Dugout Discussion
25 May 2025 1310 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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It’s the final day of the Premier League season, with all 10 Premier League fixtures kicking off at the same time (4pm BST):

starts Isak

It’s difficult to know where to begin with the team news given the numerous talking points across the country.

But let’s do so at St James’ Park, where Alexander Isak starts for the Magpies after recovering from injury.

His recall at the expense of Callum Wilson is Eddie Howe’s only alteration, but the Newcastle United boss does at least have the fit-again Kieran Trippier among the substitutes.

Everton bring in Charly Alcaraz, Jack Harrison, Ashley Young and Michael Keane, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil dropping to the bench and injured duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman missing out as expected.

It’s teamsheet carnage at St Mary’s, with five changes apiece.

William Saliba is absent, while Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are demoted to substitute duty.

In come Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri. 

Riccardo Calafiori is unexpectedly absent.

Ross Stewart, Yukinari Sugawara, Charlie Taylor, Lesley Ugochukwu and Jay Robinson are the new faces in the hosts’ starting XI.

Jack Stephens, Tyler Dibling and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are all injured, while James Bree and Joe Aribo are benched.

There are unexpected absences at the Amex, too, as Danny Welbeck and Pervis Estupinan miss out.

Jack Hinshelwood and Igor Julio take their places.

Ange Postecoglou makes just three changes from the starting XI that beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Mathys Tel, Archie Gray and Kevin Danso come into the team, with Sergio Romero, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison dropping out. The first two are injured.

The pre-deadline rumours were true about a Kevin De Bruyne benching, with Jeremy Doku coming in to replace him.

Nico Gonzalez for the suspended Mateo Kovacic is Pep Guardiola’s only other alteration.

Fulham boss Marco Silva meanwhile brings in Jorge CuencaTom CairneyAndreas Pereira and Harry Wilson for Calvin BasseySander BergeEmile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi.

Liverpool and Crystal Palace both pretty much go full strength at Anfield.

For the hosts, Virgil van DijkAndrew RobertsonCurtis Jones and Luis Diaz get the nod over Jarrell QuansahKostas TsimikasHarvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa

Trent Alexander-Arnold also starts on the bench.

As for Crystal Palace, four changes see Tyrick MitchellDaichi KamadaEberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta come in for Joel WardBen ChilwellRomain Esse and Eddie Nketiah.

At the City Ground, Forest are unchanged for their crunch match against Chelsea.

The Blues bring in Jadon Sancho for Tyrique George in their only alteration.

Brentford also name the same starting XI but Wolves make six changes, going back to pretty much full strength after some midweek experimentation.

Jose Sa, Matt Doherty, Nelson Semedo, Joao Gomes, Matheus Cunha and Marshall Munetsi all come in as Jorgen Strand Larsen (who had been a doubt for this game), Rodrigo Gomes, Pablo Sarabia and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde drop to the bench.

Dan Bentley and Nasser Djiga miss out altogether.

Another unchanged side are Aston Villa, whose opponents Manchester United side bring in Altay BayindirAyden Heaven and Victor Lindelof for Andre OnanaLeny Yoro and Luke Shaw.

Youri Tielemans is only fit enough for a place on the bench for the Villans.

Andoni Iraola makes three changes to his Bournemouth line-up. 

Marcos SenesiAdam Smith and David Brooks come in, with Dean Huijsen and Julian Araujo benched and Lewis Cook suspended.

As for Leicester City, three alterations see Victor KristiansenOliver Skipp and Patson Daka replace the absent Wilfred NdidiBilal El Khannouss and Jamie Vardy.

Kieran McKenna names two changes for Ipswich Town’s final match before the drop: Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead come in for Jack Clarke and Julio Enciso, who is missing from the matchday squad.

Graham Potter makes five tweaks from Gameweek 37, with Lukasz FabianskiKonstantinos MavropanosOllie ScarlesEdson Alvarez and Niclas Fullkrug replacing Alphonse AreolaAaron CresswellVladimir CoufalGuido Rodriguez and Mohammed Kudus.

LINE-UPS

Bournemouth XI: Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez, Adams, Brooks, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson.

Subs: Dennis, Huijsen, Soler, Araujo, Hill, Scott, Winterburn, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry.

Leicester City XI: Stolarczyk, Justin, Coady, Faes, Kristiansen, Skipp, Soumaré, McAteer, Ayew, Thomas, Daka.

Subs: Iversen, Okoli, Pereira, Aluko, Golding, Buonanotte, Monga, Braybrooke, Evans.


Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Lukić, Cairney, Traoré, Pereira, Wilson, Jiménez.

Subs: Benda, Bassey, Berge, King, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Vinícius, Iwobi, Willian.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, González, Gündoğan, Silva, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega, Aké, Lewis, Rodri, De Bruyne, Echeverri, Foden, O’Reilly, Savinho.


Ipswich Town XI: Palmer, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Chaplin, Broadhead, Hirst.

Subs: Walton, Woolfenden, Burgess, Boniface, Taylor, Szmodics, Luongo, Delap, Clarke.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Todibo, Kilman, Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka, Álvarez, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Scarles, Bowen, Füllkrug.

Subs: Areola, Cresswell, Coufal, Paquetá, Rodríguez, Irving, Kudus, Guilherme, Ings.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Díaz.

Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Endo, Elliott, Núñez, Jota.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Lerma, Muñoz, Hughes, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta.

Subs: Turner, Ward, Kporha, Esse, Devenny, Nketiah, França.


Manchester United XI: Bayındır, Lindelöf, Maguire, Heaven, Mazraoui, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu, Diallo, Mount, Højlund.

Subs: Heaton, Dalot, Evans, Fredricson, Eriksen, Ugarte, Mainoo, Collyer, Obi-Martin.

Aston Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins.

Subs: Olsen, Mings, Digne, Garcia, Barkley, Tielemans, Bailey, Ramsey, Malen


Newcastle United XI: Pope, Schär, Botman, Burn, Murphy, Guimarães, Tonali, Livramento, Barnes, Gordon, Isak.

Subs: Dúbravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Krafth, Willock, Longstaff, Miley, Wilson, Osula.

Everton XI: Pickford, Young, O’Brien, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Harrison, Alcaraz, Ndiaye, Beto.

Subs: Virgínia, Begović, Patterson, Welch, Doucouré, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Chermiti, Broja.


Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Domínguez, Wood.

Subs: Miguel, Morato, Toffolo, Boly, Yates, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi, Silva, Sosa.

Chelsea XI: Sánchez, James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernández, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Neto.

Subs: Jörgensen, Badiashile, Chalobah, Gusto, Acheampong, Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia, George, Guiu.


Southampton XI: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Wood, Taylor, Welington, Downes, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Robinson, Sulemana, Stewart.

Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Bree, Kayi Sanda, Moore, Aribo, Smallbone, Archer, Onuachu.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Partey, White, Kiwior, Tierney, Merino, Rice, Zinchenko, Nwaneri, Sterling, Martinelli.

Subs: Neto, Ødegaard, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Trossard, Havertz, Kabia.


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie, Gray, Bentancur, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke, Tel.

Subs: Kinsky, Spence, Davies, Bissouma, Olusesi, Richarlison, Odobert, Moore, Ajayi.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, Webster, van Hecke, Igor, Baleba, Ayari, Wieffer, Gruda, Adingra, Minteh.

Subs: Rushworth, Dunk, Cashin, Veltman, Milner, Mitoma, Gomez, O’Riley, Howell.


Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sá, Doherty, Agbadou, Gomes, Semedo, Gomes, André, Aït-Nouri, Munetsi, Cunha, Guedes.

Subs: King, Bueno, Lima, Sarabia, Bellegarde, Larsen, Hee-chan, Gomes, Mane

Brentford XI: Flekken, Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Nørgaard, Yarmoliuk, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade, Wissa.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henry, Pinnock, Ajer, Jensen, Konak, Thiago, Nunes.



  1. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Semenyo brace when I have C Evanilson and Kluivert in my team. Sums up the season. Glad that this disaster is over soon.

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Bad luck creates bad luck(?)

  2. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    2 Nil

    Erickson

    Man Utd

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Down the middle at the Stretford End

    2. nanxun
      • 4 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      No Brung g (pen)

  3. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Semenyo and Sarr have been the biggest trolls this season

    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      And rogers, and palmer

  4. DeSelby
    • 3 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Semenyo captain paid off big time!!

    1. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Congrats mate. Brave call.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      nice one!

    3. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      That’s absolutely brilliant. Fair play. I’m just glad to own him. Super differential

      1. DeSelby
        • 3 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Thanks all. Plan was to just try to stay in top 100K but 30min before deadline was enticed by the fixture so got rid of Rogers for Semenyo and captained him. Very lucky. 100K should be safe for sure now.

