Dugout Discussion

Wednesday team news: Saka, Timber, Eze, Salah + Thiago benched, Martinez hurt

3 December 2025 1169 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Gameweek 14 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) continues with six Wednesday night matches, featuring the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Wednesday team news: 2

TEAM NEWS

Without doubt, tonight’s major absences come from the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal host Brentford.

Bukayo Saka (£10.1m), Jurrien Timber (£6.4m) and Eberechi Eze (£7.8m) are all rotated to the bench, where Viktor Gyokeres (£8.8m) sits.

Therefore, owners of David Raya (£5.9m), Declan Rice (£7.1m) and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.8m) can breathe a sigh of relief.

Opponents Brentford can only name 11-goal Igor Thiago (£6.7m) on their own bench, having received late treatment in Saturday’s win. Both Nathan Collins (£4.9m) and Mikkel Damsgaard (£5.8m) are there too.

Elsewhere, the notable news involves Mohamed Salah (£14.1m) remaining out of Liverpool’s XI. Exiting their teams’ lineups are Danny Welbeck (£6.6m), Youri Tielemans (£5.9m) and Lucas Digne (£4.5m), while Ollie Watkins (£8.5m) comes in.

The anticipated Crystal Palace alterations are limited to one: Jefferson Lerma (£4.9m) in for an injured Ismaila Sarr (£6.6m). This means that neither Chris Richards (£4.6m) nor Jean-Philippe Mateta (£8.1m) are rotated.

Furthermore, Alexander Isak (£10.4m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.3m) are passed fit. Cole Palmer (£10.3m) is around to make a cameo appearance.

UPDATE: Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (£5.1m) has picked up an injury during the warm-up. In comes Marco Bizot (£4.3m).

GAMEWEEK 14 LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Merino, Martinelli

Subs: Kepa, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Jesus  

Brentford XI: Kelleher; Ajer, Pinnock, van den Berg; Kayode, Jensen, Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Henry; Ouattara, Schade

Subs: Valdimarsson, Collins, Arthur, Lewis-Potter, Donovan, Henderson, Damsgaard, Onyeka, Thiago  

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen; Kadioglu, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Wieffer, Baleba; Minteh, Gruda, Diego Gomez; Tzimas

Subs: Steele, Hinshelwood, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola, Knight, Oriola, Kostoulas, Welbeck  

Aston Villa XI: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Guessand, Rogers; Watkins

Subs: Lindelof, Digne, Bogarde, Garcia, Tielemans, Buendia, Sancho, Malen

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman; Cullen, Florentino; Tchaouna, Flemming, Anthony; Foster

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Edwards, Pires, Hannibal, Bruun Larsen, Ugochukwu, Laurent, Broja  

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Kamada, Pino; Mateta

Subs: Matthews, Benitez, Clyne, Canvot, Devenny, Esse, Hughes, Nketiah, Uche

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Johnstone, Agbadou, Mosquera, Toti; Tchatchoua, Andre, Joao Gomes, Bellegarde, Moller Wolfe; Arias, Strand Larsen

Subs: Sa, Doherty, S Bueno, Hoever, Munetsi, Hwang, Arokodare, Chirewa, Mane  

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Igor Jesus

Subs: John, Boly, Abbott, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Kalimuendo, Jair Cunha

Leeds United XI: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Tanaka, Stach; Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Darlow, Justin, Bornauw, Gruev, Aaronson, Harrison, Gnonto, Okafor, Piroe

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Tosin, Badiashile, Chalobah, Cucurella; Andrey Santos, Enzo; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Gittens; Delap

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, James, Hato, Palmer, Garnacho, Neto, Guiu

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Wirtz, Isak, Gakpo

Subs: Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Nyoni, Endo, Salah, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Jones, Ekitike

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Brobbey, Le Fee

Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Neil, Mundle, Adingra, Traore, Mayenda, Isidor

defensive contributions

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

1,169 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    James > Muñoz = Dulce de leche

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Mmmmmmm…..caramelised milk

      *drool*

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        😉

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  2. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Munoz + Rogers giving me a good start tonight

    🙂

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    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Yes same here

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  3. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Punted on Watkins on a FH last week and blanks…

    Today 2 goals

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    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      This would be because its a game of luck.

