Dugout Discussion

Alexander-Arnold ill and Torres benched as Klopp and Guardiola ring the changes

There are four Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 BST this afternoon, with Liverpool and Manchester City both in action on home soil.

Crystal Palace and Southampton are the visitors to Anfield and the Etihad, with Burnley v Arsenal and Norwich City v Watford the other two games taking place.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have both rotated heavily from their midweek UEFA Champions League fixtures, with some damaging omissions from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is ill and Andrew Robertson is benched, with James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas getting the nod at full-back. Ibrahima Konate is also in for Joel Matip at centre-half.

There are six changes in all for Liverpool from their win over AC Milan on Wednesday, with Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane back in the side following midweek benchings.

Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah keep their places in attack, with the Reds’ opponents, Crystal Palace, unchanged following the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola makes five changes from the side that hammered RB Leipzig, with Kyle Walker, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling coming into the side.

Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez are benched, with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Rodri not in the squad.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl makes three alterations from the team that drew 0-0 with West Ham last weekend, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek and Che Adams in for Romain Perraud, Mohamed Salisu and Moussa Djenepo.

Sean Dyche keeps faith with the same Burnley XI that lost 3-1 at Everton on Monday evening.

Both of Mikel Arteta’s two changes are in midfield, with Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Aaron Ramsdale again lines up between the posts.

Norwich hand full debuts to three summer signings: central midfielder Mathias Normann, centre-back Ozan Kabak and forward Joshua Sargent.

Billy Gilmour and Milot Rashica also come in as Daniel Farke makes five changes from the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Lukas Rupp, Andrew Omobamidele, Pierre Lees-Melou and Christos Tzolis drop to the bench and Kieran Dowell misses out.

Daniel Bachmann is only on the bench for Watford, so budget FPL goalkeeper Ben Foster gets a start between the posts.

Xisco Munoz has made four alterations in all from the Hornets’ 2-0 loss by Wolves, with Kiko Femenía, Tom Cleverley and Craig Cathcart promoted to the starting XI.

Jeremy Ngakia and Peter Etebo are benched and Francisco Sierralta is out.

GAMEWEEK 5 LINE-UPS

Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeill, Wood, Barnes

Subs: Hennessey, Cork, Lennon, Rodriguez, Cornet, Collins, Pieters, Bardsley, Vydra

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Odegaard, Saka, Aubameyang

Subs: Leno, Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Soares, Tavares, Mari, Sambi Lokonga, Martinelli


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Konate, Thiago, Milner, Mane, Salah, Henderson, Jota, Tsimikas.

Subs: Kelleher, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Robertson, Origi, Phillips.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Mitchell, Guehi, Kouyate, Ayew, Zaha, Anderson, McArthur, Benteke, Gallagher.

Subs: Butland, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Olise, Hughes, Clyne, Edouard, Kelly, Riedewald.


Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Jesus, Grealish, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Cancelo.

Subs: Carson, De Bruyne, Torres, Mahrez, Foden, Mbete, Palmer, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Adams, Redmond, Livramento, Elyounoussi, Bednarek.

Subs: Forster, Lyanco, Perraud, Broja, Djenepo, Salisu, Tella, Diallo, Valery.


Watford: Foster, Rose, Ekong, King, Cleverley, Cathcart, Sissoko, Femenia, Sarr, Dennis, Kucka.

Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Etebo, Louza, Masina, Sema, Fletcher, Kabasele, Hernandez.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gilmour, Kabak, Normann, Rashica, Williams, Pukki, McLean, Sargent.

Subs: Gunn, Gibson, Rupp, Cantwell, Tzolis, Lees-Melou, Giannoulis, Idah, Omobamidele.

ENTER FANTASY5’s FREE-TO-PLAY £10K GAME BEFORE KICK-OFF

1,535 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Disaster week.

    Teams may be decided by Lukaku and Ronaldo again.

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

    Ridiculous Thiago doesnt get a YC for that. Referee is an idiot

    1. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      ? He got a YC.

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

        nope

      2. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        No, he should of.

    2. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Exactly what the Danish commentators are saying on the live TV broadcast.

  3. Steinburg FC
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    just got in from work, looks like theres a lot to catch up on....

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Or not a lot, as it may turn out too.

  4. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    come on Mo get that hat trick already

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Not a chance.

  5. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Salah (c) fail 🙁

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ah what was the final score?

      1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        0-0

    2. matthew_1991
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Give him a chance, only played 20 minutes!

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

    Guiata denies Hendo G Mane A

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Good

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

    With all the injuries and benchings of the best 7-8 million options things have panned out perfectly for the three-premiums crew.

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Bit early for a summary like that

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Not necessarily.

      Lots of those can be afforded with Lukaku and Ronaldo and Trent sacrificing the premium midfielders.

  8. dark91
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Wouldn't be surprised at this rate if Spurs vs Chelsea ends up being the highest scoring game this weekend

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Hopefully

  9. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    This season is all about having a good bench then.

  10. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Man City only has 40% possession!?

  11. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Lets go Salah, lets gooooooooooooooooo

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      He score?

  12. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Watford 1

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Dennis header

  13. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    So Trent has covid?

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

      No.

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks

  14. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis goal

  15. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    DENNIS THE BOYYYY

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Coming off my bench for Trent … you beauty

      1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Lovely stuff !

  16. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Double CS gone (Gilmour Williams)

  17. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis essential!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Hardly

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Think this comment was somewhat playful my friend ….

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Ah ok

  18. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis the menace

  19. QueefParkRangers
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    ffs is Sarr going to do anything?

    1. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      It's been 20mins..

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

    So Jimenez to Dennis? Why not?

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Fixtures?

  21. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Guys that went with Ron/Rom/Dennis happy.

  22. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    DENNIS!!!! Get in there!!

  23. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Just saw the City lineup.

    Pep fookery. No city for me, not this or the following or week thereafter etc etc etc

    1. matthew_1991
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Same. He takes the piss with his rotation.

  24. dansmusen
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis in for Trent thats ok 🙂

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Same, from the dark peaks through some light …

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

    Palace are class...

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yet all the "expert" pundits had us being bottom/relegated. Long old season of course 😀

  26. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Foster waving from the bench. I already know whats gonna happen.

  27. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis saving a lot of managers 😀

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Also... KIKO!

  28. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis playing for me today. Whoop whoop!!!

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

    Kiko wagon!

  30. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    jeez can we have subtitles with kris boyd i have no clue what he is saying