days ago

              This - I can’t believe they haven’t twigged yet that VAR reviews need to be real time speed

      14. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Should I bench boost this or wait until DGWs?
        I've already used my WC:

        Enzo (cry), Ballard (whu), Alderete (whu), Dubravka (TOT)

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

          Glad I didn’t Lewis benched

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

            DGW is always better

      15. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Good afternoon all!!

        Currently have Watkins and Mané with Haaland

        Would you spilt Watkins and Mané into Thiago and DCL for a bit more squad depth with 2 frees??? Have Rogers

        A- Yes
        Or
        B- No

        Cheers all!!

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

          Not for me.