Dugout Discussion
25 August 2025 1843 comments
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Winner takes Alexander Isak?

The Swede will be watching his potential future employers take on his current ones in the final match of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 2 tonight.

Newcastle United v Liverpool gets underway at St James’ Park at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

While the off-the-field events are very chaotic, the Magpies’ team news is routine.

In fact, Eddie Howe has named an unchanged side from the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa nine days ago.

Anthony Gordon will be leading the line for the hosts again.

New signing Jacob Ramsey is in the squad for the first time, joining fellow summer recruits Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale among the substitutes.

Arne Slot is forced into two alterations this evening.

Jeremie Frimpong misses out with a hamstring injury, while Alexis Mac Allister is attending the birth of his child.

Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch, the latter of whom is back from suspension, come into Slot’s starting XI.

With Frimpong sidelined and Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley only fit enough for substitute duty, the Liverpool boss has confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai will start at right-back tonight.

New boy Giovanni Leoni takes his place among the substitutes.

LINE-UPS

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

Subs: Ramsdale, Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Ramsey, Miley.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Jones, Gravenberch, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Bradley, Endo, Chiesa, Leoni, Elliott, Robertson, Ngumoha.

LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE

New to Fantasy Football Scout this week is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DC) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:


Dango debut

price change predictions
  1. Snoopydog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Sure this has been asked before, so apologies.

    I used one of two FTs saved for GW3 then activated wildcard. Will I get both the FTs back for GW4 (so back on 2 FTs)? Think yes but the rulebook seems ambiguous on this.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I’m now ranked 152k! Up from 1.8m!

      1. All Hail K
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        At that rate, you'll be above #1 next week.

      2. Deulofail
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        I'm 149,107

        1. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          I was 36,000 now I'm around a billion thanks to my Haaland captain.

          1. Deulofail
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 11 days ago

            🙁

            1. The Knights Template
              • 12 Years
              3 months, 11 days ago

              I’m down to 210k now.

    2. DeSelby
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Yes. If you had 2 before wildcarding then you still have 2 the week after the wildcard.

      1. Snoopydog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 11 days ago

        I used one of the two before wildcarding (for same GW) so went to 1 FT before pulling the trigger. So will it revert to the 2FTs I had at the start of the GW?

        1. Snoopydog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          3 months, 11 days ago

          Phone battery about to die. Thanks in advance for any confirmation - or otherwise!

        2. DeSelby
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          Yes. 2. You had 2 at the start of the week in which you wildcarded so you will have 2 after wildcarding.

  2. Viper
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    I haven't been able to watch any football yet this season. I see, understandably, Wirtz is on the chopping block.

    Is there any arguments for keeping him? Has he shown anything promising? Replacement would likely be Cunha, Gakpo or Semenyo

    1. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      He looks like he’s never played football before. I’d get rid

      1. Viper
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        Very annoying as Gakpo was right there! Tried, trusted, assured minutes

    2. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Wirtz is a small guy. They're going to pound him like a Salvation Army drum in the Prem.

    3. Four Letter Wirtz
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      In preseason he looked like was going to pull all the strings. But now everyone is running at 110% while he's still stuck in slo-mo, and Liverpool have reverted to chaos ball in the final third.

    4. Runnerboy31
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Comments are highly reactionary. Looked awesome in the community shield which is consistent with how most teams will play against us. Tonight no one really played well for Liverpool going forward.

      Has a Xgi of 0.2 less than Gakpo.

      He might not be a perfect fpl asset and if I was wildcarding I’d have Gakpo over him atm but the comments are wildly reactionary and if he had scuffed a deflected goal in or something fluky people would be telling you to buy.

  3. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Sanchez (Dub)
    Milenkovic Munoz VdV (eSteve Andersen)
    Palmer Bruno Wirtz Rutter Reijnders
    Haaland Watkins (Guiu)

    2FT 0.0ITB

    On the basis that I'm not going to get to the IB without making a transfer now, what's the move please?
    Palmer > Semenyo is probably a given
    so Wirtz & Guiu out, and 16.3 to spend
    1. Cunha & Pedro -4
    2. Ekitike & Johnson -4 (keeps a LFC asset, but Isak lurking)
    3. Gyokeres & Kudus -4
    4. Wood & keep Wirtz (save the hit)
    5. something else
    Rutter & Watkins will have to wait. No way I'm WC yet.

