Dugout Discussion

Hazard returns to false-nine role ahead of Newcastle meeting

Eden Hazard (£11.1m) returns to his false-nine role for Chelsea as Newcastle come to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.

That’s because both Pedro (£6.3m) and Willian (£7.3m) come back into the team to operate as the wide-men in Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 system.

The Blues are as usual both in defence and midfield, with eyes on Marcos Alonso (£6.7m), who lost another 100,000+ owners ahead of the Gameweek 22 deadline.

Hazard and company will be targetting a weak Newcastle central midfield with Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) and Mohamed Diame (£4.8m) out, and Ki Sung-yeung (£4.7m) away on international duty.

Lining up in that position are the inexperienced Sean Longstaff (£4.5m) and Isaac Hayden (£4.3m).

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Alonso, D Luiz, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Jorginho, Kanté; Willian, Hazard, Pedro.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lejeune, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie; Pérez, Longstaff, Hayden, Atsu; Rondón.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £10.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

2,022 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    It'd be a shame if Chelsea don't retain Luiz after this season. His passing ability (especially through-balls) is fantastic.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I agree. Sarri was pitching it. We offer him only 1 year. Sarri said we need to abolish that over 30 silly rule

    2. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Exactly. And who do you replace him with, at what price? It's ridiculous.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        We have to keep him. I wasn't his fan back in the days however there is no one better and he evolved

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

      Yes, can be replacement for fabregas too

    4. M'arvin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      It's just a shame he can't defend.

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He has his brain farts, but I wouldn't say that. No coincidence he was part of out title-winning PL and UCL winning sides (even if the latter was part of disappointing season).

  2. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Salah and Robertson to bag full BAPs? Confirmed?

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yep

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Delightful! Thanks !

  3. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Blimey, didn't even have chance to type captain fail

  4. Fantastisk
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea sitting back now they've got the lead? Hazard (c) fail?

    1. i am jose mourinho
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      This

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Have you seen his record vs Newcastle do? Goals incoming!

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Unfortunately, yes. Chelsea aren't the type of team to put 4 or 5 past their opponents. So Haz's lack of involvement in the first goal is bad.

  5. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Alonso is so GW3

  6. WVA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    FFS I have Hazard captain ML rival brought in Luiz!

  7. JohnnyMagrinho
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Obligatory ‘David Luiz essential’ comment.

    • Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hazard, Alonso, Pererya to Salah, VVD, > 5.0 (-4) very tempting next week

      1. Patch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Perhaps TAA and then you can get Nasir...

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Have TAA 🙂

    • HD7
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Better combo for next 5-6 GWs
      A) TAA, Auba
      B) VVD, Rashford

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        B

    • Dacra
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Alonso to TAA for free?

      Puts cash itb for possibly Martial to Kdb following week.

      1. Eytexi
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Im doing that, yep.

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Gonna be another Hazard fail
      Sorry for anyone that fell for him again

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Agreed. The first goal is so important and with no Haz involvement it makes the chance of him blanking increasingly likely. Chelsea aren't the type of team to put 5 or 6 past a team and Benitez will go into damage limitation mode.

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Also unlikely to get 3bps now Luiz will likely get a CS alongside his attacking points

          1. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Yep. He will need a goal and assist at a minimum to get close to 3 baps now.

        2. mir
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          This is true however i see a 4-0 win here

    • TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone else without Salah?

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not for much longer

      2. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Reports emerging that those without are in mental homes

        1. MrZ
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Big mouth shaw

        2. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Can confirm

        3. Delph & Safety
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Just about

      3. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        yep but got 2FT so will bring him in. Liverpool got 3 of next 4 at home so looks scary to go without him

      4. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not anymore thankfully.

      5. Delph & Safety
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not anymore. Needed to wait a week with Alonso’s / sane nice fixture. I hope I don’t jinx it.

      6. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Hate that cheater, but i think he's essential now with all the support from referees... Reluctantly looking to get him in

        1. norwegian-forest-cats
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          cheater?

        2. Arch Stanton
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Bitter...

      7. SEXY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        There must be loads without him, remember all the no Salah RMTs at the beginning of the season.

    • Zilla
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Luiz is the Azpi of last season

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Started season with him, eventually switched to Alonso around gw 5. Hasn’t been worth it obviously

    • DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Guys quick one, bonus wise, am i right in saying

      Salah + Robbo 3
      VVD 2
      TAA 1

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        No, VVD 1

      2. Eytexi
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Salah & Robbo 3
        VVD 1

        1. FDMS All Starz
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          How come

          1. Guru Mediation
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Top 3 players get bps

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

        Spot on, cheers!

      4. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        No taa points

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

        None for TAA, 1 for VVD

        1. Guru Mediation
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          This

    • Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hazard last week trolled me as a captain...above 20 points for a captain is actually ok to maintain the status quo

      My risky move would have been Richarlison captaincy...let's see how he fares tomorrow.

      This GW I did

      Alonso --> Luiz
      Jonny --> TAA

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

        Smooth

        1. Patch
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Let's hope Jonny doesn't pull a Doherty this week!

    • Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      FPL very quick to flag Son, they should wait till after his game!

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        And let people buy him for next GW?

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Caveat Emptor

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Should tell Virg that phrase 😉

            1. Numb
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Haha yeah

        2. Numb
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          It’s inconsistent with when suspensions are over

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Why?

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Affects prices

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Fair for all, more owners know/don't know.

            1. Numb
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Isn’t part of FPL researching stuff like that?

              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 3 months ago

                No flags in that case, do research.

