Dugout Discussion
4 March 2026 1399 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Five more Premier League matches take place on Wednesday night, with the top four and Chelsea among the teams in action:

(times in GMT)

TEAM NEWS

There was plenty of uncertainty with the Gameweek 29 starting XIs, with several key names flagged as doubts.

The teamsheets provide mixed news for Fantasy managers, no more so than at the Etihad, where Erling Haaland is fit to start. Nico O’Reilly, however, misses out.

Haaland takes the place of Omar Marmoush, while Phil Foden comes in for O’Reilly.

Nottingham Forest also make two alterations as they change formation, with Nico Dominguez and Jair Cunha replacing Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

At the Amex, Declan Rice shrugs off an injury to start for Arsenal, who are without William Saliba. He has an ankle knock.

Cristhian Mosquera replaces the Frenchman, while Gabriel Martinelli is in for Leandro Trossard.

As expected, Brighton hand rests to veterans James Milner and Danny Welbeck.

Carlos Baleba and Georginio Rutter come in for those two, while Olivier Boscagli replaces the absent Lewis Dunk.

Harry Wilson is missing for Fulham this evening, while Joachim Andersen has to make do with a place on the bench.

Marco Silva makes four changes in all: Antonee Robinson, Samuel Chukwueze, Tom Cairney and Josh King are recalled, while Emile Smith Rowe, Ryan Sessegnon and Oscar Bobb drop to the bench.

West Ham United bring in Jean Todibo and Callum Wilson for Konstantinos Mavropanos and Soungoutou Magassa.

Over at Villa Park, Unai Emery responds to the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers by swapping Jadon Sancho, Lucas Digne and Pau Torres for Leon Bailey, Ian Maatsen and Tyrone Mings.

Ollie Watkins starts again up top.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior drops goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, with Filip Jorgensen replacing him.

Wesley Fofana, Alejandro Garnacho and Malo Gusto come in for Mamadou Sarr, Andrey Santos and the suspended Pedro Neto.

Marc Cucurella is back from injury and on the bench.

Finally, in the later kick-off, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe makes two changes.

Aaron Ramsdale and Harvey Barnes are in for the benched Nick Pope and the ill Nick Woltemade.

Manchester United’s only alteration sees Noussair Mazrouai come in for Diogo Dalot, who is on substitute duty.

Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are fit to start.

LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Luiz, Bailey, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Digne, Torres, Bogarde, Barkley, Sancho, Abraham, Alysson.

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, James, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato, Caicedo, James, Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.

Subs: Sanchez, Badiashile, Sarr, Tosin, Cucurella, Santos, Lavia, Delap, Guiu.


Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Boscagli, Van Hecke, Kadioglu, Gross, Baleba, Gómez, Hinshelwood, Mitoma, Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Minteh, Welbeck, Milner, Ayari, De Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman, Howell.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Subs: Kepa, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.


Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Cairney, Chukwueze, King, Iwobi, Jimenez.

Subs: Lecomte, Castagne, Andersen, Sessegnon, Reed, Lukic, Bobb, Smith Rowe, Muniz.

West Ham United XI: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Diouf, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Wilson, Castellanos.

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Adama, Lamadrid, Magassa, Scarles, Kante.


Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Silva, Foden, Semenyo, Cherki, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Doku, Nico, Savinho, Khusanov.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Cunha, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Jesus.

Substitutes: Gunn, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Netz.


Newcastle United XI: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

Subs: Pope, Botman, Murphy, Shahar, Willock, Wissa, Osula, Murphy, Neave.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Šeško.

Subs: Bayındır, Dalot, Malacia, Heaven, Kukonki, Ugarte, Fletcher, Zirkzee, Diallo.


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:

Weds team news: Haaland + Rice start, no Wilson or O'Reilly 1

price change predictions
  1. DRIZ ✅
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 12 days ago

    Opta have changed to Semenyo goal?

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Have they?

    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      The Rodri one?

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      You sure?

