Dugout Discussion
28 December 2021 2337 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Following the rare sight of weekday 15:00 (GMT) kick-offs, Tuesday’s action concludes at the King Power Stadium when Leicester City host Liverpool.

Kick-off is at 20:00 (GMT).

Liverpool have made five changes from the 11 that played nine days ago at Tottenham Hotspur. Their Boxing Day match with Leeds United was postponed, giving more time for Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho to recover from Covid-19 and return to the line-up.

There are no shocks regarding much-owned trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota – all three start tonight, as do Sadio Mane and Alisson.

Their three-man midfield has changed completely, with Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joining Fabinho in replacing Naby Keita, Tyler Morton and James Milner. The final change sees Kostas Tsimikas step in for the suspended Andrew Robertson.

Takumi Minamino and Thiago miss out with minor muscle soreness, whilst Divock Origi still hasn’t recovered from a knee problem. Sat amongst the substitutes are Roberto Firmino and Ibrahima Konate.

Things are trickier for Leicester, as the hosts are without the likes of Harvey Barnes, Patson Daka and Ricardo Pereira. All are joined on the injury list by Caglar Soyuncu and Ryan Bertrand, as confirmed by Brendan Rodgers:

“Patson [Daka] will be three weeks, Soyuncu will be out for three weeks and Ricardo Pereira will be six to eight weeks. That’s so frustrating for him with how hard he has worked. It’s a fractured fibula and he’s lucky it’s not worse. Ryan (Bertrand) twisted his knee in the warm-up, which was disappointing.”

Unlike Liverpool, the Foxes played just two days ago and had to manage the minutes of Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi accordingly. Both start here, with Timothy Castagne replacing Marc Albrighton at right-back.

In-form James Maddison is chosen for the sixth consecutive time, having returned four double-digit hauls in his last five games. The 53 points of this spell average out at 10.6 per match, linking up well with Kelechi Iheanacho during a strong second half at Manchester City.

Yet their defence conceded six times on Sunday and Salah captainers will relish the sight of Daniel Amartey and midfielder Ndidi being paired at centre-back in the absence of Soyuncu and Jonny Evans. There is only a place on the bench for Youri Tielemans, as Hamza Choudhury makes his second league start of the season.


GAMEWEEK 20 LINE-UPS

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Castagne, Amartey, Ndidi, Thomas; Dewsbury-Hall, Soumare, Choudhury; Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy

Substitutes: Ward, Daley-Campbell, Nelson, Vestergaard, Albrighton, McAteer, Tielemans, Lookman, Pérez

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Jota, Mane

Substitutes: Kelleher, Konate, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Jones, Beck, Williams

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FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

  1. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Is Lookman an option for Norwich game given Maddison may have injury and Vardy looked knackered- Nacho and Lookman front 2?

    1. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Nacho going AFCON so 1 week punt

  2. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Looks like Bernardo needs a rest

  3. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    James owners what's your plan?Keep or sell?

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Him or Rudiger is going to fund My lacazette > kane move

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        They don't really cost much though

      2. Old Wulfrunian
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        For who?

        1. drughi
          • 16 Years
          4 years, 21 hours ago

          Davies most likely

      3. POGON 1948
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        How can you do that tho unless you're somehow upgrading from Lukaku? Money itb?

        1. drughi
          • 16 Years
          4 years, 21 hours ago

          Yeah need 1.4 so rudiger/James > 4.5 ish defender

          1. POGON 1948
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 21 hours ago

            Nice, i'm jealous

    2. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Castagne?

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        I was considering him since Perreira is out long term. But can Leicester show some sort of consistent solidity?

    3. Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      cheers all.Castagne is a good pick.

    4. DycheDycheBaby
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Got him at 5.6 so I don't think it's worth selling him .

  4. Bod
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Is there a list somewhere of players that will be gone for ACON?

    1. Boberella
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      The very helpful Freshy posted this the other day:

      AFCON 2021

      Arsenal: Thomas Partey (Ghana), Mohamed Elneny (Egypt), Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)

      Aston Villa: Mahmoud Trezeguet (Egypt), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Marvelous Nakamba (Zimbabwe)

      Brentford: Julian Jeanvier (Guinea), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Ghana),

      Brighton: Yves Bissouma (Mali)

      Burnley: Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast)

      Chelsea: Edouard Mendy (Senegal), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)

      Crystal Palace: Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana), Jordan Ayew (Ghana), Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)

      Everton: Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Ivory Coast), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

      Leeds United: None

      Leicester City: Daniel Amartey (Ghana), Nampalys Mendy (Senegal), Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria), Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)

      Liverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Naby Keita (Guinea), Sadio Mane (Senegal)

      Manchester City: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

      Manchester United: Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

      Newcastle United: None

      Norwich City: None

      Southampton: Moussa Djenepo (Mali), Mohammed Salisu (Ghana),

      Tottenham Hotspur: None

      Watford: Peter Etebo (Nigeria), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria), Adam Masina (Morocco), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria)

      West Ham: None

      Wolves: Romain Saiss (Morocco)

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Nice

      2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        This is brilliant. Thank you!

