Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Sterling benched as De Bruyne and Stones miss out on City v Norwich

Four Premier League matches kick off at 3pm BST today, including reigning champions Manchester City against newly promoted Norwich City.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United, Crystal Palace v Brentford and Leeds United v Everton are the other top-flight fixtures taking place at the traditional Saturday afternoon start time.

The headline team news comes from the Etihad as Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.

Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva are all recalled to the starting XI, with Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho dropping to the bench.

An ankle injury keeps Kevin De Bruyne out, while John Stones isn’t part of the hosts’ matchday squad.

Norwich are unchanged from the side that lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool last Saturday.

That’s also the case with Brentford, as Bryan Mbeumo gets set for another out-of-position run-out alongside Ivan Toney.

Summer signings Conor Gallagher and Joachim Andersen get their first Palace starts, with Christian Benteke also recalled. Jordan Ayew, Jairo Riedewald and Jean-Philippe Mateta drop to the bench.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith makes two changes to the team that lost to newly promoted Watford last weekend, with Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz replacing Matt Targett and Marvelous Nakamba.

Targett’s benching means that Ashley Young starts at left-back.

Joe Willock starts for Newcastle as Steve Bruce makes three changes to the Magpies side that lost at home to West Ham last Sunday.

Willock replaces the injured Jonjo Shelvey in midfield, with Fabian Schar and captain Jamaal Lascelles coming into defence in place of Emil Krafth and Ciaran Clark.

Kalvin Phillips and Junior Firpo are make the Leeds line-up after fitness-related benchings in Gameweek 1, with Robin Koch and Rodrigo dropping to the bench.

Yerry Mina for Mason Holgate and Alex Iwobi for Andros Townsend are Everton’s two alterations.

GAMEWEEK 2 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young, McGinn, Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, El Ghazi, Buendia, Ings

Subs: Steer, Targett, Wesley, Hourihane, Tuanzebe, Nakamba, Hause, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka

Newcastle XI: Woodman, Murphy, Schar, Fernandez, Lascelles, Ritchie, Hayden, Willock, Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin

Subs: Gillespie, Clark, Joelinton, Lewis, Hendrick, Krafth, Fraser, Gayle, S. Longstaff

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Kouyate, Schlupp, McArthur, Benteke, Gallagher, Zaha.

Subs: Butland, Matthews, Tomkins, Ayew, Mateta, Kelly, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.

Brentford XI: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry, Janelt, Onyeka, Mbeumo, Norgaard, Canos, Toney.

Subs: Goode, Forss, Wissa, Fernandez, Ghoddos, Dervisoglu, Bidstrup, Sorensen, Roerslev.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Struijk, Cooper, Firpo, Phillips, Raphinha, Dallas, Klich, Harrison, Bamford.

Subs: Forshaw, Roberts, Klaesson, Helder Costa, Rodrigo, Summerville, Shackleton, Cresswell, Drameh.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Richarlison, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Kenny, Holgate, Delph, Townsend, Begovic, Gbamin, Davies, Kean, Branthwaite.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Walker, Gundogan, Rodri, Grealish, Silva, Torres, Jesus.

Subs: Steffen, Ake, Zinchenko, Mendy, Fernandinho, Sterling, Mahrez, Doyle, Palmer.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Lees-Melou, Gilmour, Rupp, Cantwell, Pukki, Rashica.

Subs: Gunn, Omobamidele, Dowell, Tzolis, Sorensen, McLean, Sargent, Mumba, Idah.

FANTASY5

There’s still time to enter today’s Fantasy5 contest, in which you can win £10,000 without paying a penny.

Simply pick five players from the nominated Gameweek 2 matches and, if they all exceed their Fantasy ‘points targets’ (a par score set by Fantasy5 for each asset), you’ll be in the money.

The deadline is at 3pm BST – so get those entries in now.

We’ve selected our own picks for Gameweek 2 in the article below, with Ted Talks FPL following suit.

#ad 18+

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

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

1,861 Comments Post a Comment
  1. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Ferran Torres to the rescue !

  2. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Bruno C let's go

  3. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Horse thinks of it like this.
    72.7% of the game players don’t own Tsimikas and 67.2% don’t own TAA.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Even with a captain blank & those two you're sitting on 29 points. Decent.

