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. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Guaita denied the Tsimikas assist...

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

      Shipped out Tsimikas. Salah(C).
      I think I'm still grateful to Guita, since Tsimikas return would hurt me more, hehe!

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

    Dennis, Norman and Toney all in the points. Only pick players with first names as surnames. May work better than my current strategy.

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

      Trent has 3 names. Captain every week?

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

        I bet you get get a full team of them. Don't mention Fred though.

    2. Harry the Hack
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Tried that but James got suspended

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

      Allan and Fred next

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

      Where does Jesus stand is this ...

    5. Harry the Hack
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Alisson still with a cleanie

    6. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Normann is a surname in Norwegian.

  3. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Tsimikas assisting the assister, my captain, and of course Mane goal, smh.

  4. Gunneryank
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Mané slowly starting to pick up form these last 2 weeks.

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

    Salah is such a ridiculous FPL asset.

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

      FPL King!

  6. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    WC draft

    Ramsdale

    TAA - James - Cancelo - Lamptey

    Salah - Jota - Gray - Odegaard

    Ronaldo - Lukaku

    (Foster - Livramento - Sissoko - Street)

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ode wagon already wow

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        best 5.5 mid by far

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

        Odegaard lol so reactionary

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          I don't get these comments. He's been one of arsenal's best players and their fixtures are to die for

          1. jimmyharte
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            He scored a free kick. He wont do that every week.

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

            He still plays for Arsenal?

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

      Lamprey will last about a week

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        easy switch to white

  7. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Does anyone want to buy a Ford Cortina? One careful owner…

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

      Are the back seats clean?

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Define ‘clean’

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

          If it needs to be defined, I think we both know it is not.

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            😀

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

    Sarr big miss!

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

      ffs

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

    ESR goes very close!

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

    Gallagher great positions again today and all set pieces...

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Firmly on my watchlist.

      Palace look decent too.

      1. Spoox777
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks 😉

    2. Thanos
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Sshhhh

  11. RogDog_jimmy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    With Pukki, Dennis and Toney scoring is everyone ping to move away from big at the front?

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

      Yes, we all base our decisions entirely on what happens in the most recent gameweek

      1. fish&chips
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Most seem to to be fair

  12. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Do something Gilmour!

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

      He's a CDM. His job is to bring in a steady 2 points every week

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

    Liverpool less than convincing.

    Jota owners cursed, again...

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Wildcard double wolves Def, Jota too

        Cursed day 😛

      • Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Feel like he's going to be one of those picks that looked like a no-brainer but just falls flat.

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

      Jota gets paid to play football all day btw

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

      Pinnock off the bench and Dennis = FPL Gold for me today.

    4. Etihader
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Shots on target
      City 0
      Saints 3

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Ferran time hopefully

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

          Pep fookery.

          I wont be owning any City assts, thanks.

        • pakornk
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Need the fans to come to the stadium Pep said.

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

        Mane no longer a donkey. Jota the latest

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

        I have cursed TAA Jota Torres Sissoko Williams

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Geez dude don't u get tired of complaining

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

            He keeps up for most of the season tbf!

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

            Tiresome isn't it?

      4. Thanos
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Chances Torres getting subbed on in the second half. Really happy even if he makes an appearance for a 1 pointer.

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          will be De Bruyne, Torres, Mahrez on at some point you'd think - rest of bench is turd

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

            Hope so!

        2. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Yep, i'm down to 9 men so anything counts

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

            I'm at 8 if he doesn't come on. Plus, got Alonso as well who I'm not so sure starts 🙁

        3. F4L
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          depends if Pep wants to give him a full rest or not, he's played a lot of minutes this season already. Foden/KDB/Mahrez should be enough

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

            He took him off at about 70 mins in the midweek. Just for even a minute will do. Comn Pep do it for fans.. FPL ones atleast 😉

      5. PogChamp
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Mane(c) and Pukki let's go!

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

          Fair play mate. Mane was such a great shout whoever owned him

          1. PogChamp
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Yeah cheers. I think he's a great pick this season.

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

            He loves scoring against Palace...

            Is it 8 games in a row?

            1. ClassiX
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              9 games now

        2. F4L
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          solid!

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

        Not gonna lie, can't have Livramento getting a CS today. Too many auto-subs.

        Not that I don't own him, he's just rooted 3rd on bench!

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          I hate this so much

        2. Thanos
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Ha 😆

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

          He's 3rd on my bench but that's behind Benrahma and Antonio etc.

      7. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Owning Jota is not fun 😆

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

          Torres as well

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

        Pukki owners, does it feel glorious to finally reach the promised land?

        1. Pascal
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Brought him in for Antonio, liked his fixtures and 1.8 m will allow me to upgrade Shaw and Ayling to James and Cancelo

      9. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Denis on the bench 🙁

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

          Will he make it on?

      10. The Final Boss
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Guys how sarr looking? Any chance for returns?

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          You being sarcastic ?

          1. Harry the Hack
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            No he's probably on another game like I am. I would also like to know

            1. Jafooli
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Okay… Sarrcastic 😉

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

        Pythons out for a Salah assist, that's when you know it's a bad GW..

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

          😆

        2. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          You should be banned on matchdays.

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

            No need for the last two words... 😛

            1. Hy liverpool
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Lol

        3. @persecuted_by_mods
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Hwang out for Salah locked in

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

          So who owns double or triple Wolves?

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Thankfully just the 1

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

              None here 🙂

          2. RogDog_jimmy
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Semedo and Jimenez.
            Feeling garbage about it - but whatever. Life goes on.

          3. Pascal
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            marcal and traore owner here

          4. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Its one game ffs.

          5. Khark
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Double. Sa and Traore. Minging

        5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          All the Jota owners. Hold next week because I am transferring out.

        6. F4L
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Palace could've easily had 2 pens that half

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

            Even United wouldn't get them two.

            1. F4L
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              😛

          2. Thanos
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            At least one definitely they should have had. The level of refereeing and VARing is all to awful. They've not been able to calibrate their rules for either of them which is just sad.

            1. F4L
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              yeah, Tsimikas just stepped across Benteke and knew exactly what he was doing. Zaha one would've been soft.

              VAR has got better this season tbf, quicker to decide + less unnecessary interference

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

            The Benteke one was a stone wall pen, all commentators saying it. Its Anfield though.

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

          Thank heavens I never pulled the trigger for Cancelo.

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Why

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

              Knowing Pep and his selection today, Cancelo will be on the bench GW6

          2. Gunneryank
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Why? He's an awesome pick.