    TY

    1. Wet Bandits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I think you can hold until after IB.

      If palmer news is worse than expected then maybe use a FT. But Bruno(c) and roll for 3FT

  4. Manani
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    gtg?

    Sels
    Cucu Porro Konsa
    Salah PMSarr Reij Kudus Semy
    Watkins JP
    (Dub Diouf Guiu Rodon)

  5. Skout
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Is there any chance at all Palmer plays next GW?

    1. Wet Bandits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      There's always a chance.

      But a rest and excuse not to release for IB could be the reason he doesn't!

    2. DeSelby
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I just saw a picture of him at Notting Hill carnival and he looked fine so I'd say there's certainly a chance he'll play.

  6. StevenW
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Bottomed

    Sanchez, Dubrav
    Porro, VVD, VDV, (Konsa, esteve)
    Salah, Wirtz, Semenyo, Ndiaye, Palmer
    Pedro, Thiago (Guiu)

    0 FT (Shipped AWB -> VDV) 1.4m ITB

    Considering Wirtz & Palmer change, Wirtz priority and price drop on its way. -4 or -8? Wildcard?

    Mbuemo & Johnson / Kudus are tempting

    1. Four Letter Wirtz
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      What's annoying is that Palmer / Wirtz don't have obvious replacements in their price range, so you'd be taking a hit and also carrying even more money in the bank.

      I would hold, but Wirtz is on thin ice. Definitely no reason to WC, as you're only two or three players away from an excellent squad

  7. Alli
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    A. Watkins > Gyokeres / Ekitike
    B. Guiu > Wood
    C. Save FT

    Sels - Dubravka
    AWB - VVD - VDV - Konsa - De Cuyper
    Salah - Bruno - Semenyo - Reijnders - Kudus
    Watkins - Pedro - Guiu

    1. TBL
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      wood

    2. Wet Bandits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Save or you'll have a Benching headache

  8. TBL
    • 3 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    how dod Salah look today, lucky to get points or had a few chances?

    1. TBL
      • 3 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      did

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Very lucky

    3. Bob B
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Needed a 16 year old to bail him out

  9. Moneymar
    • 3 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    What do you guys think of Dan Ndoye?

  10. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Current team:

    Sels
    Tosin | Milenkovic | VdV
    Salah | Palmer | Kudus | Grealish | Reijnders
    Watkins | JP (c)

    Dubravka, Gudmundsson, Guiu, Esteve

    4.0 ITB, 1 FT (did Saka > Grealish yesterday)

    With the fixtures being what they are, I'm tempted to hold, but should I be looking to get Palmer out, as well? Tempted to do Palmer > Cunha, but wary of United players flattering to deceive.

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Would consider Guiu > Wood, but then would actually have to bench Palmer and don't want to triple up on NFO ahead of ARS.

  11. grooveymatt65
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    So this is my team, started the season pretty bad like a lot of people, think I either take a hit or just wildcard.

    Sels
    Toisin Porro Diouf
    Rogers Palmer** Reijnders Salah (c) Wirtz
    Watkins Evanilson
    Dubravka RAN** Guiu Esteve

    ** injured

    0.0 ITB 1ft

    1. Palmer and Watkins to Haaland and KDH for -4

    2. Palmer and Evanilson to Mbeumo and Etitike for -4

    3. Palmer, Wirtz and Watkins to
    Anderson, Gakpo and Haaland for -8

    4. Free hit instead

    5. Wildcard

    thanks!!

    1. Four Letter Wirtz
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Tough one, due to Palmer uncertainty. I'm hoping he'll miss at most one more GW, so so I'm holding for now.

      Maybe Wirtz to Mbeumo/Gakpo/Kudus/Johnson for free?

