After last night’s rather unpalatable starter, tonight we get the main course. No less than eight Premier League matches will be played out under lights, with a full array of Fantasy talent on show. Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to grab all your joy and pain as the goals hit the net over the next couple of hours.
The team news is, quite frankly, pretty surprising. Juan Mata is again rested to the bench with Rafa Benitez appearing to select a rather conservative lineup at Stamford Bridge – it’s Ryan Bertand who replaces the mercurial Spaniard – an unpredictable move for a home match in front of the restless Chelsea throngs. Carlos Tevez is another heavy-hitter who finds himself spectating at kick-off, he remains on the timber with Roberto Mancini making three changes to his lineup at Wigan, including a recall for Mario Balotelli.
Arsene Wenger is also rotating, drafting in Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott as Kieran Gibbs drops to the bench and Lukas Podolski misses out – reportedly through illness. There are four changes in the United lineup, although thankfully, the big guns all start with Robin Van Persie in tandem with Javier Hernandez: it looks as though Wayne Rooney could be deployed in a wide role.
