Dugout Discussion
23 August 2026 750 comments
avfc82 avfc82
Share:

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

750 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. AzzaroMax99
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Mmhmm

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

      Well Hume did jack sht for me

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Randomness

  2. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Weird one

    2. Bada Bing
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Rules don't apply for Citeh.

  3. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Handbags at City

    Evanilson yellow, Gvardiol got away with a high shove

  4. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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
      1 month, 17 days ago

      So?

  5. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Wc now or in gw3?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days 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

  6. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Might be City pen

    1. Mother Farke
      • 2 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      It's HT mate lol

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Stream 2 mins behind

        1. x.jim.x
          • 12 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Take him away, boys

          1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 17 days ago

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

    2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Not given nor VAR, bizarre

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        No need for VAR it was never a penalty

        1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Seen worse given…

          1. Les Bleus
            • 15 Years
            1 month, 17 days ago

            Like what?

            1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
              • 9 Years
              1 month, 17 days ago

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

  7. Pompel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Fielding Gross and Kadioglu as Brighton coverage kind of stings now

  8. Ignasi M
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Could be 3-3 in the city game

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        2 for Bournemouth

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Hume was decent then? Haven't seen any highlights

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

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

        1. Utopsis
          • 6 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          Interesting thanks

  10. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

  11. krzys
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Well played. Had him end of last season

    2. Ignasi M
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days 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 .

  12. Strike me a Gakpose
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Whoever deleted my comment deffo captained Haaland

    1. Strike me a Gakpose
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      0.18 xG for £15.5m btw

      1. TheTinman
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        45mins of football lad

        112 goals in 132 premier league games

        1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          People are so fickle it cracks me up haha

      2. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Lol

  13. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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
      1 month, 17 days ago

      *hauls

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      All hail Kluivert!

  14. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

    2. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      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.

  15. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Arsenal vs Villa next… ouch

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Bruno > Saka?

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        many will do it!

    2. Ignasi M
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days 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
        1 month, 17 days ago

        I admire your faith.

  16. TheTinman
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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
      1 month, 17 days ago

      So many square pegs in round holes

      1. TheTinman
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

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

    2. Ignasi M
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days 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
        1 month, 17 days ago

        As a Chelsea fan I can confirm Maresca loves overthinking

    4. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

  17. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    It’s a gift.

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      At least you’re consistent.

      1. Nomar
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Yes. I can take great consolation from that fact.

    2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

      Think of Reijnders last season for example…

      1. Nomar
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 17 days 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. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          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 month, 17 days 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
            1 month, 17 days ago

            In fact

            Looking again last season was your worst ever finish

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          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
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

  18. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        Yes it’s nice to see but so so risky

    2. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Did pretty well in the first half

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

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

    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

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

        1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 17 days ago

          They have pace abusers playing so terrible idea

          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            1 month, 17 days 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
              1 month, 17 days ago

              can't *

  19. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      No Bruno or Haaland and you have 10m+ itb

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        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
          1 month, 17 days ago

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

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

    3. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

  20. DeSelby
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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
      1 month, 17 days 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. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Invest in a snorkel

  21. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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.

  22. Shark Team
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days 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
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Well it’s not bad … yet

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

  23. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

  24. el polako
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Let’s see if Temu Pep have any ideas.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      😆 oh dear

  25. el polako
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

  26. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Maresca might become the first manager that can make Haaland useless

  27. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

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

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      So he can grow it back before that Man Utd fan gets to cut his.

  28. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Miss of the season by Guehi already in gw1

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Didn't even head the ball...

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Arsenals secret agent

  29. Royal5
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Semenyo has been woeful

    1. Royal5
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      No end product what so ever

    2. DeSelby
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

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

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      He’s got three defenders on him most of the time, citys best player so far

      1. Royal5
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        U mad. He need to learn when to pass. Looking like Martinelli out the so far. No vision. Head down.

  30. Fifa las vegas
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    Not sure Gvardiol is much of a pick in this City setup either.

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      More like a back 3 with Guehi pushing on

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      Not sure any City are much of a pick, they look clueless and disjointed in attack.

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 17 days ago

        That is also true