Dugout Discussion

Gameweek 38 team news: Salah benched, Kane starts, Alonso absent

There are 10 more matches of the Premier League season to go and all of them, of course, kick off simultaneously at 16:00 BST.

The destination of the title will be decided by the results of the matches at the Etihad and possibly Anfield, while the fixtures involving Leeds United and Burnley will dictate who drops to the Championship.

The two north London sides are still in a tussle for fourth place, with Tottenham Hotspur the overwhelming favourites to seal the deal this afternoon, while there’s even the final UEFA Europa League qualification spot at stake – West Ham United and Manchester United are competing for that dubious honour.

From a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective, the headline team news comes from Anfield.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are only among the substitutes for Liverpool’s clash with Aston Villa, although it sounds like we’ll be seeing minutes from the pair at some point on Sunday.

“Both [Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah] are ready to come on but not to start. That’s the advice I got from the medical department.” – Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp otherwise goes full strength and makes seven changes from the win over Southampton, with Sadio Mane, Luis Díaz, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold among those recalled.

Jose Sa is back for Wolves.

The feared rotation has materialised at Chelsea as Thomas Tuchel makes five changes from the draw with Leicester on Thursday.

Kenedy, Saul Niguez, Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz are given starts, with Marcos Alonso missing out altogether. Reece James keeps his place.

Daniel Bachmann replaces Ben Foster in the headline Watford news, with Samir, Kiko Femenia, Hassane Kamara, Tom Cleverley and Joshua King all returning after recent absences.

Harry Kane is, as expected, fit to start for Spurs after his bout of illness, with Antonio Conte making just one change from the side that beat Burnley: Dejan Kulusevski is back at the expense of Lucas Moura.

Tim Krul returns between the sticks for the Canaries, while Jacob Sorensen and Milot Rashica are also recalled by Dean Smith.

Pep Guardiola makes two changes to the side that started last week’s draw at West Ham, with John Stones and Phil Foden coming in for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jack Grealish. Raheem Sterling is among the substitutes again.

Emiliano Martínez misses out due to injury for Villa, as Robin Olsen steps in. Philippe Coutinho for Carney Chukwuemeka is Steven Gerrard’s other alteration, as Danny Ings has to again be content with a place on the bench.

Youri Tielemans, James Justin and Harvey Barnes are the three players recalled by Brendan Rodgers, who goes pretty much full strength against Southampton.

The Saints omit Armando Broja from the matchday squad, with the Chelsea loanee, Ibrahima Diallo and Nathan Tella replaced by Stuart Armstrong, Oriol Romeu and Adam Armstrong.

Cedric Soares, Rob Holding and Gabriel Martinelli start ahead of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White and Emile Smith Rowe for Arsenal today, with Tomiyasu absent due to injury.

Dele Alli makes a first Everton start and is one of six changes that Frank Lampard has made, with neither Richarlison nor Jordan Pickford involved in the squad.

Vicente Guaita and Conor Gallagher are among five players recalled for the visit of Manchester United, with teenage winger Jeserun Rak-Sakyi handed a chance to impress on the wing.

Edinson Cavani, Harry Maguire, Fred and Hannibal Mejbri start for the Red Devils, with Cristiano Ronaldo not in the squad due to injury. Raphael Varane, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata drop to the bench.

It’s one change apiece at Brentford: Vitaly Janelt is in for the injured Christian Norgaard for the hosts, while Leeds hand a chance to Sam Greenwood at the expense of Mateusz Klich. Patrick Bamford isn’t involved.

Kieran Trippier and Jamaal Lascelles return for Newcastle as Emil Krafth and Fabian Schar drop to the bench.

Opponents Burnley are unchanged, as are West Ham at Brighton.

The Seagulls replace the injured Leandro Trossard with Adam Webster.

