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Man Utd v Man City team news: Semenyo starts, Cunha benched

17 January 2026 812 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The Manchester derby kicks off Gameweek 22 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

United v City gets underway at 12.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Both sides have had cup ties since their last Premier League outings but if we’re comparing today’s starting XIs to Gameweek 21, both head coaches have rung the changes.

New interim Manchester United boss Michael Carrick makes four alterations from the 2-2 draw at Burnley.

Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are back from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and straight into Carrick’s first starting XI.

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko are the high-profile casualties of their recalls. Those two drop to the bench.

The more predictable changes see Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo come in for Ayden Heaven and Manuel Ugarte.

If it is a 4-2-3-1 as many are anticipating, then Patrick Dorgu looks set for another ‘out of position’ run-out on the wing.

As for Manchester City, Antoine Semenyo makes his first Premier League start for his new club.

The winger had lined up in both of City’s cup matches this week but gets his league bow here, replacing Tijjani Reijnders from the Gameweek 21 side.

Rodri for Nico Gonzalez is also a straightforward switch in midfield.

Pep Guardiola has had his hand forced with one change, as Matheus Nunes is not in the squad due to illness. Rico Lewis gets his first Premier League start since August.

LINE-UPS

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo.

Subs: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Yoro, J Fletcher, Mount, Ugarte, Cunha, Sesko.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Mfuni.

price change predictions
812 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 27 mins ago

    Haaland OFF

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  2. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Robot off

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  3. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Bruno +2 defcon points!

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    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 26 mins ago

      He wasn't supposed to get them playing in the 10

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  4. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Oh dear robot

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  5. Clintymints
    • 16 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Cunha sub 1 Dorgu sub 2

    Rip

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  6. Waynoo
    • 12 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Awful GW already, sick of this "game"

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    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 29 mins ago

      Sem Foden owner?

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  7. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    And went Haaland over Ekitike because Ekitike could be sub off earlier buahahaha

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    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      4 hours, 25 mins ago

      F it I will stop reading anything FPL related, it was just so stupid to (c) Haaland this week, stil got myself convinced

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    2. Clintymints
      • 16 Years
      4 hours, 23 mins ago

      Haaland didn’t sit well with me this week but hard to go against the grain

      Kept Ekitike for the Burnley game through all his absences so hopefully something happens

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  8. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Haaland (c) fail...and to GW from the dunny...

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  9. JBG
    • 7 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Hahaha thank you Pep, love you

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  10. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Haaland subbed!!!!!

    Successful as a non captain.

    Watkins you better not S*ite your pants mate!!

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Brilliant

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    2. Clintymints
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 27 mins ago

      Hopefully pays off

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  11. tucaoneo
    • 7 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Don't worry Pep, I'm sure things will turn around if you keep buying up everyone in my FPL team...

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  12. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    Cunha matches Haaland (c) lol

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  13. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 26 mins ago

    If Carlsberg made fpl weeks!

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  14. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Always trust Gandhi bro

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  15. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    50/50 decisions this week:
    - Haaland (C) vs. Ekitike (C)
    - Transfer in Enzo vs. Bruno F
    - Bench Thiaw or Alderete

    Going to be on the wrong side of all of them. Fed up of this run of bad luck lol.

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    1. Thanos
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 29 mins ago

      Let us know your 50/50 for next week 😉

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    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Haaland blanking isn’t bad luck. He hasn’t looked good for weeks. I captained him too

      Ekitike haul still needed

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      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        I mean, it is. He had a couple of good shots cleared today including a goal line clearance..

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        1. SalahFingers
          • 8 Years
          3 hours, 20 mins ago

          2 total shots according to flashscore.

          0.13 xG

          3/5 accurate passes (60%)

          14 touches total (almost lowest on the team)

          2 touches in opponents box.

          so while he could still score with those stats. Those are bad bad bad stats.

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    3. WVA
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Enzo v Bruno ain’t a 50/50

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      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        Haha don't be contrary for the sake of it. Long-term, no brainer. For next two, basically everyone here says don't get Bruno F.

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  16. el polako
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Congrats to Ekitike captainers.

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Watkins cappers have the biggest dish

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  17. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Who would you prefer next week?

    Bruno
    Semenyo

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    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      I never prefer Semen, so Bruno

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  18. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Might just have to do Foden > Bruno tonight and avoid all the price changes

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  19. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    United could get 6 or 7 here

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    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Should've*

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  20. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    My bench:

    Dubravka | Dorgu | El Kroupi | Gundmundsson

    Could be a big one rofl

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 27 mins ago

      Five different players then

      Including your Foden and Thiago

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        3 hours, 19 mins ago

        Yeah but the budget defenders all similar price range was thinking more structure same etc

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  21. F4L
    • 11 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    (R)ice do your thing later please

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  22. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    If Dorgu scores again...

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  23. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    I’m going to have to try going against Haaland soon enough

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Just not next week 😆

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      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        Could be rested

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    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 26 mins ago

      Only game that looks bad for him is Liverpool away but alternatives aren’t great

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  24. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 5 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    city 1 shot on target is embarrassing

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  25. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    4 hours, 23 mins ago

    Dorgu first on my bench. Praying for Tim or Gab being out

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  26. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    4 hours, 22 mins ago

    What a bunch of frauds United are.
    Downed tools until they got rid of Amorin. And now today completely different animal. Bunch of over paid tossers.

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    1. Clintymints
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 26 mins ago

      City have zero defense too at the minute tbf

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    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 25 mins ago

      Is pretty much always the way

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  27. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    4 hours, 22 mins ago

    The idea of going with 4/5 city doesn't seem so appealing anymore.

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  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    4 hours, 21 mins ago

    How is that not a yellow for Bruno?

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    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 24 mins ago

      He’ll get 3 baps whatever

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  29. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 hours, 21 mins ago

    Maybe time to sub Pep.

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  30. JBG
    • 7 Years
    4 hours, 21 mins ago

    I genuinely wonder if Pep will rest the Robot vs Wolves?? Considering he's comments about him being tired and CL matches coming up

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