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. DBry
      8 days, 9 hours ago

      Better option, Wirtz or Ekitike?

      Don’t think I’d want both

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        8 days, 9 hours ago

        Hmm. Kinda depends on your team.

        I think Ekitike in isolation - loads of good mids

        1. DBry
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Rice, Bruno, brunoG, Enzo, Semenyo
            Watkins Haaland Guiu

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

              Bruno G to Wirtz

              1. DBry
                  8 days, 9 hours ago

                  Yep 1.5 it’s to do this

                  1. DBry
                      8 days, 9 hours ago

                      Itb

            2. Magic Zico
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              More options in the mid?

          • Ignasi M
            • 8 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            ekitike should have had 5 this evening

          • Sailboats
            • 10 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Ekitike off

            1. Ignasi M
              • 8 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Garth

              1. Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                *gargh

            2. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Job done

              1. Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                he's got to be the best striker in the world

                1. Utopsis
                  • 6 Years
                  8 days, 9 hours ago

                  I wouldn't go that far

                2. Drizzle
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 2 Years
                  8 days, 9 hours ago

                  Haha

          • fedolefan
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Was going to sell Wirtz for Bruno GW25. The lad is going nowhere now.

          • Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            A Liverpool pen now would be delicious

          • F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            szobo got defcon and maybe 1 bonus as well

          • Utopsis
            • 6 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Endo on, Szobo to #10? Say it is so

          • Atimis
            • 9 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Enzo or Mbeumo?
            Have BrunoF, will be getting JPedro as well.

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

              Wait til tomorrow’s game

          • F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            burn lucky not to get sent off

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

            Is there a best Man U defender to own for a few GWs? Maguire or Dalot

            1. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Umm... why?

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

                Funds for Wirtz

            2. F4L
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              i dont think dalot has shown much/any attacking intent since carrick came in but kinda understandable given the opponents. would go maguire anyways think, if he can stay fit should be good for regular defcon and attacking threat is always there

            3. Kingy109
              • 4 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              De Ligt back soon?

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

              no, defence still shaky. Everton / arsenal if you want clean sheets

          • The Knights Template
            • 12 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Jurgen Klopp was asked for his reaction to the game, ‘you didn’t check Trivago?’, he responded.

          • Rwilliams90
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Thank you Wirtz you beauty.

          • F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            konate g
            maybe szobo a

            1. Kaneyonero
              • 9 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Nah won't be assist

            2. F4L
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              *im not sure, looks like a double deflection. new rules are abit confusing

            3. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              I would love it, but unlikely. Keeper dropped the ball

          • The Night Trunker.
            • 2 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Did it for his Dad.
            Love it.... don't mind losing now xxx

          • bobicek92
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 1 Year
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            Which Thia to play next week?

            A) go
            B) w

            1. _Ninja_
              • 15 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Always go

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

              Go

            3. F4L
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              w for the win

          • _Ninja_
            • 15 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            1FT.. 3.2m ITB

            If i do DLC -> JPedro, who would you bench next gw? or should i just change keeper / get Gabriel?

            Dubravka
            Timber Chalobah Dalot
            BrunoF Rogers Wilson Semenyo Enzo
            Haaland Ekitike

            Petrovic DCL Guehi Alderete

          • Manani
            • 14 Years
            8 days, 9 hours ago

            JP or Enzo?

            Or both? (Will have to sell Rogers)

            1. DBry
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                Keep Roger’s

                1. DARE TO BISCAN
                  • 7 Years
                  8 days, 9 hours ago

                  Roger's what?

              • Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                8 days, 8 hours ago

                Keep rogers

            2. Warbling Wendy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Konate emotional

            3. LarryDuff
              • 10 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Konate is just back after losing his father, glad for him

            4. Ribus
              • 12 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Finally can get rid of Virgil. Think i will go for a Chesea defender. ML river has Chalobah. Cucu too risky or was it just a rest today?

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

                I'd go for Everton and Arsenal over Chelsea defence.

            5. Supersonic_
              • 4 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Just brought Wirtz in. Sorry owners.

