Dugout Discussion
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. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    James > Muñoz = Dulce de leche

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Mmmmmmm…..caramelised milk

      *drool*

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        😉

  2. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Munoz + Rogers giving me a good start tonight

    🙂

    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Yes same here

  3. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Punted on Watkins on a FH last week and blanks…

    Today 2 goals

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      This would be because its a game of luck.

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 23 hours 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.

  4. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    VVD over Munoz was an insane pick for me

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Insane in the membrane

  5. F4L
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  6. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 23 hours 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

    1. Effe
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      A

    2. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      A

    3. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 23 hours 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

      1. Prinzhorn
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

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

        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

          Who Foden?
          He’s only 10% owned

          1. Prinzhorn
            • 4 Years
            1 day, 23 hours ago

            I need to get him asap

      2. jacob1989
        • 3 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        Yes bruno G good option.

        1. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

          U know who I mean 🙂

  7. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  8. Qaiss
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    A lot of whinging going on…

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 23 hours 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 😀

  9. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Come on Eze

    1. jacob1989
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Is he subbing in?

      1. FPL Sanky
        • 2 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        Hoping he comes and gets a goal

  10. jacob1989
    • 3 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  11. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  12. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Come on Leeds united!

  13. Fat Frank
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 23 hours 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 😆

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

      1. Fat Frank
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        When he was playing right forward and not right midfield yes

      2. Fat Frank
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

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

        1. Fat Frank
          • 8 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

          Might as well go in goal 😆

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            1 day, 23 hours ago

            Might as well cos he’s finished as a winger

            1. Fat Frank
              • 8 Years
              1 day, 23 hours 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)

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                1 day, 23 hours 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

                1. Fat Frank
                  • 8 Years
                  1 day, 23 hours 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.

                  1. Fat Frank
                    • 8 Years
                    1 day, 23 hours ago

                    *he has to defend

                    1. Bushwhacker
                      • 6 Years
                      1 day, 23 hours 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.

                      1. Fat Frank
                        • 8 Years
                        1 day, 23 hours 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

                  2. x.jim.x
                    • 11 Years
                    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

                2. Fat Frank
                  • 8 Years
                  1 day, 23 hours ago

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

                  1. Bushwhacker
                    • 6 Years
                    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

                    1. Fat Frank
                      • 8 Years
                      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Do you watch football ever Frank?

      1. Fat Frank
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 23 hours 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.

  14. Fat Frank
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Finally Watkins delivers

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      4 months too late unfortunately

  15. Drizzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  16. F4L
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    at least there will be a palmer sighting today

    1. Fat Frank
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

      1. Traction Engine Foot
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        Think the red card probably changed things

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

          This

        2. Fat Frank
          • 8 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  17. Pompel
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      huge

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

      1. Pompel
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        Mathematically , that's not possible

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

          ok

  18. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  19. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Need Welbeck to stay on that bench

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      You watching? How's Minteh?

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        Im not. But Stach bench points would be great

  20. F4L
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    1. Fat Frank
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 23 hours ago

        Szob is on the pitch

        1. Fat Frank
          • 8 Years
          1 day, 23 hours ago

          Their least worst player this season

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Scared of getting beat

    3. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      2-1 to Sunderland incoming

  21. Ron_Swanson
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Ekdal achieved his defcon bonus in the first half!

  22. WVA
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Just wow, players tonight….

    Dubravka Chalobah Timber Saka Minteh Thiago Mateta

    Crazy

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  23. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Cheeky 4 pointer yesterday

    2. F4L
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      he can only blank for so long

    3. Pompel
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Considering it for upcoming fixtures United and Burnley

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

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

  24. F4L
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    arias very close

  25. Assisting the assister
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    Cheers for help

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      B, would not hit before 5FTs given

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Cheers

  26. Deulofail
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    I sold Bijol for Andersen :’(((

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 23 hours 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).

  27. WVA
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 23 hours 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

  28. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

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

    A - Mateta > Thiago
    B - Sarr > Minteh

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      B

  29. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    I brought him in and broke him

    1. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 23 hours ago

      Verbruggen, failed reply

  30. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 23 hours ago

    Who will start RW for newcastle this weekend?