Dugout Discussion

Alexander-Arnold ill and Torres benched as Klopp and Guardiola ring the changes

There are four Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 BST this afternoon, with Liverpool and Manchester City both in action on home soil.

Crystal Palace and Southampton are the visitors to Anfield and the Etihad, with Burnley v Arsenal and Norwich City v Watford the other two games taking place.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have both rotated heavily from their midweek UEFA Champions League fixtures, with some damaging omissions from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is ill and Andrew Robertson is benched, with James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas getting the nod at full-back. Ibrahima Konate is also in for Joel Matip at centre-half.

There are six changes in all for Liverpool from their win over AC Milan on Wednesday, with Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane back in the side following midweek benchings.

Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah keep their places in attack, with the Reds’ opponents, Crystal Palace, unchanged following the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola makes five changes from the side that hammered RB Leipzig, with Kyle Walker, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling coming into the side.

Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez are benched, with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Rodri not in the squad.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl makes three alterations from the team that drew 0-0 with West Ham last weekend, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek and Che Adams in for Romain Perraud, Mohamed Salisu and Moussa Djenepo.

Sean Dyche keeps faith with the same Burnley XI that lost 3-1 at Everton on Monday evening.

Both of Mikel Arteta’s two changes are in midfield, with Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Aaron Ramsdale again lines up between the posts.

Norwich hand full debuts to three summer signings: central midfielder Mathias Normann, centre-back Ozan Kabak and forward Joshua Sargent.

Billy Gilmour and Milot Rashica also come in as Daniel Farke makes five changes from the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Lukas Rupp, Andrew Omobamidele, Pierre Lees-Melou and Christos Tzolis drop to the bench and Kieran Dowell misses out.

Daniel Bachmann is only on the bench for Watford, so budget FPL goalkeeper Ben Foster gets a start between the posts.

Xisco Munoz has made four alterations in all from the Hornets’ 2-0 loss by Wolves, with Kiko Femenía, Tom Cleverley and Craig Cathcart promoted to the starting XI.

Jeremy Ngakia and Peter Etebo are benched and Francisco Sierralta is out.

GAMEWEEK 5 LINE-UPS

Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeill, Wood, Barnes

Subs: Hennessey, Cork, Lennon, Rodriguez, Cornet, Collins, Pieters, Bardsley, Vydra

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Odegaard, Saka, Aubameyang

Subs: Leno, Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Soares, Tavares, Mari, Sambi Lokonga, Martinelli


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Konate, Thiago, Milner, Mane, Salah, Henderson, Jota, Tsimikas.

Subs: Kelleher, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Robertson, Origi, Phillips.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Mitchell, Guehi, Kouyate, Ayew, Zaha, Anderson, McArthur, Benteke, Gallagher.

Subs: Butland, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Olise, Hughes, Clyne, Edouard, Kelly, Riedewald.


Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Sterling, Gundogan, Jesus, Grealish, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Cancelo.

Subs: Carson, De Bruyne, Torres, Mahrez, Foden, Mbete, Palmer, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Adams, Redmond, Livramento, Elyounoussi, Bednarek.

Subs: Forster, Lyanco, Perraud, Broja, Djenepo, Salisu, Tella, Diallo, Valery.


Watford: Foster, Rose, Ekong, King, Cleverley, Cathcart, Sissoko, Femenia, Sarr, Dennis, Kucka.

Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Etebo, Louza, Masina, Sema, Fletcher, Kabasele, Hernandez.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gilmour, Kabak, Normann, Rashica, Williams, Pukki, McLean, Sargent.

Subs: Gunn, Gibson, Rupp, Cantwell, Tzolis, Lees-Melou, Giannoulis, Idah, Omobamidele.

ENTER FANTASY5’s FREE-TO-PLAY £10K GAME BEFORE KICK-OFF

1,535 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Tsimikas Livramento and Gilmour saving me with 13 points

  2. JohnnyRev7
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    176 from 6 with 89 still to play.

    Any good?

    Jusk asking for a friend.

    1. TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      *tumbleweed*

      1. JohnnyRev7
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        When did you have your humour bypass operation? Just curious.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      About average. I’ve still got my three captains to play. Thinking if I hit 450 points this week I’ll just lick my wounds and hope for better next week.

