Dugout Discussion
4 January 2026 775 comments
avfc82 avfc82
Share:

The final match of Gameweek 20 sees Manchester City and Chelsea square off at the Etihad Stadium.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Pep Guardiola makes three changes from Thursday’s goalless draw at Sunderland.

Josko Gvardiol, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders come into the starting XI.

Nathan Ake drops to the bench, while Nico Gonzalez and Savinho are injured.

Nico O’Reilly starts for the hosts at left-back.

Calum McFarlane will be in the dugout for Chelsea today after Enzo Maresca’s sudden departure.

He makes five alterations to the side that drew with Bournemouth.

In come Filip Jorgensen, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro.

Robert Sanchez (muscle), Wesley Fofana (illness) and Moises Caicedo (suspension) miss out, while Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap are named among the substitutes.

Marc Cucurella remains absent.

LINE-UPS

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Doku, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, Heskey

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto, James, Enzo, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, J Pedro

Subs: Slonina, Merrick, Tosin, Hato, Santos, Garnacho, Gittens, Delap, Guiu

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 (DefCon) 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
775 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    5 days, 15 mins ago

    Those who went without Haaland C not being punished lately.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 14 mins ago

      Time yet

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 14 mins ago

      time to go against him more often methinks. this is poor.

      saka cap this gw?

    3. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 days, 10 mins ago

      Agreed, but not with his next 3 fixtures

  2. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    5 days, 14 mins ago

    Ruben off, injury?

  3. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 days, 14 mins ago

    O'Reilly out probably the most annoying transfer out this season. Absolutely unnecessary and the boy is on his way to a 8 pointer.

    1. Mainoo Magic
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 11 mins ago

      Agree so annoying definitely most annoying transfer this season for me. I just thought his minutes were a big risk after his early sub an I had no bench s made the move

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 days, 6 mins ago

        Yep no bench here either.

    2. Pompel
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 11 mins ago

      I'll take the 6 points and run. City may still concede

  4. estheblessed
    • 11 Years
    5 days, 14 mins ago

    I'm ranked 550k but thinking Wild Card now to this;

    Donn
    Gabriel, Cash, O'Reilly
    Rice, Rogers, Cunha/Bruno F, Bruno G
    Thiago, Haaland, Watkins

    Roefs, Wilson, Thiaw, Alderete

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 11 mins ago

      Kneejerk WC right there.

      1. estheblessed
        • 11 Years
        5 days, 8 mins ago

        I think all of those have done well consistently

    2. terranullius
      • 1 Year
      5 days, 10 mins ago

      I like it!

    3. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 2 mins ago

      Don’t be silly. Team is fine with a transfer or two.

  5. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 days, 13 mins ago

    That’s awful from Foden, Cherki in so much space

  6. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    5 days, 13 mins ago

    The Foden Haaland Combo has been utterly atrocious

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 8 Years
      5 days, 13 mins ago

      100%

    2. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 11 mins ago

      Yeah

    3. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 1 min ago

      Foden needs to sit his arse on the bench

  7. ididnt
    • 14 Years
    5 days, 12 mins ago

    Thiago and O’Reilly out for Gabriel and DCL -4 sums up my joke of a season !

  8. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 days, 12 mins ago

    Wirtz and O’Reilly out for Gordon and Gabriel hasn’t worked out.
    Should’ve just done Virgil to Gab.
    Thiago goals softens the blow though

  9. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    5 days, 11 mins ago

    van Dijk, Rondon and Foden -> Gabriel, Nunes and Wilson for free?

    Thank you and good luck!

  10. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    5 days, 11 mins ago

    Foden going missing against a big side, knock me down with a feather

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 9 mins ago

      Clever Trevor

  11. F4L
    • 11 Years
    5 days, 11 mins ago

    all day long cherki and foden just cant find that final ball

  12. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    5 days, 11 mins ago

    Haaland on the wing ffs

  13. Effe
    • 15 Years
    5 days, 10 mins ago

    As an Arsenal fan with with no City defenders in my FPL team, I’d love a Chelsea goal here.

  14. They are eating the dogs
    • 3 Years
    5 days, 10 mins ago

    Ekitike to Watkins?

