Dugout Discussion
3 January 2026 522 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Just the two 3pm GMT Premier League matches to come now, with all of the bottom three in action.

It’s Brighton and Hove Albion v Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United.

TEAM NEWS

At the Amex, Brighton are without Yankuba Mintehwho suffered a dead leg in midweek – for the clash with the Clarets.

Danny Welbeck drops to the bench, meanwhile, along with James Milner and Maxim De Cuyper.

In come Brajan Gruda, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter and, in his first-ever Premier League start, budget FPL forward Charalampos Kostoulas.

The returning Pascal Gross takes his place among the Seagulls’ substitutes.

Scott Parker has made three changes to the side he sent out to face Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Bashir Humphreys, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Jaidon Anthony are recalled.

Maxime Estève is injured, while Loum Tchaouna and Marcus Edwards are demoted to substitute duty.

Up at Molineux, there’s just one change for the hosts following their creditable point at Old Trafford in midweek.

Santiago Bueno returns from injury at centre-half, so Matt Doherty makes way.

Both of West Ham United’s alterations are enforced due to injuries sustained by Lucas Paquetá and Jean-Clair Todibo.

Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos step into the side.

Much like Brighton, the Hammers have their own new signing in the matchday squad. Striker Pablo Felipe makes the bench following his move from Gil Vicente.

LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadıoğlu, Ayari, Gomez, Gruda, Rutter, Mitoma, Kostoulas.

Subs: Steele, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Coppola, Groß, Milner, Hinshelwood, Watson, Welbeck.

Burnley XI: Dúbravka, Walker, Humphreys, Ekdal, Laurent, Pires, Florentino, Ugochukwu, Anthony, Broja, Bruun Larsen.

Subs: Weiss, Sonne, Brierley, Pimlott, Edwards, Tchaouna, Banel, Barnes, Agyei.


Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sá, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejčí, Tchatchoua, Arias, Gomes, Mane, H Bueno, Hee-chan, Arokodare.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Wolfe, Hoever, André, Larsen, Chirewa, Lopez, González.

West Ham United XI: Areola, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville, Wilson.

Subs: Hermansen, Igor, Golambeckis, Mayers, Rodríguez, Souček, Earthy, Kante, Pablo.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout this season 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:


Introducing The Eye Test 2
522 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 1 hour ago

    LOL. Did you see Bowen at half time on his phone? Not that I'm a lip reader, but I'm pretty sure he said: "M8, I can't play for this team anymore. Do your job and get me out of here asap, preferably in January when my valuation is still in tact. Love you."

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 1 hour ago

      I think he was discussing baby names with Danni!

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 1 hour ago

        hahahahaha / lmfao

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

    Oh god disaster. Took -4 to take Rice out for Gabriel funds. Saka benched was written by the FPL gods 😆

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

      Just hope Rice doesn’t haul massively now

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 1 hour ago

        Probably an assist from a corner lmfao

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

          Most likely

  3. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 1 hour ago

    Saka tends to come on when he's benched though, and usually scores so I'm not too worried.

    1. yousunkmybattleship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 1 hour ago

      He usually scores as a sub?

      Um, really… stats to back that up?

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        4 days, 54 mins ago

        Yup, check

        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          4 days, 47 mins ago

          Yeah, definitely this season anyway. I should know as I'm a Gunner.

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

    3 stonewall penalties for West Ham denied, Bowen should be on a hat trick 😆

    Defo a luck game

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 1 hour ago

      Pretty sure Callum Wilson would take anyway, has a great penalty record

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

        Bowen would have assisted a couple

      2. MikeS
        • 11 Years
        4 days, 1 hour ago

        He'd probably pull him hamstring taking one

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 1 hour ago

      Assuming he converted all those non-pens

    3. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 1 hour ago

      Never heard of the butterfly effect? If the first one is awarded, the others never happen.

  5. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 1 hour ago

    Mikel Arteta is reluctant to use Bukayo Saka three times a week.

    Every time Arsenal had a three-game week since start of December, he's had at least one game on the bench.

    Brentford (Dec 3), Club Brugge (Dec 10), Palace (Dec 23) and now today - after two starts in last week.

    https://x.com/i/status/2007490005212795127

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

      Perhaps he has learned his lession?

