Dugout Discussion

Holgate and Sidibe benched as Everton face Palace in Gameweek 26 opener

The first of ten Premier League matches in as many days takes place between Everton and Crystal Palace, with Gameweek 26 getting underway at Goodison Park at 12:30 GMT.

Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a blow to owners of Mason Holgate (£4.5m) and Djibril Sidibe (£5.4m), with both of those defenders only among the substitutes.

That is Holgate’s first benching since Gameweek 9, with the budget Fantasy Premier League asset losing his ever-present record under his new manager.

Michael Keane (£5.2m) and Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) come in at centre-half and right-back respectively, with Bernard (£6.4m) ousting Alex Iwobi (£5.6m) on the left flank.

Ancelotti’s other change is an enforced one, with Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.4m) replacing the suspended Fabian Delph (£5.3m).

Richarlison (£8.1m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.1m) again form a two-man strike force for the hosts.

Speaking of his line-up changes, Ancelotti said:

We need more of everything. More quality, more intensity, more pressure, more concentration. It’s not easy to pick the line-up but I want everyone to be involved and the players accept my decisions.

The Palace team news is nice and easy to digest, with the Eagles unchanged from their defeat to Sheffield United last weekend.

Martin Kelly (£4.3m), who lost his place to Joel Ward (£4.3m) in Gameweek 25 anyway, is absent with a minor calf injury.

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) is between the posts again after his clanger against the Blades, with Roy Hodgson saying:

You don’t drop first-choice goalkeepers because they’ve made one mistake – it can happen to anyone. We’re very happy with him and very happy he’s playing today.

Palace are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16, which is the longest barren streak in the top flight at present.


Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Walcott, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha, Ayew, Benteke.

1,580 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tsparkes10
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Henderson was the pretty clear choice for England's number 1. Now its obvious. Has to happen

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Probably bad for our prospects of signing him though!

    2. Coys96
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If Southgate still picks Pickford shows how clueless he is

  2. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone considering Benteke as an Aguero replacement?
    Plays NEW, BHA, WAT, BOU next
    On form, with lethal finishing against the England #1 GK
    Only 5.7m, which is more than half that of Kun despite him being twice the player

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Definitely a “wait and see”

  3. Bun Rab
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Richarlison G.

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      DCL A

  4. Ginkapo FPL
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    What year was it when Bentekkers was good?

    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      2014 or 2015

      I remember putting the armband on him in DGW1

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        16/17 he got 15 goals

  5. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Fantastic goal FROM Richarlison

  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    OMG richarlison

  7. Woy_is_back
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Pope or Henderson should surely play ahead of Pickford in the euros?

  8. diesel001
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Rich G
    DCL A

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      OMG

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    DCL assist possibly

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, nice little header onto him.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Probably? 😆 of course it is

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Possibly 😀

  10. jia you
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Benteke(C) yes!

  11. ZeBestee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    What a goal, Rich

  12. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Richarlison Goal, DCL Assist!

  13. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RICH you beauty

  14. FPL Pillars
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Benteke Smelling blood

  15. SirStevieG
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    YES DCL assist 😀

  16. Pukki Party
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Terrible defending by Cahill

  17. Brosstan
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    DCL assist... piss off

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Thought you said DCL owners were in tears a little while back.

      1. Brosstan
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        pure jam. Should have been off injured instead gets a casual assist with no effort put it

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Great flick on to allow the counter

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      So much salt.

  18. Gobigorgohome
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    DCLLLL YESSSSS

  19. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Richa!!

  20. Woy_is_back
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Guaita sucks

    1. Jullepuu
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Well that just isn't true lol

  21. jia you
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Missing the deadline sucks 🙁
    My boy Richarlison...

    1. The 12th Man
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You had all week.

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        it only entered my head today but got the deadline mixed up...Martial could still outscore him anyway 🙂

        1. The 12th Man
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Oh well. Hopefully Martial matches him for you.

          1. jia you
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            yeah just had a feeling about him today and the fact I had no Saturday players... wouldve been very panty anyway with Martial at home to Watford in 27

            1. jia you
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              *punch lol

              1. jia you
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                *punty! too much sun!

  22. Bun Rab
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Tompkins down.

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Off, Replaced by Scott Dann.

  23. FPL Pillars
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    One of my league transferred in Richarlison. Noice

  24. The Fed
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Richarlisoooon!

  25. DycheDycheBaby
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    DCL assist. Lovely

  26. Francescoli
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Another cheeky return please DCL

  27. Ginkapo FPL
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    3 year since Bentekkers was good

    1. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      3 years generous

  28. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Come on Digne grab a goal or assist

  29. OverTinker
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Finally DCL with an attacking return yes

  30. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Do you think Richa can be consistent and play like lets say Suarez for Barca soon?

    Rumor was Barca gave 80M for him...