    2. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      good horse

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Horse are smart

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Coming from Holmes that is a strong endorsement.

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Come on horse!

    5. Uncle Baby Billy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wise words, mate. I own both & Salah. If neither had assisted, Liverpool had conceded and Salah had scored 24 with the armband I'd have had a point less from the game.

      I'll take it.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        There you go. Best way to look at it.

  4. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    People said salah wouldn’t return against Burnley but he did return the CS

    1. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

    2. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      incredible

  5. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    SaLaH iS tHe BeSt CaPtAiN cHoIcE tHiS wEeK

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez capper, huh?

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Bruno actually. Changed it at 5 am. I feel my club, I felt that he won't start.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          So to ask your your own question from yesterday:

          “What's the point of owninga a City player and not captaining him against Norwich at home?”

          1. Dušan Citizen
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 8 months ago

            Nice to see you follow everything I post

            1. Scholes Out For Summer
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 8 months ago

              Answer the question

              1. Dušan Citizen
                • 10 Years
                2 years, 8 months ago

                What question?

                1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  2 years, 8 months ago

                  The one you asked yesterday…

                  “What's the point of owninga a City player and not captaining him against Norwich at home?”

            2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 8 months ago

              That sounds like question dodging to me...

              Were you more calling people captaining Bruno "cowards" yesterday too?

              "I really have no idea how and when have everyone become cowards. There is only talk about Bruno or Salah. It's pretty likely that both will score similar amount of points, so just drop it."

              ???

              1. Dušan Citizen
                • 10 Years
                2 years, 8 months ago

                Well, would you still captain him if you realized he wouldn't start just to show it to some random people here?

                1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  2 years, 8 months ago

                  So bearing that in mind, how would you answer the question below?

                  “What's the point of owninga a City player and not captaining him against Norwich at home?”

                2. Fitzy.
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  2 years, 8 months ago

                  He just owned you 😆

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez is.

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Brace from the bench 😉

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          He's not coming in.

    3. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      he was.

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Was is the key word

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          ah, a time-traveller.

    4. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      5 shots (4 on target)
      2 chances created.

      1 offside goal. 1 cleared off the line.
      Camped in the Burnley box.

      Ridiculously unlucky today.

    5. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Grow up

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Says a man with this picture

  6. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Pep stays Pepping 😀

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      He's the best

  7. Jrs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    A moments silence for the people who chose to captain Salah… Our time will come…

  8. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Have you ever noticed in FPL, if there are 2 strong captain options on a week, and that if the one you captain blanks e.g. Salah then the other one hauls.

    BUT if your captain was the second one, e.g. Bruno, then he always fails to capitalise on the opportunity.

    So, basically we're screwed either way lol

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Unless that's sarcasm (doesn't look like it), what a silly post from Andy.

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        It’s sarcasm, was saying it today on his deadline stream

        Your to grumpy to detect sarcasm

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          No, I just didn't watch the stream obviously.

      2. just a man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Def sarcasm

      3. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Sarcasm

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      OMG 😉

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Headline maker ... surely joking

  9. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      In this case number next to username is clearly his age.

      1. Viprin
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Playing fpl since he was born

      2. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        😆

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Stay classy, Yossi

      1. Yossi
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Lol@'s not welcome here anymore 🙁 ??

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          I'm pretty sure it's not actually.

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 8 months ago

            "Comments that are adjudged to have the intent of deliberately provoking an extreme or negative reaction, may be removed at our discretion."

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wasn't lolling reason for ban?

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      he means lots of love @ salah caps

    5. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I got into the sin bin because of this. Stay classy buddy

  10. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Urgh Townsend benched, that small punt has not worked well

  11. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Camzy in heaven

  12. Visionaries
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Ridiculous I know, but get rid of Tsim now?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wait till the other games finish.

      Not a priority transfer, but wouldn't blame you in order to bank a potential 0.1m.

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Need to go up total of 0.2m to get 0.1 back?

        Or you mean tomorrow after everyone brings him in and he’s up to 0.2m?

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          The latter yep.

        2. tokara
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          He was sacastic lol

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 8 months ago

            Ah yeah, just got it 😛

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Don't see why you've to rush him out? You can't free up funds by selling him.

