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. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gudmundsson G

  2. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pieters assist 😎

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

      Well played! How longs Taylor out for?

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Assume when Taylor back replace peiters?

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

          I think so

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The only def not considered because of Taylor..

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Burnley def ..

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

    3-2. 1-1

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

    Remember the casuals all getting Hendrick after GW1?

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

    Carnage

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

    Game of the season this Toon match

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

    "Guaranteed" 0-0 now 1-1

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

    Gudmundsson Goal

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

    Pieters assist for Gud goal.

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

      Nooooo FFS went Mee over Pieter's

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

    Said it would be a good game!

  11. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1 CS from 6 teams this afternoon, I'm having it large!

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

    Pieters would be great if Taylor was out longer term. Fond memories Of Pieters from end of last season

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

    Blow both these games up now, refs!

  14. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wow perfect 3pm games for non owners!

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

      I sold JWP in GW17. 🙁

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        he's very hot and cold though JWP

        Will get a 10 pointer then blank for 4.5 weeks
        Many better options: Soucek, Gundo

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Unlucky, it’s so difficult with midfielders atm

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

      For sure.

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      100%

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

    Pope assist?

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

      Pieters

  16. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pieters assist not given. Outrageous

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Given now 😎

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

    Barnes goal, offside

  18. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes goal disallowed

  19. Pedersen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chose Pope over Martinez....

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

      Many did

    2. Scrumper
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I transferred Martinez out for Pope.

      Second time I've sold Martinez this season, both times he punished me!

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

    What was that disallowed for? Barnes wasn’t offside?

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

      Wrong type of Barnes.

    2. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Earlier in the passage of play. Not from the cross he scored off.

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

        Cheers. Commentators not got a clue what’s going on!!

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Seems you don’t need any cognitive ability to be a commentator anymore!

          Annoying the goal was disallowed though - I brought Lowton in this week!

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

            Lowton and Pieters have looked decent, Lowton more secure of starts so looks an option for doubles

            1. Brimble82
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              That’s what I brought him in for.
              On the face of it, the best defensive options over the next 3 GWs (23/24/25)

              Looked at Pieters - but with Taylor waiting in the wings, I’m not sure he’s nailed.

  21. Obi Wan Elokobi
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes wasn’t offside? Wheres VAR

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

      Can’t work it out, was it offside in build up?

      1. Obi Wan Elokobi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I actually don’t know. He was about 5 yards onside

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

        Vydra offside in build up apparently

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

      Vydra was offiside

      1. Obi Wan Elokobi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I don’t think he was though

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

          He was off the pitch quite a bit offside

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

          Only saw the 1 replay tbf, Burnley looking likely to go on and win it

  22. Guba
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez over Martinez fail for me. Still feel it was probably the right decision but hurts nonetheless.

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

      Yeah man, Arsenal could easily have scored

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

    Classic FPL that the Burnley defender that gets points is the one no one owns!

    Pope 23% ownership
    Mee 18%
    Lowton 7%
    Taylor 1%
    Tark 0.7%
    Pieters 0.6%

    1. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's the only one that isn't first choice to be fair.

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

        Yeah, just it's the FPL way for the most owned one to get a YC. I have fond memories of Pieters last season getting a few assists!

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One guy in my mini league has him ... but benched him and started Lawton.

  24. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No better way to start your gameweek than staring at 16 points on your bench.

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

      18 here

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

      Martinez and who?

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Targett

      2. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Watkins

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

        Wow that's unlucky.. bloody arsenal too unpredictable

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      32 last week for me ... I feel your pain.

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

        Jeez. That's half my bench points total for the whole season.

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          208 bench points is my season total before this week started.

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

            Forster, Mitchell, Brewster have been a godsend in that sense.

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

      Watkins, villa defender and?

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martinez and Targett

    5. PogChamp
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Massive bench points over the last few GWs. Never seen anything like it. I've been pretty fortunate.

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well, until the week any of us decide to use Bench Boost.

    6. Mile Plankton
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same here, Martinez and Targett

    7. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      191 for me for the season

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        133 for me coming into this week

      2. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        208 and counting ,,,

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

        249 here

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

    St James’ Swimming Pool.

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Aye. It’s bouncing up here in the North East. Has done all week.

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

    St James Park about to become St James Bog

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

    Encouraging signs as a to-be Lowton owner, making plenty of runs forward

  28. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Keep those 3 baps Eric

  29. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    couple of random Easter eggs I was thinking about:

    - When was the last time a goalie got an assist? None this season
    - Why is the points awarded for a goalie scoring the same as a defender . It's so rare it should be like 7/8 points

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

      Alisson to Salah vs United?

      Considered defenders.

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

        Can see the case for it to be more than 6 but any GK goal is extreme luck and the game already rewards luck too heavily.

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

      Martinez was quite close to getting one a few weeks ago iirc!

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

        I can only remember Alison to Salah.

        It’s so rare, does it really matter?

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

      Martinez

    4. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ederson to Aguero (Huddersfield at home)

  30. 1zverGGadeM
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cmoon Danny, score a goal!