Dugout Discussion

Everton v Aston Villa team news: Coutinho makes his first Villa start

Double Gameweek 23 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) continues this Saturday lunchtime, as Everton contest their first match following the sacking of Rafael Benitez.

Duncan Ferguson takes temporary charge of the Toffees, as he did just over two years ago, and his starting XI has a familiar feel as he turns to (what is presumably) a 4-4-2 and pairs Dominic Calvert-Lewin with Richarlison up top.

This is the first time that Everton’s two forwards have made the same line-up since August.

Ferguson has made five changes in all, with Richarlison, Andros Townsend, Yerry Mina, Jonjoe Kenny and Mason Holgate all restored to the team.

Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Anthony Gordon and Salomon Rondon drop to the bench, while Vitaliy Mykolenko misses out altogether. Fellow summer signing Nathan Patterson is also absent from the matchday squad but Allan is back on the bench after illness.

The big news from the Villa camp is that Philippe Coutinho makes his first start for the club after scoring off the bench last weekend. The Brazilian replaces Danny Ings in the Villans’ front three.

John McGinn also returns from suspension as Morgan Sanson drops to the bench.

Lucas Digne starts against his former club, meanwhile.

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Everton v Aston Villa team news: Coutinho makes his first Villa start

GAMEWEEK 23 LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Mina, Godfrey, Doucoure, Gomes, Townsend Gray, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Begovic, Keane, Allan, Coleman, Gordon, Gbamin, Rondon, Dobbin, Onyango.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Luiz, McGinn, Ramsey, Buendia, Coutinho, Watkins.

Subs: Olsen, Targett, Sanson, Young, Ings, Hayden, Hause, Chukwuemeka, Iroegbunam.

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619 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gubby-Allen
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    On the BBC site for the P. L Top Scorers, there are 25 on there (everyone with 6 goals). I think 19 of them are midfielders in the game and six forwards.

    Will any of Salah, Martinelli, Sterling, Son etc be moved to forwards in the next season, even if they stay in the same position? They are in other fantasy games.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      They should be forwards tbh.

      But in FPL terms forwards are only those who play through the middle. So they’ll stay as “midfielders”

    2. Gubby-Allen
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I am on my wildcard trying to choose from KDB, Salah, Son, Maddison, Martinelli, Cornet, Raphina, Bowen etc

      Most of those are their sides' primary attacker or two, but there is barely a forward that I want.

    3. Diamondgeezer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I hope so to make it more interesting.
      I particularly would like Salah to be a forward. It would give us something to think about if he was 13m and a forward.

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

      No, just Jota

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

    This has 0-0 written all over it…..

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

      Digne goal to rub it in.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        OG

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

    Both teams fighting like a bunch of sixth grades.

    Pathetic!

  4. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Lot of hype around Digne but never really seen it.

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

      0,0,1,0,1,0,-1

    2. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      He’s exciting to own. You could get minus two or you could get eighteen.

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I’ll stick with Laporte.

        1. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Cool.

          1. Weak Become Heros
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            🙂

  5. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I’m just patiently waiting for Watkins to get 60mins, so I can get back to 0 points again.

  6. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Everton still garbage then?

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

      Can't make good omelet without good eggs.

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

      Villa not much better

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Absolutely. & always will be

    4. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Rafa brought in garbage

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

      Dog chocolate can’t be cleaned from the carpet overnight……

    6. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Just the way they like it.

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

    DCL and Watkins have been some steaming picks, thank god I wildcarded them out this week

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Problem is other forwards aren’t delivering either. So it doesn’t really matter

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

        Both been terrible picks for me, had Watkins for a while now and then jumped on dcl early. Absolutely nothing from either them in like 10 games combined

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

      This has that famous last words feel about it

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Watkins misses a sitter

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

    Watkins close

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

      Plus or minus baps?

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Minus

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

          Boooo…..thanks

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

    Watkins BIG chance missed

  11. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Seems like a boring game.
    C’mon Watkins! Do something useful ffs!

  12. EDUARDO DA SILVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Watkins created that chance.

  13. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Come on watkins

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      No, thank you.

  14. EDUARDO DA SILVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Classic english reff, poor and ignorant.

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I do hope you’re not basing his ability on his nationality.

  15. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    2 GWs and only disappointment, Dennis is leaving my team for good out of principle

  16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    This game is lacking quality. Really poor

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

      The premiership is lacking quality

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

        That ended years ago

  17. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    whos on pens for villa ?

    1. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Luiz?

    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Watkins?

  18. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Composure there from Mings

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Watkins massive miss again

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

    Watkins you muppet!

  21. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    World class save? Terrible moss

    But way offside

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

      That was a decent save to be fair

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Close range though. Seems to have just hit him

  22. AIRMILES
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    BT Sports not working. Anyone else having this issue?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Working fine for me on my 75inch LG.

      1. Londongeezaa
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        LG? Yuck

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

        Having issues on my 82 inch Samsung

      3. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Well hello Mr fancy pants.

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

      not working for me either - mind you that's probably because I can't afford the monthly cost!!!

  23. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Is Watkins a striker?

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Visually?

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

    Almost dcl assisr

  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    OMG buendia

  26. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Buendia G Digne A

  27. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I’m very much looking forward to going to bed at half time.

  28. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    DIGNE ASSIST

  29. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    What a header

  30. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Digne assist? There he is!