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. Spg76
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Southampton the Italy of the 6 Nations.

  2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Fraser Forster for DGW, McCarthy is dreadful

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Neither!

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would take that.

    3. Spg76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      McCarthy not nailed. Forster to get a chance

  3. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm not trying to be rude or mean here and I know some will be joking but your goalkeeper that scores 2 and Martinez/Sanchez that scores 9 is just 7 points, it's not the be all and end all of your gameweek. Not a good start ofc but no need to overreact

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        People love to gloat.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I don't mind the gloating showing off or even lolling, but I'm on here quite a bit and it's obvious which guys are offering nothing but that, only pipe up for negativity

            1. DA Minnion (Former great)
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              It's human nature I'm afraid.

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

          Less of that common sense around here!

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

          This is a very sensible and logical way of thinking about it.

          1. Here's Tom with the We…
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            You’re talking far too much sense!

            Ban.

        4. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          7 points here, 7 points there. Season over.

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

          Many brought Pope in this week due to doubles so always annoying when a transfer actually costs you points - I almost went for Pope and bench Martinez

        6. TheDragon
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You lose 7 points a million times and that’s..... profit

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

          Season over?

        8. Jordan.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          i think what has magnified this problem is the fact that most weeks goalies are disregarded,clearly lots have moved to pope from or benched marti this week ,honestly fpl this season cant stop booting in the nads..

        9. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Its the entire reason we play this game, 7 pt swing is massive on player.

          1. Fpl stress
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Exactly even a grealish 94th minute yellow is agonizing

      2. JELLYFISH
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I Wilson involvement in any of the toon goals ...shocker

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You do know he went off injured, right?

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

        Fraser Forster hopefully no1 by the doubles

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

          After everyone sells him for Pope next week?

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

            Steer to Pope to forster for me if McCarthy dropped and I decide to wc in 25!

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

          Definitely possible. Kept a CS vs. Liverpool in his only appearance this season.

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

            Solid keeper who got his confidence back at Celtic last season

      4. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Captain Dias next week surely? The only City man that will likely play both games

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

          Ederson

        2. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Ed

      5. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Who is more likely to score second half?

        Wilson or Che Adams (and yes I know Wilson has gone off injured)

        1. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Wilson.

        2. BeWater
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This made me laugh as a former Adams owner 🙂

      6. BeWater
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I thought the United game was an aberration but Southampton are making Newcastle look a hell of a team. Even Shelvey is getting clear chances from 10 yards out.

      7. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Connolly should be playing in the 6 nations. Great conversions.

        1. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Ireland could do with him.

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

        Soton goal

      9. aleksaa2
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What a G, JWP

      10. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bench boost this week?

        Areola
        Cancelo Maguire Mee
        Sterling Bruno Son Gundogan
        DCL Antonio Bamford

        Martinez Raphinha Targett Coufal

        1. Pep Roulette
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          No WC remaining. Will TC in 26.

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

        OMGGG JWP

        Adams A

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What? JWP rules!

      12. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Just came back home and saw Dunk has scored! 😆 Well done owner!

        1. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Dunk is a little gem

      13. SH1M1
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ADAMS FINALLY DID SOMETHING

        1. SH1M1
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          In Typical Jammy assist fashion

      14. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I told someone not to get jwp this week

        Apologies that man

      15. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Beautiful Freekick from JWP !!!

      16. Fer Fuch's Ake
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        JWP will be greatest free kick hitter of all time

      17. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        JWP, do your thing, baby!

      18. aleksaa2
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hendrick RC

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

        JWP free kick machine!

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

        Unbelievable JWP!

      21. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Burnley not out of the woods if Fulham manage to win later

      22. SH1M1
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Newcastle down to 10

      23. Fer Fuch's Ake
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hendrick Red

        1. Jordan.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          knobhead play

      24. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If i dont play my BB next week, I'm really struggling who i should bench out of these 3 -

        Soucek(SHU)
        Bamford(ars)
        Son(mci)

        1. MagicMessi
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Really? Son or Bamford easy

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

            Its not that easy if you're saying 1 or the other, haha.

      25. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        JWP free kicks have an XG of 1.

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          xG on target

      26. ClassiX
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Seriously. Is there a better DFK taker in the EPL than JWP?

        1. aleksaa2
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Nope

        2. BeaversWithAttitude
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          His is an absolute phenom!

        3. DycheDycheBaby
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          No.

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

        Gudmundsson goal

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

          Pieters assist

        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What year is this?

      28. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Brighton cleanie wiped