GAMEWEEK 38 TEAM NEWS

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Soares, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Nketiah

Subs: Leno, White, Lacazette, Smith Rowe, Pépé, Lokonga, Oulad M’hand, Swanson, Patino

Everton XI: Begovic, Branthwaite, Keane, Holgate, Iwobi, Doucoure, Davies, Kenny, Alli, Gray, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Lonergan, Mykolenko, Coleman, Tosun, Gordon, Van de Beek, Price, Dobbin, Welch


Brentford XI: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Sorensen, Henry, Jensen, Janelt, Eriksen, Mbuemo, Toney, Wissa

Subs: Fernandez, Canos, Dasilva, Onyeka, Jeanvier, Baptiste, Roerslev, Stevens, Young-Coombes

Leeds XI: Meslier, Koch, Llorente, Cooper, Firpo, Phillips, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison, Gelhardt, Greenwood

Subs: Klaesson, Roberts, Struijk, Bate, Hjelde, Cresswell, Klich, Shackleton, Gray


Brighton XI: Sanchez, Cucurella, Webster, Dunk, Bissouma, Mac Allister, Gross, Welbeck, March, Caicedo, Veltman.

Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Maupay, Mwepu, Lallana, Alzate, Duffy, Offiah, Ferguson.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Fornals, Lanzini, Bowen, Antonio.

Subs: Areola, Randolph, Yarmolenko, Noble, Fredericks, Masuaku, Johnson, Kral, Okoflex.


Burnley XI: Pope, Taylor, Tarkowski, Collins, Long, Cork, Roberts, McNeil, Brownhill, Barnes, Cornet.

Subs: Hennessey, McGlynn, Weghorst, Stephens, Lennon, Bardsley, Thomas, Dodgson, Costelloe.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, Targett, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

Subs: Darlow, Dummett, Schar, Krafth, Fernandez, Ritchie, Murphy, Gayle, Wood.


Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, James, Saul Niguez, Kante, Kenedy, Ziyech, Mount, Havertz

Subs: Kepa, Jorginho, Lukaku, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Barkley, Chilwell, Sarr

Watford XI: Bachmann, Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara, Sissoko, Kayembe, Cleverley, King, Joao Pedro, Sema

Subs: Elliot, Ngakia, Ekong, Masina, Cathcart, Gosling, Cucho, Sierralta, Baah


Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Clyne, Andersen, Ward, Mitchell, Gallagher, Hughes, Schlupp, Rak-Sakyi, Zaha, Edouard.

Subs: Butland, Kelly, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Eze, Ayew, Benteke, Mateta.

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Elanga, Mejbri, Fernandes, Cavani.

Subs: Heaton, Bailly, A. Fernandez, Jones, Varane, Mata, Savage, Garnacho, Shoretire.


Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Justin, Mendy, Maddison, Dewsbury-Hall, Tielemans, Vardy, Barnes.

Subs: Ward, Soyuncu, Pereira, Amartey, Albrighton, Perez, Lookman, Daka, Iheanacho.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Stephens, Salisu, Redmond, Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, S Armstrong, A Armstrong.

Subs: Caballero, Bednarek, Valery, Djenepo, Smallbone, Walcott, Diallo, Long, Adams.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson, Keita, Henderson, Thiago, Jota, Mane, Diaz.

Subs: van Dijk, Milner, Firmino, Salah, Jones, Minamino, Tsimikas, Kelleher, Elliott.

Wolves XI: Jose Sa, Boly, Coady, Gomes, Jonny, Dendoncker, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Ait Nouri, Pedro Neto, Jimenez.

Subs: Hoever, Marcal, Daniel Podence, Trincao, Mosquera, Silva, Chiquinho, Ruddy, Hwang.


Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Fernandinho, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

Subs: Carson, Ake, Walker, Sterling, Gundogan, Grealish, Zinchenko, Palmer, McAtee.

Aston Villa XI: Olsen, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne, Ramsey, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.

Subs: Sinisalo, Sanson, Traore, Young, Nakamba, Ings, Chukwuemeka, Chrisene, Iroegbunam.


Norwich XI: Krul, Aarons, Byram, Hanley, Dowell, Normann, Rashica, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, Giannoulis, Pukki.

Subs: Gunn, Zimmermann, Rupp, Placheta, Tzolis, Tomkinson, Gibbs, Springett, Rowe.

Spurs XI: Lloris, Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Royal, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon, Kulusevski, Son, Kane.

Subs: Gollini, Winks, Rodon, Bergwijn, Moura, White, Scarlett, Devine, Craig.

1,806 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Woohoo!

  2. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Boom!

  3. Mozumbus
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck dudes

  4. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck all!!

  5. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Who wins?

    a> Schmeichel, TAA, Mount, Maddison, Nketiah + 9 points
    b> Ramsdale, Rudiger, KDB, Martinelli, Toney

    1. Mozumbus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      A

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I would bet on B

  6. Mozumbus
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Thank you all kinds friends here who responded to endless queries

  7. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck to all, apart from Son cappers.

