Dugout Discussion

Ricardo Pereira continues in midfield for Leicester as Saka, Aubameyang on Arsenal bench

After starting at right-midfield in Gameweek 25 as Leicester beat Aston Villa 2-1, Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) is again playing ‘out of position’ in the first of Leicester City’s Double Gameweek 26 fixtures.

With James Maddison (£7.3m) sidelined for this weekend at least, Brendan Rodgers has possibly gone for a slight change of shape as Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.6m) looks set to partner Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) up front.

Over one million FPL managers paid out for the services of Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) ahead of DGW26. The England hopeful starts in his customary left-wing position.

With Pereira playing further forward, Luke Thomas (£4.2m) earns a second consecutive league start at left-back.

The defender will not be facing Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) from the first whistle, however. After admitting on Thursday that the winger is fatigued, Mikel Arteta has duly handed Saka a rest.

He drops to the Gunners’ bench alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m), Hector Bellerin (£5.1m) and Thomas Partey (£4.9m).

“We’ve had some problems in the last 48 hours to recover players – players with some muscular issues. We had to freshen up. The reality is that there are other players who are fighting for chances and they deserve the chance to play.” – Mikel Arteta

They are also joined by Rob Holding (£4.4m), who makes his return to the squad after suffering a concussion in the Gameweek 25 defeat to Manchester City.

Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) continues at left-back after making his injury return in the Europa League this week.

Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m) is the major absentee from an FPL perspective as Crystal Palace welcome Fulham to Selhurst Park.

Having started in Gameweek 25, the left-back drops to the bench with Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) favoured by Roy Hodgson for the Eagles’ first DGW26 tie.

Scott Parker is also fond of a full-back switch, with right-sided defender Kenny Tete (£4.3m) returning to the Cottagers’ XI. That leaves Antonee Robinson (£4.4m) on the bench, as the versatile Ola Aina (£4.5m) switches to left-back.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m) returns to the Fulham matchday squad but has not displaced Josh Maja (£5.5m) up front. Parker’s men also have another match this gameweek, with Spurs visiting Craven Cottage on Thursday.

Leicester City XI (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Thomas, Soyuncu, Evans, Castagne; Barnes, Ndidi, Tielemans, R Pereira; Iheanacho, Vardy.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tierney, Mari, David Luiz, Cedric; Xhaka, Elneny; Willian, Smith Rowe, Pepe; Lacazette.

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Van Aanholt, Cahill, Kouyaté, Ward; Eze, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Townsend; Ayew, Benteke.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete; Reed, Anguissa; Lookman, Loftus-Cheek, De Cordova-Reid; Maja.

1,370 Comments Post a Comment
  1. YoungPretender
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Gutted for Barnes. Great player, hope it's nothing too serious.

    1. mwa1t
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Looked pretty bad unfortunately

      1. YoungPretender
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Yeah never a good sign when stretchered off in a cast. That being said, he didnt look in too much pain when being lifted off. Fingers crossed for him.

        1. mwa1t
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yeah was odd that he didn’t seem in too much pain, hopefully a good sign

    2. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      If it’s serious it could knock back his England chances

  2. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Can moderators just delete idiotic comments "i lIkE tO sEe iT" on a players injuries which can be ACL. So pissed rn

    1. mwa1t
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I haven’t seen any tbh?

      1. GROBARI
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I saw 2 of them

    2. Patson Dabaka
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Agreed mate but don't feed the trolls

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 28 days ago

        I haven't seen anyone saying that tbh, I've seen people gloating and trolling Barnes owners but not the injury

      • Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Have not seen that particular comment.

        1. GROBARI
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          I answered some dude who said that,you can see in my history comments whatever it is called

          1. Party time
              3 years, 28 days ago

              Please share a link. Did he refer to the Barnes injury too??

        2. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          This. Rival brought in and I decided to play in conservative way and take no hits and got lucky. Gutted for Barnes.

      • 2OLEgend
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Raphinha to Barnes for a -4 went well. Hate this game sometimes.

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Ditto, Lingz looks an option if bad for Harvey?

      • Releasebreaks
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Spent almost 3 weeks planning for great BB, then your players start to get injury.

        1. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          or just don't play in the first game of their DGW

        2. JJO
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          +1
          Prepared fir last BB gw,Leeds game got cancelled
          Now prepared for next gw BB Barnes injured and probably few more will with my luck

      • Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Hoping for the best for Harvey Barnes.

      • Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Palace are awful.

      • DropkickMurphys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        This head injury thing seems like will be exploited by players in a terrible way. To prevent opponent getting momentum etc...

        1. mwa1t
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Very irritating, what can you do about it?

          1. Toby Lerone
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Need refs to be stronger. When players go down like they've been shot, this needs repercussions. Conning the ref should come with a retrospective yellow card

            1. DropkickMurphys
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 28 days ago

              Yeah I agree. It’s been really long time since I’ve seen a yellow card for any kind of conning for any foul. This encourages them to keep doing it and it has even become the norm now. If you get kicked but don’t fall, they know they won’t even get a foul.

      • The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Leicester season is over, again. Destroyed by injuries, again. Top 4 would be a hell of an achievement from this position.

        1. Tabasco
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Very unlucky with injuries but they've been outplayed today

        2. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Key players, Ndidi, Pereira, Maddy, Barnes & Vards.

      • Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Can't wait to do Barnes>J. Lingz for the Leeds game. I would have taken out Bruno instead.

        1. DandyDon
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          not a bad shout.

        2. YoungPretender
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Looks the natural transfer.

        3. mwa1t
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Good shout that. Better than finding a route to Son?

        4. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yeah that's actually a great shout. Has looked good & Lingard likes to run at players.

      • JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        With Bale, Lucas and Ndombele all playing not every goal will be between Son and Kane like earlier in the season. If Spurs can’t score more than 1 goal a game then they’re done as assets

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          I bet you it's still all Kane and Son

        2. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          They've been involved in 2 out of 3 in the first half.

      • smash
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Would you think Holding has lost his place in this Arsenal team now? had him already saved for GW29, know he had concussion recently, any chace hes just not match fit?

        1. Tabasco
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Think he's being rested

          1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Been rested quite often recently

            1. Tabasco
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 28 days ago

              Not really just rotated a bit; still wouldn't pick him for FPL

            2. smash
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 28 days ago

              Hmmm I'll keep him on the off chance to play 29 then, seems better than Mari though

              cheers.

      • Spg76
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Bale, Son and Kane in the same 11? Lets see because that looked a bit unbalanced earlier in the season. I suppose it’s whether Bale is really is back or not.

      • Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Guaita looking essential.

        1. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Brosstan flying

      • Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Barnes bloody idiot. Ultimate troll.

        1. Toby Lerone
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Can't help getting injured lol

          1. Niho992
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            He is idiot. Cant even run properly.

        2. Iwantmorepointsthanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Weird comment.
          Difference between playing badly and getting injured.

      • Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Bringing Barnes in for a hit, was the right move for many. Don't listen to the trolls on here.

        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          I would have probably done Raph to Barnes if I had the funds.

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            0/

            1. _Ninja_
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 28 days ago

              Ah thats unlucky mate.

      • Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Whatever ways you use, eye test? statistics? form? fixtures?

        You should pick Barnes in this dgw26. But you never can count on luck.

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          FPL is the ultimate troll sometimes. It’s only a game though, wish the player a speedy recovery.

      • fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Is Holding dropped or rested?

        1. marcos11
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Rested l would say but there is a rotation risk there

      • Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Ouch. Unfortunate Barnes and Aina owners

      • Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Auba and Saka not needed off the bench today then.

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

          Better without them? 😮

          1. Revival
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Laca is the greatest mind!

      • Toby Lerone
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Can't help but feel Leicester / Rogers deserve this beating. They got complacent midweek and have probably lost momentum due to Europa League disaster. Silly

        1. Alisson WondHaaland
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Wouldnt say its disaster, they should be focusing on the league

        2. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Rubbish. If he'd played his full team on Thursday they'd be knackered today. We already have two of our most influential players out injured (Maddison & Justin). Vardy is getting older and he played on Thursday - does he look in sparkling form today? Get real - it's not easy for a club of our size to fight on 3 fronts.

          1. The Tinkerman
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Do you agree our season is over? This feels worse than Bournemouth last year to me. Shredded by the injuries, and left rueing not signing reinforcements in January (again).

            1. Rotation's Alter Ego
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 28 days ago

              Evans now as well. Europe looking a tough ask.

              1. The Tinkerman
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 28 days ago

                It is ridiculous. Though we also had silly number of injuries earlier in the season and managed to keep it up on three fronts. But we aren’t Liverpool, so you won’t hear it being moaned about so much on Sky 😀

          2. Toby Lerone
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            Well momentum is a big thing in football. Can't wait for you to bottle it

            1. The Tinkerman
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 28 days ago

              You are currently watching it happen

      • Baron Penguin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        At least I didn’t TC Barnes like I did with Mané last year. Still frustrating though, how many people’s hits this week included him?

      • Ruinenlust
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Barnes and Aina bandwagoners in shambles

      • Calculated Risks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Spent the whole week debating whether to do Madds to Barnes for minus 4 and bit 5 mins before deadline. Would've played Dallas so about 5 points lost.
        So Barnes to Lingard for me. Anyone else going for this?

      • _Gunner
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Come On Palace, Score

      • Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Barnes unlikely to start next game?

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Wouldn't bet on it

        2. _Gunner
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Might be ACL

        3. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Definitely out for next game

      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Shout-out to the armchair managers who saw Arteta's XI and complained about it.

        1. A. PRISE
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          To be fair, Elneny is not the reason they are winning

      • marcos11
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Barnes injury look serious? Could probably bench him for 1/2 weeks if it wasn’t long term as theres a lack of replacements with Grealish/Maddison out

        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yes possible ACL

        2. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yes, serious knee injury

        3. mwa1t
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Leg was strapped up and went off on a stretcher, wait for news if poss but looks bad

      • mrodgers91
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Most exciting highlight from palace v fulham so far. Maja had a shot off target

      • S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Was 0.1 off for making Raphinha -> Barnes for a hit.

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Well done for waiting to not have enough cash 😉

      • BobB
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Vardy is 35 years old and he's shot

        1. mwa1t
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Looked off it all season. Time for them to buy a replacement?

        2. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Will still get some goals but downhill now.

        3. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          He was so jammy at the begining of the season?

        4. Third Eye Vision
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yes, only the 12 goals and 9 assists this season.

          No use to anyone.