              1. fedolefan
                • 11 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                Forgiven.

            6. fedolefan
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Not sure I even want triple Arsenal.

              1. Magic Zico
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                Only for the double - triple def

                1. fedolefan
                  • 11 Years
                  8 days, 9 hours ago

                  Too much work for folks like me with only Gabriel.

            7. LarryDuff
              • 10 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Humble brag for today, I brought in Summerville

              1. DARE TO BISCAN
                • 7 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                Isn't that just.... a brag?

              2. Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                ive been thinking the same. he's been phenomenal for a few weeks now. under the radar

                1. LarryDuff
                  • 10 Years
                  8 days, 8 hours ago

                  4 goals in 4

            8. FPL Blow-In
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              With .1 itb I can afford Thiago to Pedro. Will be priced out after his rise tonight. Thoughts

              Verbruggen
              Gabriel, Timber, Cash
              Salah, Saka, Bruno F, Rogers, KDH
              Watkins, DCL

              Victor, Thiago, Keane, Alderete

              Thank you

              1. Ignasi M
                • 8 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                Sell Saka and Watkins, obviously.

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

                  We don’t know the extent of the injuries though?

              2. FPL Blow-In
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                8 days, 9 hours ago

                I’ve had 4 injured players and a player suspended for 3 matches in the 4gw’s since using WC…

            9. Ignasi M
              • 8 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              Outside chance of Gabriel getting one bonus?

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

                Unlikely without some significant jiggery pokery

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

                  curses

            10. Jet5605
              • 11 Years
              8 days, 9 hours ago

              2FT and 0.3ITB. Could I roll again with this lot?

              Dubravka
              Gab - Timber - Andersen
              Bruno F - Cunha - Enzo - Rice
              Haaland - Eki - DCL

              Pickford - Szob - Guddy - Dorgu

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

                You could. Szob, Cunha and Dorgu could all go too though

                1. Jet5605
                  • 11 Years
                  8 days, 8 hours ago

                  Cheers. Cunhas minutes tmrw will be key. If he gets subbed at 70 with Mbeumo getting 80-90 I might switch to him and downgrade Szob to Wilson to enable that

            11. It’s gonna Ben Mee
              • 12 Years
              8 days, 8 hours ago

              Very nice parting gift Ekitike!

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

                Why sell?

                1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
                  • 12 Years
                  8 days, 8 hours ago

                  Need Pedro. Those fixtures look too nice to pass on.

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

                Really, has looked great last two games

            12. Raoul Nogues
                8 days, 8 hours ago

                Need advice to replace broken Saka : MBeumo or Wirtz ?
                Then I could buy Raya (or Sanchez to cover Chelsea defense? already have Gabriel, Timber and Fofana) for Roefs (already have Mukiele)

              • tucaoneo
                • 7 Years
                8 days, 8 hours ago

                Not sure which 1 of these 7 to ditch for JP. Thoughts?
                Bruno.F Semenyo Enzo Rogers Wilson
                Haaland Ekitike

                1. Nightf0x
                  • 10 Years
                  8 days, 8 hours ago

                  Wilson

                2. _Ninja_
                  • 15 Years
                  8 days, 8 hours ago

                  I have that front 7 and thinking about moving my 8th attacker DCL to Ekitike but it does cause a benching issue

                  1. tucaoneo
                    • 7 Years
                    8 days, 8 hours ago

                    You must have crazy team value!

                3. Raoul Nogues
                    8 days, 8 hours ago

                    Rogers

                4. Nightf0x
                  • 10 Years
                  8 days, 8 hours ago

                  Sanchez (dub)
                  Gabriel timber keane (richards mukiele)
                  Enzo bruno rice gordon (king)
                  Tiago haland watkins

                  initial thoughts, Which ?

                  A) watkins to ekitike/pedro
                  B) gordon to rogers/wirtz
                  C) roll ft

                  1. tucaoneo
                    • 7 Years
                    8 days, 8 hours ago

                    A

                    1. tucaoneo
                      • 7 Years
                      8 days, 8 hours ago

                      JP imo