Dugout Discussion
8 February 2026 398 comments
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The penultimate match of Gameweek 25 sees Brighton and Hove Albion play host to Crystal Palace.

Kick-off is at 14:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Fabian Hurzeler makes some surprise calls, with three changes from last week’s 1-1 draw with Everton.

There’s no Jan Paul van Hecke and Yasin Ayari in the matchday squad due to injury, while Danny Welbeck drops to the bench.

Olivier Boscagli, Harry Howell and Charalampos Kostoulas come in.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner gives a debut to Jorgen Strand Larsen, while Adam Wharton is back in central midfield after suspension.

Chadi Riad and Brennan Johnson are consequently demoted to substitute duty.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is once again absent as he waits to find out if he needs surgery on his knee.

LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Kadioglu, Dunk, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Baleba, Gross, Howell, Rutter, Mitoma, Kostoulas

Subs: Steele, Igor, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Welbeck, Milner, Gomez, O’Riley, Veltman

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Lerma, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Sarr, Pino, Strand Larsen

Subs: Benitez, Johnson, Uche, Clyne, Kamada, Canvot, Sosa, Guessand, Riad

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:


price change predictions
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  1. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    Repost on new article

    Thoughts on Keane and Saka to Saliba and Rayan with 2ft’s. Means playing DCL vs Chelsea which I don’t mind too much and gives me 3m itb for DCL to Ekitike the following gw? Team below

    Verbruggen
    Gabriel, Timber, Cash
    Salah, Saka*, Bruno, Rogers, KDH
    Watkins, DCL

    John, Thiago, Keane, Alderete 2ft .1itb

    Alternatively I can do one of these options:

    A) originally proposed Keane and Saka to Saliba and Raya 3m itb
    B) Saka and Keane to Mbuemo and Saliba 0itb exact funds
    C) Saka and DCL to Rayan and Gyokeres or Havertz
    D) Something else

    1. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      I’d probably just do Saka to Rice in your boat and use the funds to upgrade DCL to Ekitike in the near future

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Thank you.

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Option A gives me the funds for DCL to Ekitike the following gw too

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 19 days ago

          A is Rayan Bournemouth not Raya

    2. Kingy109
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      I have Keane too and a similar defence (Munoz over Cash) - I'm not rushing to sell Keane until we know for a fact he loses his place. There's a Burnley game eventually and he might save me a transfer if he plays 31. Plus I'm loving that he kills Tarkowski's Defcon

  2. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    Need a madness from Verbruggen to save my season.

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      Me too

  3. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    Which option? Have Gab and Tim.

    1) Verb to Raya
    2) Potts to Arsenal mid
    3) HWilson to Arsenal mid

    1. Deer-in-headlights
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      I did 1. Tired of the Verb-Dub production.

  4. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    OR#92 in the mud with the Van Hecke no show
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/66111/event/25/

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      I imagine he will be a lot higher later!

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Proof that the game is mostly skill and not luck

  5. Vasshin
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    Who would you take out to get Mbuemo if you already have Bruno
    1. Rogers
    2. Enzo
    3. Semenyo
    4. Rice after his doubles this week
    5. No need of Mbuemo, keep Rogers, Enzo, Semenyo, Rice and Bruno

    1. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      Wait for Carrick’s presser to confirm the limp after the game was nothing serious.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      4

    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      5

    4. Kingy109
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 19 days ago

      Rice or Semenyo will need selling for 31 blank. Of those I prioritise selling Rice I think. It can wait though. I'd keep an eye on Wirtz too.

  6. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    Any ideas on this bunch?

    Raya (Dub)
    Gab Richards Tark* (Hall* Muk)
    Bruno Rice Enzo Wilson (Miley*)
    Haaland Ekitike Bowen*

    3 FT, 2m bank

    Bench Bowen/Wilson and upgrade Miley to KDH?
    Something else?

    Cheers for any help

    1. I have no Wirtz
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Why the stars at Tark, Bowen, Hall? Niggles confirmed or suspected?

        Miley to KDH very tempting!

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 19 days ago

          Players I'd like to move on soon.

      • Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        what are the * for? miley to kdh and bench wilson sounds good.

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Cheers both.

      • FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        I’d do Miley to KDH. However, considering you have the funds, I like the look of Rayan and Dango(bad entry week) for Miley.

      • Kingy109
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Hall to Hill and Bowen to Thiago gives you what budget for upgrading Miley?

    2. I have no Wirtz
        1 month, 19 days ago

        Which one defender to start in gw26:

        A) Thiaw (17,-1,9,1,0,1) away at Spurs
        B) Tarkowski (2,4,8,4,2,2) at home to Bournemouth
        C) Hill (3,3,2,6,7,7) away at Everton

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 19 days ago

          C

          1. I have no Wirtz
              1 month, 19 days ago

              Such good form, right?

              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                1 month, 19 days ago

                Everton seem terrible at home and yes defcon helps.

