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

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
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1,399 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 27 days ago

    Worst transfer of the season getting Etike in for JP this week.

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

      *hugs*

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      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Naff off knob

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    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Wow a crazy move

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    3. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Indeed, I’m there with ya, only silver lining is Ekitike has way better fixtures so it could still pan out better over next few games

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      1. I have no Wirtz
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Straws?

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          1. RICICLE
            • 3 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            Bendy straws haha!

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        • Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          wolves was a 'better' fixture...

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      2. Three Badgers on a Shirt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        2 months, 27 days ago

        I did this one minute before the deadline. Head's gone

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      3. Not again Shirley
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        On paper thats not a bad transfer. Just didn’t work out on this occasion.

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      4. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Oof. My mate top of my mini league did that and the (c) on top. Super glad I didn't follow along with that line...

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      5. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        I couldn’t afford JP to Ekitike, so sold Haaland instead…

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    4. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Sanchez out for who?

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

        Kelleher atm. Who are you considering?

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        1. Bleh
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Kelleher probably my top target. Don’t really like any of the GKs this season.

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      2. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Isn’t it just a rest? Midweek and all that

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        1. Bleh
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Ahh, could be. May give him the Newcastle game if so.

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      3. z13
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Why not Petrovic? for those on WC32 it's probably a hold with Sanchez, not worth the 25% chance he doesn't play just for 3 weeks

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    5. Zilla
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      JPG

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    6. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      I was shocked so many people sold JP. I know he had Arsenal last game & I wasn’t expecting much from that game (he should’ve scored actually), but outside of that I don’t see any games where Chelsea weren’t scoring. And the guy is in red hot form.
      Never considered selling him for a moment

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      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        I had the chance to get him.

        But I went for Watkins instead.

        Because Watkins had better fixtures.

        Yeah.

        Nothing else needs to be said.

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        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Not buying him is not such a bad move. Selling him was more of a crime!
          Buying Watkins though 🙂

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          1. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            Buying Watkins was foolish in the extreme. I have no defence for that level of stupidity.

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      2. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        I benched him in that fixture. Content creators don't watch much football? That's the almost only theory I can think of.

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      3. TallestJohn
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Had to keep him, all my other strikers have been absolutely diabolical this season.

        In 6 GWs JP's almost got me as many returns 14 weeks of Bowen, 11 weeks of Thiago, 10 weeks of Woltemade, 5 weeks of Watkins, 5 weeks of Gyökeres, 5 weeks of Mateta, 3 weeks of Strand Larsen and 2 weeks of Richarlison combined.

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        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          lol !!!

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      4. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        The everlasting question about form or fixtures. Aston Villa has been conceding and J P has looked like he is the one scoring. Against better teams goals are less spread in that Chelsea team. I am not saying he is the talisman, but likes of Reece James can make good crosses.

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    7. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Have the funds and FT to do DCL > Pedro

      Do it or wait and see?

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      1. DRIZ ✅
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        I would go for Sesko

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      2. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        No brainer imo

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    8. Ady87
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      JP killing me.

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    9. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Rival sold JP copying my team (Thiago) tee hee!

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    10. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Why did they play a 54 minute half

      20% added on time in the first half at Villa Park?

      Ball not in okay issues??

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Or an injury?

        VAR was quick apparently on a couple of occasions

        Late finish in north Birmingham

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    11. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Enzo assist though, yuck.

      Get in on the action Palmer lad!

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        He’s on for defcon though

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    12. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      "You need 18 points for a green arrow"

      This is fine

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      1. jonnybhoy
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Same and if arsenal dont keep a clean sheet could get alot worse

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    13. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      No Semenyo, no JP.. just end this season already

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    14. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Those crying about selling Pedro, imagine I bought Rayan over Semenyo two weeks ago, rotfl!

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      1. z13
        • 1 Year
        2 months, 27 days ago

        I bought Sarr over Semenyo this week. Let's see how Palace game is

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    15. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      I have J P + Kelleher and I still need 4 pts for green 🙁

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    16. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Haaland > Ekitike on the cards next week still, or wait it out?

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        With the way Pep is now setting up the attack, FOMO for Haaland shouldn't be an issue anymore. Decoy ahh tactics, gerrahere. Using one of the greatest goalscorers like this is more Haram than Artetas football

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        1. Not again Shirley
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Q second half haul!

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          1. JBG
            • 8 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            *press X for doubt*

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    17. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Palmer do something you duckling

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

        8 Defcon already

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    18. Tic Tacs
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 27 days ago

      Palmer, Rogers, Foden - England’s chances at the WC not looking good!

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Maguire will handle the playmaking

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      2. I have no Wirtz
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Not good. But Kane, don’t forget him.

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        • Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          A few months ago the story with these is how will the selection be made!

