Dugout Discussion

Wednesday’s FPL team news: Vardy and Antonio start, James and Gundogan absent

There are six Gameweek 14 matches taking place this evening, with four kicking off at 19:30 GMT and two getting underway 45 minutes later.

Southampton v Leicester City, Watford v Chelsea, West Ham United v Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley get us started, with Aston Villa v Manchester City and Everton v Liverpool to follow at 20:15 GMT.

Gianni, Toby and Ed will be following the action in the embedded video below and over on our YouTube channel.

As for the team news, it’s Thomas Tuchel who rotates the most – he’s made six changes from the Chelsea side held to a draw by Manchester United last weekend.

The injured Reece James misses out, while Hakim Ziyech, Jorginho, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Thiago Silva drop to the bench.

Andreas Christensen, Christian Pulisic, Saul Niguez, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta and Kai Havertz are recalled but Romelu Lukaku again has to be content with a place among the substitutes.

Opposite number Claudio Ranieri has made only one alteration from Gameweek 13, with Joao Pedro replacing the benched Cucho Hernandez. That means that Emmanuel Dennis is fit to start despite picking up a knock at Leicester.

Jamie Vardy and Michail Antonio both start their sides’ respective matches despite concerns about a midweek breather.

Leicester are indeed unchanged for their meeting with Southampton, who bring in Kyle Walker-Peters, Nathan Redmond and Nathan Tella for Lyanco, Romain Perraud and Armando Broja.

Antonio isn’t among David Moyes’s two changes; Vladimir Coufal and Jarrod Bowen come in for the injured Aaron Cresswell and the benched Arthur Masuaku.

Pascal Gross and Tariq Lamptey also have to make do with substitute duty at the London Stadium, with Adam Lallana and teenager Jeremy Sarmiento brought into the starting XI.

At Molineux, there are two changes apiece, three of which are enforced through suspensions to Ruben Neves, James Tarkowski and Ashley Westwood. Francisco Trincao drops to the bench as Leander Dendoncker and Adama Traore come in for the hosts, while Nathan Collins and Jack Cork replace their banned colleagues.

As for the later kick-offs, Jurgen Klopp has made only one change for the Merseyside derby: Joel Matip is recalled at the expense of Ibrahima Konate, with the front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota all starting.

Richarlison and Demarai Gray are in for Alex Iwobi and Anthony Gordon for the Toffees.

Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are only among the substitutes for Manchester City’s clash with Aston Villa, while Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones miss out altogether and Aymeric Laporte is suspended.

Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fernandinho come into Pep Guardiola’s starting XI.

Douglas Luiz and Emiliano Buendia replace Jacob Ramsey and Ashley Young in Steven Gerrard’s two alterations.

GAMEWEEK 14 TEAM NEWS

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Livramento, Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Tella, Adams, A.Armstrong.

Subs: Forster, Lyanco, Long, Perraud, Broja, Djenepo, Smallbone, Elyounoussi, Valery

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Soyuncu, Evans, Thomas, Soumare, Ndidi, Maddison, Lookman, Barnes, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Perez, Amartey, Choudhury, Dewsbury-Hall, Vestergaard, Daka.


Watford XI: Bachmann, Femenia, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Masina, Louza, Joao Pedro, Cleverley, Sissoko, King, Dennis.

Subs: Ngakia, Rose, Gosling, Fletcher, Tufan, Kabasele, Hernandez, Kucka, Elliot.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Alonso, Pulisic, Mount, Havertz.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, Silva, Lukaku, Werner, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Sarr.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio.

Subs: Masuaku, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Vlasic, Areola, Noble, Perkins, Diop, Kral.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sanchez, Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Cucurella, Bissouma, Lallana, Moder, Trossard, Sarmiento, Maupay.

Subs: Mac Allister, Mwepu, Lamptey, March, Steele, Duffy, Locadia, Burn, Gross.


Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Traore, Jimenez, Hwang.

Subs: Moulden, Ruddy, Hoever, Trincao, Silva, Cundle, Bueno, Campbell

Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Collins, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Cork, Brownhill, Wood, McNeil, Cornet.

Subs: Hennessey, Norris, Roberts, Lennon, Rodriguez, Pieters, Vydra, Long, Thomas


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Mings, Konsa, Targett, Luiz, Nakamba, McGinn, Bailey, Buendia, Watkins.

Subs: Steer, Hause, A. Young, J. Ramsey, Chukwuemeka, A. Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace, Archer, Davis.

Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus.

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Grealish, Foden, Mbete, Palmer, McAtee, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand.


Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Allan, Richarlison, Gray, Digne, Townsend, Doucoure, Godfrey, Coleman, Rondon.

Subs: Begovic, Kenny, Delph, Iwobi, Tosun, Gordon, Gbamin, Branthwaite, Dobbin.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Henderson, Jota, Robertson, Matip, Alexander-Arnold.

Subs: Kelleher, Konate, Milner, Oxdale-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Origi, Williams, Morton.

2,748 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Play Sancho or Armstrong in fantrax?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      lmao sorry for the non FPL top post

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

    You just know script written for 12 points for Livramento for those getting him off bench for James/Gundogan! ( he’s second on my bench so unlikely to come in for me)

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I think James definitely makes a cameo

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        But he’s not on bench

      2. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Will he come in his pyjamas though?

      3. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Not in squad

      4. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I am a silly boy

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Needs to score a brace for that to happen after a Vardy hattrick.

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

      Soton will it keep a clean sheet tonight that I can guarantee.

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

      I 'm starting him - so no way

    5. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Having put him first on my bench this week and looking like I'll have a full complement, and had 3 players out last week and getting 0 from Livramento, I can absolutely see this happening

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

      Leicester will score

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

    Fpl on crack incoming

  4. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    “The spectre of Southampton 0 Leicester 9 still hangs around”

    Glad the commentator got that out the way early before kick off

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

      No way, actually SOU favourite to win

  5. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Genuinely a bit gutted with the Gundo no show.

    1. Fantasy Pig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Any word on why he’s out? If its just a rest then that bodes well for Watford next GW…

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

    Livramento 15 pointer would be greatly appreciated.

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      This

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'll take 5

  7. Not again Shirley
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    The words chance and fat spring to mind

  8. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Watford with the lovely high press

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Chalobah clears/blocks Pedro effort

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Strong start.

      The Watford attack has really impressed under Ranieri.

  9. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Said Cancelo was as nailed as TAA at the start of the season, still standby that, essential to City’s set-up

  10. Kun Tozser
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso nervous and Watford know it!

  11. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Maupay close

  12. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Targeting Alonso

  13. putana
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    watford look up for it. Could see them getting a positive result

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Will Alonso make half time?

  15. One More Hit
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Here’s where we find out how far behind our Amazon streams are. 1-0 Bednarek, no 9-0 today

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

      22 Seconds...

  16. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Soton goal

  17. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    9-1 it is then……

    1. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      That's the spirit!

  18. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Shouldn't have benched Livra

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

      Why did he score?!

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Give it time. They’ve only been playing 4 minutes !!!!

    3. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      My first sub for James , early days yet

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

    Well this is chelsea definitely conceding tonight

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

    0-9 gone

  21. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    8 more to go

    #neverforget

  22. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Bednarek goal

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Leicester are so good at conceding.

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Proper professionals at it

  24. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Bednarek goal

  25. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Omg Soucek

  26. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    West Ham goal

  27. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Just put Matip in

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Put the whole thing in, mate

  28. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    WGTA Bednarek goal?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      None

  29. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    C'Mon the Saints! 😆

  30. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    That's what you get for benching Lamptey