Dugout Discussion
25 May 2025 1310 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

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. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Murphy to semenyo on bb worked well!

  2. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Final GW success!

    Was 4m at one point in the season, hadn't been in the top 100k all season...until today 😀

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

      Well played

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

        thanks, not a great season in the grand scheme of things, but did well considering where I had been!

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

      By GW8 I was around 4 million as well. What a shocking start to the season that was, need to learn some lessons from this season!

    3. iFash@FPL
      • 1 Year
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Wow, well done!
      Talk about finishing strong…

  3. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Newcastle losing at home and still scraping CL is something else. Villa made a total mess of this.

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

      Emery gets his favoured Europa league

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

      To be fair Villa scored first perfectly legitimate goal.

      Then again if you can’t beat United you don’t deserve Champions League.

      Even West Ham had no issues winning at Old Trafford recently.

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

        Villa got battered.

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

    City CS locked. Dias (as well as Gvardiol) the only decent pick I've made for the run in

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

      Same. Last week's final minute busy was a killer

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

      Annoying, Fulham should’ve scored, think I’ll just scrape it though even with Gvardiol bonus

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

      Bust

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

        Yeah but 3 CS and bonus in 4 games is still decent. Especially for a City defender!

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

      Gives me a nice AM 10 pointer as well.

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

    Haha FPL site crash

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

      Season over 😀

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

        It is now.

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

    As if Everton got a CS here hahah. NFO you bottlers.

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

      NUFC?

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

    Quick, everyone to the beach!

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

      Looks like FPL towers have already

  8. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Went with Bowen over Semenyo, another one to add to the "getting 50/50 decision wrong" pile

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/27211092

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

      You can hardly moan about that one.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        I can...

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Oh cmon that doesn't count
      Saka vs. Bowen is 50/50

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        It wasn't when I already owned Saka... My 50/50 decisions isn't the same as everyone else haha

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      My heart is bleeding for you right now.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Cheers, always knew this place was nice and sympathetic

  9. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Pickford and O’Brien on bench…

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      That’s painful.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Saka and Huijsen in -4

  10. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Villa can feel hard done by maybe but what a monumental choke from NFO last few weeks

    From certain ucl to conference league

  11. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Premier League Match Centre on X: "The referee’s call was a free kick to Manchester United with Bayindir deemed to be in control of the ball before Rogers gained possession.
    "The whistle was blown by the referee before the ball entered the goal, therefore the incident was not reviewable by the VAR."

    1. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      The ref should be sacked. All his fault.

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Very Tory comment

        1. The 12th Man
          • 12 Years
          7 months, 5 days ago

          “Do you ski?”

  12. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Finally the most boring season of FPL I’ve ever played is over! \o/

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      It was a boring last 3-4 months ending with a boring last day

      1. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        My best FPL season in 20 years, so I'll take it!

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

          Same! Finished with 6k overall. Buzzing

  13. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Wolves become the first club in Premier League history to complete a full season without receiving a single penalty.

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/27211946

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Only club who voted against VAR.

  14. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Finally this season is over. Look forward to winning next seasons FPL 😉

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

      You’ll have to wait until the following year, I’m booked in for next year

  15. Ruinenlust
    • 8 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Chelsea proving why they deserve CL. The rest are just pretenders

  16. squ1rrel
    • 11 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    lol, horrible season but at least i did Sarr -> Semenyo as my last FT

  17. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Wow, Villa and Rogers robbed blind. The keeper never had the ball under control.

    1. King Carlos
      • 10 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      What happened? How many mins played?

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      The ref had already blown the whistle beforehand - VAR could not intervene.

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

        And that’s the problem ; there was no reason for him to blos

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

        Yup, not VAR’s fault. All on the whistle happy ref

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

      Bramall should not referee PL football next year

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

    Season over.
    Finally.

    1. mookie
      • 12 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      I give it 10 minutes until someone posts the first "A or B?"

  19. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    FPL 25/26 open yet?

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

      Yes.
      Already took my first hit.

      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        All Man Utd players have been priced at 4.5m or lower 😮

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

          Amad, Bruno, Cunha Utd triple up so

          1. Jafooli
            • 13 Years
            7 months, 5 days ago

            Bruno already in Saudi….get Joel Ward as your 3rd player

  20. Rwilliams90
    • 14 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Got Diaz and capped instead of Bowen. Completely summed up this season and delighted it's over.

  21. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Isak 2 Wissa 1 Evanilson 2, lovely line up! 😛

  22. wowo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    is Forest on Europe?it seems 7th in the League will play nothing now

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Conference League

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

      They get Newcastle's Conference League spot.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Forest in a Comp they could win. Villa and Palace too. Should be an exciting season in Europa & Conference.

  23. FlyingCanary
    • 6 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Well that’s it! Not the GW I had hoped, hope you all had better scores…enjoy the summer off everyone and see you all again in a few weeks to go again!

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

    Looks like Rogers was robbed of a goal

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

      And Villa of tens of millions of pounds

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

      I assume he also got his YV for dissent afterwards?

    3. Glasner Ball
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Same situation with Eze free kick disallowed first game of season v Brentford.

  25. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Last GW just ruined my top 100k place.....was just 2 points off top 100k.....now finished at 150k......glad it's over now .... Going Saka over Bowen just killed my team

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

    Which European Cup is Man Utd in next season?

    Eurovision?

  27. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 9 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Pickford 11 on :wow: on my bench
    My frontline 2, 2, 2.

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

      Consistent

    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Same.. but 1 and 2 my frontline.

      Oh well... can finally stop thinking about this stupid game.

      See you all around the time those last friendlies are played next season

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Add O’Brien alongside him and I’m with you

      1. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        7 months, 5 days ago

        Pickers on my bench with Dias as I went with Raya and Toon defenders 🙁

  28. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    I defended my signed shirt price even with Welb -4 not starting!!! Sarr points from the bench rotfl

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

      Bowen (c) killed today for me f yeah!

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    Was there a saka, welbeck leak before kick off?

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

      Sort of a Saka one, not welbeck though I don’t think

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

        Where?

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

      Who leaked in who?

    3. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      I saw saka benched leaks

    4. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Most AI platforms predicted it….the ones I use anyway…

  30. CoracAld2831
    • 4 Years
    7 months, 5 days ago

    61 (-4) pts. (39 + 18 on BB)

    5,5k+ red arrow to end . 185k+ final rank.

    A bit meh of a game week.

    Without BB it would have been an even bigger disaster than it was.

    2nd best season still.

    Onwards to the next one.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 4 Years
      7 months, 5 days ago

      Actually it's 3rd best season now that I've checked it.