Dugout Discussion

Vestergaard returns as Minamino makes Southampton debut

Southampton take to the field at Newcastle with some welcome boosts following their 9-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Fresh from a horrendous defensive display, their most important centre-back, Jannik Vestergaard (£4.7m) is finally back in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 14.

The Danish international has struggled with a knee problem during the winter and is sure to improve the Saints’ defensive prospects as he features alongside Jan Bednarek (£4.9m), whose one-match ban was overturned midweek.

Vestergaard’s return sees Jack Stephens (£4.6m) push out to the right-back berth where Southampton have had some problems this season. Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.7m) is still not fit enough to be involved today.

But defence is not the only area where Ralph Hasenhüttl has been handed good news as Takumi Minamino (£6.0m) is ready to feature for the first time since leaving Anfield on loan in the transfer window.

He is stationed on the flanks of midfield, with Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) on the other side, in support of centre-forward pairing Danny Ings (£8.4m) and Che Adams (£5.8m).

Newcastle’s own January loanee Joe Willock (£4.7m) also makes his Premier League debut for his new club, his arrival allowing Steve Bruce to go for a more adventurous shape than usual.

Willock sits in a number 10 role with Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) and Miguel Almirón (£5.6m) either side of him in a 4-2-3-1 fronted by Callum Wilson (£6.8m).

The Magpies are somewhat short at the back though. Midfielder Isaac Hayden (£4.7m) starts alongside Fabian Schär (£4.9m) at centre-back.

Double Gameweek planners will have their eyes on the other 3pm match today as Burnley host Brighton.

As expected, the Clarets are in 4-4-2 formation with key Fantasy targets Nick Pope (£5.5m), Ben Mee (£5.0m), James Tarkowski (£5.3m) and Matt Lowton (£4.4m) all involved.

Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) is still not fit enough for a return and neither is Chris Wood (£6.2m), both players absent from today’s match-day squad, which means Erik Pieters (£4.3m) is at left-back again and Ashley Barnes (£6.0m) is paired up-front with Matej Vydra (£4.8m).

On a run of four successive clean sheets, Brighton are in 3-4-2-1 today with Dan Burn (£4.2m) and Joël Veltman (£4.3m) in the left and right wing-back roles respectively following Solly March‘s (£5.0m) injury at Anfield.

Gameweek 23 Starting Line-ups

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Vydra, A Barnes.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-1-2): R Sánchez; Webster, Dunk, White; Burn, Bissouma, Groß, Veltman; Mac Allister; Maupay, Connolly.

Newcastle United XI (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Lewis, Schär, Hayden, Manquillo; Shelvey, Hendrick; Saint-Maximin, Willock, Almirón; Wilson.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, J Stephens; Minamino, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond; Ings, Adams.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

1,274 Comments Post a Comment
  1. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    worst defending ever seen, why stand on the post if your not gonna do your job, unreal

  2. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bednarek is in a match fixing ring.

    Investigate him.

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You going to provide the funds?

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Your turn, Ben Mee....

  4. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feck off pope

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Blasphemy....

  5. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'm sorry but the commentators thinking willock was shooting there is ridiculous how crap are they

  6. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope trap.
    Wilson injured.
    Burnley and Toon defeats.
    Gutted

  7. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Double CS gone. At least I can turn off the Burnley Brighton game now.

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ha, literally just done the same thing for same reason. Martinez on bench too, what a twonk.

  8. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Has Duffy Dunk changed his name or what happened to him?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DUFFYDUNK naturally...

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Knew I should’ve taken a one week punt over Mee. Played it safe. Ffs

  10. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Brighton have been very good lately

  11. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So, Lowton is enough for next gmwk?

  12. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Oi, what an absolute pisstake Pope!

  13. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Liking the look of Sanchez at Brighton. Hoping they get a double in 26

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Need to beat Leicester, certainly have a chance the way they're playing

  14. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No more action needed in both matches. If you have to bargain, maybe just a Westwood goal 🙂

  15. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope and Wilson owners unite in grief

  16. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dunk needs genuine consideration. Look at his past 6 or so games

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Brighton very solid. Good team had some awful luck.

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He is absolutely impossible to predict. He has his goal threat from corners.

  17. Gleys11
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Has the Bednerek goal been given to the striker?
    Its what the commentators are saying.
    Or does that not apply to FPL?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely no way. It was a fine back heel from the lad.

  18. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Burnley might be Shane Duffy levels of a DGW trap.

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Only captain this year 🙂

  19. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Come on BEN MEE waiting for the 2nd yellow!!

  20. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A lovely 1pter from Ben Mee then

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you're lucky

    2. Mighty Wings
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait for the second yellow

  21. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I broke Pope 😀

  22. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yesss pope cleanie gone get inn absolutely nowhere to hide for owners

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This incessant 'nowhere to hide' nonsense is far and away my least favourite FFS obsession

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        They can literally hide anywhere!

  23. matiakez
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Oh jeez what a disaster bench martinez for Pope

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not a bad call tbf, loads of us did it. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way

  24. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    We're not used to so much excitement. Usually only one game on at a time

  25. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Early Pope/defender purchases was always a bit silly... poor team lets be honest

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      bUt DgW...

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Expecting a 0-0 today was quite probable ; don’t be daft

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        nah premature moves

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I mentioned earlier that it was odd to jump on Burnley for this fixture given how Brighton have improved so much recently. Joint 4th behind Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool for shots inside the box over the last 4 matches. In that same time period Burnley had conceded the most shots in the box in the league (albeit against tough opponents).

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        yeah I had 2 FTs but I wasn't moving for a Burnley asset early...get Pope in for the double now alright for the punt

  26. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wilson of and Pope CS gone! First GW something goes my way.

  27. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This week is shaping up to be a bit of an arse.

  28. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes denies Lowton bandwagon.

  29. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Poor & Wilson owner here.

    Rivals with Martinez all season are killing me, I should have just matched them. This week owning out badly already, need a big haul from someone!

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pope...