Dugout Discussion
23 August 2026 430 comments
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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

430 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    28 mins ago

    Damn it I only have Verbruggen from Brighton

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 mins ago

      Ditto! Might need to rectify that come GW3/4...

  2. AzzaroMax99
    • 9 Years
    28 mins ago

    De Kuypert, OReilly, Hume…these oop defs could be a gold mine.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      24 mins ago

      Mmhmm

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      14 mins ago

      Well Hume did jack sht for me

      1. Randomness

  3. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    26 mins ago

    How’s Gvardiol come away from that without even a booking?

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      9 mins ago

      Weird one

    2. Bada Bing
      • 9 Years
      7 mins ago

      Rules don't apply for Citeh.

  4. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    26 mins ago

    Handbags at City

    Evanilson yellow, Gvardiol got away with a high shove

  5. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    25 mins ago

    Ballard was the top scoring player of GW1 last season (17 pointer)
    Half a million transferred him in only for him to get injured in GW2 after 8 minutes, classic FPL

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      just now

      So?

  6. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    25 mins ago

    Wc now or in gw3?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 mins ago

      Depending on your team, generally stick for more info.

      Many cheap-ish midfields to think about, so far: Slater Gomez Sangare Hinshelwood Stach Ndiaye KDH Tzolis Tavernier

  7. Might be City pen

    1. Mother Farke
      • 2 Years
      21 mins ago

      It's HT mate lol

      1. Stream 2 mins behind

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          19 mins ago

          Take him away, boys

          1. Watching it through someone’s window who happens to be streaming 😉

    2. Not given nor VAR, bizarre

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        20 mins ago

        No need for VAR it was never a penalty

        1. Seen worse given…

          1. Les Bleus
            • 15 Years
            10 mins ago

            Like what?

            1. Loads - just search on YT, Kane got many dodgy ones for instance

  8. Pompel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    24 mins ago

    Fielding Gross and Kadioglu as Brighton coverage kind of stings now

  9. Ignasi M
    • 9 Years
    24 mins ago

    Could be 3-3 in the city game

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      18 mins ago

      Not really. City have had only 1 big chance, same for Bournemouth

      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        16 mins ago

        2 for Bournemouth

  10. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    23 mins ago

    Hume & De Cuyper not going anywhere from my team for now

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      6 mins ago

      Hume was decent then? Haven't seen any highlights

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        just now

        In and around the box, very threatening. Created two big chances.

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    23 mins ago

    Brighton could go for some early subs with 2nd leg coming up. Gross owners in danger of a 0 pointer

  12. krzys
    • 13 Years
    23 mins ago

    Hinshelwood might be my best punt ever. Only 0.4% ownership.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      19 mins ago

      Well played. Had him end of last season

    2. Ignasi M
      • 9 Years
      17 mins ago

      Yeah very happy - this is why it's wise to look at formation in pre season. I'm annoyed at not picking O'Reilly seeing as he's going to be a number 10/LB hybrid .

  13. Strike me a Gakpose
    • 13 Years
    22 mins ago

    Whoever deleted my comment deffo captained Haaland

    1. Strike me a Gakpose
      • 13 Years
      20 mins ago

      0.18 xG for £15.5m btw

      1. TheTinman
        • 11 Years
        16 mins ago

        45mins of football lad

        112 goals in 132 premier league games

        1. People are so fickle it cracks me up haha

      2. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        10 mins ago

        Lol

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    22 mins ago

    Hmmm I didn’t pick Kluivert for his defcons. On 8 already, hoping he hails on my BB2 vs Everton

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      20 mins ago

      *hauls

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      17 mins ago

      All hail Kluivert!

  15. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    21 mins ago

    Been the weekend for attacking full backs. Turns out it wasnt the defcons turning them crap last season just them being crap

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      18 mins ago

      Too early to call, got Ajer and got defcon but De Cuyper is slaughtering AVL, yeah

    2. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      just now

      In a given single GW there will always be an attacking full back or two who gets a load of points. Over the season I still think DC defenders will outscore them.

  16. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    19 mins ago

    Arsenal vs Villa next… ouch

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      16 mins ago

      Bruno > Saka?

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        11 mins ago

        many will do it!

    2. Ignasi M
      • 9 Years
      16 mins ago

      It's a Monday night at Villa Park and Emery will say "the season starts now with a statement win", so it will be tough for Arsenal. I would fancy an away win though. Villa 1 - 2 Arsenal

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        10 mins ago

        I admire your faith.

  17. TheTinman
    • 11 Years
    19 mins ago

    What is Maresca actually thinking benching Cherki though? He nearly won them the title last year. Got to get him on at HT.