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      This

    2. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Legend.

  8. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    This is going to be rough for me.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Missed the deadline? No Spurs?

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        8 starters

  9. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Which one wins?

    1. Pope Laporte Matip Foden Madd Jesus

    2. Ederson Cancelo Robo KDB Mount Pukki

    Good luck all!

    1. cutch
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      1

  10. cutch
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck everybody! Hope we have a hell of last gw.

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Any James sellers/benchers still around???

    Last seen Buried DEEP IN THE MUD an hour ago

    First of countless MUDDINGs today

  12. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Son's EO higher than I thought it would be.

    1. FPL Emu
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Hoping for one of his trademark red cards

  13. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Surprised OR2 went for Diaz as part of hit knowing OR1 had him
    7 of same players now

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Schoolboy

      1. Shultan
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I'm languishing at 100K so knoesweet FA... but if chasing for title wouldn't want to match team above

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Hes covering his explosive pick and backing other picks to get him over the line. The difference is negligible

  14. AIRMILES
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    What match is everyone watching?

    City v Villa for me, and I'd imagine most.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Will start with Liverpool vs Wolves. Depending on pace of the game, I'll switch to Leicester vs Saints.

    2. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Brighton v West Ham

    3. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      leicester v southampton is huge game

    4. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Leeds

  15. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Brought in Alonso for a hit

    Nailed it, and perfect summary of the season

  16. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I'd consider letting go of a kidney for a De Bruyne hat trick today

    1. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      As a Liverpool fan/ KDB differential pick against rival... this has mixed feelings haha

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      **Mount

    3. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Same

    4. Mighty Banana
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      You could sell it for more than first in FPL 😮

    5. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Kidney not worth that much

  17. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Got city match on tele & liv on laptop!!

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      City has to be the game to watch. Pool game is meaningless without help from Villa.

  18. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Was there a leak on Alonsos absence that I missed?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Apparently
      But many other leaks too which never happened

    2. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      no

      1. Sailboats
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        wrong answer newbie

    3. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Aye, amongst a host of other 'leaks'

    4. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yeah.

    5. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yes

    6. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      There were rumours like 15 minutes before the deadline

      1. Jock Grealish
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        not alonso

        1. The Mentaculus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          They're all over these pages. James was included at first

  19. 2999 - Lady of Legend
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Up from 53k to 50k before a ball is kicked! Now the decent begins.

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yeah, I'm 11 points off the top 100k rather than 14 points Saved my FH for today, so REALLY hoping I break into the top 100k.

      The days of me finishing in the top 10k are well behind me.

  20. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    How did KDB win player of the year?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      By playing well

      1. Ruinenlust
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        He did nothing for half the season

        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Salah has done nothing since Jan either

          1. Ruinenlust
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Palah doesn’t deserve to win it either

            1. AIRMILES
              • 12 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Who would you go for?

    2. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I think Son should have won it.

      1. Not again Shirley
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Agreed. Son is probably more deserving.

  21. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    103.3 is possibly the lowest team value I’ve ever had in GW38

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I've got 100.7.

  22. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    First Goalscorer today?

    Winner wins a chocolate teapot!

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Jesus!

    2. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Some random Brentford player

    3. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Mané

    4. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Zaha from a penalty that was never a penalty

    5. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Wilson

    6. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Mahrez

    7. tambourineman
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Barnes

    8. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Vardy

    9. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Jamie 'Old Man' Vardy!

    10. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Saka

    11. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Vardy

    12. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Mbeumo

    13. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Neto

      1. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Cheeky! Someone is desperate for some chocolate flavoured tea

    14. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I reckon Neto, maybe….not sure why, just have a feeling…

  23. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Liverpool and City to draw @52-1
    Punty

    1. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      no chance

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I'd take them odds

  24. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Best of luck community!

  25. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    It begins

  26. Grande Tubarão
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Come on

  27. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Four of my squad out including both keepers. Oh well, I get to focus on the real football today.

  28. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck Mane cappers.

    Screw everyone else.

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Thank you mate

    2. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Haha. I can get on board with this comment

  29. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck guys!

    I captained Vardy over Kane to chase leaders. Going to be nervous watching 🙂

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I like it! Good luck, mate!

  30. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Go on and kill it Mane.