  5. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Looks like Martinez has cost Villa champions league football

  6. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Saka is now down

    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Biggest waster going

    2. WVA
      • 9 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Hope he stays down

  7. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Villa and Newcastle with the easy games and pooping the bed

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Bigly

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Mentality

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Villa playing 10 v 12 didn’t help tbf

  8. Deulofail
    • 9 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Huijsennnnnnnnn assist? Why not a goal!? 🙁

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      I’ll be happy with the assist and clean sheet plus juicy BAPS personally!
      Second team closing in on top 10k, just need one more return eek!!!

      1. Deulofail
        • 9 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        What baps?!?

      2. Deulofail
        • 9 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        What clean sheet?!?

  9. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    spurs 1

    Bha 4

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      30 years curler

  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Brighton 4th...Gomez

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Mitoma assist

  11. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Has anyone got points from their strikers?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      nope so far

    2. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      nope...

    3. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Haaland owner here. Not smug about it mind you

    4. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Unless you have Haaland, no

      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        7 months, 6 days ago

        Or Ross Stewart....

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Every where else tho.

    6. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Nope

  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Aston Villa pathetic

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Bit harsh?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        7 months, 6 days ago

        Not when you lose to man utd

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 6 Years
          7 months, 5 days ago

          10 vs 12 is why they lost

        2. FPL Scoop
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 months, 5 days ago

          United who’ve looked miles better today than any time in recent months, and have been facing 10 men for over a half due to a moment of stupidity?

          Can probably be forgiven for their heads going after that robbery of a decision, too!

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      Bit harsh with 10 men

      1. FantasyTony
        • 8 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        They started with 11 in a must win game.

        1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 14 Years
          7 months, 5 days ago

          Way to miss the point

          1. FantasyTony
            • 8 Years
            7 months, 5 days ago

            Way to miss the champo league more like.

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      7 months, 6 days ago

      0 SOT

  13. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Spurs back to where they were

  14. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Come on forest

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      8 mins ET

    2. djman102
      • 16 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Hope so. 1 goal gives them Europa League, 2 gives them Champions League

  15. Sun God Nika
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Couple
    Points in it for 1st place

    This is intense

  16. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    61 points projected. Small green hopefully

  17. Caligula's third favou…
    • 3 Years
    7 months, 6 days ago

    Benching semenyo for Rogers sums up my season

  18. Eightball
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    So gutted seeing Brighton score 4. Welbeck was a good pick but got so unlucky....

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Completely agreed

      1. Eightball
        • 5 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        I am currently 10,033. DAMN IT! so close!

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Don't think he was involved in any

      1. Eightball
        • 5 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        He probably watched the goals go in. Worth a point I reckon!

  19. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    To be frank, United have been the better side by some distance today.

    That doesn’t change the fact that Villa would - despite an awful performance and Martinez’s stupidity - almost certainly have Champions League football and all its benefits and joys again if the ref could do his job.

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      It’s 38 GW not one decision

      1. FPL Scoop
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Still ultimately comes down to one decision though, doesn’t it?

        1. WiredWeasel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 months, 5 days ago

          It's an odd bias - it always seems more unfair if it happens in the last couple of matches, but truth is if they'd be having all the benefits and joys of the CL if they'd converted one of their earlier other 9 losses to a draw.

  20. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    FPL crashed

  21. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Welbeck over Watkins…what could have been

    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      2 points over 0?

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Took out Watkins for Welbeck on FH. Could’ve been a haul

  22. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    How’s that City CS?

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Dias lucky enough with a penalty shout?

  23. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Absolutely screwed up the last few weeks.

    17k at end of GW36. Will be lucky to be above 37k at the end of this one...

  24. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 9 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Emery has history of bottling a UCL finish

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 7 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      this

  25. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Wood is rotten

  26. WVA
    • 9 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Apologies to all Villa fans for starting Konsa

    Lovely way to finish the season on a huge red

    Marmoush still never returned away

  27. el polako
    • 8 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Malen looks like one of the 3 Hispanic killers in The Training Day with Denzel Washington.

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      *racist

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Okay…

      2. Jimbo74
        • 8 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        How?

  28. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Think I will avoid Saka next season.

    He's ruined this season for me.

    Probably the most overrated player in the world atm.

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Was great at the start of the season when Arsenal were tipping away, all went to sh*te then though

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Sucked since he got injured

  29. Drizzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Watkins Isak Cunha front line yields eff all.

    And Salah finally scores after I finally switch off him as captain.

    Sigh part 57764

  30. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Not much in it between Salah and Bowen C in the end