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. conorbon
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Please don’t come on Ings, Camarasa is first sub

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

      This, I need him or sane to stay benched in order to get my Jimenez points...

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

    chances of sane staying on the bench and me getting jimenez points off the bench?

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

      Slim to none.

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

      Same scenario here. I can’t see it happening.

    3. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      29%

    4. Lukey27
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      2%

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

      How long is a piece of string?

      Joking aside he'll only stay on bench if City are 4 up.

  3. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Not convinced on Chelsea/Hazard who's best option on wildcard alongside Kane, Pogba, Salah:

    A) Sterling
    B) Sane
    C) Mane
    D) Aubameyang
    E) Hazard

    Cheers

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

      D

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

        Cheers, swaying towards Auba too.

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

    Hazard again almost Assist

  5. JRO093
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Have had two playing keepers all season. The first week Ryan goes to Asian cup, Hart gets dropped and am left with no keeper... great.

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

      That is just unlucky.

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

      My ML has had one all season, Hart gets dropped and Button gets him a haul

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

      Unlucky

    4. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Ryan going to Asian games is no surprise.

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        No but Hart is?

    5. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I've been jammy. Hart playing, Button sub.

    6. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Really not that unlucky. We all knew Pope was first choice and would be fit around late dec/Jan time and knew that Ryan was going to Asian cup.

      1. JRO093
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Haha. FPL must be easy for you when you can call that after 18 games and 4 months it is exactly in the few weeks Ryan is gone that Burnley will make a goalkeeper change. I am sure that with all your insight that waltzing into the top-100 will be no issue. Meanwhile I will take the liberty of finding the timing quite unlucky

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

    Need Chelsea players to start diving in the box for a penalty

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

    hazard fail

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

      20 minutes left.

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

    If anyone can haul off the bench it’s defo Sane.

    1. Santi sensei
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Ings*

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

        And Dings.

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

    Willian wastes another haz assist

  10. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    sold alonso and sterling for digne and pogba this week..

    all because of prices. didn’t actually want to make the moves but needed the funds for auba / kane next week

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

      I mean I kept Alonso and sterling because I have faith in them.

      However I will say price rises are a very good reason to make such moves so don’t kick yourself.

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

        Disagree that they're a very good reason. They're a potential reason but the players bringing in have to be good choices for that week too (which Digne and Pogba were)

        I also kept Alonso and Sterling for now but might get rid after next weeks game

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

    Brooks on if Sane doesn't play, not the worst..

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

      I've got Wilson but Sané will surely get a run out

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

    yay got Kamara coming on for KDB, great result

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

      “30mins until every Sane/Sterling owner wishes he owned KDB”

      Well deserved. Genius.

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

        Savage.

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

      Same, if only he'd scored that pen eh...

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

    Have Kamara's -1 coming off the bench for Sane, just to add insult to injury

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

      Doubt it

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

      I feel your pain!

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

      This is what I might be saying in 3 hours. Too early for me now though

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

      same - let’s hope he comes off bench

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

    Can see Arnie and Anderson tearing it up today v an ageing Phil Bardsley

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

      Heston in goal though, can see them keeping tighter

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

        The cook? Strange.

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

      Gawd. I remember when he broke through as an 18 year old. In my mind he's still young. I must be getting old!

  15. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Come on Hazard and Alonsoooo!

  16. joeydelucchi
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    2nd wildcard now available ...My first year on FFS.

    can someone please explain holding on to the 2nd wildcard until dgw? i heard of this plan late last season but i had already used my 2nd wildcard.

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

      I would hold it as you can get in all the heavy hitters who have 2 games. Depends if your squad needs major surgery now?

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

        no i dont think it does:
        fab
        doh taa digne
        sane sal pogba haz son
        auba ings

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

        thanks Cilly...however i prefer the idea of playing my wild card to obtain more of the stronger players for a dgw as opposed to playing my wildcard to avoid players from chelsea and man city....is there any other way round you can see this being done?
        it may not be possible of course.

  17. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard & Pogba or Sterling & Martial?

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

      S

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

        A

    2. Lukey27
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      100% Hazard & Pogba

    3. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      First

  18. glufs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I can guarantee Sterling brace. I took him out for Haz.

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Same here. Please don't happen.

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

      That you Ron.

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

      He's going to haul a big return today guaranteed we will see a serious attacking performance from Man City before playing Liverpool Thursday.

  19. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling playing against Kayne Ramsay ....
    Well done for those who kept and captained Raheem.

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

      The one Kayne Ramsay owner in FPL disagrees with you (it’s not me)

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

      I’m excited but need to temper expectation

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

        Also let’s not forget Southampton have a very good academy!!

        1. All de Gea no iDier
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yes, they bring on many of Liverpool's players.

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

      Not feeling very confident with Sterling (C). Need a big performance to save the gw

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

    I worry about Sane whilst Delph is out. Think he'll start next week?

    I wanted to wait a week before doing Kane/Sane -> Salah/Arnie, but Sane may force my hand...

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

      I think he will start v Pool yeah.

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

    Have mahrez and sterling played together much ? Wondering how sterling has done with mahrez on the other wing.

  22. evilfish
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    C'mon Alonso, punish those keepers.

  23. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Where’s KDB?

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

      Rested for the titanic game on Thursday

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

        Fair

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

    Anyone still believe Alonso is a better option than Luiz?

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

      No, took Alonso out ages ago for Luiz and it hasn’t punished me at all

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

        Alonso is awful so good move!

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

        Fr3ddy is talking about the present (owning him now for next gameweek) and the future. We all know who was better value in the past. That would be a boring question.

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

      Yes a lot of people. Shhh you are benched

    3. soup natsi
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Those without memory issues should

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

      o/

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

    some obscure Palace player needs to score already and Hazard and azpil get yellows for fighting each other

  26. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sane please stay on the bench.

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

      Depends if they are coasting

  27. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    No Hart means I get Button. Jam, jam, jam.

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

      Pathetic spoon-fed casual

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

      Very jam!

  28. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Giroud brace from offside

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

    Got rid of Salah, hattrick.
    Got rid of Auba, Brace.
    Got rid of Sterling,?

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

      Red card?

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

        Oh please

  30. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    That's a terrifying city line up.
    Only thing is the points can be so spread