Dugout Discussion
31 January 2026 482 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

Can Liverpool v Newcastle United live up to the match that preceded it?

Following on from the five-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge, the final Premier League match of the day kicks off at 20:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Arne Slot makes two changes from the midweek win over Qarabag.

Ibrahima Konate is back for the Reds after his recent absence, which was due to a family bereavement.

He replaced the injured Jeremie Frimpong.

That’s presumably going to mean a stint at right-back for Dominik Szoboszlai.

It’s a straight swap at left-back, meanwhile, as Milos Kerkez ousts Andrew Robertson from the side.

Eddie Howe keeps the surprises coming as he makes three changes for the trip to Anfield.

Nick Woltemade drops out of the side but it’s not Yoane Wissa leading the line, with the responsibility seemingly falling to Anthony Gordon.

Gordon is brought back in following his midweek breather, as are Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes.

Lewis Miley and Sven Botman drop to the bench, which also contains the aforementioned Wissa and Woltemade.

It doesn’t, however, feature Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian returned to the Newcastle squad at the Parc de Princes in midweek, remaining an unused substitute. But he’s absent entirely this evening.

LINE-UPS

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Nallo, Ngumoha.

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Osula, J. Murphy, Woltemade, A. Murphy, Shahar, Miley.

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:


price change predictions
482 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    8 days, 14 hours ago

    Was a bit miffed half an hour ago when my ML leader sold Eki for Pedro. Glad I kept Hugo Boss.

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      Imagine another 2 this half

  2. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    8 days, 14 hours ago

    Ekitike has to come in GW 28 for sure

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      May keep him selling Thiago for Pedro

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        8 days, 14 hours ago

        Think I’m going to try selling DCL for JP by downgrading Saka. Haaland, Ekitike and JP until Chelsea’s fixtures turn again.

        1. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Yeah, sounds like a good front line.

      2. pundit of punts
        • 13 Years
        8 days, 14 hours ago

        Thiago is a hard sell

        Need him back in 27

  3. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    8 days, 14 hours ago

    Why we don't talk more about how they are making the price changes crazy? It's like playing CoD multiplayer lol.

  4. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 days, 14 hours ago

    I resisted the urge to do Ekitike to JP, so glad it paid off for once!

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 8 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      Well done

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      So did I. And was fuming all day after a few captained JP!

      Would’ve been so so good if JP just got a 1 point cameo and then I get him in next week, ah well.

  5. Machine Gun Skelly
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      I was just celebrating the JP transfer...

    • FC Hakkebøf
      • 8 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      Sold Ekitike and Gordon for Kroupi and Bruno.

      Should have done Palmer to Bruno and left it at that.

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        8 days, 14 hours ago

        Might be close to net zero if Bruno does well

    • Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      Gordon biggest troll, owned for weeks, gets nothin , get rid this week, now decides to score, away from home to

      Still glad got rid, won’t go there again!

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 days, 14 hours ago

        He looks more like a rodent than a troll.

        1. The Night Trunker.
          • 2 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          No personal attacks please.

          1. The Night Trunker.
            • 2 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Or we will beat you with rainbow flags.

            1. The FPL Units
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Thats not how a rainbow is used

        2. LarryDuff
          • 10 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Childish

    • sminkypinky
      • 14 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      Rough with the smooth. Did Wirtz+Ekitike -> JP+Enzo. Still glad I did it.

    • LarryDuff
      • 10 Years
      8 days, 14 hours ago

      Ekiteke and Wirtz link up is wild, can read each others minds

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        8 days, 14 hours ago

        Exactly, clear they’ve played with each other before Pool

        1. Raoul Nogues
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            They never did

            1. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Well that’s embarrassing 😆

              I had in my head they both came from Frankfurt for some reason

              1. Raoul Nogues
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  They must have created a german secret code just between them

        2. Warbling Wendy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          The torch has been passed at Anfield with that second goal. No longer looking to constantly feed Salah, Ekitike takes the moment for himself.

        3. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Any word on Saka injury?

          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Either way he needs to go. His positional rival is on fire

            1. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              As in Madueke? Or some FPL rival?

              1. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Yes Madueke. Even if Saka keeps starting, Madueke is gonna eat into those minutes much more

                1. Fifa las vegas
                  • 13 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  Hard sell Saka so, even if not injured.

                  Thing is do I get Rice or someone else

                  1. Utopsis
                    • 6 Years
                    8 days, 14 hours ago

                    I don't think I'll be getting Rice.

                    Enzo, Mbeumo, Wirtz now all options

                    1. Fifa las vegas
                      • 13 Years
                      8 days, 14 hours ago

                      Could be right. I’m being blinded by the potential arsenal DGW

          2. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Arteta: "Saka he had a little niggle [in the warm-up]. He wasn't comfortable to start the game so immediately we made the decision to make the change and bring Noni in."

            1. The Night Trunker.
              • 2 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Translation
              "Saka has broken every bone in his three legs and will have to take early retirement ".

