Dugout Discussion

Bamford, Bale, Aguero and Forster on the bench for Gameweek 38 matches

Patrick Bamford is on the Leeds bench for their Gameweek 38 meeting with West Bromwich Albion.

Ahead of facing the Premier League worst defence this season, Marcelo Bielsa’s number-one forward was the most-bought player for the final round of matches.

But the Leeds boss has taken the return of Leeds fans to a home top-flight game for 17 years to offer farewell starts to Gaetano Berardi and Pablo Hernandez.

The latter starts at number 10, pushing Rodrigo into Bamford’s centre-forward berth with Raphinha and Jack Harrison on the flanks of what appears to be a 3-3-3-1 formation.

As promised, Kiko Casilla starts in goal ahead of Illan Meslier while Fantasy favourite Stuart Dallas keeps his place on the right-hand side of Leeds’ second bank of three.

Ryan Mason’s two alterations are both at the back, with Matt Doherty and Davinson Sanchez in for Japhet Tanganga and Eric Dier.

Gareth Bale is benched again.

If Sergio Aguero is to sign off his Manchester City Premier League career with a goal, he will have to do it from the bench where he is named alongside Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres.

Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden appear to be either side of Gabriel Jesus while Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne look set for slightly deeper midfield roles.

Liverpool are as to be expected with Diogo Jota only fit enough for a bench role and Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah either side of Roberto Firmino in the front-three.

Crystal Palace have opted for a more robust set-up than their usual 4-4-2 set-up in what appears to be a 4-3-3 system featuring Cheikhou Kouyate, Jairo Riedewald and James McCarthy protecting a back-four of Tyrick Mitchell, James Tomkins, Gary Cahill and Joel Ward.

David Moyes has made two changes to the West Ham United side that beat West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

Lukasz Fabianski has passed a late fitness test on a knee injury and replaces Darren Randolph between the posts, while Jarrod Bowen comes in for Said Benrahma down the right flank.

Southampton make five alterations to the team beaten by Leeds United in Gameweek 37.

The return of Danny Ings to the starting XI is the headline news, with Ibrahima Diallo, Nathan Redmond, Takumi Minamino and Jan Bednarek also recalled.

Alex McCarthy keeps his place, with Fraser Forster only along the substitutes.

The injured Che Adams misses out, with Oriol Romeu back on the bench after three months out.

Moussa Djenepo, Theo Walcott, Nathan Tella and Jack Stephens make way.

Dean Smith has named an unchanged team, with Jack Grealish handed another start.

There’s only one tweak to Thomas Tuchel’s line-up, with the injured N’Golo Kante replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

The fit-again Kai Havertz has to make do with a place on the bench.

Arsenal have made two changes to the side that won 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka are back in midfield, with Mohamed Elneny and Bukayo Saka dropped.

Brighton also make a pair of alterations.

Lewis Dunk and Leandro Trossard start, with the injured Danny Welbeck and the benched Steven Alzate missing out.

Martin Dubravka, Joe Willock and Allan Saint-Maximin are deemed fit to start for Newcastle, with Sean Longstaff in for the injured Joelinton the only change that Steve Bruce has made.

Alphonse Areola, Mario Lemina and Harrison Reed make way from Scott Parker’s first XI, with Marek Rodak, Kenny Tete and Josh Onomah brought into the fold.

Burnley are in 4-5-1 for their trip toSheffield United, featuring Chris Wood as a lone centre-forward. Ben Mee and Nick Pope both miss out due to injury, replaced by Will Norris and Jimmy Dunne.

As expected, Manchester United are heavily rotated for Gameweek 38. Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are on the bench but Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani are all absent.

Gameweek 38 Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Ødegaard, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sánchez, White, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Jahanbakhsh, Groß, Bissouma, Trossard, Moder, Mac Allister.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Hause, McGinn, Nakamba, Grealish, Traore, El Ghazi, Watkins.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Rudiger, Silva, Azpilicueta, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Werner, Pulisic.

Fulham XI: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Adarabioyo, Bryan, Anguissa, Onomah, Cavaleiro, Carvalho, Lookman, De Cordova-Reid.