    1. Effe
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 10 mins ago

      Yes I am planning on that move myself

      1. They are eating the dogs
        • 3 Years
        5 days, 8 mins ago

        Are you worried to miss out on Ekitike vs Burnley?

        1. Effe
          • 15 Years
          5 days, 6 mins ago

          Yes that is a worry

        2. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          5 days, 5 mins ago

          Not in the least

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 days, 4 mins ago

      I think to 4.5m might be the play structurally, also with Bruno back very soon

  15. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    5 days, 10 mins ago

    This is one of the most painful games ever. Haaland c, Foden and Palmer. And such a crap, dull game too

  16. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    5 days, 10 mins ago

    Is foden a sell? Could be 4 blanks in a row, I only got him for his last hauls!

    Others had him for a few

    1. Stevie B
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 9 mins ago

      I think so.

      1. MVDP
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        5 days, 6 mins ago

        Agreed.

    2. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      5 days, 5 mins ago

      Not really many people knocking on the door to replace him is the problem

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        5 days, 3 mins ago

        True
        Could get rice back, pool not tough fixture, puts money itb for other upgrades

  17. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    5 days, 9 mins ago

    4 point yellow for Nunes. Pain.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 6 mins ago

      Really crap rule. Should lose baps for yellow, a point is enough.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        5 days, 4 mins ago

        *shouldn’t

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 days, 4 mins ago

      It's 3 points but yeah it's annoying since it was yet another opportunity to get one over NOR owners.

  18. Kiyoshi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 days, 8 mins ago

    Lost 14 points by playing Wildcard. Is this normal?

    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      5 days, 5 mins ago

      Yes, it's in the FPL Rules WC must result in a reduction of points others won't be authorised.

      Well it is for me anyway....

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 days, 3 mins ago

      its a WC, not a FH 🙂

      just hope it pays off in the long run

  19. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    5 days, 8 mins ago

    Thank the lord for Thiaw. I’ll probably still get a red arrow, but it’ll only be a small one thx to that man!

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 8 Years
      5 days, 5 mins ago

      Thiaw and Tiago for me.

      Rest of the team not much.

  20. MVDP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    5 days, 7 mins ago

    Rodri on 13 DC. Can’t shake the belief that Rodri and Foden could be a similar situation to Saka and Rice.

  21. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 days, 7 mins ago

    A word of warning to anyone with 3 City players plus Seymeno
    Once the expected transfer to City is completed
    You must remove a City player with your next transfer
    It shouldn't be difficult on this showing probably Foden

  22. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    5 days, 6 mins ago

    Palmer how

  23. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    5 days, 5 mins ago

    Get out of my team Palmer. Absolutely garbage.

    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      5 days, 5 mins ago

      He won’t play City every week.
      I’d keep for the fixture swing personally

  24. Stoic
    • 9 Years
    5 days, 5 mins ago

    Agent Cole

  25. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    5 days, 5 mins ago

    Chalobah defcon when?

  26. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 days, 5 mins ago

    Foden to Rogers or Ekitike to Watkins is quite possibly the choice before Tuesday night

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      5 days, 4 mins ago

      Need another 5 ft’s for this mess

  27. CYN
    • 7 Years
    5 days, 4 mins ago

    Went O'Reilly to Tarkowski after considering Gabriel and Thiaw. No Rice, no Thiago. No clean sheets. Bruno and Cunha saving me from disaster.

    Raya, Dubravka
    Timber, Virgil, Tark, Mukiele, Alderete
    Foden, Saka, Cunha, Bruno G, Stach
    Haaland, Ekitike, Guiu

    1 FT. Feels too reactionary to WC, right? Just so many players I don't particularly want anymore...

    1. estheblessed
      • 11 Years
      4 days, 23 hours ago

      I am thinking WC tbh... Why else wait? Carpe Diem!

  28. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    5 days, 3 mins ago

    Thinking of bringing in Thiago for Ekitike. I’ve always loved Thiago!

  29. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 days, 2 mins ago

    Enzo Goal

  30. Gudjohnsen
    • 8 Years
    5 days, 2 mins ago

    Palmer in on WC?