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. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso injured? Tired? Tactical? do you think he starts midweek?

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping him fresh, wasn’t playing that well today

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

      He was just awful. Possibly benched to rest him, yep.

  2. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Go mitro!!!!

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Don't know why Hazard doesn't take this free kick.

  4. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso territ.. oh

  5. Fingerspitzengefühl
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso nailed on for midweek

    1. ☻ Jon Snow ☻
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure, might be rested for the weekend

  6. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso CS protected

    Hazard in for the long haul

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Best way to get fit is to play.

  7. Attaka
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Do this move in a draft league? I have Sterling

    Dilva + Trips > Sane + Gomez

    A) Yes!
    B) No, too sideways

    Tia!!!

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard with a pass back

  9. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard free kick shot on target

    1. mrwinner
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      haha, you crack me up man - good work 🙂

  10. balint84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    getting Martial next week? what do you think?

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I’m holding him. Dunno if I’d be buying. Son might be better.

      Martial does have nice fixtures tho..

      1. balint84
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        maybe next week Moura or Lamela takes the place of Son. not sure in buying him.

        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Maybe. Well martial is a good pick then

  11. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    can Luiz f off from FK

  12. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Captain Alonso could have gone worse

  13. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Keep Hazard for Fulham they said.

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Make your own decisions is actually the vast opinion on this site.

  14. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso cs locked in, nice.

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Fulham not going to score anyway

  15. Ross From Friends
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Was that free-kick Hazard's only chance on target? lol

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No

  16. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone watch the Man U game yesterday?

    How did Martial look like when he came on?

    Lively or French?

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He look lost

  17. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Praying for a Fulham goal and then non-Hazard Chelsea goal to win it

  18. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    What a soft fk

  19. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Don’t be sad Sane owners. Us sterling guys only got 2 BAPS! I’m gonna write to the highest level !

  20. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Best short term option:

    1. Sane
    2. Dilva

    Thanks.

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      SANE

  21. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Good chance that Hazard is benched midweek with City in mind

  22. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Haz assist

  23. kime67
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    not happy with hazard but keeping him for wolves

  24. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Goal

  25. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    RLC G
    Hazard A

  26. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    RLC g Haz as

  27. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    A Fulham goal would be perfect. Should help Alonso get some BAPS.

  28. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Haz assist?

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    OMG loftus cheek

    Hazard assist

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

    Hazard assist finally.