      3. BENOIT
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Why no Benrahma?

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      There is an article on this site

    3. Bod
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Thanks!

  5. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Not intended as a brag post but im currently on 43 points, seems quite low but looks ok all things considered

    1. Bod
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Bowen captain?

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Ronaldo mate. Hopefully more to come. Ive got Bowen, Son, Antonio, King, and Guaita

    2. lugs
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      thats a monster score this week, i'm currently on 23 and green arrow

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        23 seems ok as well. 🙂

    3. Will Kane
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Guess that's not the correct team link then?

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Ha, no! Ive changed it now though

    4. Boberella
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      I was disappointed with my Son (C) as hoping for more, but 35 from 5 seems pretty good compared to most, so can’t complain.

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Yeah thats good mate

  6. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Any Rodgers post-match quotes on here?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      "We showed great character"

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Outstanding!

    3. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Ze Austin, are you from Nigeria?

    4. Gudjohnsen
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Wee Joe Allen was superb

    5. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Anyways, either way, a great podcast about the Nigeria Olympics '86 winning team. Plenty of other good shiws on Giant too.

      https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gq2GlIP55xxdp4aLtczDy?si=coww7sMUR8KuN6klhwb5nA&utm_source=copy-link

  7. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Salah + Broja to Bowen + Kane for a -4?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Broja is gonna have a double gameweek this week most likely.

      1. SINGH
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        yeah but my man is on the bench most of the time

      2. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Will Newcastle game be on?

      3. Fish up a tree
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Newcastle just got Everton game called off due to lack of players available so there is a good chance they don’t play Southampton which is only 3 days later

  8. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Ronaldo and Salah captains on consecutive nights. Should have been major haulage.
    Total. 2 points.

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Crazy really

    2. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      My captaincy picks average out as two points (including the double) for the last year and a half.

    3. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      I had two Fodens and a Salah for 0,2,0

  9. Zenith UK
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Took Salah & Jota out for Mahrez and Rashford.

    Score currently:
    2 v 12 with Rashford and Mahrez to play. LETS GO!

    1. TheDragon
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Why would you do that?

      1. Zenith UK
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Did it GW19 (no game for either of them, don't want them for CHE game then Salah & Mane away for 22/23

  10. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Oh well, did an FH to get Salah back in. Could’ve been a very different story if the penalty went in. Don’t feel too bad as I like the look of my team for next week and onlu played this FH because I have two of them, but still the timing of the penalty miss is quite amusing.

  11. sentz05
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Sold Salah for Son last week and gained half a mil and 9 points. Didn’t bring him back in as part of my wc and all my rivals captained him and earned themselves 0 points. I’m one smug guy at the moment. I’m afraid I’m going to laugh at all of those of you that told us that we were mad for selling him two weeks before AFCON.

    1. TheDragon
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      You got incredibly lucky

      Even a blind squirrel finds nuts some of the time

      1. Pacer.
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        It's not really lucky though. Son has matched him over 5 90s. Salah blanked a game, Soon had two nice fixtures. It looked a lot like there wasn't a lot of risk in it. Missing the pen is just a cherry on top for Son cappers

    2. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Why be so smug about it when it's mostly down to being lucky today.. Let's not act like we weren't sh*itting ourselves prior to kickoff.

      For reference, I did Salah -> Son last GW as well.

    3. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Don't be that person

    4. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      You're a valued member of the FFS community.

  12. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Rough
    Foster (Ramsdale other keeper) to Pickford (dnp)
    Smooth
    Lacazette/Wilson (0) to Edoard/Antonio (19)

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Edouard! Wtf?

  13. Pedersen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Is Foden or Bernado to Bowen worth it? Got 2 ft. Will of course wait till deadline

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Yeah I would

  14. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    The good: Took Salah out last week
    The bad: Replaced him with Ronaldo

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      That isn't looking too bad now, once you didn't get Salah back.

      1. Bleh
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Yeah I was so close to bringing him back too but luckily decided to play the risky game!

    2. RogDog_jimmy
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Salah has 0 points over 2 weeks.
      Ronaldo 1.

      Ronaldo is better....heheh

      1. Bleh
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        One way to look at it

  15. RogDog_jimmy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    I have a plan.

    I'm currently around 210k - still got 7 to come this week so maybe I can get up to around 170k or so if things work out (don't want to get too ambitious)

    I'm going to WC21 - jump into the top 100k
    Then BB22 - jump into the 50k.

