Paqueta starts for me, he played well today (apart from one dreadful ball that gave Arsenal a 3 v 2) and looked very good in his cameo in the first leg. This game still needs winning, so start with as strong a side as we can (would like to rest Zouma but that's a luxury we won't have I fear), hopefully being able to bring some players off if we build a good lead.
Gent drew 1-1 away at 13th place Mechelen yesterday, reverted to 3-5-2 with Tarik Tissoudali starting instead of Gift Orban. Orban replaced Tissoudali at half time. Matisse Samoise scored
Cuypers was a Mechelen player last season, season before than he was at Olympiacos. Gent is Cuypers' 7th club since 2016, maybe he was born under a wanderin' star
I think if you sign up to the BT Sport monthly pass today for £30 you will get tonight's game, Liverpool 26/4 Palace 29/4 Man U 7/5 plus potentially both legs of the semi-finals 11/5 & 18/5. Works out at £5 each.
Alphonse Areola; Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson; Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta; Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma
Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Joseph Anang, Thilo Kehrer, Ben Johnson, Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini, Flynn Downes, Pablo Fornals, Freddie Potts, Divin Mubama, Maxwel Cornet, Danny Ings
For however poor some of us think soucek has been according to MNF this week he’s in the top 6 for serial duels won this season so he must be doing some things right.
Comments
Areola; Johnson Zouma Aguerd / Ogbonna / Kehrer (in that order) Emerson; Downes Rice; Bowen Fornals Cornet; Ings
Cuypers was a Mechelen player last season, season before than he was at Olympiacos. Gent is Cuypers' 7th club since 2016, maybe he was born under a wanderin' star
Areola
Coufal Zouma Aguerd Emerson
Bowen Paqueta Rice Fornals
Antonio Cornet
COYI ⚒
Alphonse Areola; Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson; Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta; Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma
Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Joseph Anang, Thilo Kehrer, Ben Johnson, Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini, Flynn Downes, Pablo Fornals, Freddie Potts, Divin Mubama, Maxwel Cornet, Danny Ings
D'ya think tabloid journos have got a pun ready?