Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Saturday

The relegation battle takes centre stage during Saturday’s afternoon action, with Sunderland, Leicester City, Hull City and Newcastle United all duking it out in their quest to beat the drop. Following the quintet of three o’clock kick-offs, Liverpool bid their Anfield farewells to club luminary Steven Gerrard, with Crystal Palace bidding to ruin the legendary midfielder’s final home appearance.

Having succumbed to relegation last Gameweek, Burnley host a Stoke City outfit that are fresh of a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Two goals in 10 matches underlines the Clarets’ travails in the final third, yet three clean sheets and just six goals conceded in eight offers hope of a shut-out. Charlie Adam is the form midfielder in the league by virtue of four goals in six starts, while Mame Biram Diouf has netted four goals in 11 appearances and is benefitting from increased pitch time in recent outings. Both sides are unchanged for this one, as Ryan Shawcross shakes off an injury to skipper the Potters.

Queens Park Rangers have nothing but pride left to play for as they welcome Newcastle to Loftus Road. Facing off against an R’s team that’s carded only one victory in 11, the Magpies search for their first win in ten Gameweeks. Newcastle boss John Carver has reasons to be optimistic, though – with Ayoze Perez notching two in three starts and top scorer Papiss Cisse making his return to the squad last weekend, the Tyneside team may yet wriggle free from the threat of relegation. The R’s make two changes as Nedum Onuoha returns from suspension at the back and Junior Hoilett earns a recall: Yun Suk-young and Bobby Zamora drop out. Newcastle make just one change as Daryl Janmaat returns from his ban to replace Vurnon Anita at right-back.

Tottenham invite Hull to White Hart Lane, as the visitors strive to propel themselves out of the bottom three. Spurs are in the midst of a slump, having recorded a single win in six, with two home defeats on the bounce. With just a single goal in his last six, Harry Kane has been subject to significant sales over the last few days, whilst in the Tigers camp, Dame N’Doye endeavours to snap a three-match barren spell in the wake of his brace at Palace in Gameweek 34. Spurs make one change as the banned Vlad Chiriches makes way for fit-again Danny Rose. Visitors Hull recall Nikica Jelavic to a two-man strike force as Sone Aluko drops to the bench; David Meyler comes in for Jake Livermore who has been suspended by the club.

Sunderland are pitted against fellow relegation rivals Leicester at the Stadium of Light in the first of their double Gameweek fixtures. Danny Graham netted his first goal for the Wearside club last time out and continues in the central striker berth. As for their opponents, the Foxes are flying off the back of six wins in seven outings. Riyad Mahrez is the man of the moment – following his brace last weekend – while Leonardo Ulloa is their form striker by way of two goals and one assist in two starts. Dick Advocat is forced to change a winning side with Jordi Gomez and Wes Brown ruled out – Liam Bridcutt and John O’Shea come into the starting XI. Andy King replaces Matt James in midfield for the visitors – James has been ruled out for up to nine months with cruciate knee ligament damage.

West Ham entertain Everton in a mid-table tussle for position. The Hammers are finishing off their campaign with a whimper – having notched a pitiful four goals in their last nine fixtures – but can draw encouragement from two clean sheets in three. For the Toffees, Romelu Lukaku continues to search for his first goal from open play since Gameweek 23. Sam Allardyce welcomes back Winston Reid from injury, while Alex Song and Carlton Cole also earn starts. Reece Burke and Morgan Amalfitano drop to the bench, while Kevin Nolan misses out due to a family bereavement. As for Everton, they surprisingly give a debut to young Brendan Galloway in the absence of ankle injury victim Leighton Baines.

The late kick-off sees Liverpool go head-to-head with Palace at Anfield. Although the Reds’ aspirations of Champions League football dissolved last week, outgoing skipper Steven Gerrard welcomes the Eagles on the back of two goals in as many matches and will be desperate to net in front of the Kop for the final time. With a solitary goal in their previous four league ties, Palace’s toils up top bode well for managers in possession of Liverpool’s backline assets.

2,706 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ralfb
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Whos more important to be shipped out. Kane ir henderson?

    1. Royal5
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Henderson.

      1. ralfb
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Would bolasie be good replacement for last gw?

        1. Royal5
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Not a bad idea.

    2. OnionBag
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Who do you fancy bringing in?
      I have both as well

      1. ralfb
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Not sure, cissse or ulloa for kane, maybe puncheon or bolassie for henderson

        1. OnionBag
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          i was thinking ulloa for kane too.

          I have sterling in addition to henderson, so I'll probably get rid of sterling rather than henderson if I do a midfield change.

