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. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Gunners busted.

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

    Arsenal cleanie gone

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

      Dvb

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

    Is Jota even playing?

  4. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Not enjoying this at all. 34pt lead shrinking before my eyes. Rival has Kula with Zaha and Cash coming off the bench.

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

    Toffee goal

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Half time regrets
      I bought in Toney was considering Wilson
      Burying Cash 3rd on my bench

  6. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Half time message to Lampard
    Keep Gordon benched !
    I've got Cash behind him on the bench & will come into my team with Richarlison & Alonso missing

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

    Oh Donny Van De Beek!

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

      Where is the Vardy party?
      I blame you.

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

        I’m sorry bro, we had to shift it to 2nd half. Everyone loves a late party 😉

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

          Acceptable!

  8. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I was promised points 🙁

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

      loads of points surely? Cash/Zaha/Kane what more do you want? 🙂

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        One goal for Kane is not it.

        Had the other two last week for their blanks on FH of course.

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

    VdB G DCl A

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

      DCL*

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

    Ramsdale the most owned keeper, yet more good news

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

      Chokers

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

      This helps stress a little. One less risk for OR.

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

    City bottled the CL now bottling the league
    Works going to be unbreable with all the liverpool fans

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

      Thankfully I don't work with any Pool fans.

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

    Watching our match, the new Man Utd manager in the stands doesn't look happy 😀

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

      Would you blame him lol

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 10 months ago

        They've done happy and clueless with Ole

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

          Without?

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

        He will be upset at the ref I think

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

          Ref (also for us) is atrocious, so agree there.

      • bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Zaha is just so feck annoying. Had him for the double over Maddison. Now i went Maddison over him and now he scores...

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

      Cheers Tavares

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

      Van de Beek you legend!!!

    5. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Oh ffs donkey Ramsdale, should have played Dubravka

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

      Week is f***ed, I’m going to start making drafts for next season

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

        This lol after I do t look at it for a month I’m sick of it. If I hear double game week one more time

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

      Ramsdale fail

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

      Are Manchester City and Pep going to blow this one as well?

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

        Let's hope so.

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

        Of course

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

        Oh wouldn’t it be great! There won’t be a cow milked in Liverpool tonight if they turn this around

    9. GoonerGirl
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Don't you just hate it when the players you had on a FH do nothing until the following game week when you don't have them.

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

      Absolute scenes if City do bottle this

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

        I will scream. My neighbours would be terrified as they don’t watch PL here 😆

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

          Where's that?

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

            kraaifontein?

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

              Hahaha! Is hy Saffa?

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

                nee dink nie so nie

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

                  Ek het actually 'n pel wat vir Kraaifontein rugby speel 😆

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

                    o jirre!

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

      City buying Grealish instead of Kane will haunt them!

    12. Moose™
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Mane and Kulu scored. Son and Saka blanks. Arghhh.

    13. Planet Jo
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      My half-time summary...

      No Rich.
      No Alonso.
      Liverpool, City CSs both gone.
      Ramsdale concedes
      Vardy (captain) no Pardy
      Digne 3rd sub on bench.

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

      That mahrez pen last match miss proving costly! Bottled it

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

        Fabulouski is a pro pen stopper

    15. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 10 months ago

        No Aguero this time and no QPR that realise they're safe

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

        Anyone got any points yet?

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

          Nketiah only

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

          29 here

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

          Only Kulu, Eddie & Kane.

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

          23

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

          Only Nketiah.

          Originally was doing Rich > Kane & keeping Zaha. Had to differentiate from rival so got Vardy & sold Zaha 🙁

          1. bench boost for every gamew…
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Went Zaha in the double Maddison on Fh.. If i made that call reverse i would been 1k.

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

          Thought I had a Saka assist. Stupid flash score.

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

          Zaha and Kane only for me

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

        Matty Cash and Martinelli my 2 subs today. Need a bit of luck sometimes!

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

        I could have had 5 goal scorers in my team instead I’ve two…

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

          Life mate.

          I went against the masses with Mount(c) and been truly unlucky so far.

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

          Isn’t 2 better than none?

      • Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Need One of Bednarek or Schar to stay on the bench

        To get cash off the bench

        Shd be safe right?

      • El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Well well well....