Dugout Discussion
23 August 2026 521 comments
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There’s one more Premier League match to come on Sunday.

It’s Newcastle United v Liverpool, where the action gets underway at 4.30pm BST.

There are two new managers in the respective dugouts this afternoon, of course.



TEAM NEWS

There are no surprises in the Liverpool starting XI.

Jeremy Jacquet partners Virgil van Dijk at the back.

Dominik Szoboszlai lines up in central midfield, Rio Ngumoha plays off the right, while Alexander Isak make his St James’ Park return up top.

As for Newcastle, Amar Dedic makes his debut at right-back.

Fellow new boys Lukas Hornicek and Sean Steur also start.

Further forward, Yoane Wissa will likely play as a No 10, with Will Osula leading the line.

LINE-UPS

Newcastle United XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Miley, Steur, Elanga, Wissa, Barnes, Osula

Subs: Jaouen, Schar, Bamba, Toure, Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Ramsey, Shahar

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Tsimikas, Munoz, Araujo, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas


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

521 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Calafiori, Gabriel and Tzolis on Friday for 20 points.

    Lammens, Mbuemo, Bruno C, VVD, Isak and DCL since combining for 12…

  2. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 28 days ago

    No Szob slightly takes shine off Hinshelwood but still a glorious day

    1. Fifa las vegas
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Ya no Szob stung with a last min pen. Had a nice cushion built up to 2nd slashed to 6 points.

      Would be nice to win 1st monthly ML prize but won’t be easy unless KDH and Hinshelwood can do something again!

  3. Nightf0x
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Lookslike wrong decisions curse from last season is still on, picked wirtz & schade & paid more instead of szobo & sangare ops

  4. ZeBestee
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Best captaincy next gw?

    1) Haaland
    2) Bruno

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Probably Bruno

  5. el polako
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Foden was abysmal today.
    Bit like for the last few years.

    What is the reason why hes’s perffered ahead of Cherki?

    1. tutankamun
      1 month, 28 days ago

      He’s a ‘pillar’

      1. el polako
        1 month, 28 days ago

        City will collapse then.

    2. ZeBestee
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Cherki starts next, regardless of whether Foden starts again or not

    3. DeSelby
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Eh, he started okay then wasn't so hot later. Better than Semenyo who was wretched.

    4. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Cherki late to training camp

  6. adstomko
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Can anyone beat this bad luck?
    - Own Isak, Thiago, Schade & Kinsky
    - Double Forest defence - lost CS last minute
    - Own Gabriel over other Arsenal defenders
    - Captain'd Mbeumo thinking he'd start CF, but Amad injured.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I'll keep it simple

      Got 31pts with JP to go.

      Also have 24 PTS on my bench.

      1. adstomko
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Ok you win

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      i could have give you a game but selecting slobby over wirtz and isak rules me out of the bad luck stakes

    3. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Own Isak, Thiago and Mbuemo too but no that's pretty bad luck and I have had major bench boost jam.

  7. tutankamun
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Szob looking good value now it’s confirmed he’s on pens.

    1. el polako
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Is it confirmed?

      1. tutankamun
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Looks like it…

    2. ZeBestee
      1 month, 28 days ago

      He is on pens as he has been great on them, no need to change for them

    3. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      No guarantee the 125m quid striker doesn't bottle the next one

  8. henrysquire
    1 month, 28 days ago

    62 with Palestra and Pedro to play.
    That Szob pen at the death was rough as an Isak owner and my mini league mostly having Szob.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Nice

      31 PTS here.

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      yes, I felt a bit robbed as an Isak owner too but 62 points with 2 to play must put you in top 200k and could be a lot better after tomorrow

  9. Brosstan
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Urgh... of course AI manager favorite Szobo gets a penalty in the 98th minute. Hate this game with a passion.

  10. Warby84
    1 month, 28 days ago

    So tempted to just WC

    1. ZeBestee
      1 month, 28 days ago

      WC team? I think unless the team looks so bad, you need to give it a few more gws

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      sleep on it warby ,no risers tonight and watch chelsea tomoz

    3. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      why? What's your team?

      1. Warby84
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Wirtz and Isak are the problems…

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Don't WC - at least sleep on it. I'd play them both net week. I have Isak and perfectly happy to give him another GW

          1. Ignasi M
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Yeah, Forest at home. I fancy Isak to score two in that game.

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Wait till the transfer window closes

    5. Ignasi M
      1 month, 28 days ago

      U sick, blud. Still Chelsea to play and GW1 results have been super random.

  11. Ooohahhh...
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Sarr>Sangare tonight or wait for further news?

    1. ZeBestee
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Which news? Sangare will do well with defcons and few g/a but dont expect constant double digit hauls

      1. Ooohahhh...
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Transfer news on wether Sarr is going to Galatasaray. Would prefer to hang fire but obviously expect a big price drop if it looks like he's going.

      2. Royal5
        1 month, 28 days ago

        News on Gaza

  12. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Anyone top 31ots with JP to go?

