Dugout Discussion
17 October 2026 309 comments
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The first of five Premier League matches on Saturday is Everton v Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Kick-off in the Gameweek 7 curtain-raiser is at 12:30pm BST.

TEAM NEWS

Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko have both recovered from injuries to start for Everton.

Meanwhile, Merlin Rohl gets the nod over the benched Brennan Johnson on the right wing.

Mykolenko ousts Michael Keane from the starting XI. The centre-back has not been included in the matchday squad.

Xabi Alonso’s only alteration for Chelsea sees Jorrell Hato come in for Pep Chavarria, who is absent.

There are no surprises elsewhere, with Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer joining Joao Pedro in the usual front three.

Reece James is set to miss three months of action after undergoing knee surgery, as reported on Friday.

LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Armstrong, Garner, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry

Subs: Travers, O’Brien, George, Dibling, Norgaard, Johnson, Alcaraz, Hackney, Graham

Chelsea XI: Martinez, Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill, Neto, Caicedo, Henderson, Hato, Palmer, Rogers, J Pedro

Subs: Penders, Fofana, Palestra, Barco, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda, Welbeck


309 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. JBG
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Why are the Chelsea players so angry?

    1. JBG
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Tark and Rogers YC

    2. el polako
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      It’s a London ting.

    3. Jafooli
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Pizzed off that Man City have taken their ‘dodgey financial dealings’ crown…

  2. #1 Arne Engels Fan
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Rogers is an idiot

  3. Sailboats
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    So silly from Rogers zzz

  4. Gudjohnsen
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    4 points from Palmer and JP today?

  5. Jafooli
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Thanks for the YC welcome present Rogers, having brought you in this week, always a pleasure…

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Same here...rage transferring him out now!

      1. Jafooli
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        Yep, back to Bruno after his mega haul this GW…

      2. Jafooli
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        And could’ve got a RC there…

        1. tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 day, 8 hours ago

          I know!

          1. Jafooli
            1 day, 8 hours ago

            Gotta go…

  6. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Triple Chelsea attack not feeling so good right now!

    1. Sandy Ravage
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Everton away was always going to be tricky for any attack

    2. Jafooli
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Everton is a tough game at home and playing well..

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      It's an away match against tough oppo - guano happens.

  7. Sandy Ravage
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    What to do with MGW? Guess he's a hold and decide after Ipswich (A)

    1. Gudjohnsen
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      You think he won't play against Arsenal?

      1. Brosstan
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        He has a small injury. Why waste it in a game they are losing 90% of the time

  8. Gudjohnsen
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Chelsea will be hot and cold.

    Triple Chelsea today awful.

    Next weel they will all haul.

    1. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      That's cos it's Spurs.

  9. Pep Roulette
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Everton have to sign a striker in January. Barry is just abysmal.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Zirkzee

  10. Sailboats
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Barry with another shot straight at GK

  11. JBG
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Barry again, much tougher shot this time though.

    1. JBG
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      And he's down -_-

  12. el polako
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    What’ lower Barry’s conversion rate or Cole Palmers IQ ?

  13. Jafooli
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Commentator just mentioned Partick Thistle, my life is complete….

  14. Brosstan
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Barry is hilariously bad in all aspects of the game

    1. TheBiffas
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      He's actually good at getting in the right positions just a woeful finisher

  15. JBG
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Who is that Highlander looking fella on Chelseas bench? Second time I've seen him now

  16. Brosstan
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Rogers has to be off here..

    1. JBG
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Both players deserve YC

      1. JBG
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        So yeah Rogers should be off

      2. JBG
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        I take that back... only Rogers

    2. #1 Arne Engels Fan
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      For being kicked by Garner?

  17. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Rogers red?

    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Lucky

  18. Bobby Digital
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Rogers red would be great

  19. Nomar
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    So much officiating inconsistency

    1. g40steve
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Garner afters not picked up

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        Garner RC and Rogers 2nd yellow wouldn't have been wrong call imo.

    2. JBG
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      He could've gotten a RC for that even... how isn't that a second YC!?

  20. JBG
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Wait! Ref did nothing!?!

  21. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Yellow for both would have been correct call. However Garner kicked Rogers when they were on the ground. So violent conduct not very far away imo.

  22. CoracAld2831
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Ugh... not the best match to have three Chelsea players.

    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      You’re lucky it’s not down to 2

  23. TheBiffas
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Rogers leading defcon

  24. Pep Roulette
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    https://x.com/FPLMaineRoad/status/2111431805010170238

    Enzo, Anderson, Cherki, Semenyo, Gvardiol rested

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      So presumably it's

      Haaland
      Doku Foden Ndiaye
      Bouaddi Kovacic?

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 day, 8 hours ago

        O'Reilly midfield?

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 day, 8 hours ago

          Gvardiol I'd imagine plays otherwise
          Unless it's RAN LB

          1. Pep Roulette
            1 day, 8 hours ago

            Could be RAN LB with O'Reilly in midfield

            1. Sun Jihai
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              1 day, 8 hours ago

              Yeah I forgot RAN existed lol

    2. Sandy Ravage
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      Scenes!

  25. #1 Arne Engels Fan
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Eerily similar performance from Chelsea to the 1st half vs Brentford.

    when they play "tough away fixtures" Xabi seems to try this slow & composed build-up whilst keeping it compact gimmick & they look awful. baffled he hasn't learnt his lesson

  26. Statulis
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    May be random, but I really enjoyed FIFA WC fantasy rule when you get extra points if you own a player below 5% (or was it 10%) total ownership. Playing my fantasy mini league game and a bunch of us own same 6-8 players. Still enough for scores to differ considerably, but just way less fun. And I am actually one of the main culprits here watching FPL videos and reading the Scout haha. Would like more incentive to be original 🙂

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 day, 8 hours ago

      That's not a bad cal. Would make an interesting factor to consider. Not directly invloved with football game time though, so they might be too keen.

  27. Geriatric Unathletic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    I wish we had a substitution button. Would be using it for Rogers off before his red this coming half...

  28. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Less than 50 seconds...Neto scores

  29. ZeBestee
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Szobo, Gakpo and presumably Isak all in squad today. Can someone confirm?

  30. g40steve
    1 day, 8 hours ago

    Busted