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. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ashley "Legend" Barnes

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Is he in now then rather than Ings for less than 6M third striker?

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

    Never really understood the Jimenez love in anyway..

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

      Cheap and got points. Not that difficult.

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

        Hes so poor

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Before this week nearly matching Auba for points in last 10. What a ridiculous comment

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

      Cheap and scores ok

    3. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Cheap and ticking over nicely.
      I’ll be keeping for now.

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

      ...

  3. thepopo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Can anyone beat 25 from 9?

    1. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I've got 36 from 10. Atrocious. Especially given that I only wildcarded for the first time last week

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Snap, 36 from 10. And my 6th poor week in a row. I hate this game

        1. Blame it on Traore
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I'm sorry pal. Salah to go tomorrow too?

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

    My plan was Son > Salah this week. Now I’m much more tempted in removing Haz.

    Imagine them without Hazard. What a shockingly poor side that is.

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

      Won't have to imagine for long.
      Madrid in the summer.

    2. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Same here

  5. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Why was Fraser taken out ?? injury or tactical ??

    1. Demí
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Tactical. He'd run his course

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Cheer's mate 🙂

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

    Why oh why did I play schindler ahead of Wan B.
    Why .

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Lesson learned here. Probably stuck with the idiot til 2nd WC, but he's nailed to 3rd spot on my bench from now on.

    2. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Same here.

    3. SKENG
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Right decision, just bad luck

  7. teknicolourfox
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Jiminez to Arnie?

  8. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard is essential

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

      Essential to stay away from

    2. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Absolutely not

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Last week rhetoric 🙂

    4. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Madrid is calling

  9. chrisdale98
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Buy:
    A) Barnes
    B) Ings
    C) Calvert-Lewin

    Thanks!

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B if fit

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Barnes In my watchlist to rotate with Jiménez for the next 6 weeks

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

    Salah(C) next gw

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I don't own him. 😉

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

        Doos - what's the story with Balbuena?

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I have no idea. This week, in my team, he is replaced by the fabulous, Bennett, of Wolves ... 😆

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

            Cheers - I think he's waving bye bye to me next GW.

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

    Faking Hazard
    Ruining my rank every season
    Having him in my team or not,doesnt matter

  12. Demí
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Bournemouth-West Ham in GW 23 could be any scoreline

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

      0-0

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

      Cherries next 3 are delicious

      Frilson G & A galore

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Everton, West Ham and Chelsea not that tasty for me

  13. Numb
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone know why Ings was taken off at HT? Thanks

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Injury according to sofa score

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

        Thanks

  14. i am jose mourinho
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Well done pl players.
    No no no ..not you Eden Hazard

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

    Alonso up to 117 points for £6.5 million with only £11+ million premium players ahead of him ... that ain’t too bad ?

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

      Not good enough for casual noobs.

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

      He's getting dropped soon, right?

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

      He was a joy to watch again today, attacking, DFK’s, shooting from everywhere.... he’s going to go 13-14 in 2 games very, very soon

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

        Hope so

      2. thischarmingman
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        You'd downgrade Rich or Anderson over him to get Salah then, I reckon?

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

          You can easily have Rich, Anderson, Salah, Alonso

    4. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      for the most expensive defender in the game, I expect some attacking returns as well. I can get my clean sheets from 4.5-5.0 defenders

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

        It’s a good job no defender has more attacking returns than him then 🙂

        And also that no player below 11.0 has more points than him

      2. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Nonsense.

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

    Is the plan to still transfer out Lolonso after next GW?

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

    2 FT’s

    Auba Martial ➡ Salah Arnie

    Yay or neigh?

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hmmm. 😐

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

        That’s exactly how my face looks like now

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          😀

  18. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Salah non owners, captain next gW?

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

      Not sure. Hazard?

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

      Sane

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

      Wolves good against top sides and Haz is carp. Difficult choice for them

    4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not a clue!!! 😀

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

      Kane for me.

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

      Most likely Aguero

    7. Demí
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Cheeky Richarlison punt

    8. The Baby-faced Assassin
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I’m thinking Auba unless I cave and bring Salah in

    9. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      If Chelsea have anyone fit to play ahead of that trash Morata, then Hazard.

    10. thischarmingman
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Salah

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

    I’ve benched Fraser’s 2 biggest hauls 🙂 12 pts this week and his 18

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

      I was wishing i didnt sell 2 weeks ago on wc your post makes me feel better cheers hope the pain subsides

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

    Hazard was disappointing. But Fabianski is turning into a useless FPL GK.

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

    Bring in Rashford or Arnie?

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

      Arnold

  22. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Any chance Pedro will be back for next Chelsea game ?
    Want to captain Hazard but wont do it if Morata should start again.

  23. thischarmingman
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Shaving off 1.3 to afford Son>Salah:
    A) Alonso>TAA
    B) Richa or F.Anderson > some magic mf bean (play Ings/Kamara more often)

  24. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Is Hazard essential?

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

      No.

      Never sell, never captain though.

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

      This dont sell

  25. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Have I just done had the worst wildcard week ever? Got rid of Fraser, Snodgrass, Wilson, Kane and brought in Pogba, Anderson, Jimenez and Arnie. Played Schindler. Captained Hazard. 36 after baps with Salah to go.

    1. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      At least you got Arnie. Nowhere near a disaster...

  26. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Rip Anish_T28

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No, not in peace.

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

    Is Mili actually an option? If Arnie nulifys Anderson>Mili?
    Relying on pens is ridiculous but the fck, and they got Watford next

  28. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    My final wildcard decision two weeks ago was Kamara + Richarlison or Rashford + 4.4. I went with Richarlison.
    Sick about it now and considering using 2 FT's to reverse the mistake-
    Anderson + Kamara to 4.4 + Rashford (and keep Rich cause better fixtures). Yes? No?

  29. FantasyFootballSprout
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard sheep - enjoy the haul?

    1. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      🙂 thanks won that haul will win me my mini league

    2. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No, but it could be worse...I could be living in Durham.

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      So glad I sold for Snodgrass + $$$ weeks ago. He's worth not having just for the stupid C blanks

  30. barcaa7
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ings to Barnes for free?