Dugout Discussion
2 December 2018 1331 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    This is far too easy for Chelsea :/

  2. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso must be on minus BAPS by now with all the misplaced crosses

    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      You dont get -bps for unsuccessful crosses

  3. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I've slagged Kepa for his shite handling, but no other keeper in PL this season has been so comfortable with the ball on his feet. The modern goalie.

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard is going to blank, isn't he...

    1. Dannyb
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Crikey, 25 mins in

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Ssh, trying to jinx it.

        1. Dannyb
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ahh, I get ya, carry on.

  5. mrwinner
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Giroud has been awful so far yet so many thought him starting would be good for Hazard

  6. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Haz coming into it a bit more now

    1. DAZZ
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      1/4 of the game gone. He only has 35 minutes left

  7. Sting in the Tail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Not that anyone cares but I'm not convinced that was a Kante assist

    1. Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      you must be blind

      1. Sting in the Tail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Watch the defenders tackle

    2. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      he passed it to pedro, why wouldnt it be?

      1. Sting in the Tail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I think the defender tackled him and it ran through to Pedro

    3. cheekumz
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      was it a Sane assist?

  8. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    there are still 2 more people ahead of me who started in gameweek 2, I need to overtake them asap.

    1. Feloh
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I'll never be at peace with myself until then.

  9. child of God
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Badly need a hazard haul

  10. L'Aeroplanino
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard fail

  11. kime67
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    can someone explain why jimenez got the assist and sane didnt? both deflected from gk

    1. Fantastisk
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Dear god...

    2. SirStevieG
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Give it up buddy

    3. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      it was a bizarre decision, we can debate all day, decision is final, we move on.

    4. LSK
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No need for explanations, just take what the fpl gods give you.

    5. kime67
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      im angry

      1. Garlana
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Its a game mate

    6. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Mcauley goal needs another look too.

      Need a fpl cold case unit.

    7. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Jimenez was a shot, Sane was a pass/dribble attempt

      Just because sane was close to the keeper didn't make a any touch an attempted shot

      1. LSK
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah didn’t look like a shot, just looked like he was flicking it off to the side.

        1. Samwise the Brave
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          That's what it looked like to me in real time, although as mentioned below it is difficult to tell based on camera angle.

    8. MTPockets
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Not a shot, although slightly debateable what direction he's kicking it subject to camera angle.
        I have him as cap with Aguero out, and have to say doesn't look like an fpl assist.

      • kime67
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        he got a touch on it

      • french holiday
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        saari should take off hazard and bring on willian
        willian has created the most chances of any player in fpl this season, if morata wasnt playing then willian would have lot more points

    9. Fantastisk
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard (vc) fail?

      1. Bullet Eder
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yep delete your team

    10. Gobigorgohome
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard pleaee score

      1. Arteta
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        +1

    11. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard vc fail 🙁

      1. TAT
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        🙁

      2. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        28 mins.......

    12. mrwinner
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Chelsea looking to close out the 1-0 now especially with the clock ticking down, not too surprising really

    13. BenDavies
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Pedro needs to start every PL game. Miles ahead of Willian.

      1. Funkyav
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        agree

        Same with Giroud. hopefully Sarri agrees

    14. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Kovacic is an overrated pile of horse manure

    15. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      People really looking to sell Hazard? He'll have a field day against Wolves (Neves suspended).

    16. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazza hat trick guaranteed. Just give it some time.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        He'll score at least 5. Guaranteed to haul.

    17. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Alonso territory

    18. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard going for the foul rather than playing the ball in for the man running in on goal

    19. Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      what a bunch of whining losers we have posting about Haz fail etc

      *logs off

      1. J T
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Just thinking same thing. Was same with Sterling yesterday, it’s so boring

        1. Nabs Kebabs
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          must all be 12 years old

          1. Brosstan
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Thought you logged off mate 😉

      2. SirStevieG
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        seeya

      3. Fantastisk
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        See you on the next page buddy.

      4. XabiAlonso
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Don't forget sane gate crying over 3 points

    20. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      How is that not a yellow more like ballroom dancing?

    21. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I hate relying on Chelsea players. Never seems to work for me when I get them.

      1. XabiAlonso
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Same here. I want the points but want them to lose at the same time

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ha ha. Me too.

      2. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        The new Liverpool.

    22. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Luiz suddenly hogging all free kicks and they are terrible

      Get Alonso back on them

    23. L'Aeroplanino
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      lol no YC

    24. bialk
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard must go.

    25. L'Aeroplanino
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      why is Luiz stealing all the FKs 🙁

      1. Digital-Real
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        that wasn't Alonso's range.

    26. french holiday
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      now lets hope for a salah blank

    27. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      When was the last time Luiz scored from FK? It seems stupid he pretends to be very good at FK