Dugout Discussion

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

4 March 2026 1399 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

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
1,399 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 10 days ago

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

    Open Controls
    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 10 days ago

      *hugs*

      Open Controls
      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        Naff off knob

        Open Controls
    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 10 days ago

      Wow a crazy move

      Open Controls
    3. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 10 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

      Open Controls
      1. I have no Wirtz
          1 month, 10 days ago

          Straws?

          Open Controls
          1. RICICLE
            • 3 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

            Bendy straws haha!

            Open Controls
        • Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

          wolves was a 'better' fixture...

          Open Controls
      2. Three Badgers on a Shirt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
      3. Not again Shirley
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
      4. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 10 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...

        Open Controls
      5. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
    4. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 10 days ago

      Sanchez out for who?

      Open Controls
      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        Kelleher atm. Who are you considering?

        Open Controls
        1. Bleh
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

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

          Open Controls
      2. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. Bleh
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

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

          Open Controls
      3. z13
          1 month, 10 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

          Open Controls
      4. Zilla
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        JPG

        Open Controls
      5. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 10 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

        Open Controls
        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 month, 10 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.

          Open Controls
          1. thegaffer82
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

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

            Open Controls
            1. Nomar
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              1 month, 10 days ago

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

              Open Controls
        2. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 10 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.

          Open Controls
        3. TallestJohn
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 10 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.

          Open Controls
          1. thegaffer82
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

            lol !!!

            Open Controls
        4. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 10 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.

          Open Controls
      6. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        Have the funds and FT to do DCL > Pedro

        Do it or wait and see?

        Open Controls
        1. DRIZ ✅
          • 14 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

          I would go for Sesko

          Open Controls
        2. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

          No brainer imo

          Open Controls
      7. Ady87
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        JP killing me.

        Open Controls
      8. Bleh
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
      9. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 10 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??

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

          Or an injury?

          VAR was quick apparently on a couple of occasions

          Late finish in north Birmingham

          Open Controls
      10. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        Enzo assist though, yuck.

        Get in on the action Palmer lad!

        Open Controls
        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

          He’s on for defcon though

          Open Controls
      11. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

        "You need 18 points for a green arrow"

        This is fine

        Open Controls
        1. jonnybhoy
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

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

          Open Controls
      12. lilmessipran
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
      13. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 10 days ago

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

        Open Controls
        1. z13
            1 month, 10 days ago

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

            Open Controls
        2. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

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

          Open Controls
        3. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

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

          Open Controls
          1. JBG
            • 7 Years
            1 month, 10 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

            Open Controls
            1. Not again Shirley
              • 9 Years
              1 month, 10 days ago

              Q second half haul!

              Open Controls
              1. JBG
                • 7 Years
                1 month, 10 days ago

                *press X for doubt*

                Open Controls
        4. PartyTime
          • 4 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

          Palmer do something you duckling

          Open Controls
          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

            8 Defcon already

            Open Controls
        5. Tic Tacs
          • 6 Years
          1 month, 10 days ago

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

          Open Controls
          1. JBG
            • 7 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

            Maguire will handle the playmaking

            Open Controls
          2. I have no Wirtz
              1 month, 10 days ago

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

              Open Controls
            • Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              1 month, 10 days ago

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

              Open Controls
            • thegaffer82
              • 14 Years
              1 month, 10 days ago

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

              Open Controls
          3. Nightcrawler
            • 6 Years
            1 month, 10 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

            Open Controls
            1. Tic Tacs
              • 6 Years
              1 month, 10 days ago

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

              Open Controls
            2. thegaffer82
              • 14 Years
              1 month, 10 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

              Open Controls
          4. jonnybhoy
            • 13 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

            18 points off a green arrow. Its not looking good

            Open Controls
          5. Amartey Partey
            • 6 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

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

            Open Controls
          6. SINGH
            • 7 Years
            1 month, 10 days ago

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

            I do another-4 to reverse the transfer?

            Open Controls
            1. z13
                1 month, 10 days ago

                You aren't dumb and no

                Open Controls
                1. SINGH
                  • 7 Years
                  1 month, 10 days ago

                  Thanks

                  Open Controls
              • Camzy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                1 month, 10 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.

                Open Controls
                1. I have no Wirtz
                    1 month, 10 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.

                    Open Controls
                2. g40steve
                  • 8 Years
                  1 month, 10 days ago

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

                  Open Controls
              • Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                1 month, 10 days ago

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

                Open Controls
                1. Amartey Partey
                  • 6 Years
                  1 month, 10 days ago

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

                  Open Controls
                2. Baps Hunter
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  1 month, 10 days ago

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

                  Open Controls
              • I have no Wirtz
                  1 month, 10 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.

                  Open Controls
                  1. el polako
                    • 8 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

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

                    Open Controls
                    1. I have no Wirtz
                        1 month, 10 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.

                        Open Controls
                  2. JBG
                    • 7 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

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

                    Open Controls
                  3. Nightcrawler
                    • 6 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

                    Andersen to stay on the bench? Enzo coming in

                    Open Controls
                    1. thegaffer82
                      • 14 Years
                      1 month, 10 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

                      Open Controls
                      1. Baps Hunter
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 8 Years
                        1 month, 10 days ago

                        50/50 imo

                        Open Controls
                  4. keefy59
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

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

                    Open Controls
                  5. Count of Monte Hristo
                    • 12 Years
                    1 month, 10 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

                    Open Controls
                    1. Bleh
                      • 9 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

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

                      Open Controls
                    2. Ze_Austin
                      • 7 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

                      Who are you buying?

                      Open Controls
                      1. Fifa las vegas
                        • 13 Years
                        1 month, 10 days ago

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

                        Open Controls
                    3. Miguel Sanchez
                      • 9 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

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

                      Open Controls
                      1. Count of Monte Hristo
                        • 12 Years
                        1 month, 10 days ago

                        Great point 😆

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

                        Open Controls
                    4. thegaffer82
                      • 14 Years
                      1 month, 10 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

                      Open Controls
                  6. Cheeky Reijnders
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 3 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

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

                    Open Controls
                  7. JBG
                    • 7 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

                    Fulham pen

                    Open Controls
                    1. el polako
                      • 8 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

                      Shouldn’t be.

                      Open Controls
                    2. Bleh
                      • 9 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

                      Where’s Wilson when you need him 🙁

                      Open Controls
                      1. Scapegoat Salah
                        • 9 Years
                        1 month, 10 days ago

                        He don’t take em

                        Open Controls
                    3. Nomar
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 16 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

                      More Raul points?

                      Open Controls
                  8. TheBiffas
                    • 5 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

                    Sold timber and Enzo. Nice

                    Open Controls
                  9. Scapegoat Salah
                    • 9 Years
                    1 month, 10 days ago

                    Fulham pen

                    Open Controls
                    1. Scapegoat Salah
                      • 9 Years
                      1 month, 10 days ago

                      Changed mind

                      Open Controls
                      1. el polako
                        • 8 Years
                        1 month, 10 days ago

                        Rightly so.

                        Open Controls
                        1. Scapegoat Salah
                          • 9 Years
                          1 month, 10 days ago

                          Why no YC for dive though

                          Open Controls

                  You need to be logged in to post a comment.