Dugout Discussion
23 August 2026 355 comments
avfc82 avfc82
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Three more Premier League matches take place on Sunday, with a double-header up first at 2pm BST.

Brighton and Hove Albion host Aston Villa on the south coast, while Manchester City meet Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.



TEAM NEWS

Man City boss Enzo Maresca makes two changes from last weekend’s Community Shield defeat by Arsenal.

Rico Lewis replaces the benched Mateo Kovacic, while the injured Jeremy Doku drops out for Marc Guehi.

Nico O’Reilly subsequently looks set to play in a more advanced role.

Erling Haaland unsurprisingly leads the line.

Alex Scott was suspended for Bournemouth’s final pre-season friendly. He’s the only change from that kickabout, with Alex Toth making way.

Finally, at the Amex, Fabian Hurzeler makes just one change from his final pre-seaason line-up: Lewis Dunk is in for Ferdi Kadioglu, who has a minor injury.

Maxim De Cuyper will likely play ‘out-of-position’ as a left winger.

There’s no Emiliano Martinez or Ollie Watkins in the Aston Villa squad due to ongoing transfer uncertainty.

New recruit Joao Gomes is fit to start for the visitors, however, while £4.5m midfielder George Hemmings is preferred to Alejandro Garnacho on the left flank.

Emiliano Buendia or Ross Barkley could lead the line in Watkins’ absence.

Other transfer window captures Zion Suzuki and Matteo Ruggeri are substitutes.

LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Vuskovic, Dunk, Boscagli, Ayari, Gross, Gomez, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper, Rutter

Subs: Steele, Struijk, Promise, Osman, Kostoulas, Costinha, Svoboda, Yalcouye, Yohanna

Aston Villa XI: Bizot, Cash, Lindelof, Pau, Maatsen, Kamara, J Gomes, McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings, Barkley

Subs: Suzuki, Mings, Ruggeri, Garnacho, Bogarde, Rowe, Alysson, Burrowes, Lynch


Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Lewis, Anderson, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Rulli, Marmoush, Kovacic, Cherki, Nico, Grealish, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Nunes

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert, Cook, Scott, Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier, Evanilson

Subs: Dennis, Brooks, Gannon-Doak, Adams, Diakite, Juanlu, Toth, Jebbison, Rodriguez


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE + MATCH CENTRE

You can follow all the day’s action via the Live Gameweek page, which you can find in the all-new FPL Toolkit section.

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.

And there’s also the all-new Match Centre to explore.

A snapshot of this page can be seen below; it’s basically a condensed version of the one you can find in the Members Area.

debuts

FPL Stats Centre

355 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. avfc82
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    1 hour, 17 mins ago

    A message from Sam...

    "Yesterday some users received a message from the comments system.

    "This message was not from FFS, but appears to have come from a rogue mod. We can't comment on this further, due to a legal investigation, but the message was not from FFS or reflective of any FFS views. The mod only had access to the comments system, but has now had all access removed"

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 hour, 8 mins ago

      😮

    2. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      52 mins ago

      I didn’t even know we could get messages

  2. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 13 mins ago

    Haaland (c), Foden, NOR for me today
    0-1 Bournemouth it is with a Haaland missed pen!

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      22 mins ago

      Haaland’s had hair cut, hoping for much pain for non owners after the United shambles yesterday.

  3. Rio Angora Mohair
    • 7 Years
    1 hour, 11 mins ago

    O'Rielly playing as CAM! Woo Hoo
    23 points so far, 7 to play:
    Verbruggen, O'Reilly, Palmer, Szobs, Semenyo, Pedro, Isak...Hoping for a decent GW1 score
    For those watching, enjoy your Sunday afternoon in front of the TV, GL All.

    1. Rio Angora Mohair
      • 7 Years
      1 hour, 10 mins ago

      PS: Semenyo Captain!

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 9 Years
        46 mins ago

        Hopefully it pays off for you

        1. Rio Angora Mohair
          • 7 Years
          11 mins ago

          Fingers Crossed, thanks.

      2. Ignasi M
        • 9 Years
        45 mins ago

        Wow. The balls on you!! Well done for going against the grain.

        1. Ball Ake
          • 2 Years
          10 mins ago

          Indeed, as big as watermelons (although if they are green do seek medical advice).

        2. Rio Angora Mohair
          • 7 Years
          9 mins ago

          Luck involved, in my penultimate draft, I had Kinsky, Porro and M. Fernandes all from Spurs..Phew...