            2. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              The fact that Madueke was subbed at 60 with the game won indicates that Arteta wants to protect him in light of Saka's injury - so may miss a few games

        4. The Senate
          • 7 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Constantly flip flopped all week on selling Saka or Ekitike

          Pulled the trigger last night on keeping Saka, injured in the warmup and his replacement hauls.

          Only upwards from here

          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            OK that's very unlucky

            1. Warbling Wendy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              It's not unlucky that Ekitike has braced - his data and performances have been good recently.

              Saka getting injured in the warm is of course unfortunate though.

              1. GreennRed
                • 14 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Saka's FPL form hasn't been good though.

              2. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                I can see why he sold Ekitike instead of Saka this week though - better fixture on paper and he is "due" for a player of his calibre

          2. The Knights Template
            • 12 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Need a Senate inquiry, quickly!

        5. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          I have owned Ekitike almost the entire season. Sold him in GW 13 after a long run of mainly blanks. Missed the run of 1-1-13-13-9. Rebought for wolves and got 5-2-0-0-2-1 since then. Benched him this week as every other player in my team had a better fixture and he was looking at reduced minutes again. Lol@me and this joke game.

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Same game for everyone.

            1. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Same game with wildly differing luck.

              1. GreennRed
                • 14 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Make your own luck. I'm 3m cos not paying much heed to it.

          2. The Knights Template
            • 12 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            You benched Ekitike? There is simply no excuse for that, none whatsoever. Extemely poor management! Season over!

            1. Brosstan
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              No excuse for benching someone with sub 2 ppg over last 5 games and bound to play at most 70 minutes.

              1. The Knights Template
                • 12 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                No where to hide!

                1. Brosstan
                  • 11 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  I'm not hiding. Unlike a lot of people on here I will post just as much when it goes poorly as when it goes well

                  1. The Knights Template
                    • 12 Years
                    8 days, 14 hours ago

                    You do, that’s true. Now vqc49y quickly! You will be welcomed with open arms!

              2. MJF
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                You can spin in that way or say he looked good midweek. Footy is hard to predict.

        6. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Could they not find enough ex-Liv

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            ..erpool players for the BT studio analysis.

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Macca, “Salah has been slightly disappointing” 😆

        7. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          If I do Watkins > Ekitike right now do I get Ekitike’s second half points? Thankee.

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            You can. Revolut me 50 quid and I'll sort it for you.

          2. The Night Trunker.
            • 2 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            You need to oil up and beat yourself senseless in your own dungeon.

          3. Captain Mal
            • 1 Year
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Sure. Wat kin go wrong?

          4. Goro Majima
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            It's an idea for FPL towers next season.

        8. Utopsis
          • 6 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Selling Saka enables a front 3 of Haaland, Ekitike, JP

          Cue Thiago hattrick

          1. Fifa las vegas
            • 13 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Ah god, don’t torture me with another Thiago hattrick

            1. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              He single handily changed my progress this season in two GWs

              1. Fifa las vegas
                • 13 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                *handedly

          2. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            May just sell Saka and Thiago tonight for Chelsea guy, worst case I hit WC.

            1. Atimis
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              *guys

            2. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              I’m thinking about this too. Really don’t want to but price changes will be wild

          3. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Thiago plays this team next after they have had Man City in the EFL semifinal a few days before, I still think he could be a decent hold

            1. pundit of punts
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Thiago is an easy hold for those who own

        9. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Do we really think Rice is a good third Arsenal pick? 4 blanks now, why the hell he is going up in price tonight?! Prices are mad, way too far...

          1. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Szobo going up is one of the strangest things I've sedn

            1. Atimis
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              They should sort it out next season, makes the game worse.

            2. GreennRed
              • 14 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              He passes the eye test but not the FPL form test.

              1. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                He has got 1 return between GWs 10-22. 1 double digit return in GW23 and a price rise - mad!

                1. GreennRed
                  • 14 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  Very influential in every game, not reflected in FPL. Glad we beat Hungary in Budapest but he was unreal for them.

                  1. Utopsis
                    • 6 Years
                    8 days, 14 hours ago

                    True - he's even had a good game from right back today, still no returns

            3. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              seen*

          2. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            0.22, 0.56, 0.58, 0.40 is decent xGI in those games tbf
            but yeah not great output after the hype!

          3. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            He's fine. He's a CM. He will have some games where it ends 3 or 4 nil and he gets nothing and then when they play Chelsea away he'll score the winner in a 1-0 and get 11 points. That's just kinda how it'll go. Gotta hold your nerve. He's got routes to points with the set pieces, late runs into the box and occasional DCs.

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              This

            2. Atimis
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Sounds like we have better picks then, and the main (or only real now?) appeal is DGW.

        10. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Liverpool should send Salah packing to Saudi with love and thanks, and buy Wilson for next to nothing.

        11. pundit of punts
          • 13 Years
          8 days, 14 hours ago

          Saka may well be good to go at the weekend

          Twitter suggesting so

          Is he a must sell with a DGW in sight?