          1. ralfb
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 5 months ago

            Yep gives you more money to play with

    3. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

      Striker positions more important

  2. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    "In Rodgers we trust"

    Think the other one will be making a fly past soon

  3. Wings of Steel
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Pass it to Grandpa Raheem there's a good lad

  4. The Machine
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Murray doesnt start and even then my two cleanies on the bench will stay there!!

    Fcking Boyd

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      you have let us down Nate 😛

      1. The Machine
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        18 from not too bad though 😉

      2. The Machine
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        20 from 5*

        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          yeah but had you put Wasi or Huth over Boyd 😡

  5. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    They say you don't become a bad player overnight. So what happened to Sterling? 😕

    1. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Suarez left

      1. Wild Rover
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        He was good at the start of this season

    2. Scoredelario
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Did he sign that 100k contract? If not........... Oopsy daisy

    3. ralfb
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Too tired

    4. KOKAK
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Look at how he runs, and you have your answer!

    5. Royal5
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Got greedy.

  6. tm245
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Nice clearance by Can.

  7. Jimbo123
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Giroud to be rested for gw 38?

  8. KOKAK
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    It is always a joke that managers only make substitution after they a trailing by a goal or two. It is as if, none of the coaching staff are able to spot a weakness that requires immediate remedy.

  9. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Wonder how many mins left for Gerard before he gets subbed

    1. ralfb
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Rodgers will not be brave enough

  10. A Defender's Nightmare
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Having horrible GW.

  11. AWESOME-O
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Any chance of Kolarov or Ivanovic not playing tomorrow?

    Mane is on my bench. It sucks 🙁

    1. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Isn't clichy back fit?

      1. AWESOME-O
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        he is, but will Pelligrini drop an in form Kolarov? I hope so

    2. A Defender's Nightmare
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Ivan will play. Kolarov is likely to play than not.

  12. sambyy
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Hendo SHOOOOOT

  13. BlzE_94
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Liverpool playing like Barcelona for a few seconds there..

    1. KOKAK
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      If they loose at home, that is not like Barcelona at all.

  14. Game...Blouses
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    For the love of God, Chamahk. Get a new haircut!

    1. JayBomb
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Looks like he just got a good lump of hair gel and slapped it straight onto his forehead! Gimp.

  15. ralfb
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Need mignolet to save a penalty

  16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Gerrard fk into orbit

  17. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    All set up

  18. Royal5
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Don't think Kolarov was impressed by that effort Stevie.

  19. KOKAK
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Did Gerrard just kick a ballon?

    1. KOKAK
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      balloon

  20. BabyB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Some atmosphere in the kip today.

    1. BabyB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Ugh, kop

      1. Art Vandelay
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        You were right first time. Good place to have a kip today. Nice and quiet.

    2. Reedy
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      *skip

      1. Royal5
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        Slip

  21. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Wtf was that 😀

  22. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    No Gerrard, you're aiming for the goal on the ground, not in row Z.

  23. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Gerrarrrrrrrddddd

    Puts it in to row z

  24. Tasty Jerk
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Please don't sub Gerrard off, great playing against 10 men

  25. tm245
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Murray looks like he just walked out of a pub.

  26. Tasty Jerk
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Played Yala! FFS Murray on now

  27. KOKAK
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Gerrard exit, should make Liverpool a better team next season.

    1. Stephen - Robot Daniels
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Their problems run deeper than one player who is still head and shoulders above most of what they have on the pitch today.

  28. No Luck
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Thinking about next week already:

    Schmeichel, Krul;
    Ivanovic, Moreno, Schlupp, Ryan Taylor, Van Aanholt;
    Sanchez, Hazard, Ramsey, Coutinho, Grealish;
    Aguero, Giroud, Wickham.

    1FT £2.1m itb

    Coutinho -> Silva/Fabregas/Mata/Willian
    Grealish -> Fellaini/Sissoko/Young
    Wickham -> Cisse/Ulloa

    Need a good punt for a last throw of the dice!

    1. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 5 months ago

      Silva
      Fellaini
      Ulloa

      1. No Luck
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 5 months ago

        I don't know if I trust either Coutinho or Grealish. think I prefer Coutinho -> Silva. I could even do Yaya.

        1. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 5 months ago

          Silva imo..cheers!!

  29. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Liverpool will lose this game

  30. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 5 months ago

    Murray on

    Oh well Nate at least we no longer have to curse that double LEI CS on the bench as much