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    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      I thought about that too, but decided to play 3-5-2 after all. He passed the eye test, but failed the stats test and was slightly too expensive.

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  4. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    VVD over Munoz was an insane pick for me

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Insane in the membrane

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  5. F4L
    • 10 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    the burnley palace match, 4 shots in the first half but 49 clearances combined lol

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  6. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Who is my Semenyo replacement (before price change tonight)

    A) Foden (chance he's benched)
    B) Mbeumo (chance he'll get injured)
    C) Gordon
    D) somebody fun

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    1. Effe
      • 15 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      A

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    2. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      A

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    3. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Bruno probably the most boring ‘safe’ pick over the busy Xmas period and with Afcon coming.
      I’m gonna live a little and bring in Foden

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      1. Prinzhorn
        • 4 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        He's already like what? 35% owned if I had to guess?

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        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          Who Foden?
          He’s only 10% owned

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          1. Prinzhorn
            • 4 Years
            8 days, 1 hour ago

            I need to get him asap

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      2. jacob1989
        • 3 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        Yes bruno G good option.

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        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          U know who I mean 🙂

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  7. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Pedro till 25% owned, coming off my bench for Thiago at the moment

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  8. Qaiss
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    A lot of whinging going on…

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    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Can we submit new ones?

      I asked people here if I should do Richards > Munoz a few weeks back. They all said no.

      Put me off it 😀

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  9. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Come on Eze

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    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Is he subbing in?

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      1. FPL Sanky
        • 2 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        Hoping he comes and gets a goal

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  10. jacob1989
    • 3 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Just have a feeling Wirtz will break his duck today. Watkins has, maybe wirtz too

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    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      The only way Wirtz breaks his duck is in the baths after the game

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  11. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Alderete 9 pointer coming in for Reece James is gonna hit like crack

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  12. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Come on Leeds united!

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  13. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    No surprise Liverpool are struggling without Salah, wonder when Slot will save face and finally play Salah in the inverted forward position….you know the position he played when he broke all records less than a year ago 😆

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    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Yeah they were flying with Salah in the team weren’t they

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        When he was playing right forward and not right midfield yes

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      2. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        He’s basically being played same position as Munoz, which is madness beyond madness!

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        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          Might as well go in goal 😆

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          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 1 hour ago

            Might as well cos he’s finished as a winger

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            1. Scapegoat Salah
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 1 hour ago

              Oh come on, you really believe that?
              In reality his drop in form is either:

              1) He doesn’t want to be at Liverpool (unlikely given he signed the extension)
              2) He’s finished just months after his best ever season
              3) He is being deployed and asked to play in a way that does not suit his ability (the right answer)

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              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                8 days, 1 hour ago

                4) signed a fat contract, had the season of his life and didn’t even get top 3 in the Ballon d’Or so no longer works as hard (the actual right answer) - he’s a defensive liability who’ll cost Slot his job

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                1. Scapegoat Salah
                  • 9 Years
                  8 days, 56 mins ago

                  So why play him in a position where he to defend? Makes zero sense, he has NEVER tracked back in his career.

                  And don’t fool yourself with these awards like Ballon D’Or, yes they’re prestigious, but it won’t affect a player’s mentality to perform and do well.

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                  1. Scapegoat Salah
                    • 9 Years
                    8 days, 56 mins ago

                    *he has to defend

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                    1. Bushwhacker
                      • 6 Years
                      8 days, 54 mins ago

                      Liverpool are where they are because he was given a free pass NOT to defend. He's been playing exactly where he was last year.

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                      1. Scapegoat Salah
                        • 9 Years
                        8 days, 52 mins ago

                        No chance, he is wider and deeper.