                1. Ignasi M
                  • 8 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  Yeah, exactly what I'm thinking. Thinking of replacing Tarkowski for Cucurella who is at home to Leeds and Burnley. Thing is, Cucu is always a card risk and it's not like Chelsea are any good at keeping clean sheets either. I just fancy Cucu to maybe bag an assist or goal vs Leeds at home in evening kick off where he thrives

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 19 days ago

            tark

            1. I have no Wirtz
                1 month, 19 days ago

                Aren’t those many 2 pointers recently, no?

                1. F4L
                  • 11 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  yeah maybe, just think everton are looking better of late with some first teamers back, not conceding much at all recently even if not many clean sheets

                  1. Ignasi M
                    • 8 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    yah, defensively Everton are very good.

                    1. Craigsimpson
                      • 2 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      1 clean sheet in their last 7

            2. The Mighty Hippo
              • 9 Years
              1 month, 19 days ago

              Tarkowski

            3. BeaversWithAttitude
              • 7 Years
              1 month, 19 days ago

              Thiaw

              1. I have no Wirtz
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  Beautiful powerful strike heading into the top corner yesterday, only very good goalkeeping stopped it.

            4. F4L
              • 11 Years
              1 month, 19 days ago

              jsl watch

              1. FPL Blow-In
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                1 month, 19 days ago

                Nah, looked at it for a second too but the blank in gw31 is a deterrent

            5. BeaversWithAttitude
              • 7 Years
              1 month, 19 days ago

              Seagulls vs. Eagles – let's go!

              1. Bobby Digital
                • 8 Years
                1 month, 19 days ago

                An eagle would f**k a seagull up

                1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                  • 11 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  a seagull would poop on a eagle though...

                  1. I have no Wirtz
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      A seagull would steal an eagle’s chips

                      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                        • 9 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        How this ends: eagle wins the fight, seagull wins the lunch — and everyone watching loses their chips.

              2. OH... KEVIN DE BRUYNE
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  any news or guesses on jpvh's whereabouts?

                  1. Traction Engine Foot
                    • 8 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Trapped in the bogs in Yates on West Street

                  2. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 16 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Seems he's injured.

                • The Philosopher
                  • 5 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  What is the most number of pen saves a keeper has made in a match? Asking for a friend.

                  1. Ha.
                    • 10 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    I made 69 once

                  2. FPL Blow-In
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Bart Verdozen

                • Ha.
                  • 10 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  King to

                  1. Sarr
                  2. KDH
                  3. Anderson

                  5th mid spot but will be forced to play this week so I can bench Thiago

                  1. Bobby Digital
                    • 8 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Sarr if you're looking for a cheeky short-term punt. Has BUR WOL in next two.

                    1. Ha.
                      • 10 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      Yeh that’s what I’m leaning

                      Would be good for H2H as a differential

                      And worst comes to worse I can WC him out

                      1. FPL Blow-In
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 13 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        Sarr blanks in gw31. Unless your using WC before then, seems another transfer to take back out. Assuming you have 3 Arsenal and some city already.

                        1. Ha.
                          • 10 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          No too worried about blanks for now

                          1. FPL Blow-In
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 13 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            That’s shortsighted

                            1. Ha.
                              • 10 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              Bruh

                              We all play the game differently

                              I am playing a dead team in my GW31 H2H that has about 4 players

                              1. Utopsis
                                • 6 Years
                                1 month, 19 days ago

                                This. Not getting players because they blank in some future gameweek has burned me so much in the past

                  2. FPL Blow-In
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Dango

                    1. Ha.
                      • 10 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      Nah

                      1. FPL Blow-In
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 13 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        Rayan?

                • F4L
                  • 11 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  Rayan's finish yesterday was great, wish more players would attempt toe-poke type finishes

                  1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
                    • 9 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    And the defending shambolic.

                  2. Utopsis
                    • 6 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Very difficult technique - if most tried it we'd be laughing our as*es off on MotD

                • The Philosopher
                  • 5 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  Pretty clear the attack isn't working well for Brighton.
                  They need to send Verbruggen up top.

                  1. Utopsis
                    • 6 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Hahaha

                • The Bandit
                  • 15 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  Rubbish game zzzzzz

                • SpaceCadet
                  • 12 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  I’m so hi. Wasted on this borefest.

                • Feanor
                  • 16 Years
                  1 month, 19 days ago

                  Just need Nunes and Haaland to not play and I get Rogers off the bench

                  1. Ha.
                    • 10 Years
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    Two one pointers inc

                • OH... KEVIN DE BRUYNE
                    1 month, 19 days ago

                    chris richards on for defcon? how many is he on? cant seem to work the app out?

                    1. Ha.
                      • 10 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      4

                      1. OH... KEVIN DE BRUYNE
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          cheers

                    2. FDMS All Starz
                      • 10 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      Would you do the following?
                      GW26: LeFee —> Rogers (1FT)
                      GW27: Rice —> Wirtz (1FT)

                      Verbruggen
                      Gabriel Timber Keane
                      Bruno Mbeumo Enzo Rice Lefee
                      Haaland Kroupi

                      Areola Thiago Andersen VDB
                      (2FT & 3.7itb)

                      1. Ha.
                        • 10 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        I wouldn’t do Rice > Wirtz, no

                        1. THFC4LIFE
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 9 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          I’m doing that in 27

                          1. Ha.
                            • 10 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            Ok

                        2. FDMS All Starz
                          • 10 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          Semenyo? Rice’s output has dried up recently though, after dgw is he really needed? Liverpool and city have some plum fixtures coming up

                      2. Ze_Austin
                        • 7 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        Absolutely

                        Keane to Hill first though

                    3. Penguin & Tonic
                      • 9 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      As a Newcastle fan it seems we have his a glass ceiling. We are not allowed to spend on a squad capable of competing in Europe and the Premier League, so will flip-flop between alternative seasons. Aston Villa will do similar in alternative (to Newcastle) seasons.

