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20 December 2025 803 comments
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A chain of events involving Crystal Palace’s progression in the EFL Cup and ongoing participation in the UEFA Conference League means we’ve got two Premier League games kicking off at 20:00 GMT this evening.

Everton entertain Arsenal, while Palace are away at Leeds United.

TEAM NEWS

It’s three line-up changes apiece at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

All of Everton’s are enforced as Idrissa Gueye and Illiman Ndiaye are away on international duty and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is injured.

In come Dwight McNeil, Carlos Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam.

Only one of Mikel Arteta’s alterations is made out of necessity: Riccardo Calafiori returns from suspension to replace the injured Ben White.

Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard are preferred over Gabriel Martinelli and Eberechi Eze, meanwhile.

At Elland Road, Brenden Aaronson ousts Ao Tanaka in Leeds’ one and only tweak.

No surprises in the Palace XI – Oliver Glasner told us it yesterday!

Ismaila Sarr has left the Eagles to head for the Africa Cup of Nations.

LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Barry, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Grealish, Alcaraz, Garner, Iroegbunam

Subs: Aznou, Dibling, Beto, King, Patterson, Rohl, Travers, Welsh, Campbell.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Saliba, Hancapie, Saka, Odegaard, Timber, Gyokeres, Trossard, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice

Subs: Kepa, Eze, Lewis-Skelly, Madueke, Martinelli, Merino, Nwaneri, Norgaard, Jesus.


Leeds United XI: Perri, Bogle, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson, Bijol, Stach, Okafor. 

Subs: Darlow, Piroe, Harrison, Tanaka, Bornauw, Justin, Byram, Gnonto, Gruev.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Guehi, Lacroix, Richards, Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton, Clyne, Pino, Nketiah, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Uche, Esse, Canvot, Sosa, Rodney, Devenny, Drakes-Thomas.

price change predictions
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  1. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    22 days, 10 hours ago

    Makes Saka > Bruno a very easy move for me.

    1. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Do it

  2. TiAgoFPL
    • 6 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    How was Frimpong looking ? Will he start some games ?

    1. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Subbed off despite being a sub himself - didn't bode well

    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Trash. No,

    3. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Avoid, did ok, bit of a cry baby, then there’s Bradley

      1. TiAgoFPL
        • 6 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        Cheers

    4. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Don't go near him, made of papier mache

  3. lumaunited
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Why didn't he play Esteve?

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      He played - just got 0 points

  4. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    I've never trusted Saka on pens. Even when he scores, they're always too close to the goalkeeper. If Gyokeres hits them high, he will be the main penalty taker. Odegaard is worse than Saka on pens.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      no idea why saka was the main taker anyway. rice and havertz better pen takers than him

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        It's a conspiracy to vindicate Gareth Southgate

      2. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        Yeah big time. Yeah would rather Rice and Havertz over Saka. I guess he's the st*r boy mandem.

      3. Utopsis
        • 5 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        I'd agree Rice has better technique - it's like Semenyo taking pens over Tavernier, madness!

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Get the f out of my team saka

    10m+ and not even on pens

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Heart in mouth there, sold this gw...

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Hellooo Palmer!

  6. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    I feel robbed as a DCL owner, how was that not a pen

    1. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Timing

      1. JT11fc
        • 7 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        Riots called off

        1. Utopsis
          • 5 Years
          22 days, 9 hours ago

          LOL

  7. Dank Squid
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Saka is like KDB minus the 20 assists. "Pen? Sure, unless someone else wants it, I'm not really a fan". Easy downgrade

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Need a selfish streak at that price

      1. Dank Squid
        • 7 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        Saka really wants to deliver, open play, but opponents know. Haaland is the only premium able to deliver regardless (atm)

        1. JT11fc
          • 7 Years
          22 days, 9 hours ago

          Ye we really need Palmer back 100% fit to shake it up

          1. Dank Squid
            • 7 Years
            22 days, 9 hours ago

            100% agree, template breaker needed

  8. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    ofc leeds score.

  9. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Get in!!!! DCL!!