          Could be a huge differential

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Sounds like Foden case, cant keep them all

          2. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            I’ve a certain Egyptian that needs moving on first

          3. Raoul Nogues
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Injury means more minutes management

            • Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              No risks will be taken with Saka with Madueke available

            • MJF
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              The issue is he rarely gets more than an assist, even if fit I am not sure 10.0 is worth it. If he was 7.5 then yeah.

          4. The Night Trunker.
            • 2 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            All my remaining funds going on Newcastle or draw.
            I feel it.

            1. Revival
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              ah you've seen Liverpool's collapse against Bournemouth last week then.

          5. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Salah lack of confidence showing again. No way he would’ve passed that last season, he would’ve teed it up on his left and curled it.

          6. Kaneyonero
            • 9 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Salah is gone

          7. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Salah has been poor enough

          8. fedolefan
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Omg Ekitike..lol

            1. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Wouldn't been Szobo assist as well, I am crestfallen

              1. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Would've

                1. fedolefan
                  • 11 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  He looked embarrassed by the miss.

                  1. Utopsis
                    • 6 Years
                    8 days, 14 hours ago

                    Admittedly the angle was against him as a right footer

          9. Miguel Sanchez
            • 9 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Bench one next GW:

            A) Rogers (bou)
            B) Rice (SUN)
            C) Wilson (EVE)

            1. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              One of the other 5

              1. GreennRed
                • 14 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                A

              2. Miguel Sanchez
                • 9 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Haaland, JPedro, Ekitike, BrunoF or Enzo

                1. Utopsis
                  • 6 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  Hmmmmmmm

                  Haaland is a serious consideration for the bench.

                  Not sure I'd want to double up Chelsea attack against a much improved Wolves either - if Palmer looks like starting, Enzo for bench

            2. Prinzhorn
              • 5 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Wilson if you really have to

            3. JBG
              • 7 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Maybe Arteta will do it for you...

              1. Miguel Sanchez
                • 9 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                He doesn’t have my FPL password to the best of my knowledge

                1. JBG
                  • 7 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  Good thing you understood what I meant

          10. Prinzhorn
            • 5 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Should I kneejerk Pedro in for Evanilson? Complete wrong choice on WC.

            1. Sailboats
              • 10 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Wait for midweek league cup game first.

            2. FPL Blow-In
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              I did say that to you

              1. Prinzhorn
                • 5 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Guess I just have to take the loss. I’ll need to stack FT’s now.

          11. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Chiesa for Saka soon enough. Hall has cleaned Mo out and looks fairly well over the hill now. Is Hall a realistic pick for England World Cup squad?

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              We are not exactly blessed with left backs, we often play a rb there.

            2. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              I think he's on the plane.

              Probably between him and Shaw for the XI? O'Reilly an outside chance

            3. FPL Blow-In
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              He should be the starting LB

          12. Biggsy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Well I'm glad I held off Ekitike to JP this week

            But given JP has Wolves, guess it's time for Thiago to go.

            Or Haaland of course...

            1. Atimis
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Can't see myself keeping Thiago now, JP should outscore him next 3.

              1. Utopsis
                • 6 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                I think I agree with you

              2. Biggsy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                I think this is the way

                Guess I'm stuck with my awful backline for another week!

            2. GreennRed
              • 14 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Wolves not the soft touch of a few weeks ago. Same for Burnley.

              1. Biggsy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                Wolves look much improved, but still sucked vs a Bournemouth who also suck on their travels

            3. JBG
              • 7 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Liverpool don't do CSs

              1. Biggsy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                I'm not keeping Ekitike for the CS points...

                1. JBG
                  • 7 Years
                  8 days, 14 hours ago

                  Haaland.... vs Pool... you... considering.... selling him...

                  Hence my comment

                  1. Biggsy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    8 days, 14 hours ago

                    Oh sorry, missed that.

                    Not actually considering selling the robot. It was a humerous suggestion at the end of the realistic one hence why I totally missed your (valid) point.

            4. Revival
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              JP is the ultimate troll when I own him. Will blank in all the easy fixtures, score something like 1 goal in 9 games and be benched at least twice for 1 pointers.
              Then as soon as I sell him he will score a brace and get a double price rise.

              1. Prinzhorn
                • 5 Years
                8 days, 14 hours ago

                That is Exactly the reason why I didnt get him, he has been so bad for me so many times and now he punishes me again. I hate him.

          13. ViperStripes
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            How did DCL look earlier? play him vs NFO or Play Ekitike vs MCI

            1. The Night Trunker.
              • 2 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Dom

            2. Miguel Sanchez
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Play Ekitike - looks very sharp last game and a half

            3. GreennRed
              • 14 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Ekitike

            4. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              MCI will give Ekitike space, don't bench him

            5. MJF
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              Can’t bench Ekitike.

            6. Revival
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              I would play Ekitike

          14. Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 14 hours ago

            Wirtz touch and close control is unbelievable

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 14 hours ago

              He’s looking so good now