Dugout Discussion
2 January 2019 5260 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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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  1. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    A week ago it was Boxing Day 2018 and we were beginning GW19. How the GWs fly!

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Exactly. Mad to think GW20 was last year.

  2. Bartowski
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone know why Gunn is starting in goal for Southampton tonight?

    Potential 4.3 goalkeeper?

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Good spot, Button and Gunn pairing could be a good enabler for more big hitters

    2. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      New manager must have been impressed in training and Southampton did pay £15 million for him.

    3. N00B
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      To have his game of his life vs Hazard (c)

    4. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Guaita even better at 4.2 for Palace

      1. Hughes Your Daddy
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Guaita was quality for Gentafe, remember last year seeing him be the first goalie to keep a clean sheet in 2 years of domestic football against Barcelona at Camp Nou, some great saves vs Messi/Suarez etc.

    5. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah I commented this on the last article. Somebody who seemed to know more than me said he was Norwich's best player last year and that he kept a CS against Chelsea then and that there was a debate about if he would be the 1st choice this year or not. Bit a tough first match though! Baptism of fire comes to mind

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Billing to score tonight.

  4. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Ole eager to give Alexis minutes.

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Who will he come on for?

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Tony for 20 minutes would be my guess.

      2. Syd.
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Rashford

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      At who's expense i wonder?

      1. N00B
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Martial

  5. sweglet
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    players essential on a wc?

    would say salah, hazard, pogba, kane and jimenez currently

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

      Jimenez essential?

    2. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      wouldnt say Jiminez is essential, jsut a good option but Arnie can also be good or someone else.
      A liverpool defender is probably essential, Kane isnt either u can substitute him for Auba imo

    3. HamezMace
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      The 'essential-ness' of a player depends on how they played the previous week.

      Alonso, Sterling, and Aguero have all been essential this season.

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Nope

    4. Sterling Silva is better th…
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      None are essential, plenty of options returning points this season

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

      Doherty+taa

    6. SkeletONv01
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wouldnt call them essential, but yeah, if i would build my team from scratch, i would build it around salah, hazard, pogba and kane.

    7. My Name Is Pepu
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No one is essential. Get yourself two decent big hitters based on form and fixtures for captaincy and build your team around them.

  6. Black Knights
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Anxious about Eden captain. Fingers crossed.

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      CS assist 2 bonus at least hopefully

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Not convinced 😀

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Same here. Will probably lose 9 points by switching the armband constantly.

      1. Black Knights
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yep. Last minute transfer in for Sane and took the armband off Auba.

    3. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard troll again....

  7. SkeletONv01
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Logba 20+ points haul incoming.

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yep. Didn't you captain him the last two GWs?

      1. SkeletONv01
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yes. I love points 😛

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      stop itttt 😆

  8. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    What happened at Bournemouth?

    1. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      they thought there was a fire o somehting, but there wasnt. Delayed kick-off for 15mins I believe

    2. A.T
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Fantazia 92 was good.

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Bournemouth have announced that the kick-off has been delayed by 15 minutes, to 20:00 GMT, because of an incident in the East Stand.

      BBC Radio Solent reports that it's because of "a suspected fire that proved not to be the case" - and that fire engines have now left the stadium.

      https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/45121816/page/2

      1. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers

    4. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      A twisted firestarter

  9. Richd
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford to make himself essential tonight on my bench.

    I can see a haul.

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I benched him too...it's inevitable...lets see if he can beat my 17pts Digne benching 🙂

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I had Digne benched too. We are doomed now.

        1. *Reformed-Character*
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Who did you play instead bud?

  10. the snazzy viking
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    congratulations Snodgrass owners for his haul tonight

    I benched him

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers 🙂

  11. N00B
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Good luck all with the same team as mine!

    1. A.T
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Breadbin?

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Optimus ?

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Learnu?

  12. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Who is the young lady in the header pic?

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Forminos scissor sister.

    2. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Ginger Spice

    3. Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Drip doctor

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      A young Halle Berry?

    5. Critical Observer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nasri?

      He and Firmino would be hot property at a trucker dykes’ convention.

    6. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sue Smith's dyed her hair it seems...

  13. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    An early saints goal would be pure fplgold

  14. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone getting Andy Carroll in? Scared not owning him

    1. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      lol

    2. _Make
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      He's a TC option later in the season.

    3. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      If you've neverTCed him you're playing this game...right. 🙁

  15. _Make
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Good luck poppets

  16. SoShy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Been a minute and no goals? Should have captained Lampard.

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hehehehe

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Over Gerrard ? . You even got this wrong

      1. SoShy
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Dammit

  17. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Still no goals 🙁 what a boring night.

  18. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Squeaky bum

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sprouts?

    2. _Make
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      How's he playing?

      1. FPL Scoop
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Who? Logba?

        1. _Make
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          That Squeaky Bum fella.. 🙂

    3. Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sitting next to Nasri?

  19. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Haz scored yet?

  20. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Haz playing CDM

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Works for Kane..

  21. FPLHaggis
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Good luck and happy new year gents!

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Misogynist

      1. FPLHaggis
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        *and ladies and all gender-fluid, non-binary persons.

  22. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Haz bringing the tricks & flicks out!

  23. J T
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard wonder pass

  24. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Willian should have scored already, woulda been Hazard assist

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

      Willian is a dreadful fpl asset.

  25. zon
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Morata starting, so glad I captained Son over Haz.

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I dunno, I'm just glad I own Hazard...

  26. The Big Fella
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I don't really fancy watching any of these matches to be honest. Which ones are everybody else watching?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Utd

    2. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Che/Sou
      United/Man

  27. AuFeld
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Is Guaita the starting GK for CRY going forward?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Looks it.

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Snap

    2. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Looks it

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wasn’t Hennessy injured

      1. AuFeld
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        He was, but he has been on the bench for the last two matches.

      2. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Back a few GWs now.

    4. Differentiator
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Looks it.

  28. The Big Fella
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    How far down the ranks do you have to be before the overall stats (EO, points per GW etc.) starting having more of an effect on your team's OR than the top 10k stats?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Dunno mate, never been that low.

      1. The Big Fella
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Hahahah well I am 100k. Which set of stats are going to affect me more? Top 10k or overall? I am trying to work out how badly Hazard scoring will affect me. Own him but not capped him

  29. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      ?

      1. Legendary!
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Delete

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Ban

    3. Niho992
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      BAN BAN BAN

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

      Ban

  30. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea look ominous already

    1. J T
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Southampton pushing men forward at the first opportunity, they might get stretched as the game goes on

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Kame > Morata?