    If I type it out maybe it comes true!

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Good luck

      1. RogDog_jimmy
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Thanks! I think it's fool proof. Just gotta hope we get the fixture announcements to get the right WC team...

    2. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Haha that's too ambitious but GL

      1. RogDog_jimmy
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        haha - gots to go for it!

        I'm currently 51 points out of top 50k.

        My logic is I gain 10pts the remaining fixtures this week (DDG, Alonso, James, Cancelo, Foden, Gundogan, Ronaldo)
        Gain 20pts with the WC.
        Gain 20 pts with the BB.

        All seem reasonable in isolation (if a little ambitious collectively)

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      theres two weeks between your WC and your BB

      So many things could happen that after those two weeks your team could be decimated.... Wouldnt blow your WC that quickly mate

      1. RogDog_jimmy
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        True - but with big risk come big potential!

        Maybe the smarter move is use my first FH in dgw22 and WC out of it if needed.
        Just try and stem the bleeding one more week.

    4. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Anything is possible this season!

    5. Matjes_taet
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      A good plan always comes true..
      Good luck.

  16. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Do either of the FH chips have an expiry date, i.e. like the first wildcard?

    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      No

    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      No, you can keep them for as long as you wish.

    3. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Technically GW36, can't use them back to back

    4. RogDog_jimmy
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      conceptually the first FH deadline is gw36 - because if you play it in gw37 you then wouldn't be able to play the second in gw38

    5. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Thanks all, good to know!

  17. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    If only Bernardo and Ronaldo don't haul that's gonna be a really great GW. DDG maybe too. Was afraid of this fixture but will probably end up on a green arrow. That was thanks to a huge luck not gonna like.

  18. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Any early suggestions with what to do here? 1.5m in the bank and 1FT

    Lloris
    TAA - James - Rudi - Cancelo
    KDB - Son - Jota - Bilva
    Antonio - Broja

    Bachmann - Dennis - Lamptey - ESR

  19. Dreams
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Can't believe this season. Bought in Martin Dubravka and DCL and this fixture gets postponed. Atleast I will get the King points off the bench.

  20. Hiddenpaw
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Was Maddison injured?

    1. Ruinenlust
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Yes

      1. Hiddenpaw
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Thanks, hmm that throws a spanner in my plans

    2. moz_1983
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Looked like a muscle tweak. Instantly motioned to the bench he needed to come off but walked off ok.

  21. Lord of Ings
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    A double city clean sheet with a Foden brace tomorrow would be lovely.

    1. Dreams
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Don't be surprised if pep benches Cancelo for the banter.

      1. Lord of Ings
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        I don’t mind as long as Laporte starts.
        Everyone has cancelo

  22. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    My Foden captaincy punt is looking good for the next 20 hours or so

    1. Kodap
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Same with my KDB one..

    2. HashAttack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Sterling for me ... just hope he starts

      1. DannyDrinkVodka
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        These are the GWs where the Man City captain punts can do some serious damage

  23. markmcr
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Didn’t see the game tonight, Iheanacho sub was anything other than tactical?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Rested for Norwich likely, he's off to AFCON after.

  24. Ruinenlust
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Why didn’t VVD try to tackle Lookman or at least block the shot?

    1. RogDog_jimmy
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      didn't seem confident lunging in - seemed to adopt a 'block' pose too early too.
      just poor defending

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      He did but thought he'd go right, was a superb finish inside the near post.

  25. fricky_
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Lookman triple captain vs Norwich then?

  26. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    A) James + Antonio -> Amartey + Ron
    B) James + Bilva -> Royale + Sterling
    C) neither

  27. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    I assume many have the same issues in their fpl teams in defence. The big sides all playing each other.
    Because the Arsenal game was called off (had to ship two Arsenal outfielders)
    - I am now left with Double Chelsea defence - plus TAA, Cancelo and Tierney.

    Are most breaking up the big at the back? Given upcoming fixtures and blanks. I really don't likely consistent performers beyond Spurs/Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool.

    Is the best thing to do just sit it out and hope for a Chelsea / Man City 1-0 wins in their fixtures?

    1. lugs
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      you should probably sell at least 1even 2 Chelsea, a quick look at the ticker and its grim reading for them

    2. antis0cial
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 hours ago

      Start by selling a Chelsea def, poor fixtures then blanks.

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 21 hours ago

        Which team would be top of the list to target? I have even considered Villa.

        1. antis0cial
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 21 hours ago

          Hopefully we get some idea of DGWs shortly and work around those fixtures.

  28. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Are we expecting DGW news tomorrow or closer to the deadline? No point planning transfers before then really.

  29. fricky_
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    GW21 looking absolutely horrible for me

  30. MikeS
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 21 hours ago

    Brenda masterclass tonight