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. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Team and C locked and loaded for the next GW.

    Annoying wait starts now.

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

      Whom C pls. My captain picks have failed big time week in week out. Twice Kane.. Now Haz

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

        Salah

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

          Best choice available

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

        Same here.

        Will perma cap Salah until the end of the season from now on.

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

          Ive been thinking could be the path

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

            Locked.

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

      Yep. On Salah for Brighton too

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

    Hazard dropping tonight would be epic. Commom guys make it happen

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

      He's on +95. Not happening.

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

      They all blank at times

  3. AndyCook
      5 years, 5 months ago

      £58 million for Pulisic seems steep given his output in terms of goals (which is what Chelsea need) anyone watched him play?

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

        Look at his output for USA

      2. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Fantastic player

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

        He's really good, and young, you'll be pleased (if youre a Blues fan)

    • Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Salah (C) to save my GW 41 from 10 so far

    • Rash
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Tempted to wildcard and sort out my mess of a team..

      Current

      Pat fab
      Doherty Robbo digne dunk kiko
      Salah hazard Pogba martial kayal
      Auba rash Jimenez

      To

      Etheridge button
      Doherty TAA digne Lovren awb
      Salah hazard Pogba richarlison Fraser
      Auba rash Jimenez

      Hit the button? Any changes to it?

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

        I wildcarded something similar.

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

        Hardly a mess, is it?

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

          It is considering ive gone from 1.8k to 70k in 5 9/10th game weeks

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

            Don't wildcard that. Just superficial changes you could tweak over a few GWs, imo. And Lovren's place is also in jeopardy.

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

        rash

      4. MTPockets
          5 years, 5 months ago

          it's basically the same

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

          Crazy, teams are too similar. Take a hit or two if you feel the need but my plan is to get rid of a number of players you are thinking of getting in

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

          You're barely making any relevant changes. Jesus take a hit if you must. What a waste

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

          Digne Rich and Hazard all suck last 2 weeks so you felt need to WC and keep or bring them in?

        • clodhopper
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Both v similar

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

        What are people doing with Fanderson with Arsenal up next?

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

          Arsenal concede over 2 per game away.

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

          really want to ditch him and get Arnie but cant justify hits for that no way, Anderson at home to Arsenal could easily be in the points. Maybe my last week with him if he doesnt perform

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

          Tempted to sell and hope Arnie gets all his points from now on. But then it is Arsenal, so might keep him for another week

        4. Hulk Smash
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Keeping. He's good value, the only way I transfer him out is for Salah.

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

          Arnie best option in West Ham when fit

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

          keeping anderson for now. could do anderson and kamara to arnie and 4.4 for freein 2 gws but problem is Arnie is always injured. so might keep anderson anyway. i ve missed arnie's haul now anyway 🙂

          1. Jambot
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            That Burnley lad could be your 4.4

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

        Just wildcard and got 36 from 10. Feel like giving up. Any idea how to stop the rot?

        Fabianski
        TAA Digne Doherty
        Salah Hazard Pogba Anderson
        Aubameyang Arnie Jimenez

        (Button Camarasa Schindler AWB)
        £2.9m itb

        1. Hulk Smash
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Patience. That is a good team which will get points, this week just isn't the one.

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

            Agree, next week you may score big

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

          money in the bank doesnt get you points. i d upgrade anderson to eriksen or a city mid. great team by the way

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

          Aye good team use the money

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

        Anyone s defense do worse
        Digne. 1 point
        Doherty 1 point
        Shindler -3 points.

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

          I can’t see many bettering that

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

            At least I'm top in something.

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

          Ouch. That looked pretty good on paper too.

        3. F4L
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I thought 1,1,0 here was bad 😀

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

          The exact same, plus 2 from Fabianski.

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

          Same here with Patricio’s 1 pointer to bring it to zero from 4! 😆

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

            Damm you beat me. I had flappy.

        6. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Wow man sorry that hurts. I was 1 1 0 Holebas not Schindler thought I’d
          Had a shocker at the back

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

            Hurts real bad. Wan B first sub just to cap it off.

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

        Martial owners, what's the plan? I have two FT and can move him out for Pogba?

        Thoughts?

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

          Go for it. Pogba is nailed, Martial isn’t.

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

        Why i never had luck to get my points from the bench ? 🙁
        WB 12 points in GW 1
        Jimenez 12 points vs Tottenham
        last GW Jimenez and Doherty on the bench
        This GW Kamara, Ricardo Pereira and WB on the bench.

      10. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Need Salah to do martin palermo to go through cup.
        7 pts ahead with Salah left,he got Salah(C)+ 3 players left

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

          rip your out

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

          as a non owner, i would love that!

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

        3.5mitb. 2ft. Any ideas what to do here?

        Fab 4m
        Alonso Doherty lindelof schindler awb
        Hazard sane pogba Anderson richarlison
        Kane jiminez kamara

        A....sane and Alonso to TAA and salah

        B.......sane, jiminez and Alonso to salah, rashford and TAA - 4 (exact cash)

        Thanks!