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wait for news on Trent

    4. Zoostation
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wait until he hits 4.2

      1. just a man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        This. You don’t get money from 0.1 increase.

    5. One More Hit
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wait until overnight but I'll be doing Tsimi > 5.0 and Grealish > Jota, unless something revolutionary happens.

  13. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Happy with my 6pts for Cappo Mo, at least he never got a red card 😎

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      There are GWs where 3 is a haul, all about the long game!

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Be thankful he didn’t get a pen

      Would 100% have missed it on today’s form

  14. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    hoping buendia and ings can run riot against newcastle's shakey defence

    1. Zoostation
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Have the pick of any game to watch, choosing Villa just to watch Buendia

      1. fantasyfog
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        What platform are you watching on.

        1. Zoostation
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          DAZN in Canada

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I've got those 2 but I'm loathed to skip watching the City game where I have no skin invested.

  15. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    There's no way Tsimikas gets dropped, he was MOTM today...

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Chelsea a completely different animal.

    2. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      He could easily start next week

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yes I like what you're doing. Need all the FPL twitter celebs to convince the casuals it's Tsimikas' place to lose.

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      He did look a bit sore going off though after that heavy fall on his shoulder?

    5. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Robbo plays, puts in a poor performance and Tsimi is recalled.

      Unfortunately I will have sold him by then 🙁

  16. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Squeezing out the extra 1.5-2m to start with Mahrez over Greenwood/jota/gundo etc turned out pretty bad for me

  17. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Gutted with Mo's blank but 29 points from Tsmikas, TAA and him is always gonna be welcome.. 🙂

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Until Bruno enters the game tomorrow

      1. BrockLanders
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Blankety, blank too

      2. One More Hit
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Surely most people own both Salah and Fernandes? At worst, you'll lose ~10 points, and even that needs a Bruno haul.

  18. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Watching Watford & Brentford players today & hoping Toney is not this years Werner!

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Toney hatrick

  19. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    I reckon Tsimikas goes up 0.3m therefore total 0.4m and 0.2m back

    Wait till end of the week to sell or even once confirmed dropped. Loads will buy this week,,,

    1. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Robo back next gw he wont get more time

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Most folk playing won’t know that and see huge points for cheap price and buy, thinking he continues….

  20. Viprin
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Playing it safe was my reason to captain Salah, been taking the risk often last season and it didn't reward any good

  21. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Ivan Toney hattrick incoming. U heard it here first.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      yes!

    2. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Already predicting next season's Championship scores, I see.

    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Oh please make this happen….

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      If he blanks, hoping Mbeumo is the one?

    5. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      BTW I don't have him

  22. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Reporter: 5 changes Pep, can you explain why?

    Pep: No

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Did that actually happen lol

  23. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    UP UP UP!

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Tsimi's price this week?

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yikes, way off the pace there.

      Anyway, my double Liverpool wingback pick gives me an early ML lead, even with the captain fail. Carry on!

  24. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Early days I know but wondering where I will use 2FTs with the below, I know I could use 1 and bank the other.

    Sanchez
    Trent | Shaw | Coufal
    Salah | Bruno | Son | Jota | Mbuemo
    Antonio | Pukki

    Steele | Amartey | Omobamidele | Scarlett

    0ITB

    Any ideas please?

    Thanks

    1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      wait till later

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers, true some injury/sending off is bound to happen. Always seems to be something that happens to force your hand if things are going swimmingly!

    2. notlob legin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wouldn't personally want 3 Pool players against Chelsea

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I know they have played weaker opposition first two but they look on it!

    3. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Hmmm tricky picking transfers from that lot with 0itb

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Pukki to Armstrong is a possibility

  25. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Don’t worry Salah cappers as long as your other picks can grab the points, you’ll be just fine.

    He was unlucky. Still think he was a solid pick this gw

  26. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Gw 2 fool, looooong way to go yet smh

  27. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Charlie Taylor 4
    Mo Salah 0

  28. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Dias + Laporte now in business, maaaaaybe?

    Quite the CB combo

  29. One More Hit
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    I wasn't around last weekend so I've just realised that for the first time in 18 months, I'm going to have to either find an innovative way to watch the 3pm kick-off(s), or drop back to Soccer Saturday. Maybe the latter will be better now there are simultaneous kick offs?

    1. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Following