Dugout Discussion

Brighton v Palace team news: Strand Larsen debut, no van Hecke

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
398 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Fodderx4
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Hopefully no Haaland or Semenyo for City today so I get 13 points from KDH! Wishful thinking probably!

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    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Very

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    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      I reckon Haaland will be on bench...Marmoush has been the most in form striker and his pace works better in this game than Haaland. Also, Haaland's record at Anfield is very bad.

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        I hear you but Pep needs to improve Haaland's confidence ahead of the run in to the season. He'd have played better Pool defences than they'll have out today. Could find a starting spot for Marmoush too. I'll be happy with a Haaland assist and no BPs ๐Ÿ˜‰

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        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 27 days ago

          Yeah good point. But if I were Pep, this isn't the game to boost his confidence, especially as Marmoush has been in fine form. I would start Haaland vs Fulham.

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      2. Admiral Benson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        So many bad takes this weekend

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  2. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Free transfer
    1. Munoz at home to Burnley in next game?
    2. Cucurella at home to Leeds?
    3. Summerville at home to United?

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    1. Esraj
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Has to be Munoz out of those 3. Leeds and United are purring.

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      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Hmmmm good point, yeah I'm leaning towards Munoz now Palace are keeping a clean sheet vs Brighton . Thanks!!

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  3. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Raya
    Virgil, Gabriel(c), Chalobah
    Enzo, Wilson, Bruno, 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

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    1. Left Peg
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Risky, but it could pay off. Probably the best 2 fixtures you could ask for but Palace are such a question mark at the moment.

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      1. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Yes, but surely Burnley and Wolves at home are the games to turn it around.

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  4. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    sup fellas, I had this awful dream

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Matches this game.

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    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      About Uber?

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  5. Left Peg
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Not sure where to go with my team. There's so many midfielders on my radar and not enough space... Currently have all chips in tact, 2FT, and £2.2m ITB.

    Current squad is

    Verbruggen - Dubravka
    Gabriel - Timber - Virgil - Guehi - Mukiele
    B. Fernandes - Semenyo - Rogers - Rice - Enzo
    Haaland - Thiago - Guiu

    I'm tempted by Palmer but have some worries about his fitness and potential rotation. Chelsea have 2 decent fixtures coming up, so I think I'll try and ride it out with Enzo as his underlying stats seem good.
    Wirtz looks like he's finally found his feet, but I'm not sure who I'd turf out for him. Away at Sunderland is also not an easy fixture, so I guess I can wait a week. I'm also starting to wonder if Salah could find some form again. He has a high ceiling and, if Haaland's output remains like it is, perhaps he is a good alternative as a premium option.
    While I have B.Fernandes, and think he's the best MUN MID option, I'm also tempted by Mbeumo. Fixture-wise this also seems like a decent option.
    I'm not so tempted by Bruno G as it looks like NEW are in a bit of a mess.

    What do you reckon? Roll the transfer?

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    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Enzo out after 27

      No to Salah

      Yes to roll

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    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Roll

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    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Roll. Get Arsenal double and Chelsea's 2 more good fixtures out the way. Sell Enzo and Rice then.

      Patience the key with that team.

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      1. Left Peg
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Sounds like a good plan. Will probably pencil that in!

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    4. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Good team. Roll and reassess after the DGW. Monitor Mbeumo's fitness before going there

      Only change I'd make here this GW is Guiu to Kroupi, to bench Thiago, but that's luxury by definition

      I'm going Rice to Wirtz after the DGW, fwiw

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  6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Does it look alright? Save FT?

    Raya
    Gabriel Timber VVD
    Fernandes Mbeumo Semenyo Rogers
    Haaland DCL Mane

    Dubravka LeFee Mukiele Rodon

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      If Mbeumo is fine, yes.

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  7. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Timber or Saliba ?

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    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Saliba

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  8. vova
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Keep Evanlison for now right?

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      DCL?

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      1. vova
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        that's the likely move but just played WC recently so trying to bank transfers for a bit...

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        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 27 days ago

          fair play

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    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Yeah. Fixtures and stats are still there, I think

      His finishing is a known weakness, so you'll have to be patient

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  9. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Play
    A cash
    B senesi

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    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Cash based on this match

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      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Cheers

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  10. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo (C), O’Reilly, Semenyo, Marmoush, Haaland

    SUBS: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Ake, Cherki, Nico, Foden, Alleyne, Lewis

    https://x.com/i/status/2020516748554911784

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    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Haaland benched!? :O no way!

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Could get yourself banned here

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      2. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Cool kids sold couple of weeks ago anyway ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  11. Craigsimpson
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    What are people doing with tark? He's not even getting defcon now and only 1 clean sheet in their last 7. Fixtures not great either.

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    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      I'm selling him tonight for Munoz

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      1. Craigsimpson
        • 2 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Considering it too. Although he hasn't done much this game

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  12. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    How nice off Hurzeler to brief about Van Heckes injury after kick off.... -_-

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Wouldn’t have helped if he had done it yesterday tbf

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      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Guess it's on me, I should've looked for training pics for Brighton, like a lunatic....

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  13. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Pick one until BGW31
    A. Cash
    B. Dalot
    C. Senesi

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  14. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    So....

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/27546102

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      What an idiot ๐Ÿ˜†

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Biggest waffler on the site at the minute, hasn’t got a scooby

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    3. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      stick to the facts, comment shaming is below yyou

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    4. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Tbf he’ll get 2 points max anyway, never has scored at Anfield for City

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  15. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konaté, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike

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

    Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, Aït-Nouri, Rodri, Semenyo, Marmoush, Silva, O'Reilly, Haaland

    Subs: Trafford, Dias, Aké, Alleyne, Lewis, Reijnders, Cherki, González, Foden

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  16. Miguel Sanchez
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    You know how a lot of TV and film is now written with the assumption that the audience isn’t fully tuned in and are on their phones…

    I find myself increasingly needing to find distractions whilst watching football these days as games are more often than not, quite dull.

    Anyone else feel the same?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      No. Always something fascinating to see with any sport. Much more interesting than movies, TV, music which are same on second, third etc viewing or listening. Leave the phone in another room and enjoy the sports. The phone wants to distract you enough to try and get you buy something you probably don't need. Not easy to do that I know but it's worth it.

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Yeah I’m finding it very difficult to watch any games as a neutral this season, been some absolutely dismal matches recently

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  17. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    lets score a few today liverpool please

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Wirtz

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Need 20+ from Ekitike to make up my tinkering ๐Ÿ™

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  18. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Sarr G

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  19. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Sarr G

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  20. fantasist
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Sarr goal

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  21. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    sarr g
    guessand a

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  22. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Sarr goal

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  23. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    I’ve owned Sarr so much in the last 2 seasons and never had a goal from him. Finally !

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  24. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Verbruggen cleanie gone. Thank you

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Was always going to happen. Not even made a save

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  25. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Hate playing for clean sheets, petrified sat here with Munoz and Sarr

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Even turned notifications off lmao

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  26. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Verbruggen makes it to 60 mins with CS intact ๐Ÿ™„

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      And….. it’s gone

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      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Hence the roll eyes

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    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      Made it to 97 mins recently too

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  27. Admiral Benson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Verbruggen clean sheet points for about 15 seconds ๐Ÿ™

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  28. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Pity Sarr blanks in 31, when you have ars city players blanking to

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  29. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    "Sarr will tear you apart again"

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  30. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 27 days ago

    Really tempted to take a punt on Sarr, even if he misses GW31

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