    3. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    4. JohnnyRev7
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers boys. I thought it was shiite. Onwards and upwards.

    5. Mozumbus
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Haha.
      176 from 6 is ok, but 89 not making sense. What sports your friend is into?

  3. fantasyfog
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Right then, ings Hattie (c) to save my he

    LET'S GO!!

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Doucoure hatty

  4. Gabbiadini
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why did I put a Norwich defender as my first sub and not Livramento (I also have Sarr)?
    Where is my Southampton optimism... of course, we weren't conceding away to City.
    I guess if Norwich had kept a CS and Southampton had conceded I'd have looked more stupid. Anyone restore some of my sanity, please?

    1. TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Poor decision you suck

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        great. thanks.

    2. Pacer.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I did the same. Fair decision, a Norwich cleanie was higher probability. Shelve it under 'it happens'

    3. Holmes
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      On paper, it was a sensible decision. Play same game 100 times and having Williams ahead of Livramentos will score more.

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They were away at Man City but on the other hand Norwich won't keep many clean sheets all season!

    5. Gabbiadini
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeh thanks all. one of them, aye.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I've already written this off as a bonkers GW no one could predict.

        1. Gabbiadini
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes, although apart from Trent I think I've avoided a bit of carnage, so far at least.

  5. EmreCan Hustle
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So no Richarlison? What happened?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      injured

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Wow. So many injuries that went under my radar. I might be losing touch.

        1. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          new injuries kept under wraps by rafa again. Pickford Coleman Richa all injured

  6. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This could be the best FPL season in years purely on the basis that I can’t see a template emerging. So many choices and options or so we think until they get injured banned or benched. Are all the illness ones Covid? Was TAA Covid do we know?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Pacer.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's the best I remember in years. Take everything you knew and TEAR IT UP

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Everyone in my mini leagues is just copying Andy from let's talk fpl

        1. Pacer.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          should be straightforward enough then to just copy and monkey and beat them

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Would be boring as hell

          2. Albrightondknight
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Just saying there are better places to get advice. The FPL wire boys are the go to expert opinion.

      • George Agdgdgwngo
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Gallagher or Sarr?

        1. Holmes
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Sarr for next 3, Gallagher after that

          1. Andy_Social
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Sarr for 2. He's got Liverpool after that.

        2. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Sarr now, Gallagher in GW 9

      • gilean
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thought I was clever starting Tsimikas, but everyone gets him on as an autosub anyway

        1. Pointless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes, those of us who were bold enough to start Tsimikas should get an extra bonus point! I feel a bit peeved!

        2. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Annoying when that happens.

        3. Pep bites Kun
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Not everyone. A lot of 'cleverer' managers would have transferred him out to free up the 3rd Liv spot for Jota 😉

          Take your points with grace

      • Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Why does 442 look ok but 433 seems wrong? It’s basically the same and just a choice of a forward over a mid 🙂

        1. Harry the Hack
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I think 433 looks better!

        2. The 12th Man
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          4-3-3 working out for me. Especially with Livermento as bench cover for no shows.

        3. Andy_Social
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Well your Dennises and Hwangs are starting to look at bit interesting.

          1. Albrightondknight
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Maybe but would want something stronger for a third spot if going 3 up top. But those options are falling away

      • Bob_the_builder
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Really need a Brighton CS now with Duffy coming in for TAA and Sanchez in goal.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Me too plus Bissy stepping in or Harrison. 5 points from Livra is not enough - the full bench needs to do a shift.

          1. TheTinman
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Me three, and if Benrahma doesn't make it I've got 3 of them 😆

      • Mozumbus
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ings please! You can make up for Tsimikas > Semedo.

      • Gunneryank
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This game just continues to refuse to be predicted. What do the odds have to be for Livramento to get a cs away to City? Just astounding. Are Saints for real? I haven't watched them.

        Also Pool were flattered by their scoreline. Palace acquitted themselves well.

        Arsenal looking better. Saka and Tierney were lively, Gabriel had a great day defensively. Tierney subbed off for cramping according to Guardian. Nothing serious.