        1. FFSbet.com
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Would do B,looks great long term.

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

            Thanks....just need TAA not to rise tonight...

      12. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Dwight McNeil essential?

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

          Looks a decent prospect

          1. Surfeit of Lampteys
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Absolutely does. Can't believe he hasn't been playing hitherto

            1. Surfeit of Lampteys
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Five dribbles, seven tackles and a goal and an assist in two games. Remarkable for a nineteen yo

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

          Subbed for Brady who was injured and maybe coming back?

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

            That's a question, I don't know

            1. Surfeit of Lampteys
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Yeah possibly. Slightly tongue in cheek essential label but he doesn't deserve to be dropped. Gudmundsson should be dropped first if anyone

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

        Glad we have a little break now. Been very stressful with so many GWs in the last month or so

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

          Me too. I would like it s longer break like one month.

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

          Especially when you're getting red arrows every week.

      14. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Points predictions for Salah, Sterling and Robertson?

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

          7 1 1

        2. lugs
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          2 8 1

        3. Hulk Smash
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          3, 3, 8

        4. F4L
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          10 5 1

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

          10, 2, 2

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

        61pts all out.

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

          Only Son, Kane (c) and Alonso delivered. Everything else blanks

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

          That’s a decent enough score tbh. A lot higher than many in here.
          I’m on 41 (-4) with Salah and VVD to play for example

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

        Is anyone considering Calvert Lewin?

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

          Absolutely not

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

          His mom doesnt considering him

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

            Is his mum Calvert or Lewin?

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

          I brought him in. I think he will come good soon and is a very cheap forward who plays most of the times. His cameos might be a drawback only

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

        Hoping for Sterling and Sane no-shows to get AWB and Kamara jam off the bench

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

          It can be arranged

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

            Cheers Syd. Usual payment?

        2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          You're a trier. I'll give you that. 🙂

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

            You gotta put in the elbow grease with sticky substances like jam

      18. JabbaWookiee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Chances of Wilson dropping tonight or tomorrow night?

      19. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Romelu Lukaku now one goal behind Sergio Agüero in the PL scoring charts this season

      20. AnfieldLad
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Fab Stek
        Alonso Robbo Doherty WB Holebas
        Hazard Sane Rich Snodgrass Gunnarrson
        Kane Wilson Rashford

        2FT 2.4ITB

        Exact funds for Kane + Snodgrass -> Arnie + Salah for free

        Y/N?

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

        Doherty or Pereira?

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

          Pereira for me

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

          Pereira

        3. F4L
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Pereira

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

          look at leicester fixtures. doherty for me

        5. No Kane No Gain
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Doherty, I think perrerias fixtures turn bad after the next game

      22. mr messi
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Keep Son and Anderson for 1 more week or get for a hit for Salah and bench fodder?

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

          I am tempted to keep Son. Not impressed by Utd defense and Sonny is flying atm. Salah can wait one more week probably?

        2. mr messi
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          *get rid

      23. Patches O Hoolahan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Got the worst squad and going to WC:

        Lloris (Button)
        TAA--- Kolasinac---Digne (AWB, Valery)
        Pogba---Hazard---Salah---B.Silva---Eriksen
        Arnie---Rashford (Kamara)

        Thoughts?

      24. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Is Hazard(NEW) worth captaining?

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

          possibly wont take the risk though. salah all the way until gw26

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

          Have no idea why I brought in the biggest troll of them all for the first time all season this week. Having said that, he is now just the captain I need next week when no one's looking.

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

            Thats what im thinking. Would be the most Hazard think ever if he hauls

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

          It may be a case of doubling down on a bad decision, but I am very likely giving him a chance to make up for disgracing himself tonight AS LONG as that idiot Morata doesn't look like starting.

      25. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Sarri had no idea the club were signing Pulisic until it was announced yesterday!

        Jeez, no wonder Conte was sulking after every window.

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

          Feels like theyve been persuing him as an organization since before Conte

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

          Yeah that is a weird one

          More Russian money laundering

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

          Sure Sarri wont be sulking to learn they signed Pulistic!

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

            Don't expect he knows who Pulistic is

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

        Everton should bring BFS back and Chelsea should bring Conte back.

        Both teams have not improved

      27. Alnair
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Anyone else feel like captaincy is just another way jammy players can luck out of good ones?

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 5 months ago

            I do when my catain fails yeah

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

            Kane was the safe pick against Cardiff

          • Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Yes except the jam is it's own entity rather than a personality triat. You might get it in your mouth or on your face, but one things for sure, there will be bees..

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

          Owning both Salah and Kane cripples your team so much.

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

            25% of your budget

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

            Kane and Martial or

            Auba and Pogba?

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

            I own them booth. Anda o think my team is really well balanced.

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

              But I got from 6k to 50k in five GW tough.

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

          so, Hazard captain next week guys? 😀

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

            Yeah, or maybe I just captain Kane like I have for the last 7-8 weeks bar one.