Newcastle United XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Fernandez, Dummett, Murphy, Willock, S Longstaff, Shelvey, Ritchie, Almiron, Saint-Maximin.

Leeds United XI: Casilla; Berardi, Cooper, Ayling; Alioski, K Phillips, Dallas; Harrison, Hernández, Raphinha; Rodrigo.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Johnstone; Bartley, Ajayi, O’Shea; C Townsend, Gallagher, Yokuslu, Maitland-Niles, Furlong; M Phillips; Robinson.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Thomas, Fofana, Soyuncu, Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Albrighton, Vardy, Iheanacho.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Doherty, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Winks, Alli, Kane, Son, Bergwijn.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, N Phillips, R Williams, Alexander-Arnold; Thiago, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Mané, Firmino, Salah.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Mitchell, Tomkins, Cahill, J Ward; McCarthy, Riedewald, Kouyaté; Zaha, Ayew, Townsend.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Zinchenko, Stones, Dias, Walker; Mahrez, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Foden, Jesus, Sterling.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Godfrey, Keane, Holgate; Doucouré, T Davies, Allan; Sigurdsson; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale; Robinson, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn, Baldock; Jebbison, McGoldrick.

Burnley XI: Norris; C Taylor, Dunne, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Cork, Westwood, Brownhill, Gudmundsson; Wood.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Lingard, Fornals, Antonio.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu, Diallo, Armstrong, Minamino, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Ings.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Aït-Nouri, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Semedo; F Silva, A Traoré.

Manchester United XI: D Henderson; Telles, Bailly, Tuanzebe, B Williams; Matic, van de Beek; D James, Mata, A Diallo; Elanga.

2,075 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Trent lucky to avoid YC

  2. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Rank in free fall. Absolutely worst GW 38 in history for me

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sorry Daniel, but I'm crushing it for last two months, including this one! Better luck next year?

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same here. Let it end please.

    3. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I may not make 20 points

      From 15k to 50k in two game weeks

  3. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Come oooooooon Crystal Palace !!!!!

  4. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    PLEASE JUST END

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Please sub Werner off

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Been absolute toilet.

  6. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Of course, this is the week I play Rudiger.

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same....Holding on bench, last minute swap haunting me

  7. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pepe!!!!! Get in there

  8. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Tomkins 🙁

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Walking injury these days 😐

  9. Party time
      2 years, 10 months ago

      F off auba

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I pasted the wrong thing lol

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ali is rubbish

    • TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tuchel exposed

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      These CSs must go

    • Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kouyate shifts into CB and Schlupp on

    • Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Jamie Vardy.. you are a troll.

      Also wonder if anyone punted on Pepe? I was tempted, couldn’t bring myself too sadly

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        my top ML did

      2. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        My ML rival did - miles ahead of him though

    • Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      So sad. I captained Pepe in FanTeam and I'm still not gonna be able to claw back the lead I have to...

    • REDMOND IN SANDALS
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Rival caught up my 30 points ML lead with Pepe Mane(C) Coufal.. you love to see it

    • Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah (c) goal and a couple of bonus could see me make up what was a 35-point gap before this GW on a ml rival!

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        COME ON LADS

    • MissouriMarten
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Chelsea goal.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I was on Mahrez and everyone saying he won't play so I went with the Aguero sentiment as Pep said he'd feature at least.

        1. Rains of Castamere
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          It's deflating isn't it. Sometimes just need to go with gut over groupthink

    • AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      2 1 Villa

      Chelski GOAL

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Off

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Noooooooo Marty needs to break Friedel record!

      3. Avery
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yessssss

        1. Avery
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          And noooooo

    • Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bloody heck bring Kun on already!

    • teneighty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Pepe (C) going well so far!

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Well played!

    • Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Oh well. Bring on next season

    • Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Fitting end to this pisspoor season

    • La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Werner offside

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        phewww.
        not that I really believe they will hold cs

    • Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If now only one of my differentials could be arsed to join the goal fest .....

    • Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bugger offfff Chelsea.

      This is not a good week. Cmon a Salah ffs

    • FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Werner only scores when goals are ruled off

    • Limbo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Offside