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. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    At least they can’t take him off while it’s only 1-0 - come on Haz, you got this

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Get a YC mate go on ..

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I’d take that if it’s for celebrating his goal 😉

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    If Hazard got a point for every time he used his fat arse to fend off an opponent...

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

      Fattest arse in football that lad.

      1. AlissonBecker fell alone
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Kolo Toure would not agree with that.

      2. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Ivanovic retired?

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      😀 brilliant

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

    Hazard surely won't play anymore than around 15 more minutes here if it stays 1-0

  4. bialk
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sarry better sub Hazard. I need that CS point.

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

    RLC to score

  6. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Haz Aguero Silva

    To

    Anderson Sterling Kane?

    Big one I know. Time to do something to change up my team.

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

      Owning Sterling and Anderson has been my saviour this week. Kane a good shout.

      Good be a great shout if Kun doesn’t play midweek.

      -4 i’d say yes, -8 is pushing it.

  7. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kamara is like a Lukaku with ball control

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Racist.

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        ?

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

    OK Eden time to come off now please

  9. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Boring game this.

  10. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea sleepwalking

  11. Vamos Los Celeste
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    IS Haz still on the pitch ?

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

      Yes

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

    Who would replace Haz? Fabregas or Willian? He might do Giroud > Morata

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

      Timing lol

  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kamara causing Alonso many problems

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

    Kepa and Rudiger been Chelsea's best players.

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

    Come on Kane

  16. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    TAKE MY ENERGY EDEN

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

    Tekkers Callum! 😀

  18. Rsforstar
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    chambers playing like messi there

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

    Giroud off
    Morata on

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      ... I'm actually happy. Feel disgusted with myself.

  20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Mr offside is on

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

    With Wolves away on Wednesday and Chelsea already winning I'm not sure why Hazard is still on the pitch. Very dangerous

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

      Because they’re 1-0 up, not 5-0 up...

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      It's far from over
      Fulham look dangerous

      He's on just in case it goes pear shaped

  22. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    More Morata

  23. Dele
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Already got Sterling and Sane who’s the next best option for Hazard?

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Alli

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

      Mo

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Son

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

      Salah?

    5. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hazard or Son, maybe Mané

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

      the Brazilian lad at West Ham, Anderson is it?

    7. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Eriksen, mane

  24. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Morata hattrick now on..

  25. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I’d be happy if any Chelsea player gets taken down in the Fulham box

    Chelsea just need to remember where it is

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ttttthhhhhiiiissssss +1000000

  26. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chambers best player on the pitch.

  27. child of God
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Giroud makes hazard play better eeh! Gaffas?

  28. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    so what’s everyone who own haz doing now ? ditching for who?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ditching for Sterling I think

  29. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    lol Hazard

  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hahahaha morata