Dugout Discussion
2 February 2026 374 comments
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We hate to tear you away from a gripping transfer deadline day but there’s the small matter of ‘El Fodderico/El Benchico’ this evening: Sunderland v Burnley.

The difference this week, of course, is that there’ll be more Fantasy managers than usual starting the likes of Martin Dubravka and Nordi Mukiele, given the more favourable-on-paper fixture.

Kick-off on Wearside is at 20:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris makes two changes to the side that started the 3-1 Premier League defeat at West Ham United.

Eliezer Mayenda and Romaine Mundle drop to the bench, with Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi coming into the side for their first starts since the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Burnley make only one change from their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

It comes up top, with Gameweek 23 goalscorer Lyle Foster taking the place of Armando Broja.

James Ward-Prowse, who joined the Clarets on loan from West Ham late last month, is on the bench.

LINE-UPS

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Diarra, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fée, Talbi, Brobbey.

Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Geertruida, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Mundle, Isidor, Jones.

Burnley XI: Dúbravka, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Humphreys, Walker, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Pires, Edwards, Anthony, Foster.

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Tchaouna, Flemming, Ward-Prowse, Broja, Mejbri, Laurent.


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:

Sunderland Burnley

price change predictions
374 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 10 days ago

    Would Kalvin and Leeds not have liked to get back together? Dropping to the Championship seems like a strange option.

  2. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 10 days ago

    Come on Muk!

  3. DBry
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Best direction.

      Bruno G to an 8.5 mid

      Or

      BG down to Anderson/Garner
      With Guiu up to joao pedro?

      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        B

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      why are palace signing mcneil for 20mil

      1. chilli con kone
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Feels like they could switch to a back 4 to me. Or at least have the players to do that when they want to

    • Gazwaz80
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Hatrick off Brobby please 🙂

    • OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Anyone else adding Strand Larsen to their shortlist? Lovely entry point after Brighton

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Not sure he will nailed with Mateta deal off

        1. Yes Ndidi
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          Not 100%, but I think they'll do everything they can to favour in incomer over the wantaway.

          1. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            I can see them going with both, but definitely wait and see

          2. panda07
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Mateta will get a fair bit of gametime I think. They'll want to sell him in the summer.

            1. Esraj
              • 10 Years
              2 months, 10 days ago

              Apparently, he needs a knee surgery that could keep him out for 3-4 months, which is why the milan deal was off.

      2. F4L
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        yeah will keep an eye on him. although i fear palace will prioritise ECL now

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      ballard give us a goal
      ballard, ballard give us a goal

    • tbos83
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Newcastle fan here relying on Roefs and E.Le Fee to save my gw :-/)

      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Lol

    • Meta12345
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Play semenyo away to liverpool or kroupi home to aston villa? Aston villa has high xG conceded away from home but semenyo is the better player.

      1. Bobby Crush
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        semenyo with lfc weak at full back

    • Maddamotha
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Would you BB this, or save for the doubles?

      A) Duvbraka (WHU)
      B) Kroupi (AVL)
      C) Rodon (NFO)
      D) Stach (NFO)

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Forget the doubles. The chance of fielding 15 nailed dgw players is a distant memory. Unless there is a massive weather wipeout, the doubles will be few and small. TC and FH are the main chips for them.

        1. Maddamotha
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          Yeah, thats my thinking too. Kinda tempting to BB this tbh. Could upgrade Stach to Anderson too, but not sure its worth a transfer.

        2. Yes Ndidi
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          This. Your bench is likely to be 4 SGW players whether in a DGW or SGW.

          1. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Exactly

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              2 months, 10 days ago

              *Benchwankery aside

        3. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          DGW are crap anyway. Been overrated for years now.

          Yet still people on here fall for them, me included!

    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Palace front 5 of BJ, Mateta, SL, McNeill, Sarr could be pretty potent.

