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.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

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

    Who do you prefer?

    A) Alisson vs. TAA
    B) Rashford vs. Arnautovic vs. Jimenez

    1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      TAA. Cheaper.
      Arna/Jim. For some reason I'd still want to see how Ole goes about his lineup the next few weeks.

  2. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I honestly am stunned at how badly tonight went. 41 (-4) with 2 to go

    Could anyone have expected teams that had Haz, Pogba, Martial, Doherty etc to do THIS badly?

    The only thing that can turn my arrow green is a massive VVD haul (Salah too highly owned) 😆

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

      31 here.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Sorry bro. Who’s left for you?

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

          Ha ha.
          Robbo+Salah
          Wish to use WC but keeping it for now.
          5-7 straight red arrows for me since December.
          Completely ripped apart 😀

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

            Rank 110k to 600k+ now since December.
            F.ked up 🙁

            1. Don Kloppeone
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              If it makes you feel any better I’ve dropped from 29k OR in GW15 to 300k now....

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

                😮
                OMG.
                Hard luck bro.
                I think WC near future or taking some calculated punts is the way now.
                Frustrated really.

                1. Don Kloppeone
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  Nah the last thing I’m going to do is spunk away the WC this early.
                  Those chips are the key to doing well in the second half

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

                    Yeah.
                    I'm also holding myself away from it.
                    Hopefully it's upwards from now.

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

      Yes. I never take anything for granted

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I had just convinced myself somehow that I finally had enough big ballers to reverse my run of red arrows

        Such a frustrating game!!

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

          It can be annoying but a crumb of comfort is that a lot of people are in the same boat.

          I took a -8 got rid of Rashford and switched the armband from Kane to Hazard. My season is well done so it doesn’t bother me.

    3. AndyCook
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Wolves cannot defend which means you are always relying on an attacking return which I dislike in defenders. All in all a little unlucky though.

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Yeh. We do make out Doherty is a miracle man but should prob be more realistic!

        2. GREEN IS GOOD
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Wolves cannot defend? Nonsense

      • Bruin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Stunned is a little OTT in fairness. Haz has always let me down and did again. As for the rest i’m not surprised at all really. Do we expect Pogba to score every week now? Martial can do it one week and not do it for the next few. Doherty plays for a team that will be more than happy to stay up.

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          You’re probably right. It prob doesn’t help when you’re ready before the deadline and everyone’s telling you how great your team looks. Should start seeing that as a bad omen lol

      • Roonster
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        32 with Arnie and Duffy faffing around on my bench. Need Sterling to deliver tomorrow...or even better get given the night off!

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

      Evening was done for me as soon as Schindler was sent off. Do not understand how a player doesn't know he has been carded. Presumably he wouldn't have made the sending off challenge if he had known. I'll blame the ref for my poor performance, couldn't have been my fault. 🙂

    5. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Is Ings injured?

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

      Any wildcard idea

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

        Yes

      2. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Use WC then click auto pick.

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

          LOL

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

        Yea back off fom computer put on kettle and watch math of the day

    7. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      860 to 1135 rank 🙁 the yo yo continues. 🙁

      1. Drexl Spivey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Life on the edge.

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

        Good moves.

        1. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers.

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

      140 minutes no Hazard involvement

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

        Trying to knock a few million off his Real Madrid transfer fee

      2. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Captain next week then

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

      Always next year, lads 🙂

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

        363 days to go

    10. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      what a disastrouse gw....33 points with salah and vvd to go ..keeping faith in same team next gw though surely cant get worst 🙂

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

        Love the avatar ha

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          haha thanks 🙂

    11. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      What is the first thing that pops to your head? No pressing issues but 2FTs

      Fab
      Wanbisa - TAA - Digne
      Salah - Richarlison - Fanderson - Hazard - Pogba
      Kane - Deeneyyyyy

      Subs: Speroni - Bednarek - Kamara - Doherty

      1. AndyCook
          5 years, 5 months ago

          For me it’s the fact that I can’t see a lot of clean sheets and I prefer to pick defenders who will pick up lots of clean sheets rather than relying on goals and assists

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

        Hope Nasri is under 6.5m
        I will take a punt on him.

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

          5.5

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

            Awesome.
            Thank you mate.

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

          5.5

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

            Has he been added already!?

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

              yep

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

            Thank you mate.
            Will wait till fa cup matches so hopefully he gets into match fitness.

