Dugout Discussion

Rashford fit to start while Hazard remains on the left flank

Six Premier League matches take place this evening before the Gameweek 21 showpiece of Manchester City v Liverpool brings the frenetic festive fixture schedule to a close ahead of FA Cup third round weekend.

Four of tonight’s games kick off at 19:45 GMT, with Bournemouth v Watford (due to a delay) and Newcastle United v Manchester United getting underway at 20:00 GMT.

There aren’t too many surprises in the team selections this evening, with many of the more widely-owned Fantasy Premier League assets getting a start.

Marcus Rashford has recovered from a groin problem to keep his place in Manchester United’s starting XI, with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial also unsurprisingly named in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez make the bench.

Fabian Schar replaces the injured Federico Fernandez in Rafael Benitez’s only alteration, while Florian Lejeune makes the matchday squad for the first time in 2018/19.

Eden Hazard is again deployed on the left flank as Alvaro Morata replaces the injured Olivier Giroud, but Chelsea are otherwise unchanged from the side that beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in Gameweek 20.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has really shuffled his pack for this encounter at Stamford Bridge, making eight changes – including the recall of Danny Ings – following the 3-1 defeat against Manchester City.

In the delayed kick-off on the south coast, Ryan Fraser returns to the Bournemouth starting XI after his benching at Old Trafford.

Javi Gracia has made five changes to his team, with Jose Holebas, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Troy Deeney among the players handed a recall.

Andy Carroll makes his first Premier League start in over a year for West Ham, who have new signing Samir Nasri among their substitutes.

Glenn Murray replaces Florin Andone up front in Chris Hughton’s only change.

Joao Moutinho and Helder Costa return to the Wolves starting XI, while Jordan Ayew gets his first start since Gameweek 17 as Roy Hodgson switches to a 4-3-3.

David Wagner has made two changes to his team and seemingly reverted to a 4-2-3-1, while Sean Dyche trusts the same 11 players who beat West Ham three days ago.

Bournemouth XI (3-5-2): Begovic, Cook, Ake, Daniels, Brooks, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, Stanislas, Wilson, King.

Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Mariappa, Holebas, Sema, Capoue, Doucoure, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Hazard, Willian, Morata.

Southampton XI (3-4-3): Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Valery, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Cedric, Armstrong, Ings, Redmond.

Huddersfield Town XI (4-2-3-1): Lossl, Kongolo, Schindler, Zanka, Hadergjonaj, Hogg, Billing, Mbenza, Pritchard, Kachunga, Mounie.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Cork, Westwood, Gudmundsson, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.

West Ham United XI (4-4-2): Fabianski, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Obiang, Snodgrass, Anderson, Arnautovic, Carroll.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (4-3-3): Button, Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Bernardo, Stephens, Propper, Gross, March, Murray, Locadia.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-4-3): Patricio, Bennett, Boly, Coady, Doherty, Saiss, Moutinho, Jonny, Costa, Cavaleiro, Jimenez.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita, Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojević, Kouyaté, Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.

Newcastle United XI (3-4-2-1): Dubravka, Yedlin, Schär, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Diame, Atsu, Pérez, Rondón.

Manchester United XI (4-3-3): De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Lindelöf, Shaw, Matic, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Martial, Rashford.

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5,260 Comments Post a Comment
  1. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pogba is an absolute troll. Bring him in this week after missing all his points to get a predictable blank. Rounds the keeper and then misses an open goal. You just couldn't write it.

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Happens

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He was massively overachieving for 2 weeks. Unsustainable

    3. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Another blank next gw

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

      13-15-18 isn't especially troll-y. Even with a big name, you can't quite expect returns from a 8m midfielder every GW.

    5. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Son put it nicely in the top corner from similar situ.. Son.. couldnt hit the barn door heung min.

  2. Shultan
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Getting rashford, that'll stop him scoring!

  3. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kaku selfish b-end

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

    Those Arnie points saving my gameweek 🙂

  5. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    We all just tell lies to one another on who to get and who to not get. Why would we help each other? I dont mean this to be personel or to be mean but i hate you all.

  6. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pva given 2 assists

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

      FPL having some assist bugs this GW...

    2. Tasty Jerk
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      lol - oh yeah, ill keep that 🙂

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

    Nothing goes right this game week.

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

      Another red arrow. 6 in the last 7 game weeks.

  8. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    178 from 2 🙁 decent or poor?

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

      I won't sugar coat it your only option is to delete your team

  9. rocrocodile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Rashford getting a goal and an assist is beautiful. But it's even better to see him taking corners and even direct free kicks. He's obviously a player OGS is found of.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      This.
      #LOL@Sellers 😉

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

    Hazard to Sanchez anyone?

  11. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Schindler has got 7 points in the last 8 gameweeks.

    Useless ****

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      10 from 7 was ok

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

      Sounds about right as playin for HUD

    3. rocrocodile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I played him for his 8p in GW13. That'll do for me.

      But Robertson and Salah better show up tomorrow.

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

    Anyone doing Hazard > Sanchez? 😀

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Might move him to a Man City mid if he does nothing against Newcastle!

  13. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pereyra,Anderson out
    Siggy Fraser in

  14. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Knee jerk wildcard latest team: now includes WB - Westwood - Rashford - Arnie!!! Until tomorrow night anyway.....

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

    well at least Man U kept a frikin cs!

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Phew!

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

    My 6th bad captain choice in a row.

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

      And i'm out of the cup to a dead team with Lukaku captain.

  18. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Jaysus. What a shocker. I need this break!

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

      ME Too man, me too

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

    Ple and add an Assist for Hazard like yesterday permanently

  20. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Doherty > TAA?

  21. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    #20LEGEND

  22. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    How did hazard play in the game? Much threat?

  23. bored by december
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    GW saved by 3 players, 24, 13 and 12...blanks all round w/ fraser on the bench. This game is a weird one

  24. Goonsquad245
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone beat benching Anderson + AWB 2 weeks ago (23), Jimenez and Doherty last week (13), and Rashford and AWB this week (18)?

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      You need to start campaigning for half bench points.

    2. bored by december
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      why on earth would you bench Rashford this week? The kid is in the form of his life against a very poor Toon Army

      1. Goonsquad245
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Rest of my front 8 nailed for 90 minutes, Rashford tired. Figured he'd be subbed at 60-70 at best.

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

        Was both tired and possibly suffering a groin strain (flagged in FPL)

        Lukaku back and fresh after a break and scoring, Solskjaer needing to see all his players.

        Had Lukaku start and Rashford benched written all over it!

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Digne vs Burnley 17pts 1st bench

      Doherty/Jiminez vs Spurs 13pts 2nd/3rd bench

      Rashford this week, 12pts 1st bench

      ...good times 😎

  25. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ings out for Arnie. Which fund freer is best?

    a) Kane to Kun
    b) F Anderson to Hojbjerg
    c) Richarlison to Hojbjerg

    Have 5 good defenders so don’t need 5th mid

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

    Kaku could be a shrewd investment

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Rasher shrewder

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

      Rashford for nearly 4m cheaper is even shrewder.

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

      both?

      1. clodhopper
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Everyone wanted pogba last week

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

    As frustrating as Hazard was I just can't get rid before Newcastle at home

    1. clodhopper
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No chance

  28. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kane(c) looking good so far.

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

      You picked the lottery balls well this week

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        LOL

  29. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso still getting those points......

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

      What points?

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

    3rd Utd CS this season!