Dugout Discussion
4 March 2026 1399 comments
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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. JBG
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 2 days ago

    What a wondergoal... Romsdale save after save and then this. Fck right off

  2. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 2 days ago

    Lovely goal

    1. RedJive79
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 2 days ago

      It was, wasn’t it.

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

    whoa Osula goal of the season contender

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

      How he even kept that in was incredible. The finish was awesome!

  4. Tic Tacs
    • 6 Years
    1 month, 2 days ago

    Whatever happens in FPL, Utd matching Liverpool for throwing away a win is a plus

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

    Seething, just seething

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

    Osula wonder strike

  7. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 2 days ago

    What a goal. Well done Newcastle. Hold!!

  8. Ady87
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 2 days ago

    Saw this result coming a mile off. We were also terrible and lost against 10 men Everton.

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 2 days ago

      Dofferent circumstances then, Romsdale motm here. Vs Everton attack was woeful

  9. Moon Dog
      1 month, 2 days ago

      Great goal from Osula

      1. Moon Dog
          1 month, 2 days ago

          Really entertaining game all round. Great atmosphere at St James Park.

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

        No 2nd Semenyo G, I can live with this. Time to open a beer!!!

        However, not having Semenyo over Mbeumo has been a mistake. Timber to O'Reilly was just unlucky.

        Newcastle with 10 men beats MU. MCI out of FA cup soon and all our stupid planning because of nothing.

      3. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 2 days ago

        Time for Bruno toys out the pram

      4. tbos83
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 2 days ago

        Goal of the season contender

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

          To curl it all the way around Harry's wide body deserves extra credit

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

          Definitely

      5. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 2 days ago

        Osula cappers overjoyed!

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

        Bruno still on 3 BP

        1. Effe
          • 15 Years
          1 month, 2 days ago

          Also still on 11 def con frustratingly

      7. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 2 days ago

        Good GW ruined by my 5.55pm transfer of Chalobah to Virgil and benching of Hill
        Can’t ever quite hit it right

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

          2 minutes before deadline

          3 Mar 12:58 Ekitiké João Pedro GW29
          3 Mar 12:58 Iwobi Rogers GW29

          1. Mr. O'Connell
            • 13 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Good news about ditching Rogers tho

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

              It was what made me do it in the end, lol

        2. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 2 days ago

          I did Timber to virgin and benched Senesi so always someone worse off.

      8. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 2 days ago

        Carrick shine gone

        1. JBG
          • 7 Years
          1 month, 2 days ago

          He should've told the players that Ramsdale will have one of his best matches in a Newcastle kit

        2. Hughes Your Daddy
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 2 days ago

          Yep no helping ref from Manchester this week either.

      9. Moon Dog
          1 month, 2 days ago

          Heroic defending from Newcastle. Trippier & Burn showing their experience.

        • Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 2 days ago

          If you dont hate FPL it means you are a lucker. Its that simple. This game is unbearable unless you are in the top 5% luck in the world.

          1. Kaneyonero
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Exactly this

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

            Eh, I'm 20K but took out Pedro, so I know luck goes both ways

            1. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              If you are 20k you are top 0.1% luck...

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

                That's loser talk, buddy

                1. Brosstan
                  • 11 Years
                  1 month, 2 days ago

                  Nah its just the truth. In all luck based games, the luckboxes think its skill.

              2. Monklane
                • 16 Years
                1 month, 2 days ago

                I'm 2k. That's a little ungenerous of you.

          3. DARE TO BISCAN
            • 7 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            It skill, if you do well. Bad luck, if you suck.

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

              Here I agree.
              Somehow the best do almost always quite well. So based on that the amount luck is significant, but depends on playing style and targets.

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

            Make you're own luck.

          5. Moon Dog
              1 month, 2 days ago

              If you feel every bump in the road this game will be painful. Adjust your suspension.

              1. The-Red-1
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                1 month, 2 days ago

                Love this perspective

            • Tic Tacs
              • 6 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              I have finished 5k, 200k, 800k and the only difference in playing style was the luck I got

          6. Kaneyonero
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Bruno surely gets defcon

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

              Or YC

            2. Effe
              • 15 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              I really hope so

            3. Mr. O'Connell
              • 13 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              False

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

            Tonali injured and out

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

            I’ve changed my mind! It does hit Semenyo!

            Hard to tell from the angle but the way you know is the movement of Semenyo’s shirt caused by the ball brushing on it on the way to Sangare’s elbow.

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

            Bruno trying to get a yellow

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 13 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              Would be the cherry

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

                3 baps thankfully.

                1. Mr. O'Connell
                  • 13 Years
                  1 month, 2 days ago

                  Feels good to captain my highest scoring player

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

            FT 2-1

          11. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Was that Bruno DC? XD

          12. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Nice pass to finish the game Maguire

          13. jonnybhoy
            • 13 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Why is my safety score 63....Need 15 points from Munoz just to hit a green arrow tomorrow. Brutal week

          14. Qaiss
            • 10 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            I don’t actually mind because Arsenal are going to win the league but FPL this season is awful

          15. Stranger Mings
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Anh chance bruno defccons?

            1. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              A whole day of possible adjustment

              1. Stranger Mings
                • 5 Years
                1 month, 2 days ago

                Hopefully adjusted to get rogers more than his usual 1 point

            2. DARE TO BISCAN
              • 7 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              Probs not. Think the cabal went Haaland cap

              1. Stranger Mings
                • 5 Years
                1 month, 2 days ago

                He hit 11 very early in game then no more defcon points

                1. DARE TO BISCAN
                  • 7 Years
                  1 month, 2 days ago

                  He knows better than to go against the cabal

                  (X-Files theme tune plays)

            3. Hutchiniho
              • 7 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              He definitely had a late interception, on this near side

          16. GENERATION X
            • 12 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Need to chuck Mbuemo he has been lucky to get anything for weeks. Looks peripheral

          17. TheBiffas
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 2 days ago

            Feels impossible to get points, who's even worth buying right now

            1. DARE TO BISCAN
              • 7 Years
              1 month, 2 days ago

              You can say that again

              1. Moon Dog
                  1 month, 2 days ago

                  😆

              2. Not again Shirley
                • 9 Years
                1 month, 2 days ago

                Semenyo and Pedro (and o’Reilly once fit)