    Nico Gonzalez, get your self up the road lad. City don't appreciate you

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      16 mins ago

      So many square pegs in round holes

      1. TheTinman
        • 11 Years
        15 mins ago

        That's what Howe started doing with us. You can't get away with it

    2. Ignasi M
      • 9 Years
      15 mins ago

      I expect he'll come on for O'Reilly around 70mins

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      15 mins ago

      Overthinking? Hopefully not trying to be too sophisticated mimicking Pep. Would love to see it's simplified - picking the best player on their best position

      1. krzys
        • 13 Years
        4 mins ago

        As a Chelsea fan I can confirm Maresca loves overthinking

    4. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      1 min ago

      Cherki is not a serious footballer. Glorified Taarabt, I’d have a tough time selecting him too.

  18. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    18 mins ago

    Every season, I manage to pick a GW1 Team that truly sucks.

    It’s a gift.

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      15 mins ago

      At least you’re consistent.

      1. Nomar
        • 16 Years
        just now

        Yes. I can take great consolation from that fact.

    2. Don’t sweat it, so much randomness in first few weeks.

      Think of Reijnders last season for example…

      1. Nomar
        • 16 Years
        12 mins ago

        It would just be nice, for once, to get a strikingly good score in GW1 instead of watching every one else get mega points and you’re stuck in, like, 10 millionth place.

        1. Happens bruv, had same last season and ending up finishing my best ever finish

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

            Your best finish was about 6 years ago

            You've got your account and history linked

            Check it out

          2. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            just now

            In fact

            Looking again last season was your worst ever finish

        2. Bit annoyed that I talked myself out of double Brighton defence for Gvardiol so I had him GW3…

          It is what it is.

    3. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      10 mins ago

      The template is always terrible. True value is in genius differentials like Stach, Hinshelwood, Barry, Dewsbury-Hall, Tavernier etc.

  19. High line from Bournemouth is ridiculous, do they want to concede 5+ second half

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      12 mins ago

      For the love of the game I love it. Guts and ambition away at Etihad.

      1. Yes it’s nice to see but so so risky

    2. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      11 mins ago

      Did pretty well in the first half

      1. Think it will change second half unless they stop the high line

    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      11 mins ago

      Sitting deep against City is suicide - have to congest the pitch to make it difficult for them to play

      1. Not without players like Cherki / Rodri on the pitch it ain’t

        1. They have pace abusers playing so terrible idea

          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            2 mins ago

            Yeah but you can sit deep just because opponent have quick players.

            They tend work on training on keeping a good line and catching players offside, instead of just sitting deep.

            If you give City time and space close to edge of the box, they will punish you.

            1. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              just now

              can't *

  20. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    12 mins ago

    If no one has Bruno going forward the game is actually priced up pretty dumb.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 9 Years
      8 mins ago

      No Bruno or Haaland and you have 10m+ itb

      1. Yeah and if you decide 4 or even 5 at the back is the way to go you could have more to spare.
        So many good cheap options are going to leave so many points on the bench. First 11 picks each week crucial but hard to play the cheap ones over the expensive ones

        1. el polako
          • 9 Years
          just now

          True that.
          Staring at Sangare’s 14 pointer on my bench.
          Hurts.

    2. People have been praising the pricing but it’s terrible; far too low

    3. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      5 mins ago

      You can just stack up on 6m mids & forwards, strong defcon/oop defenders and Arsenal.

  21. DeSelby
    • 4 Years
    10 mins ago

    Regretful Bruno capper/non-Haaland owner. Just finishing getting some air before I go back under the couch for the second half.

    Also,I had De Cuyper in several of my pre-season drafts. How impressive is that? Never had Hinshelwood in any though.

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      7 mins ago

      They way City are trying to cross the ball into to the box from anywhere on the pitch - i think you’re safe.

    2. Invest in a snorkel

  22. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    9 mins ago

    Hurzeler’s transplant was partly the reason I steered away from Brighton assets. Lesson learned, Villa’s awful transfer business should’ve convinced me otherwise.

  23. Shark Team
    • 9 Years
    8 mins ago

    The last changes in my draft were 1hr before deadline 🙁
    OUT: De Cuyper, Hinshelwood, Haaland
    IN: Gabriel, Wirtz, Isak

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 mins ago

      Well it’s not bad … yet

    2. I wish we could post memes. I’d choose that “ooooh” Del Bosque one for this - ouch

  24. Didn’t have Haaland being used as a Niall Quinn throwback, on my bingo card.

  25. el polako
    • 9 Years
    6 mins ago

    Let’s see if Temu Pep have any ideas.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      just now

      😆 oh dear

  26. el polako
    • 9 Years
    4 mins ago

    Foden is really bad.
    If that’s a pillar then this project will collapse quickly.

  27. JBG
    • 8 Years
    3 mins ago

    Maresca might become the first manager that can make Haaland useless

  28. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 mins ago

    Not gonna c Haaland till he grows his hair back again.
    Why did he cut it?

  29. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 min ago

    Miss of the season by Guehi already in gw1

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      just now

      Didn't even head the ball...

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      just now

      Arsenals secret agent

  30. Royal5
    • 15 Years
    1 min ago

    Semenyo has been woeful

    1. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      1 min ago

      No end product what so ever

    2. DeSelby
      • 4 Years
      just now

      Was just going to post that almost word for word. Was going to go with some form of "stink".