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. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Mane Captainers...time to flex!

  2. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Foden close after a surging KDB run

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

    Well done to all the Mane Captainers. Ballsy af

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

    No Liverpool defense paid off

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

    Arsenal pen

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

    Arsenal penalty.

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

      MARTINELLI taking

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

      Who won it?

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

        Martinelli shot & it was a handball

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

          Thanks. Maybe just since he won it, kind of..

  7. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Can I have some points please

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

    Mane was always a great choice this week just had too many fires in team

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

    Ah should've gone Mane over KDB haha

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

    Saka due a pen miss...

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

      He's not even taking it.

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

    MAAAAAAAAAANEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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

      Wow, another?

  12. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    saka?

  13. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Strange no saka on pen

  14. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Martinelli taking the pen. wtf?

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

    No A, Martinelli shot was handballed

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

      The information we need, cheers.

  16. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Wtf Saka

  17. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Pls score pen

  18. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    F off mullet man

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

      Lollllll

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

    Why is saka not taking it!!

  20. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Darn Martinelli first on my bench, ah well

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Martinelli off my bench for Alonso. Nice

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

      Lucky you.

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

      Oh very nice

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

    Saka feeling the pressure...

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

    Carragher should never be commentating on a Liverpool game

    It’s all Liverpool should be careful, Liverpool this Liverpool that

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Not a Liverpool fan but I quite like it, not everything has to be neutral like Redro

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

          😆

      • TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Realistically who cares what Wolves are doing

        1. The Polymath
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Me

          1. TheBiffas
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            You must have a lot riding on this game then!!!!!

      • Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Agree, can’t watch it because of that fact so watching City v Villa instead.

      • Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yawn.

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

        Couldn’t agree more. Absolute joke

      • Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Don't personally listen to English comms anymore, but agree that's disgusting that hes still commentating to their games, seem to remember people saying it happening before.

      • BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yep agree as Pool fan.

      • George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I always pick another channel when he's on

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Oh F off Saka and arsenal, bunch of wastemen

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

      Martinelli locked on my bench

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

      Ofcourse I made -12 to block Martinelli coming in 😀

    5. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      That was close from Zaha

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Ouch... Hopefully soon not only close!

    6. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Martinelli taking pens over Saka? Typical!

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

        Just the one

      2. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Cannot believe this shite

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

      Didn't know Martinelli was on pens.

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

      Saka must have lost his bottle.