  12. Wet Bandits
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    At what point are we talking about Grealish.. or are there just so many better options around that price point?

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I got him in for Saka yesterday.

      1. Wet Bandits
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        I think I'm in a similar boat.

        Although I do want Eze, who must be straight in now Saka is out?

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 14 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          I'm actually seriously contemplating Palmer > Eze, either this week or after the IB. Depending on how CP's recovery goes, might just do it notwithstanding the opponent, especially given how leaky Liverpool's defense is.

          1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
            • 14 Years
            3 months, 11 days ago

            I'm almost tempted to go Palmer + Guiu to Eze + Gyokeres for a -4, but that would leave me with a massive benching headache and I don't have enough there to bench boost, unless I believe Burnley will do one over United (which I would have last year).

            1. Wet Bandits
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 months, 11 days ago

              Hold the -4 I think. A hit and a headache.. a double whammy that no one wants.

              1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
                • 14 Years
                3 months, 11 days ago

                Yeah, I think it'll just be Palmer to Eze for me.

          2. Wet Bandits
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 months, 11 days ago

            I will if you will... I do think it's a move to make! I can't work out why we all want to hang our hats on CP. there are so many options.

  13. sirmorbach
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Palmer to Kudus, Semenyo, Fernandes or Cunha?

    1. jayzico
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Kudus longterm

  14. Skout
    • 6 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Palmer and StrandLarsen to Cunha and JPedro? 2FT

    Dubravka
    Porro Milenkovic Diouf
    Salah Palmer Bruno Wirtz Reijnders
    Watkins StrandLarsen

    Verb Guiu Esteve Rodon

  15. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    You know what, I'm loving that the template is failing horribly.

    Most of my competitive mini leagues have people down at the 3m+ mark. Boring template picks like Watkins have failed where the brave that went for Ekitike or even Gyokeres for this week are rewarded.

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Or Califiori

      1. All Hail K
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        Know what you mean though, love it Salah is not a sure haul.

    2. Wet Bandits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Lots of options, with well thought out prices. Feels alot more open this year.

      1. All Hail K
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        I like the experimenting with the Defcons this year. Wasn't a fan at all of the asst mgr last year even though I did very well with it.

        1. Wet Bandits
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          Yeah the DefCon is really interesting. Gone are the days of chasing overpriced wingbacks.

    3. StevenW
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      What about us brave lot who went for Wirtz?!

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        Template sheep!

        1. Toked
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          Baa!

      2. All Hail K
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        Us brave lot went for Stach instead and got just as many points for half the cost.

    4. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      The current world No1 has no Gyokeres or Ekitike, no liverpool attacker at all, no Semenyo, just a maverick midfield 4 of Iwobi Caicedo Sarr and BJ!

    5. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Nice call Camzy on going against sheepy Wirtz with Ekitike!

  16. Bleh
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Who is a priority to get in this week? Will likely WC the other two in over the IB.

    A. Wood
    B. Ekitike
    C. Pedro

    1. StevenW
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      A for fixture - West Ham are dreadful

    2. Khalico
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Wood at home Vs West Ham

    3. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Wood. I'd captain my grandmother against Westham.

      1. Wet Bandits
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        I'm not convinced she'll start.. but worth the punt!

        1. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          Feels awkward using Wood and grandmother in the same sentence.

    4. Bleh
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Thanks all, Wood it is.

    5. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      A
      I think perhaps the best captain this week

  17. Toked
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Wirtz and Fulkrug on the chopping block tonight, 2FT and looking to wildcard during IB

    A) Wood
    B) JP

    1) Sarr
    2) Kudus

    1. Bleh
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I’m on A2

  18. Mainoo Magic
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Current team below and 2ft, thoughts on these moves?

    Sanchez (dubravka)

    Williams.

  19. Bleh
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Watkins likely to drop in price this week?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Likely I'd say.