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        • thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Bellingham injured and not having a good season too. Not looking good in the attacking mid area

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      3. Nightcrawler
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Timber to VVD hasnt gone well

        timber lucky with the assist cuz the saka shot was going wide for sure but they wont bother checking that. VVD back to being crap but at least ive stopped others getting his points

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        1. Tic Tacs
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Same, had a plan in place and let emotions get the better of me

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        2. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          VVD needs to be held for a period of time to get the rewards. He scored last week and he’ll get a few more before the end of the season. Pool are still crap, but they’ll still get some cleanies too

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      4. jonnybhoy
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        18 points off a green arrow. Its not looking good

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      5. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        J Pedro first on bench, but not coming on. What a shame Haaland isn't injured.

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      6. SINGH
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 27 days ago

        Did a -4 to bring in Eki for Pedro. I am dumb.

        I do another-4 to reverse the transfer?

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        1. z13
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 27 days ago

          You aren't dumb and no

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          1. SINGH
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            Thanks

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        2. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Don't reverse it. But I definitely would have suggested not to do that. Pedro had one blank against Arsenal and for all of Chelsea's failings, they still score quite a lot of goals. Recency bias in full effect.

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          1. I have no Wirtz
              2 months, 26 days ago

              You would still expect Villa to contain Chelsea at their own ground to a 1-1 maybe, no?

              …not fall apart and let JP have 3 goals and 1 assist. Best striker performance of the season.

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          2. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            Nah just chasing points after Eki haul, Pedro’s miles ahead & fixtures make no difference

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        3. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 27 days ago

          Pedro on my bench...was between him and Rogers...I went with Rogrs. FML

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          1. Amartey Partey
            • 6 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            We can't win em all, I guess. I started Stach over him. It seems like the right choice at the time.

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          2. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            2 months, 27 days ago

            Rogers last on my bench, I didn't consider that even for a 1/100 second.

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        4. I have no Wirtz
            2 months, 27 days ago

            Can someone remind me, why I sold JP for Ekitike this week? Clearly I should have saved the FT and reaped the reward to keep the one in-form forward.

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            1. el polako
              • 8 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Chasing last weeks points and lured by “easy” fixture.

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              1. I have no Wirtz
                  2 months, 26 days ago

                  Yes, but what do I do about that going forward?

                  Not sure about the chasing. I had only one transfer earmarked. Which was to get a second Liverpool besides Virgil. Yes the 15points against Wham looked good, but they just confirmed what I had anticipated.

                  The bigger issue is ‘easy’ fixtures. Completely skewed view it seems. Judging wrong what to expect from Wolves and Villa. fixture rating way off. Gw29 Villa looked like a bottom 20 team and Wolves a European places team.

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            2. JBG
              • 8 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Fellaini used to get RCs for those kind of elbow use...

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            3. Nightcrawler
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Andersen to stay on the bench? Enzo coming in

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              1. thegaffer82
                • 14 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                Doubt it. If he’s on the bench, you’d assume he’s okay, so at some point they’ll want their captain on the field

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                1. Baps Hunter
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 27 days ago

                  50/50 imo

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            4. keefy59
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Asking for a friend
              When does FPL Live add autosub points for non starting players

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            5. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 13 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Haaland out makes perfect sense doesn’t it? He’s not a good pick and just forces bad decision making especially with captaincy

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              1. Bleh
                • 9 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                Am considering dropping him for the next few and bringing back on WC lol

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              2. Ze_Austin
                • 7 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                Who are you buying?

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                1. Fifa las vegas
                  • 13 Years
                  2 months, 27 days ago

                  Ekitike I think. Could captain him against Spurs! Although have to stick with Semenyo given the form.

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              3. Miguel Sanchez
                • 9 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                It is until a 150% owned Haaland scores a hat trick against West Ham next GW

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                1. Count of Monte Hristo
                  • 13 Years
                  2 months, 27 days ago

                  Great point 😆

                  Crap to own but kills rank when you don’t.

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              4. thegaffer82
                • 14 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                If Salah wasn’t so poor this season - or even Palmer was firing, I’d drop Haaland in a second.
                But with no real need for the money and the striker spots hard to fill with good players as it is, I’ll be keeping hold of Sloth for now

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            6. Cheeky Reijnders
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Would very much enjoy a seagull to drop one in the ARS net.

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            7. JBG
              • 8 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Fulham pen

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              1. el polako
                • 8 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                Shouldn’t be.

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              2. Bleh
                • 9 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                Where’s Wilson when you need him 🙁

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

                  He don’t take em

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              3. Nomar
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                2 months, 27 days ago

                More Raul points?

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            8. TheBiffas
              • 5 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Sold timber and Enzo. Nice

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            9. Scapegoat Salah
              • 9 Years
              2 months, 27 days ago

              Fulham pen

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

                Changed mind

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                1. el polako
                  • 8 Years
                  2 months, 27 days ago

                  Rightly so.

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

                    Why no YC for dive though

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