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Wiping that Palace cleanie

    2. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Saka blank, DzcL haul wish on track

  10. F4L
    • 11 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    dcl g

  11. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Damn, benched DCL to start Thiago again

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      At least he did me a favour as I have no Palace defs

    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      I didn’t make that mistake this week! Woohoo!

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        Nice

        1. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          22 days, 9 hours ago

          Sold Thiago to Ekitike too for good measure.

  12. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Palace busted DCL

  13. NZREDS
    • 12 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Transferred Woltemade out, standard.

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      At least Eki got one

      1. NZREDS
        • 12 Years
        22 days, 8 hours ago

        Went to guiu and shifted to a 352 with Bruno F and Wilson!

  14. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Do we need to buy DCL for the scoring to stop?

    1. Capocannonieri
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      That's my specialty- I end streaks by transferring the players in.

      I need to make a ghost account and hold all the players I hate to end their careers.

      I will make Bruno a permanent captain on my ghost account. I hate that dude

  15. F4L
    • 11 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    5 in a row for dcl. nearly half way to matching vardy...

  16. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Saka and Raul > Cunha and Ekitike?

  17. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    I get giving the pub league striker a pen to give him a bit of confidence if it's a friendly match. What if he'd missed? They're going for the title.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      He never misses

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        *from penalties.

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Career penalty conversion rate
      Saka = 84%
      Gyokeres = 90%

  18. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Feck off Richards, get your annual goal now please.

    1. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      I’ll take defcons

  19. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    dcl!

    finally something good on bench boost

    1. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Same mate

  20. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    For Thiago > Ekitike:

    a) Saka > Bruno F
    b) Saka > Rice
    c) Chalobah > Keane/Richards

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      A

    2. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      A

    3. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      A. Bruno is more of a just have than Saka.
      Get Rice another week.

      1. Yes Ndidi
        • 6 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        Must.

    4. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      A obvious

    5. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Not sure I'm 100% on ditching Thiago - 2 home games with Bournemouth leaky away from home and then Spurs

      1. Euro Raiders
        • 7 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        When he can't score against Wolves! He's off from my team.

        1. Dank Squid
          • 7 Years
          22 days, 9 hours ago

          It's Brentford, though. Often struggle when expected to deliver, score when they're not the favourites

    6. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Cheers lads. Won't overthink it

  21. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Has DCL ever scored further than 1 yard off the goal?

    1. Utopsis
      • 5 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Master poacher - Inzaghi-esque

  22. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    People still ignoring DCL? Thiago > DCL happening? 😛

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Could be but SUN are sound

  23. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Thank goodness for TC Haaland because the rest of my team is pants.

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      It's softened the blow of benching Wolte

    2. Dank Squid
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Exactly how I felt back in GW 6 (my team is still pants)

  24. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Selling Saka before Villa

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      That was my plan. Going a week early now, to get Big Ek

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        *selling for Bruno, that is

  25. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    I had Rice and switched to Saka on WC, doh
    Should have just stuck, feels the better long term pick with defcons and 3m saving

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      you'd think Saka would be a bit more direct given how Madueke is waiting in the wings (and a better player in my opinion)

  26. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    This is good from Arsenal, but they still haven't had a shot on target. Just have a crack. Too many backwards passes.

  27. F4L
    • 11 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    fair point though that maybe pickford is the worst gk for saka to take a pen against as well. imagine in england training theyve done alot

  28. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Rooney is the oldest looking 40 year old alive.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      that was hulk hogan

    2. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      And that's with at least one hair transplant. He'd look 55 otherwise

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        He had to do it - bald Rooney was just unfair for the rest of the league

    3. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Hard living, from a young age.

  29. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    22 days, 9 hours ago

    Like how Ampadu hands the towel back to the ball girl instead of tossing it. Class.

  30. I have no Wirtz
      22 days, 9 hours ago

      Thiago > DCL? Makes sense?

      1. All Hail K
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        22 days, 9 hours ago

        I'm doing it. Whether it makes sense or not is another question.