      3. Tired and weary
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Over 1,000 transfers in already ha ha

    • TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Tricky GW for defence in 23, who are your 3 defenders?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Robbo Alonso digne Doherty atm, but Alonso likely becoming taa

      2. mir
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Roberton, Alonso, Doherty

        AWB and Digne benched.

      3. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Robbo, TAA, Doherty

      4. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Alonso, Robbo & Doherty - TAA to join them.

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

        TAA Robbo (CRY) Jonny (LEI) Digne (sou) for me.

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

        Kola/TAA/Doherty

        Lloris between the sticks

      7. Dr. Rog
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        TAA Doherty Digne

      8. R.C
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        DAD - Digne Arnold Doherty

      9. TRE2
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Doherty Robertson Digne

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          This

      10. lugs
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        TAA Kiko Shaw

      11. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Guess I need new defence.

        1. noahzark22
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          !

      12. noahzark22
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Robbo, TAA (CRY) , Digne (sou) , and Chillwell (wol) are my options.

      13. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This should be hulked ht later.

      14. Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Robbo, TAA, Doherty

    • FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Who is getting the bps is the palace game?

    • SEXY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      How can Salah go from zero BAPS as the game finishes to now 3?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Never had 0.

        1. SEXY SALAH
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Heard he missed a big chance and deduction meant zero BAPS?

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            No

          2. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Big Chance misses are calculated in-play, I beleive(?)

            Had no deductions post-game; had game-winning goal bonus to be added post-match.

      2. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Gwg

      3. norwegian-forest-cats
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        game winning goal, chances created etc. He has been robbed of baps so many times before it's nice to see he finally gets them.

        1. SEXY SALAH
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah.... The week I don't captain him lol

      4. pjomara
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        winner pts added later. can't say what the winning goal was til the final whistle

      5. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Game winning bonus

    • Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers haz and alonso

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        At least Alonso is still on for CS points.

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

      Best Son replacement within 1 dollar/pound/Euro/?

      Thinking Sane

      1. Billybigspuds
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Alli - just a hunch he might be about to find form

    • TallestJohn
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Grr sold Pedro a bit early, probably would've kept him if I'd seen him in the Carabao squad. He is a good option though, far better than Willian both irl and in FPL and matches Hazard for value.

      1. Patch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        My Nemesis brought in Pedro this week

        Can't make this $h!t up

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Chelsea are so slow and labouring in the build up

      Really not looking like they can score many goals at all. Kante pushing forward doesn't help, need someone more creative with attacking instinct in that role

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Chelsea are a 1-0 team. They don't score loads of goals and like to keep CS. No Hazard involvement in the first goal is bad for his prospects now in this game.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Yea 🙂

      2. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Sarri ball

    • The Baby-faced Assassin
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      To help fund Salah, I want to move Auba to bench fodder, would you just get Quaner at 4.3 or is Kamara or Success worth the extra .2/3?

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

        Quaner no longer in Premier League- gone out on loan

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

          * to Ipswich

        2. The Baby-faced Assassin
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah I know but Kamara wasn’t even in the team today and Success doesn’t get much game time... just trying to weigh it up as all my other players are starters so may be worth going for him anyway

      2. Billybigspuds
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Suggest Kamara and Success are worth it, particularly with potential blank fixtures on the horizon.

        Bench could be important for those gw’s

      3. Dybala10
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Quaner has gone out on loan?

        1. The Baby-faced Assassin
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Yup I’m aware, my plan is to never use him!

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            No BB left?

    • DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Mental that AWB gets 3. Im happy but how TF does that work? 2 conceded lost game, bizzare the BPS system.

      1. Guru Mediation
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        How it works is published in the rules section of the game

      2. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        https://www.anewpla.net/fpl/live/bps.php?gw=22&fixture=215

        AWB just did AWB things!

        1 goal scorer also scored an OG.

        The player who got the winner is a mid, lower BPS, and only played 21 minutes so didn't do much outside of the goal.

    • JasonG123
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      How do we deal with Snodgrass?

      Switch to Nasri, Brooks etc? Or downgrade to a cheap option e.g. Puncheon, Camarasa

      1. Eytexi
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I downgraded to McNeil

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        McNeil looks good

        1. JasonG123
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Never heard of him lol.

          1. Eytexi
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            A lot havent - made him even more inviting haha.

            1. JasonG123
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Has good stats - will consider him for sure.

    • Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      May really considering losing Hazard and Alonso if they fail to bring anything after this. Much better options to have

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        If the either do well or badly in this game, dows it make them better or worse options for the rest of the season ?

        1. Danstoke82
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          To be honest alonso has delivered little and Hazard rarely consistently hauls. Better options out there

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah city for me again.

        1. Danstoke82
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Which city assets you looking at?

      3. Dybala10
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        If on WC but I have too many other issues than Alonso.

    • how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Dial up i know, but are Liverpool baps finalised?

      1. SEXY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I thought only finalised once final game that day has concluded

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Currently somehow on 48 from 5 if they hold. Too good to be true.

          1. SEXY SALAH
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Take it!

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

        Si

    • UgoSmart
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I want to get in some in-form mid-priced players for long term. Please advise better option:

      A. Doherty
      B. TAA
      D. Pereira

      And.

      1. Rashford
      2. Jiminez
      3. Deeney

      1. The_Fish
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        B1

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

        The only one I wouldnt want out of all 6 is Deeney

        1. UgoSmart
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          He is in good form o

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

        Holebas is also in contention.

    • The_Fish
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Son and Snodgrass to...

      A Sterling and 5.0
      B Hazard and 5.2
      C KDB and 6.6
      D Eriksen and 7.0