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        They should be able to get the odd shot on target between them

        1. _Greg
          • 16 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          BJ will fire some shots no problem.

          1. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Ooer missus!

            Titter ye not, as the late great Mr Howerd would say!

    • putana
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      most obvious 1-1 of the season.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Behave

    • panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      I’d take a dull and drab 0-0 here.

      1. Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Need at least a brace from Muk to salvage this...

      2. _Greg
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Yes please

      3. Esraj
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Oh absolutely.

    • _Greg
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Pray f

      1. _Greg
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Pray for Sunderland clean sheet with me!

      2. Zalk
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        I'm joining prayers

      3. Firminooooo
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Allready praying and lighting candles all over my apartment.

    • Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Commentators banging on about Sunderland's unbeaten home record this season can only mean one thing.....a Burnley win tonight!

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        100%

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      diarra g

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        *brobbey a

        1. JohnnyB10
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 10 days ago

          Should be an assist?

      2. F4L
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        *was that shot on target actually?

        1. fedolefan
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          No way to tell.

          1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Well. Depends maybe on the willingness to check brobbely.

        2. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          Looked like a pass.

          Clearly not on target.

          Should be changed to an own goal.

          1. Amartey Partey
            • 6 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Seems to be only the Timber goal that was given as an own goal.

    • fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Please don't say Mukiele assist.

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Brobbey

      2. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        It was from his side, but not him this time.

    • Traction Engine Foot
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Dubravka busted

    • Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      A moment of silence for those who played Dubravka over Kelleher this week.

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Thx... 🙁

        1. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          Would have been 82 pts gw had I started Kelleher.

      2. Firminooooo
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        I will pray for them tonight….after I thank God for the Alderete haul.

      3. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        I blame Rogers for double fail. And that idiot with RC.

    • fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Close to Mukiele G Alderete A

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        * Close to row Z near the corner flag

        1. Zalk
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          aah, reminds me of that old Zamora chant sang in the tune of That's Amore.

          When the ball hits your head
          and you're sat in row Z
          That's Zamora

      2. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Oof

    • JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Come on Brobbey, get a haul! 🙂

    • JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Captain Bowen next week? Looks like a nice punt

      1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        If you believe he will keep scoring with accidental crosses. Good luck

        1. JohnnyB10
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 10 days ago

          How about a week before that? He also had a lot of really good chances, just unlucky to score more.

    • Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Muk almost with an assist.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Dirty

    • Mom, Butters just gave me a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      I expect +12 Dubravka saves now.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        Yes please

    • Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Saka > Wirtz or Semenyo or Rice or Enzo?
      DCL > JP
      2FT

      Could do a third FT on a second midfielder for Ndiaye, or upgrade O’Reilly to 2nd Arsenal defender.

      I’m inclined to go with Wirtz, but thinking Rice just for the double. Haaland is getting annoying now, I’d love to downgrade him and have a monster midfield, but it’d be insanity really wouldn’t it?

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        What is monster midfield? Elliot Anderson isn't a monster, but his points in last six games are good: 4-4-7-5-5-7.

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 10 days ago

          True, I should say a strong 5 man midfield I guess.

          Bruno, Wirtz, Rice, Semenyo, Enzo

          I’m not even sure I really want Rice anymore only for the double though.

          1. Fifa las vegas
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Mbeumo/Cunha another option

          2. JohnnyB10
            • 1 Year
            2 months, 10 days ago

            Yes, waiting for that double, otherwise Rice is gone!

    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Burnley are so bad, Sunderland have 4 defcons between them

    • RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Grab me a goal Mukiele! Or three

    • F4L
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      best short free kick ive seen all season

    • Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      I don't think I want to watch this game. Nothing to learn or scout.

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 10 days ago

        This game makes people waste time like no other hobby. You literally sit there waiting for time to go by.

    • GC123
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 10 days ago

      Burnley are awful. Discuss. Couldn’t pass water