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. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Don't know who I hate more
    Chris schindler or Ryan Fraser.

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

      Both

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Plenty of room for both 🙂

    3. Shultan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I hate myself

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

        This. Got rid of Kane, Fraser, Wilson on my wildcard last week. Played Schindler obviously.

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

          Might be time to pass on that bong mate

  2. The Tinkerman
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Is Junior Stanislas playing RB tonight?

    Weird.

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

      Yes

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

    Thank you Hazard for nothing !!!

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

      Mate, it's halftime.

    2. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      It's half time .

    3. King Sheep
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Get off your knees!

    4. DaveZubie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Personally I hope it stays like this (I don't own him) but remember all the Auba owners yesterday?

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

      Oh dear.....

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

    I don't even know who Sema is?

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

      You know, Auntie Sema, who makes them mean lamb samosas.

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

      Plays footy for Watford

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

        Apparently so....hadn't seen him mentioned on here, so wasn't aware of him 🙂

    3. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Me either, possibly Football’s version of John Cena?

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

        Is it Wrestlemania season already?

      2. Yank Revolution
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Then that's the reason we can't see him.

  5. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I totally called it. People need to listen to me.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/mbison22/status/1078694920964263937

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Is Fraser in your team?

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

        That's beside the point.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          You, like many, sold him at a good time. (Well actually, a week early. Probably burnt you. )

          He's barely returned since GW15. Loads of other players have been.

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

            Those big chance created stats are unprecedented. They are utterly off the charts. People need to be made aware.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Why don't you own him?

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

        Do as I say not as I do.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          No point listening then.

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

            The stats don't lie.

    3. thischarmingman
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Including yourself 😉 You getting him in?

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

        When the fixtures turn, aye.

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

          What a joke.

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

            I know, the wee man's stats are ridiculous.

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

      Why do you share pictures of dead pigs. You’re horrible about animals.

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

        People need to know how cruel slaughterhouses are.

    5. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      More to the point, why is he cooking gammon on Christmas Day smh

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

        Is that a euphemism?

  6. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Would settle for a single goal from Hazard right now.

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

      You mean deeney

    2. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Bear in mind that nobody has ever achieved one goal per game in a PL season. Manage your expectations.

  7. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Wilson sealing his Chelsea move

  8. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Wilson clearly got a touch before Fraser's goal...

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

      He didn't 😉

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

      Yeah clearly touched the hair on his ankle there

  9. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Top 10k players starting:
    Deeney 1.4%
    Fraser 9.5%
    Wilson 20.4%

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Surprised Wilson is so high.

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

        Really? 3rd highest scoring Striker still

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

      Makes sense, too busy tinkering with midfield to get around to selling Wilson. I guess he was on the chopping block but something else crops up, cheap enough to keep..

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

        Same.

  10. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    ML rival bought Fraser lol @ me.

  11. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I'm on 9 points..

    No seriously 😆

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

      So is Fraser

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      😆

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

      What's your team?

      1. Optimus.
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        ...........Ederson
        Alonso Robertson Digne
        Hazard Salah(c) Pogba Anderson Rich
        ....................Jim Rash

        Hamer Wilson Bennett WBis 😎

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

          OK. Hoping Salah goes crazy tomorrow. But tbf, that team looks decent.....

    4. The Wizard of Ozil
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      You're kidding. How?!

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

    Deeney single handedly making this a bearable

  13. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Diame getting groped!

  14. 824545201
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Son, Schindler, Lingard to Sterling, Cedric and Sema (-4)?

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

    whoever is in charge of Chelseas recent transfers should be fired tbh,
    losing Costa and replacing him with a bench fodder striker, bringing in drinkwater, barkley and letting Bats out on loan
    The only thing Chelsea have done right is keeping hold of Hazard

    1. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      It was a combination of factors which saw these transfers happen . They have very little to do with the current set up.
      Conte fell out with Costa.

  16. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Jimmy and Pereyra grab one each...

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      This x2

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

    6 goals and no Brooks points smh

    1. Volley127
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      May as well count Burnley & Hudd’s goals in that case too

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

    How is Fanderson looking?

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

    Ole needs to shake things up at HT.

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

      Rashford and Mata off for Lukaku and Sanchez IMO

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez and/or Lukaku waiting to impress.

  20. Woy_is_back
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Haz captain fail
    🙁
    🙁
    🙁

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

      Is he off?

    2. Leao ball
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      For the second time

    3. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Too early to say that but here's hoping.

  21. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Wow, Deeney already on 60 Baps

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

    Pereira on the bench more points than all who feature tonight together

  23. Yank Revolution
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Ings off

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

      Good!

  24. Benditlike
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Sold Fraser for Pereyra a couple of weeks ago...
    🙁

  25. Over Midwicket
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Haz -> Fraser (-4) to free up cash?

  26. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Ings subbed

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

      No. Way.

      TriggerLips is going to flip.

      1. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        He needs anger management.. has too many issues when things don't go his way.

  27. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Ole needs to rest Rshford and get Lukaku on.

  28. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    If the FPL website had an option to quit/delete your team what GW or when would you have rage quit?

    Mine would be the week i (C) Kane & he was benched & came on for a 1 pointer & Salah was VC & scored a hatrick

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

      GW12, massive drop

    2. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      It already does.

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

      Let me know who you plan to captain next week. Salah ideally.

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

      I wish they had a CAPTCHA thing before confirming transfers.

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

    Ings
    Or
    Schindler

    Not sure who my worst transfer has been

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 4 months ago

        schindler

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

      2 sets of solid defenders