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 10 Years
      1 hour, 4 mins ago

      Bold

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      56 mins ago

      Left wing according to the Sky graphic for NOR

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        52 mins ago

        Semyeno left wing

        Foden right

        Nico down the middle

      2. Rio Angora Mohair
        • 7 Years
        51 mins ago

        I always look at Flashscore for lineup positions, but you may well be right!

  4. Coupes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 hour, 8 mins ago

    Man City have scored 34 goals in nine Premier League home games against Bournemouth, averaging 3.8 per match.

    Haaland scored 22 goals in 14 Premier League appearances in August, averaging one every 54 minutes.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 hour, 7 mins ago

      Man City 0 - 1 Bournemouth then…

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      58 mins ago

      Man City record v Bournemouth

      22 wins
      3 draws
      1 loss

      Albeit, two of those results for Bournemouth were in the last 5 encounters.

    3. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      56 mins ago

      It's got 0-0 written all over it

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        54 mins ago

        Bournemouth the more settled side of the two

  5. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 8 Years
    54 mins ago

    Haaland ready for his Samson moment.

  6. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    53 mins ago

    Who are the big tall blonde and the little short blonde? Don’t recognize them

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 8 Years
      10 mins ago

      ... the little one is Rico Lewis, I think!

  7. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    52 mins ago

    Guehi in midfield?

  8. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    50 mins ago

    Rico in the box with a shot

  9. Haaland with short hair is even more menacing

    1. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      36 mins ago

      Dortmund mode

  10. Thanos
    • 5 Years
    50 mins ago

    Suicidal high line from Bournemouth

  11. DFS announcing record number of sales today

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      47 mins ago

      Personally it's more comfy to watch the match sat on the sofa

  12. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    49 mins ago

    Jesus… City are on fire already

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      49 mins ago

      O’Reilly open from a corner but fluffs the header

  13. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    49 mins ago

    Haaland looks like an absolute animal

  14. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    49 mins ago

    Haaland looking faster with less hair

    1. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      48 mins ago

      Finally allowed to sprint again

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      46 mins ago

      That's what Zlat said to him

  15. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    49 mins ago

    Brighton goal

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 mins ago

      Own goal...

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 mins ago

          De Cuyper
          Great for AndyLTFPL bench boost!

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 mins ago

        De Cuyper assist

  16. Thanks mods for sorting comments posting without error

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      just now

      Big thumbs up so much better

  17. RICICLE
    • 4 Years
    48 mins ago

    Lindelol

  18. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    48 mins ago

    De Cuyper assist for OG?

  19. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    47 mins ago

    De Kiyper assist

    1. GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      46 mins ago

      I will take the 3 but should have been 6

      1. GENERATION X
        • 12 Years
        just now

        Theres the 6

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      46 mins ago

      It hasn't been given though

      1. Give it time lol

      2. Feanor
        • 17 Years
        41 mins ago

        The official FPL account gave it very quickly on Twitter

        Have some patience, please

        Goal – own goal (Lindelof)
        Assist – DE CUYPER

        Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa (8 mins)

        #FPL #BHAAVL

  20. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    46 mins ago

    Gomes got a yellow for waving an imaginary yellow

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      45 mins ago

      J Gomes of Villa

    2. MarcusAurelius
      • 10 Years
      42 mins ago

      He could argue he was waving any coloured card seen as it’s imaginary..maybe even a Chinese takeaway menu

  21. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    46 mins ago

    OG Victor

    Goal BHA

    1. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      31 mins ago

      Another?

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        just now

        Pigeon post

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    43 mins ago

    Groß YC

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 min ago

      Yep disgusting YC

    2. OverTinker
      • 8 Years
      just now

      Love it

  23. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    43 mins ago

    I’m happy to admit I got completely taken in by the summer of slandering Hull as the next Derby, and United looking solid in preseason.

    Will wildcard in GW3 to take Mbuemo, Maguire and BrunoF out. Even if they thump Ipswich.

    1. DeSelby
      • 4 Years
      just now

      Ditto!!!

  24. Zimo
    • 8 Years
    41 mins ago

    O'Reilly essential it seems. Gotta Wildcard now lol

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      40 mins ago

      6.5 defender playing 10 for City seems essential, yeah

  25. Ignasi M
    • 9 Years
    41 mins ago

    Very slow from City. Where's the leadership?

  26. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    41 mins ago

    Halland wtf

  27. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    40 mins ago

    Haaland chance...not taken
    Would have been an O'Reilly assist

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      40 mins ago

      Oh ffs, would've been perfect

  28. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    40 mins ago

    Haaland blows an 0.8 xG chance

  29. DeSelby
    • 4 Years
    40 mins ago

    Whoa! Oof! Miss!

  30. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    40 mins ago

    Ffs Haaland