    2. Glasner Ball
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Yes likely. I got rid just now on wc.

    3. Bleh
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Thanks both!

  20. rozzo
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    On a wildcard

    Sels Dubravka
    Cucurella Milenkovic Tarkowski Esteve Reinaldo
    Salah Cunha Johnson Reindeer King
    Ekitike Wood Pedro

    2.6 itb to turn Cunha into Palmer or Saka if need be

    Thoughts?

    1. jayzico
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Johnson > Kudus
      Milen > Gabriel (Forest suck at back this year). Tark to Pedro

      1. jayzico
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        Arse/Spurs best rotation this year

  21. jayzico
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Anyone know the LMS safety score?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Prediction is 32

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        I’m on 79, feeling confident.

  22. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Which 2 for Palmer and Wirtz?
    A) Cunha punt before Burnley, maybe captain
    B) Reijnders (set and forget)
    C) Elanga, good fixtures, Newcastle nice flowing áttaði
    D) Semenyo fixtures and form

    1. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 11 days ago

      DACB for me

      Put off Reijnders this weekend on his more defensive role

    2. SalahFingers
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I personally wouldn't touch cunha.

      Man Utd can't score even when given penalties. Their only goal is an OG.

      They have burnley next which is fine, but mci, CHE after that, so no man utd for me IMO

      Honestly, B, C or D is not that bad. I'd probably get Elanga since they are against West Ham next week.

      1. FPLamateur
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 11 days ago

        Highlight reel from first 2 games are mad how many chances Cunha has had and not scored. Should be prem top scorer

        1. SalahFingers
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 11 days ago

          Well their fixtures are difficult, so I'd still not get him.

  23. Kevin and Perry go
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    What am I reading, palmer and sake both injured. Long term or just knocks. ?

    1. Wet Bandits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Morning mate.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Read a bit more.

  24. SalahFingers
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Would you wildcard if you have....

    RAN, Palmer, Wirtz, Rogers, Watkins

    1. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Palmer could well be fit

      I’m giving Roger’s another week. Although they do look rubbish

  25. FPLamateur
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Best 6m or below midfielder.

    Moving Saka and Palmer to Salah and 6.0m

    Currently thinking N’Doye and don’t want to move to Reijnders

    1. SalahFingers
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      I'd go Ndoye because they have West Ham next week.

      or a spurs mid as they have Bournemouth and then West Ham.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Dango

  26. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Which one I should bench form?

    Salah, Fernandes, Reijnders, Anderson, Semenyo
    Wood, Watkins, Joao Pedro

    Thank you!

    1. FPLamateur
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Toss up between Anderson and Reijnders but would go the latter

    2. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Since Anderson has a great fixture prob Reijnders

  27. Wayner9
    • 3 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Want to dump Wirtz, who to bring in?
    A) Gakpo
    B) Cunha
    C) Neto

    1. SalahFingers
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Gakpo out of those 3 for me.

  28. Willmissudimitrypayet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    Hey! What would you do with Ait-Nouri? I am considering selling for Cucurella before his RAN falls in price. But would like to keep him if he is able to play. Don't know if Pep will give us any useful info?

  29. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    The price changes are a brilliant aspect of FPL
    Is it rational to make early transfers now when there is the final week of the transfer window, injury updates, press conferences, opponent news to come? No
    But price changes, where particularly at the start make it rational for some to do it, particularly early on when a 0.1m move is a 0.5m move effectively
    All with a opaque system which rely on third party prediction sites, just 36 player changes expected tonight!

  30. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 11 days ago

    On Friday evening, I transferred out Palmer & Gyökeres to get Haaland & Anderson before being priced out.
    On Saturday evening, Saka gets injured.
    On Sunday evening, Fernandes misses a penalty.
    On Monday evening, Wirtz blanks again.

    Genuinely have no clue what to do.
    Do I Free Hit in GW4 and stomach the Saka price drop, and hope he returns in GW5?
    I’m absolutely lost.

    1. Wet Bandits
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 11 days ago

      Saka will be out for a while I think. You won't want 10mil on the bench

      1. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 11 days ago

        So would it be best taking a -4?
        I just don’t see anybody wortg having for long term for a hit