Dugout Discussion

Holgate and Sidibe benched as Everton face Palace in Gameweek 26 opener

The first of ten Premier League matches in as many days takes place between Everton and Crystal Palace, with Gameweek 26 getting underway at Goodison Park at 12:30 GMT.

Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a blow to owners of Mason Holgate (£4.5m) and Djibril Sidibe (£5.4m), with both of those defenders only among the substitutes.

That is Holgate’s first benching since Gameweek 9, with the budget Fantasy Premier League asset losing his ever-present record under his new manager.

Michael Keane (£5.2m) and Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) come in at centre-half and right-back respectively, with Bernard (£6.4m) ousting Alex Iwobi (£5.6m) on the left flank.

Ancelotti’s other change is an enforced one, with Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.4m) replacing the suspended Fabian Delph (£5.3m).

Richarlison (£8.1m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.1m) again form a two-man strike force for the hosts.

Speaking of his line-up changes, Ancelotti said:

We need more of everything. More quality, more intensity, more pressure, more concentration. It’s not easy to pick the line-up but I want everyone to be involved and the players accept my decisions.

The Palace team news is nice and easy to digest, with the Eagles unchanged from their defeat to Sheffield United last weekend.

Martin Kelly (£4.3m), who lost his place to Joel Ward (£4.3m) in Gameweek 25 anyway, is absent with a minor calf injury.

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) is between the posts again after his clanger against the Blades, with Roy Hodgson saying:

You don’t drop first-choice goalkeepers because they’ve made one mistake – it can happen to anyone. We’re very happy with him and very happy he’s playing today.

Palace are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16, which is the longest barren streak in the top flight at present.


Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Walcott, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha, Ayew, Benteke.

1,580 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ppv
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Goalscorer and assister 0.7% and 0.4% ownership

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Good news with no players today and only 2 tomorrow.

  2. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Walcott bandwagon came and went just like that

  3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    walcott down again

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    sidibe coming on

  5. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Walcott gone. iwobi coming on

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sidibe sorry.. change of tactics

  6. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe coming on before 30 min

  7. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe could get CS points

  8. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Wally gone

  9. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    KDB EO 98%...

    I don't even own a city player!

    1. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      makes his transfer to Mane look even better (next week)

  10. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    SIDIBE OUR SAVIOR YESSSSSSS

  11. Marvin Moon
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bernard going under the radar?

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He's not that small.

      1. Marvin Moon
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thank god somebody got it.

  12. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe owners so lucky

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      At first unlucky.

    2. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I believe in the FPL gods now

  13. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    OMFG SIDEBE RW

  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    sidibe gone down the tunnel

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Who does number two work for?

  15. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe incoming! Jammy owners

    1. Vlad Tepes
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He could block some jammy bench points also? Who knows haha

  16. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance of Palace attacking now or stick to their 4-6-0 formation?

  17. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe could get the CS points right?

  18. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe to the toilet. Likely to he a 1 pointer by the time he comes on

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    carlo shaking his head, sidibe disappeared

  20. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I was just about to sell that See You Next Thursday

  21. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe gone for a poo first...

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He was told to go and play poo and got the wrong end of the stick.

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        wouldn't want to touch the wrong end of that stick...

  22. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe forgot to put the sock back on after he "went to the loo"

  23. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL CLOSE

  24. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero 47% EO. Going to be an amazing differential

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      12 shots and no goals incoming

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully!

  25. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    No Holgate 🙁

  26. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A sock problem??? WTF GET ON SIDIBE

  27. Bun Rab
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!

    Sidibe coming on!!!!!!!!!!!

    25mins played.

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You don't need any luck you are already having a great season!

      1. Bun Rab
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        6 reds out of the last 7. I need all the points i can get!

  28. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    12 people brought Walcott in after the deadline...

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He has 2 weeks off to recover 😉

  29. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sidibe 5 minute poo, comes on after 30 mins

    • ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sidibe no socks? Professionals not so Professionals.