Dugout Discussion

Hazard starts and is boosted by Giroud’s inclusion in line-up

The west London derby is the first of three matches on a busy Sunday of Premier League football, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 12:00 GMT.

Chelsea are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and are up against a Fulham side who won last weekend for the first time since Gameweek 3.

The big team news concerns the inclusion of Eden Hazard (£11.0m) in Chelsea’s starting XI, with the Belgian having shaken off the ankle knock that forced him to miss the Europa League win over PAOK on Thursday.

A potentially positive omen for Hazard’s owners is that Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) has been chosen to lead the line over Alvaro Morata (£8.8m): the significance there being that all seven of Hazard’s Premier League goals this season have come while the French striker has also been on the pitch.

Hazard was the most-transferred out player of Gameweek 14, having suffered over twice as many sales as any other FPL asset ahead of Friday’s deadline.

Pedro (£6.3m) gets the nod over Willian (£7.4m) on the right flank and the last time the Spanish winger lined up alongside Giroud and Hazard in a front three, Hazard racked up 20 FPL points (in Gameweek 5 versus Cardiff City).

Chelsea are otherwise unchanged from the side that lost to Spurs last weekend, with Ross Barkley (£5.8m) not in the matchday squad after picking up a knock in the win over PAOK.

Fulham are also unexpectedly missing a player through injury, with Andre Schurrle (£5.9m) having “felt a twinge” in the lead-up to this match and rested as a precaution.

Stefan Johansen (£5.1m) comes in to take the German’s place in midfield, though Claudio Ranieri hasn’t otherwise tinkered with Fulham’s starting XI after the 3-2 win over Southampton last Saturday.

Such is the fickle world of FPL, Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m) was the most-bought forward of this round after his brace in that Gameweek 13 victory.

Chelsea XI to face Fulham: Kepa, Alonso, Rudiger, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Giroud.

Fulham XI to face Chelsea: Rico, Le Marchand, Odoi, Mawson, Christie, Sessegnon, Chambers, Seri, Johansen, Cairney, Mitrovic.

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1,331 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    How many Hazard goals with Alonso assists is too many?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      One

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      🙄

  2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    C'mon Fulham!

    Tearthem a new one

  3. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    So if hazard does go on to blank surely it’s time to ship him

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      What if he hits the post 13 times?

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      ...

  4. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I should have waited and posted that Hazard stat here, ah well

    1. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      They’ll all fall for it agian...

      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        🙂

  5. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard blank please

  6. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    worried Hazard could explode today (non owner)

  7. J T
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Feeling good about this starting IX today, Let’s go Haxard(C)

    1. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      starting nine?

  8. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ranieri saying to Sarri that Chelsea will win today, but he wants to buy some of those Chelsea players on loan for cheap when the new regulations come in place.

  9. Arctic monkeys
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    COME ON Alonso (C)

  10. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard being kept quiet early doors

  11. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Wow. One of my ML rivals captained Aguero and now has the following:

    His vice captain is Felipe Anderson (10 points).

    His first sub is Simon March (11 points)

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Isn't Simon March an FPL player?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        😀

      2. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Ooops. Soloman.

  12. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fair to say Fulham haven’t come to park the bus

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Looking good 😀

  13. Bullet Eder
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sessegnon up front with Mitro, he’s going to become a real option under Ranieri.

  14. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kepa with more saves than Patricio this week

  15. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    has Hazard even touched the ball yet?

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

  16. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    By Saturday morning looking at having this team ready for Christmas. What do you think of it?

    Patricio, Fabianski
    Alonso, Robertson, Doherty, TAA, AWB
    Sterling, Anderson, Richarlison, Fraser, Brooks
    Kane, Aubmeyang, Arnautovic

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Wolves defensive double up not great

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Probably be playing Fab more with Patricio's current form.

    2. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Cheeky

    3. Treadstone
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hennessey instead of Patricio.Rotates well with Fab over the next 6/7 weeks.

  17. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    wow Fulham have set up in a very attacking style

  18. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pedro G
    Kante A

  19. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pedro G
    Kante A

  20. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pedro (Kante)

    No Hazard 🙁

  21. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pedro!!!!!!!!!

  22. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    expected man utd line up vs arsenal at home for possibly the last game of mourinho?

    de gea
    shaw rojo jones dalot
    matic
    pogba lingard
    martial rashford mata

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Far too attacking. It’s Mourinho...

    2. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      de Gea

      Shaw - Rojo - Jones - Smalling - Dalot

      Matic - Fellaini - Pogba - Herrera

      Lukaku

      Basically 11 defenders

  23. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    As if Hazard has started

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      As if he wasn’t going too..

      1. SEXY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Not even on the bench on Thursday though

  24. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    1-0 Pedro

    Kante a?

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

  25. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard to get subbed early now they have the lead?

    1. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Haha. Yes please.

  26. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ok 1 gone ... no Hazard .. so like only 2-3 goals left .....

    So no hattie for Hazard confirmed now

  27. Nicks93
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Very easy for Chelsea

  28. Tommyg
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Oh man this is gonna be a long afternoon.

  29. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kante essential

  30. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Why have Fulham decided to play attacking? madness