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. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    A Son blank & Kane hasty will realy put the cat amongst the pigeons for FPL

    Come on Kane!!

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

      *hatty

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

    Right. Let's start this GW off with a Son goal, Kane assist please.

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

    Neto G
    Jimmy A

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

      Who guessed Neto?

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

        o/

        Go back and check if you don’t believe me.

        Now where’s my teapot?

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Uh oh

  5. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Peacock in US is showing goal rush!

    1. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Can't find the Liverpool game on my Peacock...

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

    Pool down
    Neto

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

      You were having such a strong season. Good luck today.

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

        Cheers. Went flat mid-season. I'ma nowhere!

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

    Good luck to everybody, especially Norwich City FC.

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

      Yes sir

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

    Really hoping I get lots of points

  9. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Glad I benched Matip!

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

    Double pool defence in the dirt. Me included

  11. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Cat meet pidgeons

  12. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    First of many CSs to be wiped today

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

    Double Pool defence already in the mud

  14. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Big L for rival bringing in Allison & Robbo as part of a -12

  15. Forgetmeknot
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Haha my pool treble up in defense went well (albeit Vvd not playing)

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

    Trent and Robbo. That’s my season over

  17. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Pool lol

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

    Didn't expect to lose Robbo CS so warly

  19. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Double pool defence. Season over

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

    Loserpool

  21. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Matip mudded

  22. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Robertson and Matip woohoo. 2mins in and already in the MUD!

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

    So the full time whistle blows at Etihad, City draw. They hear Liverpool are a goal down with 3 minutes to play ....

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

      Then they win easy. Draw not enough for Pool should they score anyway

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

    Typical Liverpool lol watch them come back to win the prem haha

  25. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    TAA & Matip. Things we love to see!

  26. Kun Tozser
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Wolves and a Villa win double anyone?

  27. asr
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Matip close

  28. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    12 from 11 players any good?

  29. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Cancelo looks well up for it

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

    Mapit misses sitter