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. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Someone ban this joker from football, please

  2. rjcv177
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    On my WC.
    Can i justify no City attack for the next two?
    Giving me Auba, Son, Mane as other options?

    1. Rock n Grohl
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I'd rethink that one.

  3. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Wow

  4. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Morata drop goal in Fantasy Rugby League

  5. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Morata is genuinely awful. Chelsea got robbed in broad daylight paying 70m.

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

      + Torres

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

    Haz out in the cards...not what i needed right now

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

    Morata +BPS big clearance

  8. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    One of Morata's better attempts...

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

    Lifetime ban for Morata .... Even Torres was better in Chelsea then this shiittt Morata

  10. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Cairney the ne magic bean

  11. jblakes
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    anybody else thinking of offloading Haz, 11mil plus and hes not delivered in ages. Looks terrible again Fulham too.

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

      Yep I think everyone

    2. M'arvin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Already did yesterday for Sterling.

      1. jblakes
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        sterling/sane looks good shouts. Then i can upgrade Aguero to Kane

  12. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Does anyone else feels Kebano has an uncanny resemblance to Sterling?

  13. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    In Hazard we trust. Keep the faith!

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Oh wow he’s really not delivered properly in the last 6, shiiiiiiit

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

      Hazard non-owner spotted.

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

    Game opening up

    Non hazard owners get back behind the sofa

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

      Fake .... Opening ..

      Just an illusion

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

    Hazard to stay 90mims and score.. written all over. Don't worry guys.

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

    Why did he bench Giroud ffs

    1. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He was completely anonymous in the second half...

  17. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Do you remember when people compared Lukaku and Morata to Lacazette?

    😆

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

      Why are you not in the squad?

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        "Back spasm"

    2. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      always ill this guy...

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        And winter has just begun..

  18. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Where’s Bon?

  19. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard 1 assist since gameweek 8. Comical.

    1. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      The chances created though...that's the comical part.

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

      2 assists

      But yeah, not great

      I'll keep for Watford then move him on (if he doesn't brace or something)

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

    Please Please Please Please Please.

    Hazard, you have to score.

  21. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Only need a Pen and it will worth 8 points

  22. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonsoff

  23. Rocky FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fulham at home, dont think Hazard will get a better fixture to haul.

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

    Alonso dragged

  25. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    This is trash. Haz to Sane

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

    Alonso CS locked in!

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

    With the insults going on around here it's easy to forget it's just a game, nothing more

  28. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Nice one

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

    Alonso CS locked

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

    Alonso off
    Zappacosta on

    CS banked