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. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Still no Trippier on the bench. Damn, was hoping he was back before I WC...

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Does Mark own Hazard? Trying to determine if he gets 0 or 3 baps.

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      This is a tired joke

  3. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Phew....

    Feeling relieved as a Hazard non-owner. That was a tense 90 mins of viewing.

    Hazard won't get baps with plenty of dispossessions.

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

      Feeling quite lucky as a Hazard non owner, he could have dealt a much harsher punishment

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        +1

      2. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yep

  4. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    16.8 % owned Kante haul pushing up the average a fair bit. Surely it's time to bring him in now to protect ranks?

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

      He is getting to the point where he is essential.

      Nailed on over Christmas too.

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

        He scored 6...

    2. Sif
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      3.1 points per game is no need to cover for 17% ownership and use up a mid slot.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Its a joke

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I hope anyways

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

            I never underestimate this site...

      2. @FPLDIARYFPL
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Think you missed it.

  5. MTPockets
      5 years, 4 months ago

      All that Hazard vs Fulham fearmongering for an assist

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Should have been more but he’s a troll

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 4 months ago

            He does this every season

        2. Planet Head
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Thankfully didn't see the fearmongering. Guess they makes me a casual. A happy casual

        3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          2 assists if we had a decent striker shame we don't.Can't wait for morata to be sold .Had enough of him

          1. MTPockets
              5 years, 4 months ago

              And a hattrick if Jupiter was in alignment with Uranus. But it wasn't

              1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                That's y I said "shame we don't"

          2. Respect My Authoritah
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            He'll go and bag a haul now v Wolves, after everyone has their transfer "locked in"

            1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Pretty sure hazard will outscore sterling and sane over next 2.After that no clue

        4. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          42 points and 3 to go incl C is solid right?

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

            Perfectly average amongst the good perfomers

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

            Below average I would say. You need your (c) to do well.

          3. LSK
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah solid, assuming your captain is Salah

        5. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Defoz wait til after the rest of the games today if you plan on the Kun Haz to Kane Sane moves like me...

          Never know. Kane could get injured, or Salah could and he could be the one to drop instead!

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

          Hate people coming to conclusions before at HT, it's a 90 mins game. Come on Hazard. 😎

          1. Tempestic
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Its not HT anymore

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

              Exactly 🙂

        7. Yippeekiyay Mertersacker
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I don't like this Chelsea defence AT ALL

          1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah pretty edgy today.Not convincing at all

          2. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah, probably ditching Alonso on WC.

        8. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Haz sellers escaping due to the knoobhead morata

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

            Aye I told you not to expect much. Fulham were sitting tight compared to the Southampton game which was not surprising.

            1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              No I didn't expect much .Expected 2 assists or 1 goal not more.If only lolrata can finish

        9. Sandy Ravage
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Aguero + Hudson-Odoi > Arnautovic + Son (-4)?

          1. Hits from the Bong
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            No

        10. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Haz 6 pts

          No damage done get in

          Letsssgoooo salah mane robbo

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            It’s some damage

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

              Not if your captain outscored him.

              1. #FPLBhuna
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Indeed 😉 razzzzz

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

                  Same 😉

        11. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          What to do with this lot: 1Ft, 0.5ITB

          Patricio (Foster)

          Alonso Robbo Laporte Balbuena (Bennet)

          Salah Sterling Rich Brooks (Hojbjerg)

          Aguero Arni (Jimenez)

        12. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          God I hate some people sometimes

        13. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Alonso might be enough to cover Hazard I guess 😮

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

            This makes no sense

          2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            No sense.If he performs like today likely to be dropped

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

          Have Richarlison and Arnautovic.
          Would you go for Sigurdsson or Felipe Anderson?

        15. Tmel
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Best short term move to raise funds for Kun > Kane?

          a) Shaq > Brooks
          b) Shaq > Armstrong
          b) Jiminez > Success

          Will be WCing soon so only a short term move

          1. Bucket Man
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            B for me.

        16. Uncle Avram
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Opinion

          Hazard or Mane out for Sane

          Which one to go?

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            As it stands, Haz

          2. Sandy Ravage
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            neither IMO

        17. Sterling Malory
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          So, Kun > Kane and Haz > Sane?

          Leaves me with:
          Ryan
          Alonso Robbo Digne AWB
          Mane Sane Sterling Brooks
          Kane Arnie
          (Pat Jiminez Doherty Hojbjerg)

          Anything else more pressing?

        18. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Ok, 6 points from my VC...over to you Mr. (K)ane!

        19. Sandy Ravage
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Who wins?
          A - Robertson + Mane
          B - TAA + Salah

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

            B

          2. Sandy Ravage
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Points & Score so far...
            A - 155 points @ 16.4
            B - 148 points @ 18.2

        20. @FPLDIARYFPL
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Low scoring week (so far!) so fairly happy with the hazard assist. Now lets hope for a Salah & TAA showcase!!

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

            11m for an assist. A total of 15 points in the last 6 games.

            1. @FPLDIARYFPL
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              I got him on week 9 so this is the best hes scored for me all season haha

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

                Ouch

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

            Low scoring? I'm having one of my best weeks (61 with 3 to go)

        21. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          8 players 8 returns so far 😮

          Mane, robbo, salah to go

          Letssgooooo babyyyy letsgoooo

        22. Smurf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          A Kane haul here would be amazing for my rank and against my ML rivals.

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Good luck! Will definitely buy him this week...

        23. Sz21
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          2 ft's. Still have WC so can focus more on short term.

          1. Foster -> Fabianski + Hazard -> Sane Or Eriksen- (Which one).
          2. Salah + Haz + Mitro-> Son + Sane + Kane (-4).
          3. Salah + Haz + Success-> Felipe Anderson + Sane + Kane (-4).

          Patricio.
          Robertson, Alonso, AWB, Laporte.
          Salah, Sterling, Hazard, Rich.
          Arnie, Mitro.
          Foster, Doherty, Success, CHO.
          2ft, 0.1m in bank.

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            3

        24. Farke in hell
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          No Jeferson Lerma up front. Who will score for Arsenal now?

        25. Alan The Llama
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Might get Kolasinac. Punty McPunt.

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Arsenal have only got 2 CSs all season. Horrendous record.

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

          Kane , Son and Aubameyang are you ready for my team?

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

            Audition today

        27. Giovanni Giorgio
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Hazard, Alonso and Aguero ---> Sterling, Kane and 5.3 for -4? Thinking a WHU defender perhaps

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

            How can you sell Alonso? he is so consistent

            1. Giovanni Giorgio
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Can't afford Sterling + Kane without downgrading something

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

            I'll try to squeeze in Mina

        28. Bat Man
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Sigh of relief after that game being a Hazard to Sterling C defector

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

            well done mate, Hazard is just not reliable enough for me as an FPL asset. Welcome to the Sterling side!