    2. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 1 hour ago

      To be fair that bench is so strong, and with all the games they play the squad need to be rotated to prevent Injuries

    3. MVDP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      4 days, 52 mins ago

      Proper post. Nice.

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

    After next gw when Saka starts and Rice is benched, we will here stories how people sold Saka for Rice...

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

      I’ve already done it…should I have waited?

  7. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 1 hour ago

    Just remember, Wolves never keep a clean sheet

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 57 mins ago

      It’s West Ham, though.

    2. REDMOND IN SANDALS
      • 4 Years
      4 days, 57 mins ago

      tbf West Ham at Home is definetly their best fixture of the season

    3. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 56 mins ago

      With today's efforts West Ham could be there until next Christmas and they wouldn't score.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        4 days, 46 mins ago

        They’ll get their chance to score against Wolves next season in the Championship.

  8. HadiSLIM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 59 mins ago

    Mane getting DefCon is crazy.,..

  9. tucaoneo
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 59 mins ago

    Wolves might be on to something. Played well in recent games. Starting to worry about picking Pickford as my GK.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 56 mins ago

      It’s West Ham though.

  10. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 12 Years
    4 days, 58 mins ago

    We all own Saka anyway. Makes no difference unless he stays on the bench

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 57 mins ago

      Err.. I sold him 3 GWs ago?

  11. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 57 mins ago

    Bowen on 11DC’s, 1 more please …

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

      Wow nice surprise

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 53 mins ago

      Now on 13DC’s, 4 pointer

  12. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 57 mins ago

    Wow Wolves 3-0. Is it time to rip apart my entire team to fit 3x Wolves players?

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 days, 56 mins ago

      It’s West Ham though.

  13. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 56 mins ago

    Bowen 13 DCs!

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 55 mins ago

      Exactly why you bring him in

      1. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 13 Years
        4 days, 54 mins ago

        Indeed. For a hit too

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 54 mins ago

      That's what we got him for!

    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 53 mins ago

      To be fair he is the leading forward for defcon

  14. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 55 mins ago

    was the Rice start leaked before the deadline ugh 🙁 ? benched cos didnt want to risk a sub appearance, my bad

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      4 days, 54 mins ago

      Nightcrawler had that info

  15. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    4 days, 55 mins ago

    Bowen Defcon LEGEND

  16. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 55 mins ago

    Will take the Bowen defcon and run!

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 54 mins ago

      Small victories

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        4 days, 54 mins ago

        Defo, basically goal and YC

  17. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 55 mins ago

    Bowen with defcon points

  18. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    4 days, 53 mins ago

    Bowen DC point: Consolation prize for owners.

  19. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 53 mins ago

    Pretty sure Bowen is the only FWD to hit defcons this season and he's done it twice...

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 51 mins ago

      Broja did it last GW I believe

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        4 days, 49 mins ago

        Ah missed that one.

  20. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 53 mins ago

    Dub Save pts plz

  21. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 52 mins ago

    "No shot on target for West Ham". Lmfao. Sell Bowen y'all.

  22. henrysquire
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 52 mins ago

    Hope Saka stays on the bench. Have Mane as first sub.

    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 50 mins ago

      Just brought him in and 2nd sub for me…..12 points only you and me have! Would be a big rank improver 🙁

  23. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 52 mins ago

    Arias G again??

  24. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 51 mins ago

    What were you all expecting, buying Bowen?

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 50 mins ago

      Defcon points?

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 50 mins ago

      Had him for 7GW’s, 36 points, not horrendous

    3. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 50 mins ago

      Defcon & Chill

  25. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    4 days, 51 mins ago

    Verbruggen CS

    WC starting off decently

    Watkins + Rogers + Verbruggen 😎

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 49 mins ago

      Verbruggen + Bowen. 2 returns.

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      4 days, 48 mins ago

      Watkins + Verbruggen + Saka* ffs

  26. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 days, 50 mins ago

    Nice stuff from Verbruggen. Looking promising on the WC

  27. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    4 days, 50 mins ago

    Verbruggen sneaks in 1 bonus point

    Happy days

  28. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 49 mins ago

    Captained Kadioglu.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    In Challenge.

  29. dansmusen
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 49 mins ago

    Van Hecke point was not expected but I take it

    1. Glasner Ball
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 47 mins ago

      Van Hecke first on my bench so hope Saka does not come on.