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. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    4 points on pitch. 5 points on bench.

    Started early this week...

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      4 pts in pitch

      6 on bench

      Uhoh

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Deserved top post! 😆

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

    Higuain looks like a slightly heavy Morata with a beard.

    What different threat he offers exactly ?

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

      He understands Sarri's system.

      Sarri's plan is just to buy his Napoli attackers....

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Sarri system clearky not working at the moment

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

      My thoughts exactly. Arguably worse positoning and off ball movement.
      Probably better finishing though.

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

      He's not match fit, so currently not a lot.

    4. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      If they make it to a cup final, I can guarantee he’ll miss a sitter.

    5. fusen
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      this was a timely comment

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        😀

  3. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance of a Robertson no show?

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

      Pray he gets snowed in or drunk, he is Scotish after all.

  4. BOATIES FC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I've benched Doherty for AWB... Hmmm

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Same here in late change.

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

    Hazard getting closer....
    Come you little shite !!

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

    Higuain looking out of breath

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

    Hazard looking dangerous today

  8. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard looking lively 😎

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No he isn’t

  9. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard looking good

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

      till it converts to points its literally pointless

    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Really?

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

    Everton are really bad arent they? So much talent on the pitch, shows how much of a job Wo;ves manager has done

    1. 4-4-who?
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Or Wolves are really good?

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

      Bad management.

  11. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Came on to say Hazard looks great. But I see it's been mentioned 😆

  12. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Not sure why anyone would play AWB over Doherty.. very strange

    1. Goat
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hindsight.

  13. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Chelsea should buy someone like Piatek instead of Higuain.

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Timing lol

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

      Lollll

  14. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Jim Yellow 🙁

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

    CMONNNN

  16. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Chelsea scored

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

    HIGGY G

  18. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    HIGGYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

  19. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Zouma YC

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

    Higuain goal.

  21. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    GONZALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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

    Ive slagged him, but what hit by Gonzalo!

  23. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Higuaaain

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

    Higuain G
    Kante A

  25. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    HIGUAINNNNNNNNnnnnnnnn

  26. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Higuain!!!

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

    Gonzalooooo

  28. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso assist?

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

    Higuain essential

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

    Kante A
    Hazard C

    1. Goat
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Crap?