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. JohnnyMagrinho
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not too sure what would be the biggest achievement - Brighton finishing in top half or me being able to choose a goalkeeper in Fantasy Football that can score more than 2 points in like, one game.

      Hmm.

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

        Fabianski gets 3 sometimes

      2. Homer21
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        This

        1. Homer21
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Put fabs in front of Pat

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

        Spend a bit more on Alisson. He's been great all along.

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

      What's disaster today has been

    • SirStevieG
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I need a new goalkeeper. Piss off Fab.

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

        Could be worse. Many of us have Ederson. Well.. less and less each week.

      2. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Think I might get Allison, but 5.9m

    • Dybala10
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Good old West Ham. Can always rely on them to concede.

      Pull your finger out Hazard ffs.

    • Rik Waller
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Has Alonso hit a post yet? Or even the bar? Or a pedestrian even?

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

        Don't worry, he is due

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

        *slow clap*

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

      West Ham are atrocious

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

        How's Nasri looking? Lively?

    • Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I TOLD YOU ALL, NEVER, EVER CAPTAIN HAZARD.

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

        You didn’t tell me

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

        Not even when he scores lots of points?

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

        Why anyone would C the 2nd highest scoring player in FPL is beyond me

        1. Drip Doctor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Because he scores in patches, he's unpredictable, you want reliability from your captain. Captain the guy who has scored reliably over the last 6 or so weeks, not the guy who hasn't scored a goal in 6, yes 6 home games (soon to be 7)

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

            Good thing you could see my shock and awe and repeated that it was 6 home games.

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

        Why do people not listen to your supreme wisdom ?

        1. Drip Doctor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          It's a great crime.

    • diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Lindelof YC

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

      Hazard out in the next ten minutes if he doesn't score

      Had enough now

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

        Here we go 😀

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

        Weeee weee weee, all the way home

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

      Don't worry guys hazard will score soon.

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

        Thanks for the jinx 🙁

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

          I said kane will stop scoring after HT and he did.

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

        Is this like you Kane will NOT score posts?

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

        when ? next GW ?

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

        Yeah when i sell him after newcastle!

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

        Ffs Squarebob Spongepants

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

          Why I don't want him to?

    • Zilla
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Alonso good with baps 😮

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

      I demand a refund

    • Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wolves-Palace 0-0 please

      Doh and AWB

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

        Shush. Don't do a Granville!

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

      Here's all I ask:

      Snodgrass goal, Fabianski pen save
      Pogba attacking returns
      Alonso goal, assisted by Haz and then vice versa + CHE CS
      Jimenez goal assisted by Doherty + WOL CS

      All I want *shrugs*

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

        Snodgrass is gone off

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

        I support this post

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

        I'd settle for just the last one, at this pont.

    • Beatle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I despise yellow cards

    • Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      West Ham are a joke. Fabianski out for -4

    • Fantastisk
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard GOAT troll

    • Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Button laughing at me from the bench for the second week in a row

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

        I feel like he's just going to be a massive troll. If you play him he'll concede, keep him on the bench - clean sheet!

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

        I have Duffy (6 last game and 15 so far). Only really hurts if you actually considered playing them.

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

          *On the bench, obviously.

    • Differentiator
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      West Ham can't defend corners.

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

        Could have stopped after the fourth word.

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

        Let me fix that.

        West Ham can't defend.

    • Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Snoddy makes 60!

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

        huzzah

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

        Worst transfer I've made all season getting him in. Can't wait to see the back of him

    • Justthis
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazards isn't in my team.

    • Patch
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Playing Button over Fab next time...

    • Fantastisk
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard -> Son for a -4?

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

        For one week?

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

        Yes

    • BoomXhakaLaca1
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      What does your team need to sign this window? I'm a United fan so I think we need a solid centre half even someone like Shane Duffy wouldn't be bad, he's tough and a threat from set pieces.

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

        Everton need a striker. DCL and Tosun not up to it.

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

      Hmmmm Fanderson out I think. There seems to be a lack of talent at that price point now. Rich and Siggy are no-gos.... any other suggestions?

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

        strangely they are mostly out of form

        Pereyra?

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

          I agree. Quite odd. It seems like yesterday there were so many good options at that price point. Great shout with Pereyra.

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

        All the Utds

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

          Got Pogba and not willing to get anybody else just yet until we see what is favourite starting 11 are

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

            Schurrle maybe.

            Jota if he continues the form before he got injured

            Pereya

            Maybe Townsend

    • how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I preferred yesterday.

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

      I can hear the sound of wildcards being unwrapped!

    • Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Never captain Haz again. Always scores big when he´s not in my team

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

      So muck bad luck this year.
      -Last 5 rounds I've owned Kane, Hazard, Auba and captained one of them; Always the one with less points. (Hazard this gw could still come good though, but not really expecting much).
      -Brought Fabianski 3 gws ago
      -Brought Pogba this week. Sorry lads :p

    • Niho992
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Pereira, WB and Kamara on the bench. Fantastic.