Dugout Discussion
31 January 2026 482 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Hall has Salah in his pocket all game

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

    OR#57 with the Ekitike (c), fair play!
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/66111/event/24

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      The guy sitting 9th in my work ML captained him as well. It's not all skill

    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      I captained him, wheyey! baffled at why he wasn't number 1. Haaland will not score against spurs (spurs bogey team and Haaland is knackered) and Bruno Fernandes will be tired after such an incredible performance last week.

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        Can’t argue with the tired logic.

  3. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Which one is more important next week - Rice vs SUN or Enzo vs wol?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Get whichever one will have a double in GW26

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        We have GW25 before, I can always get another for the DGW

        1. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 days, 2 hours ago

          Rice for me for GW25

    2. antis0cial
      • 9 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Enzo

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Enzo

    4. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      I went for Rice because I expect Wolves to beat Chelsea.

  4. antis0cial
    • 9 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Saka Guiu to Enzo Pedro too knee jerk? Would give front 3 of Haaland Ekitike Pedro

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      I could be going Saka Thiago to Enzo JPedro

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      That's the front line the lemmings appear to be heading towards this week. Not kneejerky in the slightest

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

    Ekitike on 3 baps, if that helps.

    1. MJF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      It helps.

  6. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    yay salah assist

    wirtz golazo

  7. The Night Trunker.
    • 2 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    NOooʻoʻoooooooooo !

  8. JBG
    • 7 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Squirtz G, Salah A

    Salah is back!

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Miles back from Wirtz

  9. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Have to find a way of getting Ekitike and Wirtz

    1. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      This

      Absolute must by GW 28

  10. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Wirtz!

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Keep both Eki and Wirtz then...

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        Haha what a match you're having!

        1. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          10 days, 2 hours ago

          At least once!

  11. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    OKAY

    Liverpool are hitting form

    Time to get Wirtz and Ekitike

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Do they play New every week?

  12. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    WIRTTTTZZZZZZ my boy!!!!!

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Congrats!

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        Thanks. Didn't sell him for Bruno, so really relieved.

  13. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    6 goals in 10 matches all comps for wirtz

  14. sminkypinky
    • 14 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Imagine one transferring out Ekitike and Wirtz. o/

  15. LarryDuff
    • 10 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Happy Wirst and Ekiteke owner and pool fan mup

  16. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Wirtz essential?

  17. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    damn salah 😥

  18. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Salah lol

  19. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Feeling very smug right now. I captained Ekitike and predicated a hat trick... (obvious choice for captain this week after Haaland is clearly knackered)

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      did you factor in Bruno (p) 97'

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        Bruno will be knackered after the Arsenal game. He gets an assist but that's all. Utd 1-1 Fulham

        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          10 days, 2 hours ago

          🙂 congrats on the ekitike cap

          1. Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            10 days, 2 hours ago

            Thanks! Needed the differential. Also, Liverpool v Newcastle evening games always high scoring games and ekitike has been performing very well for the past few weeks, so hauling was going to come.

  20. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Haha, yet another classic one foot fail 😆

  21. JBG
    • 7 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Haaland to Salah done, Liverpool will destroy City

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      yeah. they've been defensively trash all season, but they do score goals.

  22. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    needed that acceleration to get away from tripps first half!

  23. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Has anybody seen Salah’s missing right foot?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      😆

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      3 years ago his pace would have been enough to score from that.

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

    Ok so maybe we weren't completely crazy when we had Wirtz in our GW1 teams!

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      We were so far ahead of the curve .

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Obviously he’s taken a while to settle, but those people who were doubting his quality were clueless.

    3. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Not completely, but crazy anyway tbh.

  25. Miguel Sanchez
    • 9 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Gotta clear a place and funds for Florian. Finally looks Wirtz his price.

  26. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    I’ve really been sleeping on Wirtz form. Could be an option too.

    Is Enzo returns sustainable? Didn’t have much happening today expect for that last minute dart into the box for a goal at the death?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 9 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Keep Enzo, timing his runs well, on pens when Palmer isn’t on the pitch. Find another route to Wirtz.

      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        I don’t have him! Question is do I get him or aim to get Wirtz?

  27. The Night Trunker.
    • 2 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Great subs.
    C'mon the Toon!

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      If that come back from this, I'd be impressed and surprised

      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        They* wtf autocorrect is that?

  28. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Watkins and Saka have to go. Have two free trades and 0.5m ITMP. I wonder who I should get!

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      Wirtz

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        10 days, 2 hours ago

        I call him Woohoo Wirtz!

  29. Utopsis
    • 6 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    That looks that Szobo DC points. Currently on 1 bonus too

  30. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    10 days, 2 hours ago

    Gotta sell Rice for Wilson. But the double means it has to wait

    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      10 days, 2 hours ago

      for Wirtz*