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. The Gobstopper
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Three amazing gameweeks in a row.

    Gameweek 19 bench: Digne (17), Pereira (9)
    Gameweek 20 bench: Jimenez (8)
    Gameweek 21 bench: Fraser (9...so far), Pereira (12)

    Always making the wrong choice...

    1. rowdog24
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure why Fraser was on your bench to be honest

      1. The Gobstopper
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        My current lineup:

        Foster
        Alonso - Robertson - Digne
        Son - Hazard - Richarlison - Pogba
        Jimenez - Rashford - Auba

        Could make the case for Fraser over...who?

    2. Pukki Party
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      This is why my bench is Kiko(0) Gunnarson (2) Gibbs-White(0)

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

    Hahaha

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

      Source of laughter or ban

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

    Thankfeerk Balbu is injures..

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

      Injured*

  4. GianniBanani
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hahahah Stephens has his one goal in the season, banched as a third sub, against my keeper

  5. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    aaaaargh Fabi

  6. MTPockets
      7 years, 4 months ago

      going so badly it's funny

    • Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wham will not keep a cs this year.0-2

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

      I own Ings, Fabianski and Schidnler.

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

        Me too

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

      Get lost Flappy you useless turd

    • tucaoneo
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Fabianski fails again.

    • Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      If you bench David Button against Everton and West Ham should you even own him?

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        yes cause he's only 4.0

        who else would you have? Speroni?

    • Limbo
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Brighton stealthily heading toward European spots.

    • Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Duffy G

    • Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sorry for jinxing Fabianski. Still though, Mark has Schindler. 😆

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

        You and mark need to get a special scoutcast this season. Just you and him !

        That rivalry can’t be replicated

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

          I've tried. Mark is taking a break and can't get him interested.

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

          Realistically there is no rivalry....mark is the goat!

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

        I have both

    • FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      #sells Fabianski asap

    • Zilla
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Had Duffy when he wad red carded 😀

    • Niho992
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Last time Hazzo scored at home was GW7. WoW. Essential they said.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        He’s a troll of epic proportions

        At least he’s nailed, on pens and got banging fixtures

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

          This is first time i C him, and of course he will blank.

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

        As I said earlier, players are only essential the week after they get a good return

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

      Time to sell Fabianski? Which budget keeper is better as a set and forget though?

      1. Not again Shirley
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Shame Newcastle keeper isn’t 4.5.

      2. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        None.

        You get what you pay for or go for Allison.

      3. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Foster or patricio but not exactly set and forget

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

      Alisson get in mah team

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

        Yeah. Getting him in.

    • Homer21
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      FFS Fabs

    • Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      All setup for Alonso goal in 1-0 Chelsea win

      1. Not again Shirley
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Lol no chance.

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        About time

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

      Hazard do something you troll

    • pjomara
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Well done to the 3.3% who own Stephens, no goals, assists or baps until today.

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

        Had him on the bench for his red card

      2. Pukki Party
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Sold last week

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

      Fab > Patricio back on the cards?

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I own both and am damn glad I started the latter today...

    • Chucky
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Anderson to Siggy done... good riddance

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        hmm

        Watched Everton recently ?

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

          TBF the fixtures are plum and there's always a chance everton will turn up - and usually involves Siggy. He's a better bet than Anderson over the coming weeks.

    • Zladan
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      RLC and Morata are killing Hazard here.

    • diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      West Ham absolute t**ts. Why don't PL managers understand it is about defence in this league. Leicester won the league with a solid defence.

    • Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      ... but surely people have Fabs for his save bonuses 😉

      1. Not again Shirley
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        And cheapness

    • Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nice knee clearance, DL.

    • Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Duffy 2nd on my bench, kept him all the way through red card saga.