Dugout Discussion

Hazard back on the left wing as Giroud returns to the Chelsea team

The first of four Premier League matches kicks off at 12:00 GMT today, with Crystal Palace taking on Chelsea at Selhurst Park.

Maurizio Sarri has made two changes to his Chelsea team from the side that beat Watford, one of which is significant to the role of Eden Hazard.

Olivier Giroud replaces the injured Pedro in the Blues’ front three, meaning a return to the left flank for Hazard as Willian moves over to the opposite wing.

Ross Barkley is preferred to Mateo Kovacic in central midfield in Sarri’s only other alteration, while Alvaro Morata and Andreas Christensen are back among the substitutes after recovering from injury.

Roy Hodgson has made only one change to his Crystal Palace side, with Jeffrey Schlupp ousting Max Meyer on the left of midfield.

Whether that means a return to the 4-5-1 formation that was so successful at the Etihad a week ago remains to be seen, but in such an eventuality Andros Townsend would likely move back to the right wing with James McArthur tucking inside.

Wayne Hennessey is fit again after a back injury but Vicente Guaita keeps his place.

The Eagles have kept clean sheets in each of their last three matches at Selhurst Park, while Hazard will be up against Aaron Wan-Bissaka today – the youngster having got the better of Leroy Sane and Anthony Martial in recent times when up against the two in-form left-wingers.

Hazard though is averaging 9.6 points per match in his last five Premier League appearances on the road.

Marcos Alonso, meanwhile, has only scored a total of four FPL points in his last four starts away from home.

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2/4-5-1): Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, Schlupp; Townsend, Zaha.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Hazard, Giroud, Willian.

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1,587 Comments Post a Comment
  1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Gonna have to block transfer Sterling.

    Pogba could damage me later.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      What does that mean ?

      1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        In game tranny’s.

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

      Telegraph ?

      1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Goal ff.

  2. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    When you think " hope my differential sane does well tomorrow" after Salah and Kane get points... Christmas has been horrendous as a sane/sterling owner.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Can match kane’s Points if he comes on easy

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Shipped Sterling as Sané was so much better... also: Fernandinho back means I need one giant sofa.

  3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Heaton is back. Hart dropped or injured?

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

      Heaton is the better goalkeeper.

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Agree

      2. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Agree.

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

      Oh great spot. My ML rival has Hart and Ryan

    3. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Dyche probably decided they should start defending well again.

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

      fantastic news for me, lossl on bench 🙂

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hoping for a fernandinho hattrick so that Sane stays on bench... sterling blanks and Jimenez comes on for me. Too much to ask for?

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Pretty much odds on 🙂

  5. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    As a non city owner this could get very nasty.

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      As a only Sane owner I feel you

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

      Meh. Aguero thrives at home and Sterling in a secondary position.

      Mahrez hart in bound...

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

        *hatty

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Could well be!

  6. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    If Anderson wasnt starting this really would be a train wreck

  7. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    At least Sterling just has 16% ownership in top 10K so a bit less scary

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

    Need either Sane or Ings to not play any minutes in order to get Jimenez off the bench...

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Sane or Rashford here. Not liking my chances.

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

        Nor mine tbh

  9. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sané dropped just as I predicted, ah well here's hoping for City to be leading well after 60 minutes and we see him come off the bench to score!

    1. Billfred
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I hope so otherwise I get Kamara with his -1

  10. Not again Shirley
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sane being saved for Liverpool game I reckon.

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

      Yep. TAA dropped for reverse fixture to protect him from Sane. Not an option this time.

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      *sacrificed to

  11. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sané -> Haz not a total fail then 😀

  12. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Was hoping Laporte might get the left back gig this week. Hopefully a set piece goal anyway!

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

    Hazard was useless on the wing, that's why I sold him for sterling, he started playing false 9 & got points, buy him back this week and he returns to the wing and I swear he wil be useless again ffs

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

      I thought he was better in the wing playing of a 9.

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

        *off

      2. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        The interpretations change every month.

    2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Lol same here

  14. Klein
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Rank 1 overall transfered in kante this week. Intresting

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      That’s why they’re number 1!

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

      I don't understand how one has the foresight for that transfer. Pure speculation.

  15. micsway
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Anderson/Wilson to Arnie/Martial?

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

      Why Anderson? Have you seen his points?

    2. conorbon
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No way

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

      No

  16. Kane Toads
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    played sane. Doherty first sub 5pts.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Sane cameo confirmed

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        indeed

  17. good biashara
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    So it turns out getting Hart in last gw wasn't a masterstroke.. who would've thought!?

  18. Fergus1107
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    No sane means my Jiminez 8 points comes in... !

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

      No its not, Sane will come on and ruin it.

    2. Rash
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      You do realise city can make subs right..

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

        😀

      2. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        This

    3. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Or 1 point cameo

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Sane will come on I think

    5. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hope he comes off the bench as it’s Kamara’s -1 for me off bench.

    6. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Sane 1 pointer on the way.

  19. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Welcome back Tom Heaton. Oh the memories as FPL Goalie Gold.

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

      Oh them days.

  20. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Con captain looking good now vs Hazard 🙂 for now anyway

    1. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      son

  21. Srv210
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Come on Felipe(C) ,let's get those goals

    But don't know about Burnley defence with Heaton back...can be a fail lol

  22. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea clean sheet points still not added...

  23. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sane is better value than Sterling. I am glad I kept him and sold Sterling for Hazard.
    https://i.imgur.com/dTcAHZc.jpg

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Loool

  24. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Arnie back looks nice

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

      How long until he is injured again though

    2. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      How is his front looking?

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Do not trust, it’s a trap

    4. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      They've been better without him though

  25. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Surely one goal from Eden and he hoovers up max BAP's?

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

      Yeah he’s a BAP magnet. It’s another reason I prefer him to Salah 🙂

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

        Still don’t own him.

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

    Project captain sterling has got to stage 4

    Now we need goals goals goals

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Wickham coming on.

    Congratulations Chelsea defence owners

  28. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sane has come off the bench 5 times this season...only 1 assist 🙁

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

      He needs rest, if city can run the score up there’s no need to not let him get a full game off.

      Let’s just see what happens.

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I have kolasinac waiting...I'd take the 1pt

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

          Ha. Jiminez here. Mines high stakes

      2. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Hoping for Jiminez off the bench...

  29. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    2 FT and 0.7 ITB

    A - Son & Ings > Anderson & Arnie
    B - Lingard > Anderson & save
    C - Other?

    Patricio - Hart
    Robertson - Shaw - Digne - Doherty - AWB
    Salah - Son - Pog - Lingard - McArthur
    Kane - Jiminez - Ings

  30. All For One
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    fpl alerts not updating its any1 have a alternative?