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

    Alonso not worth the money me thinks.

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

      Can you find a player with more points for the same value?

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

      Weird way to think

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

      Only one player in the game has more points regardless of price

    4. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not worth 7m for the 2nd highest scorer in the game?

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

      He’s certainly worth it. But feel free to sell.

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

      Lol

    7. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Everyone above looking at past points when only his potential going forward matters. Facepalm

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

      14 goals, 14 assists, 35 clean sheets, 40 baps in 77 games says he is well worth it.

      Best FPL defender in history, unquestionably

  2. Nabs Kebabs
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Back spasms for Ozil...clearly a chronic injury. And he has the flu every couple of months...something isn't right. Shouldn't have been offered a new (big money) contract. He is an absolute genius on the ball but what's the use if you can't stay on the pitch? His big contract seems to have had messed up things with Ramsey aswell.

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

    Sod off Luiz

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

    Hazard is an FPL Legend

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

      Where is that little weasel? He’s awfully quiet today. He hasnt shut up about Hazard all week

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

        Literally only comments on posts about Hazard 😛

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

        On a related note, I wonder if Random Name has seen the Arsenal lineup.

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

    60 mins gone, surely its time for some Chelsea subs soon to see out this 1-0

  6. Viper
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard & Aguero - > Sané & Kane (no hit)

    Look ok?

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

      Yes! I would

    2. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Already got Sterling?

      1. Viper
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yes

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

      Yes

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

      Did it yesterday. So yes.

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

      Exact moves i’ll be doing Viper

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

    Fulham odds of winning this game shoot up as morata is seen warming up

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

      Just because hazard doesn’t play well with him does not make him a bad player.

      1. Nabs Kebabs
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        LOL...Morata is useless mate.

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

      Odds have gone down you mean.

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

    Why do I play this game?

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

      Daddy issues ?

      1. Luke Chadwicks Left Peg
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Bit harsh, it’s birthday soon

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

    At least Alonso's free kicks are on target.

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

    Hazard looks like he can't be bothered with this match at all

  11. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sane + change better than Hazard

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

      Yup

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

    Hazard you’re breakin ma balls here. Breakin ma balls.

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

      I bet. You were really positive of a haul from him today.

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

        Understandably

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

          Yep. Great player. Shocking he hasn't assisted or scored thus far.

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

    Hazard gone. Welcome Sterling + one of Auba/Kane for Kun.

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

    Hazard plays for fouls, not for goals.

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

      100% agree

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

      this

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

    Just get off Hazard, that free kick sums it up. Get out of my team.

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

    Chelsea look way off the boil here

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

    Alonso bullied there

  18. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ballon D'Or for Hazard...Yeah...

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

    Kovacic twitch.

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

    Chambers close! nice save from kepa

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

    Kepa saves Chelsea.

  22. Viper
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chambers with three really shots on target now. Playing in midfield

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

    Alonso

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

      😆

  24. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chambers second SOT.

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      *third

  25. DMP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard you beauty, time to get some deserved rest.

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

      this....

    2. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hope so, but doubt it. He'll score let's not have false hope lol

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

    Chambers could score hatty today. Lol.

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

    Chambers looks dangerous. 4.2m defender.

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

      Le March at 4.2 as well

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

    Loftus cheek coming on for Kovacic

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

    Hazard CS points locked 😎

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

  30. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Wanted Laca in on WC ffs

    1. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      What's happened to him, seems to miss a lot of games

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

        Injury, just came back to make the bench today

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

      You’re moaning about a player you don’t yet own??

      Or a poorly disguised “I still have my wildcard” brag?

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

        The later. No one cares.

      2. Super John McGinn-
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        On WC now and he is in my draft, was hoping he'd be back starting today

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

          Good to get him in for midweek then, maybe