Dugout Discussion

Alonso returns for Chelsea as Sarri tweaks his defence

Marcos Alonso (£6.5m) has returned to the Chelsea starting XI ahead of the Gameweek 25 meeting with Huddersfield Town at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Rüdiger (£6.0m) drops to the bench to allow Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) his first start since Gameweek 15.

Gonzalo Higuain (£9.5m) leads the line once again, flanked by Eden Hazard (£10.9m) and Willian (£7.2m).

Those interested in the Double Gameweek players on offer at Everton will be pleased to know that Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) and Richarlison (£6.8m) both start in their favoured positions of central and left attacking midfield respectively.

Vicente Guaita (£4.2m) is back in goal again for Crystal Palace after missing out on Gameweek 23 and returning in Gameweek 24.

Christian Benteke (£6.3m) is the chosen replacement for the suspended Wilfried Zaha (£6.7m), with new signing Michy Batshuayi (£6.5m) named among the substitutes.

Chris Hughton looks to have gone with 4-3-3 for Brighton once again, with Jurgen Locadia (£5.3m) and Solly March (£5.0m) flanking Glenn Murray (£6.3m).

Daryl Janmaat (£4.9m) gets a second consecutive start at right-back for Watford, while Ken Sema (£4.6m) features from the beginning for the first time since Gameweek 23.

As expected, Gerard Deulofeu (£5.5m) and Troy Deeney (£6.0m) are the strike pairing for the Hornets.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£5.5m) is on the bench for Burnley as Dwight McNeil (£4.4m) makes a sixth consecutive start on the Clarets’ left wing.

Southampton come to Turf Moor with Nathan Redmond (£5.3m) and Danny Ings (£5.5m) leading the line, while Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (£4.4m) misses out.

That means a first Premier League start for Callum Slattery (£4.5m) alongside Oriol Romeu (£4.3m) in central midfield.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Bong, Dunk, Duffy, Montoya; Groß, Stephens, Pröpper; Locadia, Murray, March.

Watford XI: Foster, Janmaat, Cathcart, Mariappa, Holebas, Hughes, Cleverley, Capoue, Sema, Deeney, Deulofeu.

Burnley XI: Heaton; Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick; Wood, Barnes.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard; Ward-Prowse, Slattery, Romeu, Targett; Armstrong; Redmond, Ings.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Alonso, D Luiz, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Barkley, Jorginho, Kanté; Hazard, Higuain, Willian.

Huddersfield XI: Lössl; Löwe, Schindler, Kongolo, Smith; Bacuna, Billing, Mooy; Mbenza, Kachunga, Diakhaby.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp; Ayew, Benteke.

Fulham XI: Rico; Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream; Christie, Chambers, Seri, Bryan; Cairney, Mitrovic, Babel.

Everton XI: Pickford; Coleman, Zouma, Keane, Baines; Davies, André Gomes; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Tosun.

Wolves XI: Rui Patrício; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Rúben Neves, João Moutinho, Jonny; Jiménez, Jota.

2,058 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Haines nightmare

    Digne nailed

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      taking up where ding dong left off

  2. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Played Doherty - yes!

  3. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Doherty you beautiful beautiful boy

  4. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Doherty taking the mantle from Alonso...soon will be taken by Mendy but still

  5. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Great pen by Neves, was hoping Jimi would take though!

  6. Patch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Jiminez should have took that penalty as I need points.

  7. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    bye bye Digne CS

    1. Here's Tom with the We…
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lol

  8. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Oh naff off Doherty

  9. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I'm getting Doherty next week.

  10. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Neves has doubled his penalty area touches for the season!

  11. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    DOHERTY OI OI OI

  12. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard looks up for it, is today the day he will finally make me happy ?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      probably the troll at the Bridge again

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Always starts brightly then fades away

    3. Redalert
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Shipped last night for sane. Couldn't justify the price tag per output. Prob get a hattie today..... 🙂

  13. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Baines looking past it, Digne surely back in for the next game.

  14. trikster102
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Docherty get's assist, yay! Keane loses clean sheet, boo 🙁

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Getting an Everton defender didn't make sense this GW IMO. I can understand people getting in Danilo / Laporte though.

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

    Never bench, maybe captain one day...

  16. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso and Hazza your turns

  17. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Played luke shaw instead of Doherty
    Will shaw still outscore him ?! 🙁

  18. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I will be getting my jammy Doherty points off the bench because of TAA, I'll take that thank you very much

  19. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I say it every week, Doherty I love you

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Do you really ?
      Best send him flowers and book a room.

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I'm waiting for him to book the room

  20. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Digne red card was a blessing. He would have been a massive trap for the double.

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

      Still looking good for a minus score on Wed.

    2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I’d have he 3 points tho.

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Im just glad I got an excuse to get rid of him.

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed although always chance of attacking pts

    4. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      This!

  21. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Higuain invisible, almost zero presence. Crosses into the six yard box and he barely moves. Only one time Ive seen him make a decent half chance.
    So far, nowhere near his price point.

    1. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      10 mins in and he’s had a shot deflected wide, chill out

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He's not 100% fit is he

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        More matches would help

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Bs.He has made decent runs

    4. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just trolled you.

    5. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      This has aged well...

  22. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Buy him.

    Never bench him.

    End of.

  23. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Neves scored again vs Everton just like GW 1. Now we need brace from Richa.

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      And Jimenez goal?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Why not.

  24. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    To be fair to Digne, I would have played him over Doherty hadn’t he got his red card. Silver lining and all that 🙂

  25. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Mitro needs to score with the chance

  26. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Last GW: benched Jimenez.
    This GW: benched Doherty.

    Give up.

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

      I genuinely don't understand the decision to bench Doherty.

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I would.

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just why though

    4. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Doherty is a never bench sort of option due to attack potential I would have thought?

  27. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard sot

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not good enough. Needs to score goals.

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

      OMG

  28. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Higuain the new Morata, Sarri shouldve just signed Wilson what was he thinking

  29. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Doherty first on bench again.

    Taa playing?

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nope. Lucky you.

    2. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No

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

      No

    4. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Klopp said not this week.

  30. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Yes Doc Herty