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. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Double City and Pool defence obliterated

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Same. Catastrophic

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Lovely way to end the season

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

    What a miss

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

    Think Im getting Digne off the bench actually. Nice

  4. Haalander
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Get in cash yessssss

  5. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Double Liverpool and MCI defences - sold Cash for -4 🙁

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

    Cash off the bench for White hopefully.

  7. Josh.E
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    white better stay on that bench

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

      Amen to that

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

    CASH + DIGNE taken out

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

    Bench boosters delighted

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

      My ML leader literally BBed this week and sold Cash

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

    Alisson denies Hwang

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

    Rival has Cash, disaster!

  12. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I bought Cancelo so I didn't have to play Cash ffs

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

    FFS Zaha

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I warned ya

    2. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Zaha!!!

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

      Lovely goal by Zaha

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Of course.

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

          Yep, quality player.

    4. Haalander
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      There goes my double city I don’t care

    5. el polako
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Someone somewhere sold Matty Cash for a hit...

      1. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Haha so tru

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

      Gerrard not smiling

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

      Hwang sitter

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

        Hardly a sitter.

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

      Why couldn't Cash and Digne do this last week!!!!!!!!

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

        And Zaha!!!

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

        Saving best for last

    9. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      T.alcantera pass thing of beauty and true wizardry, brazilian style

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

      SHouldn't get my hopes up, City will score 4 in the next 15 mins

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

        Let’s hope foden does but villa score four more

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

      Virgil has to come on here...

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

      But everyone got Zaha right?

      1. COLLIN QUANER
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Got him this week. Easiest transfer I made

    13. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I sold Cash this week. Lol

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Cash to Laporte - what could go wrong

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

      Gerard to finally win Liverpool the league

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

      My FH last week killing it!

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

        Life is all about timing.

        As is FPL.

    16. Haalander
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Marty cash you Liverpool legend !!!!

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

      Brilliant

      How many people sold Matty Cash this week!!

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Last on bench haha gotta laugh

        • el polako
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          For LFC or City defender.

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

        Ederson, Cancelo, Robertson and Matip all mudded and Cash on the bench. Fpl 21/22 you’ve been a troll all season!

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

          Sold Zaha too 😆