      3. Spartac Mac
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Is there such thing as a half-season FFS membership available?

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

          Yeah, think a mod said there is an article coming soon around this.

          1. Spartac Mac
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Nice one, cheers.

        2. AndyCook
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Yes there is!

          • Spartac Mac
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Has anyone a link to where I can find out more?

        3. HD7
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Cup opponent had triple Chelsea defence and... Deeney...
          Oh well it was fut til it wasted 😀

          Was hoping to make 10 wins but... maybe next year 🙂

        4. Who Ate All Depays?
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          In order to fund Salah who would you remove?
          A) Rashford
          B) Jimenez
          C) Fanderson

          1. GS456
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            C

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

            C

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

            B

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

            2 GWs ago A

            This GW C

            Next week who knows.

          5. Fantasydreamer
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            I am on the same (but for hazard) - was all in for a as have pogba but after tonight think c or not at all!

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

          This game causes OCD

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

            Obnoxious cock disorder?

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

            Obvious Casuals Disorder?

        6. JCrosbie
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          1. Arnie

          or

          2. mitrovic

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

            1

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

            arnie

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

            Arnie

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

          Anderson and aubameyang
          To
          Hazard and rashford
          Good move for free?

          1. LǝgleSs e|even
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Hazard again..?

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

            id rather Auba than Hazard, any other spots to get Rashford in?

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

              Jimenez is the other option
              Although I'm still worried without haz

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

            Hazard last 10

            3 1 6 5 9 13 2 15 3 3

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

            3 captainable scores of +9 rest garbage. 2 blanks in a row $11.1m 😆

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

            Keep auba he getting in form

        8. TAT
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Alisson (Hamer)
          Robertson - Digne - Wan-B (Balbuena - Doherty)
          Felipe A. - Hazard - Salah - Richarlison - Pogba)
          Jiménez - Aubameyang (Kamara)

          Any transfers to consider for this team? £0.3 itb.

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

            … and one free transfer.

        9. Tinmen
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Folks, TAA is 98.8 to rise
          Will he rise tonight tho?

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

            Hope not....

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

            Prob

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

            Or maybe not

        10. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          was all set to move Rashford as part of my move for Salah, but don't want to let him go now!

          Can do this as an alternative

          Fanderson & Auba ->
          Salah & Arnautovic

          Others I can move on to make funds are Kane, Alonso.

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

            No Hazard?

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

              Nah - I had sterling, and moved to pogba last gw, so have money ITB, was planning to help fund Salah

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

                Those move are ok. Salah next 5 C should pay for itself

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

                  cheers for the input!

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

          22 points a green arrow?

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

            A big one

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

            It’s an arrow

        12. LǝgleSs e|even
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Did Mark make the right punt by taking out Anderson? Looks like as he predicted Arnie is firing. Did he bring him in?

          1. Chenku╰☆╮
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Yep Arnie in his team. Everyone else flopped for him

        13. DMP
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          From 6k to 50k with anything to do with my team. Everything seems fine. Unbeliveble.

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

            Looks good, hold steady.

        14. 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 (& keep Rich cause better fixtures). Yes? No?

        15. pedro-tacuara
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Got Deeney in last week for Wilson ... first transfer that has done something for me in a while.

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

          pick one thanks

          A) Kongolo ➡ TAA
          B) Fabianski ➡ Alisson

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

            TAA

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

              cheers

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

            Would that be a Pool D double up w Alisson?

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

              yes as I have Robbo

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

                Think Id go Ali over TAA then

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

                  cheers 🙂

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

            A

        17. SkeletONv01
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Who would you get for Son after next GW to allow Ings>Rashford move?
          A. Richarlison
          B. FAnderson
          C. Fraser

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

            No
            No
            Yes

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

          Buy Rashford Kamara and Salah for a bit?

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

          You guys doing your transfers now? Or take a few falls/rises on the chin in case of injury before next gw?

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            saving my transfer this week unless injuries. i d wait otherwise

        20. Valar(Keith)
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Which one would you prefer to get Salah in
          A) Kane + Martial to Arnie + Salah
          B) Auba + Martial to Wilson + Salah
          C) Hazard + Martial to Deulofeu/Pereyra + Salah
          D) ignore Salah and swap Martial for Richarlison/8.9 mid that isn't Fraser or Pogba