    24 PTS on the bench (planned BB gwv2)

    1. ZeBestee
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I have 75 with bb, I also had Thiago and Williams(last min conceded was on 8) but am happy overall

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Nice

    2. Viiksisika
      1 month, 28 days ago

      34 with JP and Sanchez to go. I'm also on BB GW2.

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Way better than me

    3. Brosstan
      1 month, 28 days ago

      38 from 14, only Pedro to go. 5 points all out on BB..

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Ouch

    4. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      63 with Pedro and Palmer to play. 33 of those points on my BB

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      53

      Pedro left too

      1 point benched (Mitchell)

    6. Salarrivederci
      1 month, 28 days ago

      66 with Palmer & Pedro to go and BB used.

      I’ll take it!

    7. CoracAld2831
      1 month, 28 days ago

      45 with Pedro to go.

      No bench boost.

  13. pjomara
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Newcastle have 8 decent fixtures coming up.
    Wissa worth a gamble at 6m?

    1. ZeBestee
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Yeah he looks good, just not sure if Newcastle have good enough mids to supplement him.

  14. Toon lurk
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Bit early but is it made to start Kayode over Dango next week? I'd usually go with the attacker, but expect a low scoring game and the early sub for Antony makes me a bit nervous whether Dango even starts

    1. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      *mad. Cool, I see we still don't have an edit button!

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I'd play Dango personally but it's not mad, no

      1. Toon lurk
        1 month, 28 days ago

        You wouldn't worry about the early sub for Anthony? I was surprised to see him come on for Dango rather than Schade

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 month, 28 days ago

          I think they're likely to concede and Dango more chance of scoring or getting an assist but it's fairly close. That's why I say it's not mad to play Kayode over Dingo but just not what I'd personally do

          1. Toon lurk
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Thank you for your replies. The thing I worry about though is whether Dango even starts now

  15. Count of Monte Hristo
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Bruno a no go for me because United are and will regress, again.

    To get Haaland or not? Will he even be close to justifying his price tag with less quality service?

    1. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      If you don't have Haaland now tbh I can't see a situation in which the path to get him is worth it. It surely means a hit, and based on the performance today I wouldn't do that. I'd roll and make a plan for GW3 (in which I'd definitely want him)

  16. Real Socially Distant
    1 month, 28 days ago

    How's everyone's BB gone?

    Mine for once has worked out. 30 points on my BB.

    1. Royal5
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Doesn’t really matter how many points you get on the bench. Total counts

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        you are right in a way but how well your chips go always feels important to me

        1. Royal5
          1 month, 28 days ago

          I agree. But you have players that stick big name players on the bench. Just to mess

          1. Royal5
            1 month, 28 days ago

            And then brag about a big BB score

            1. Mambino
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              1 month, 28 days ago

              yep - I like a nice brag, I'm usually crying into my beer most GWs

            2. Mambino
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              1 month, 28 days ago

              My Bench was De Cuyper, Gomez, O'shea and Verbrughan it was realistic BB I wouldn't have started any of them over my first 11 but it's massive jam and I know it

              1. Royal5
                1 month, 28 days ago

                Well don then!

                1. Mambino
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  1 month, 28 days ago

                  Cheers. Major jam. Bench almost outscored my first 11

      2. Johnjo
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Disagree. When playing the BB it's the additional points from the players on your bench that you wouldn't normally have played that is important. The scores of the non benched players you would have gotten anyway.

        1. Real Socially Distant
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Yes, my bench was players I would have benched. Its was Verbruggen, Sangare(Brentford) , Ajer, Diop

      3. Brosstan
        1 month, 28 days ago

        The success of the chips is based on your bench. If I score 100 points on BB because Haaland, Bruno and everyone else in my first 11 hauls, but the bench players get 1 point each, its a failed BB.

        A 40 GW score is bad but if 30 of them came from your bench its a BB success regardless

      4. Real Socially Distant
        1 month, 28 days ago

        I agree the total counts. Just happy with my genuine BB on 30. Total is 69 with JP left. I'm happy with the 40k start as I always usually rank about 4m at the start

    2. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Good. Mainly just happy not to have to worry about it now. Last year I remember taking hits to fix my non-playing bench in gameweek 15ish to get a playing 15

    3. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      33

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Who were your 4 weakest players before deadline?

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Gomez, De Cuyper, Verbrughan, O'shea

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Very nice, other GK?

            1. Mambino
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              1 month, 28 days ago

              Raya

    4. TallestJohn
      1 month, 28 days ago

      A slightly underwhelming 12 on the bench. At least I can honestly say Rodon wasn't getting in my starting XI this week.

      Think my first draft from a month ago would've outscored my actual team and that had a couple of non-starters and a Coventry defender in it.

    5. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      1 month, 28 days ago

      62 with JP to play.

      28 point BB with Verbruggen, Sangaré, Greaves, and Muharemovic.