  2. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 12 days ago

    Watkins YC

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Icing on the cake for us Watkins owners

  3. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 12 days ago

    I just noticed JP got an assist too 🙂
    Didn’t mention his name on FotMob commentary - how’d that happen?!

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Spawniest assist you'll ever see. Even more so than the 3 pens he won.

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        I’ll take all the jam I can get

    2. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      tiny touch off his tummy

  4. ljuta zena
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 12 days ago

    Pedro confirmed asist to Palmer

  5. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 12 days ago

    By far the worst gw of the season.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      If Arsenal concede I'm on for 10 blanks + Hill

      1. Old Wulfrunian
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        same 10 blanks + Semenyo

    2. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Nah, there’s been way worse haha

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

    DCL > JP done!

  7. Machine Gun Skelly
      1 month, 12 days ago

      ELIOT ANDERSON, you are my HERO

    • Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Had Pedro in one of my GW1 drafts…would appreciate if FPL can somehow recognise this with sharing a few points…

    • Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Anderson!

    • JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Haaland is a fraud playing for a fraud

    • AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Goal

      Manchester United

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Casimero

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Bruno assist

          Brilliant cross

          Header

    • All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Have Pedro and Hill coming in for Wilson and O'Reilly. Going to need a lot of peanut butter to go with all that jam.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Ew that's gross. But congrats on the Pedro haul.

        1. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Appreciate it. Normally 2 subs means 3 points for me.

      2. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Care to join me
        I've got Tark & Pedro for Wilson & O'Reilly

        1. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Touché!

      3. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        That is absolutely filthy 😆

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

      Elliott Anderson and Hill on my bench

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        First time I’ve benched Anderson in all the weeks I’ve owned him - which is a fair amount of weeks now 🙁

    • The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      City fanboys crying in the corner...

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        I never see one Man City fan on here

        Maybe you see things differently?

      2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Do they have fans?

    • RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      I’m really may just do Ekitike back to Pedro, anyone thinking the same and just biting the bullet?

      1. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Nah, Haaland to Pedro is my plan

        1. RICICLE
          • 3 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          It’s a wise move, although I have already played my WC, may still do it!

        2. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          What are you going to do with all that cash?

    • JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Casemiro!

    • Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Bruno A

    • DaniCT
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Chances of Semenyo to be awarded 2nd goal?

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        High it definitely hits him

      2. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Look up mentioned opta have already

        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Lovely stuff, Captain as well for me

          1. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            1 month, 12 days ago

            I checked the previous poster looks like negative?

        2. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Correction opta have not changed on site.

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 12 days ago

            Boo it does hit him though so just hoping they spot it and update in time.
            Hopefully he gets another anyway so they’ll be more inclined to check give it would be a hat trick

        3. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          no way? semenyo two goals??

    • Feanor
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Pedro bicycle wide

    • Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      No Andersen yet for Fulham

    • JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Bruno permacap rest of the season for me and selling that blonde idiot

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Who you thinking of getting, Ekitike?

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

          Already have him, might just suck it up and bring in JP

      2. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Buying Garnacho was always a risk tbf..

    • DRIZ ✅
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Bruno big chance to break Ozil record!

    • Steavn8k
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      I cannot express the regret I still hold not having brought in Pedro yet.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        I had him for more than half the season. Reckon I have 5% of his overall points

        1. Steavn8k
          • 2 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Yep, same here. Sold him twice, and oh my has he hurt my ranks these past weeks.

      2. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Try selling him for fraud Ekitike!

    • JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Of only Haaland didn't play... Hill autosub and Bruno VC

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

      One more DEFCON please TIMBER!

    • Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 12 days ago

      Sold Truffert for Andersen with Konsa first sub....

    • Moon Dog
        1 month, 12 days ago

        This game is wild

      • Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        This has been the most entertaining night of football in a long while, even ignoring FPL.

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Preferred Leeds Sunderland myself

        2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Yes

        3. Old Wulfrunian
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 12 days ago

          Who still watches football?

      • RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        Assist given to Pedro, of course

      • Bleh
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 12 days ago

        A Brighton goal would be bad for FPL but great for football right now.