                    4. Penguin & Tonic
                      • 9 Years
                      1 month, 19 days ago

                      **hit not his

                    5. Absolutely Muñozed
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        May there is no CS today

                        1. Ha.
                          • 10 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          I can see teo

                      • Jet5605
                        • 11 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        3FT and 0.3 ITB. Good to do Dorgu > Hill and roll 2 or should I also replace a mid? Planning DCL to Thiago next week

                        Pickford
                        Gabriel - Timber - Dorgu
                        BrunoF - Rice - Enzo - Cunha
                        Haaland - Ekitike - DCL

                        Dub - Szob - Gudmund - Andersen

                        1. Ze_Austin
                          • 7 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          Hill and roll

                          1. Jet5605
                            • 11 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            Has a nice ring to it. The old Hill and roll.

                      • PartyTime
                        • 4 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        Took a hit to get van Hecke in. Heck! Season been over long before it even began

                        1. Ha.
                          • 10 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          There’s always next year

                          1. PartyTime
                            • 4 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            I may well be gone before then

                        2. Ajax Hamsterdam
                          • 11 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          were all your defenders injured?

                          1. PartyTime
                            • 4 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            Porro was injured. Apparently, Collins might be injured so Gudmundsson is the lucky surprise off the bench

                      • TKC07
                        • 6 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        Howell is Howell playing?

                      • Ignasi M
                        • 8 Years
                        1 month, 19 days ago

                        Anyone looking at Summerville? He's been brill for 5 weeks now. Thinking of replacing Wilson.

                        1. Ignasi M
                          • 8 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          put it this way: more chance of Summerville hauling at home to Man Utd than wilson away at city

                        2. Craigsimpson
                          • 2 Years
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          Have you watched him? I've not caught much of West ham but when I have seen them, he's looked like their one bright spark

                      • OH... KEVIN DE BRUYNE
                          1 month, 19 days ago

                          richards def con count at HT? i really need this?

                          1. Ha.
                            • 10 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            12

                            1. Ze_Austin
                              • 7 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              Ha.

                          2. GreennRed
                            • 14 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            5

                          3. Ze_Austin
                            • 7 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            5

                            Available on the FPL site. Maybe on the app too, but I don't use that

                            Click the match and you'll see live details

                            Lacroix is on 12

                            1. OH... KEVIN DE BRUYNE
                                1 month, 19 days ago

                                oh thank you

                          4. Jet5605
                            • 11 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            Would a Palace cleanie today put some of their defenders back on the menu? Great fixtures ahead.

                            1. Ha.
                              • 10 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              I don’t think so

                            2. TorresMagic™
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • Has Moderation Rights
                              • 16 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              For the next 2.

                              1. Jet5605
                                • 11 Years
                                1 month, 19 days ago

                                Just remembered the blank in 31. Think I'll pass

                          5. Count of Monte Hristo
                            • 12 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            What single transfer would you prioritise here?

                            0.4 ITB

                            Raya Dubravka

                            Timber Gabriel Chalobah Guehi Andersen

                            Bruno Enzo Rogers Semenyo Anderson

                            DCL Thiago Haaland

                            1. Ha.
                              • 10 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              Why not roll?

                            2. Ze_Austin
                              • 7 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              I'd roll

                              Nothing's screaming with 1 FT

                              1. Count of Monte Hristo
                                • 12 Years
                                1 month, 19 days ago

                                Sorry I should say I will be rolling this week but have no transfers on the horizon and just wondered if you recommend anyone for a 4/5 week period over who I currently have

                                1. Ze_Austin
                                  • 7 Years
                                  1 month, 19 days ago

                                  Okay, please repost on the new page and add amount ITB

                            3. GreennRed
                              • 14 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              Haaland to Ekitike.

                              Anderson to Dewsbury Hall.

                          6. FPLMACKEM
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 5 Years
                            1 month, 19 days ago

                            Raya
                            Virgil, Gabriel(c), Chalobah
                            Enzo, Wilson, Bruno (c), Rice, Anderson
                            Ekitike, Haaland

                            Dubravka, Rodon, Andersen, Guiu

                            5ft 3.9 itb

                            Next gw I'm thinking Rodon to Munoz (bench Wilson) and go 442. What we thinking?

                            Yes
                            No

                            1. Ha.
                              • 10 Years
                              1 month, 19 days ago

                              Can’t have two captains mate

                              1. FPLMACKEM
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 5 Years
                                1 month, 19 days ago

                                Forgot to remove it from Bruno.