      More than happy with that tbh 🙂

      1. Real Socially Distant
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Nice one. Probably have a similar team. On 69 with JP left

    6. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      1 month, 28 days ago

      15. but it's really only 10 because McBurney would have auto-subbed for Sarr if I hadn't played it.

      Now hoping for a good score from captain Joao Pedro tomorrow.

  17. Salarrivederci
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Play 1:
    A: Hume
    B: Rodon

    Play 2:
    1: Le Fee
    2: DCL
    3: Thiago

    1. Stimps
      1 month, 28 days ago

      B
      3

  18. adstomko
    1 month, 28 days ago

    As an Isak owner & non-Haaland/Bruno owner, would you wildcard with Haaland in now?

  19. Stimps
    1 month, 28 days ago

    87 with Pedro to go. How's the team for next week? Would you play Sangare or Hume for anyone?

    Kinsky
    Calafiori Maguire Muharemovic
    Bruno Ndiaye Szobo Tzolis
    Haaland DCL Pedro

    Verbruggen Sangare Hume De Cuyper

    1. FPL_trail_runner
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Nice team and start. Maybe Sangare for DCL , Brentford are good defensively

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Some score that, bench boost?

    3. Boberella
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I’m starting de Cuyper over Muharemovic.
      Dont think there’s an attacker there worth benching for Sangare.

  20. FPL_trail_runner
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Dream start here , 89 points , rank of 1700 and Palestra , Rogers and J Pedro to go.

    Still going to consider an agressive -4 / FH / WC next week or after.

    1. Salarrivederci
      1 month, 28 days ago

      That's an incredible start. I don't know your team, but I think I would advise you to play it like this:

      no hit
      FH
      no hit
      no hit
      WC

  21. GENERATION X
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Here come the first ‘look at me Mummy’ shouts of the season

    1. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Haha pathetic aren't they? I'm on 73 with Pedro to go and you certainly don't hear me broadcasting it

      1. ididnt
        1 month, 28 days ago

        We just did

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        You tell 'em

  22. ididnt
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Hume > de Cuyper now? Should’ve just gone with that from the get go but he looks so good for the price.

    1. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Ship sailed. He's not gonna get 2 attacking returns in the next game. Well, the next Pl game I should say, there's a European game between those. Prioritise other transfers around GW3/4

    2. pjomara
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Thinking same. De Cuyper will rise 0.3 and with 4 decent fixtures in next 6, good chance of rising another 0.4, so would be worth doing now but not at 5.2

    3. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      could well just be chasing this weeks points - away to Chelsea next week I'm probably going to bench him

    4. Johnjo
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I've got both and am keeping both as long as they are playing as wing forwards. Next week it might be Hume Why wouldn't you at that price.

    5. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Also retrospect is always easy. There was no obvious reason to go De Cuyper over Hume. 2 attacking returns is a very unlikely occurrence.

    6. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Maby get him for Shaw, 3 Utd seems too much after this week

  23. pjomara
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Anyone have link to league with the GOATs of FPL e.g. Ben Crellin?

    1. Toon lurk
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Jsut picture the template in your head and that's what it'll be for everyone in the league

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Crellin not really template for GW1

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      1 month, 28 days ago

      You can through my FPL team linked

  24. Count of Monte Hristo
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Guehi or Gvardiol?

    Muharemovic or Rodon or Justin?

  25. Winners900
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 28 days ago

    hi, is twitter down?

    1. Brosstan
      1 month, 28 days ago

      yea try X instead

      1. Winners900
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 28 days ago

        meant is x down though

  26. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 28 days ago

    50 points with only Pedro left, not very sexy start of the season.

    Utd, Spurs really dissapointing, Pool meh and City a bit less than ok. Hope they’ll all be more up to it next gw,..

    Think Chelsea will dissapoint us too?

    1. tyson 22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Depends if the real Palmer turns up.!!!

  27. Johnjo
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Anyone watch the Liverpool game? Who looks the better pick out of Szob and Gakpo?

    1. tyson 22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 28 days ago

      szobo. guarenteed minutes. Cody may still go.!!

    2. pjomara
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Quite similar but Szob much better FPL asset: on pens, frees and corners and is nailed on.
      Gakpo will share time with Ngumoha, who was poor on the right so might end up back in his more familiar left wing spot.
      Gakpo has that spot for now.

      1. Warby84
        1 month, 28 days ago

        They won’t Gakpo leave..

    3. Johnjo
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Don't currently have Szob but might get him in for Mbuemo if he doesn't get anything next week.

  28. Ajax Hamsterdam
    1 month, 28 days ago

    I had never planned bb this gw but ending up having a benching headache ...

    My plan is wirtz and 4m keeper out for sangare and raya for -4

    bb this team

    raya
    cala - van ewijk - hume
    bruno F (C) - mbeumo - tzolis - hinchelwood - sangare
    haaland pedro

    lammens - de cuyper- muha - walle egeli

    hoping the bench would cover 4 points and maybe get a few additional ones? will save me headache of bb later on.

    or would you keep wirtz??

    cheers

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