                        You only have to look at his goals last season to see his positions, maybe it’s the Trent impact but he is playing RM not RWF

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                  2. x.jim.x
                    • 11 Years
                    8 days, 53 mins ago

                    Players famously don’t care about the BDO, not like Madrid spat their collective dummies out over it or anything

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                2. Scapegoat Salah
                  • 9 Years
                  8 days, 55 mins ago

                  How many times did he defend and track and back under Klopp? Never.

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                  1. Bushwhacker
                    • 6 Years
                    8 days, 53 mins ago

                    Didn't under Slot either ; which left their right back totally exposed and caused all the issues.

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                    1. Scapegoat Salah
                      • 9 Years
                      8 days, 51 mins ago

                      Agreed, but because they scored a shedload of goals due to their best player playing in his optimal position it didn’t matter.

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    2. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      8 days, 55 mins ago

      Do you watch football ever Frank?

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        8 days, 53 mins ago

        Not as much these days no, but saw enough of Salah over the years to know what is his best position, and find it madness Slot has been trying to play him in the wrong position, and instead of change his system to accommodate him, just drops him.

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  14. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Finally Watkins delivers

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      4 months too late unfortunately

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  15. Drizzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    I daren't check my score, it's going to be bleak viewing.

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  16. F4L
    • 10 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    at least there will be a palmer sighting today

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Well we expected it against Arsenal, and he didn’t come on, was odd to name him on the bench really that game

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      1. Traction Engine Foot
        • 7 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        Think the red card probably changed things

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        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          This

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        2. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          Yes I’d agree, until the fact it was a draw late on, thought he’d have been brought on in that scenario

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  17. Pompel
    • 11 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    This has all the hallmarks of a disaster gw. Wonder how much or rank it is possible to drop in one gw

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      huge

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Hence why I never understand the crying on weeks like this - everyone’s in the same boat

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      1. Pompel
        • 11 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        Mathematically , that's not possible

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          ok

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  18. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Went for saka instead of Foden. Munoz can save my GW to some extent if he can now keep a CS

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  19. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 8 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Need Welbeck to stay on that bench

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      You watching? How's Minteh?

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      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 8 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        Im not. But Stach bench points would be great

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  20. F4L
    • 10 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    liverpool sitting pretty deep at home, seems slot values the clean sheet. good for vvd

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Doesn’t help the fact their best player is rooted to the bench

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      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        8 days, 1 hour ago

        Szob is on the pitch

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        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 1 hour ago

          Their least worst player this season

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Scared of getting beat

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    3. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      2-1 to Sunderland incoming

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  21. Ron_Swanson
    • 15 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Ekdal achieved his defcon bonus in the first half!

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  22. WVA
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Just wow, players tonight….

    Dubravka Chalobah Timber Saka Minteh Thiago Mateta

    Crazy

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      1 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 2 incoming

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  23. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Is anybody even holding Semenyo at this point? BOU look miserable.

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    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Cheeky 4 pointer yesterday

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    2. F4L
      • 10 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      he can only blank for so long

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    3. Pompel
      • 11 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Considering it for upcoming fixtures United and Burnley

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    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Yeah, I can't see a clear upgrade in my team

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  24. F4L
    • 10 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    arias very close

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  25. Assisting the assister
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    What’s best here
    A. Pope + Semenyo > Verbruggen + Foden -4
    B. Semenyo > Gakpo

    Cheers for help

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      B, would not hit before 5FTs given

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    2. Assisting the assister
      • 9 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Cheers

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  26. Deulofail
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    I sold Bijol for Andersen :’(((

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    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Ouch. I have Andersen 0 pts first on my bench over Esteve. I tried to spread the risk since I have Dub (and Pope).

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  27. WVA
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Need to replace Pope, was going Verbruggen but he’s on a -1 this game week, if I even consider a player they become pathetic

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  28. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Best Foden enabler? Sarr obviously gone in 16 if not 15

    A - Mateta > Thiago
    B - Sarr > Minteh

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      B

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  29. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    I brought him in and broke him

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    1. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 days, 1 hour ago

      Verbruggen, failed reply

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  30. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    8 days, 1 hour ago

    Who will start RW for newcastle this weekend?

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