Dugout Discussion
3 March 2019 997 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

Fulham take on Chelsea in the second of three Premier League matches to be contested on Sunday afternoon.

The kick-off in the west London derby is at 14:05 GMT.

Maurizio Sarri promised to change “three or four players” in his press conference on Friday but has gone one better at Craven Cottage, making five alterations from the side that beat Spurs in midweek.

The stand-out team news sees David Luiz and Marcos Alonso make way from the Chelsea starting XI, with Andreas Christensen and Emerson Palmieri handed recalls.

Luiz is among the substitutes but Alonso misses out altogether.

Kepa Arrizabalaga returns between the sticks after his benching at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, so Willy Caballero drops out.

Willian and Ross Barkley replace Pedro and Mateo Kovacic in two of the more predictable changes that Sarri has made.

Scott Parker takes charge of Fulham for the first time against his former employers.

The ex-Chelsea midfielder has made only one change to the starting XI that Claudio Ranieri named in the 2-0 defeat to Southampton on Wednesday: Ryan Sessegnon is in for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

That alteration could well mean a return to a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation, with Sessegnon and Ryan Babel flanking Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack.

Chelsea won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in December, with both of their goalscorers that day – Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – on the bench this afternoon.

The Blues have lost their last three away matches on the spin, conceding 12 goals without reply in that time.

Eden Hazard has blanked in his last four appearances on the road, meanwhile.

The Blues and Hazard have an excellent chance to break those barren runs today: Fulham have conceded two or more goals in each of their last eight Premier League games.

Fulham XI (4-3-3): Rico, Odoi, Nordtveit, Ream, Bryan, Chambers, McDonald, Cairney, Sessegnon, Babel, Mitrovic.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Barkley, Willian, Higuain, Hazard.

997 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Well this ought to be fun

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Quality top post, apologies.

  2. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Ugh oh. They poked the bear. Gonzalo will go hunting again and boy he's hungry

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      My thinking exactly

  3. HollywoodXI
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    I have Hazard, Mane and TAA as differentials in my ML. 24 points behind leader. Of course Hazard looks disinterested in this game!

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      ....although he just hit an assist lol!

      1. Balls of Steel
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        That might wake him up hardly trying are you Eden!

  4. Goat
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Great goal that for Higuain owners re. baps

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

    Justice for Alonso owners...

    1. Rash
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Justice and Alonso don't sit well with many..

  6. DR0GBA
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Jorginhooooooo

    Hazard assist

  7. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Entertaining game this 🙂

  8. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    I was hovering over the transfer button to sell Pereria for Chambers 🙁

  9. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    And that's why Wenger sent Chambers to Fulham. #therealspecialone

  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Haz assist

  11. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    George G

    Eden A

  12. Dannyb
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Haz assist

  13. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    POINTS!!!

    1. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Just when I was about to delete my FPL account

    2. MTPockets
        7 years, 3 months ago

        hallelujah

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

      Captain Sterling over Hazard. Fack

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I'm just glad I sold Pogba for Hazard.

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hazzzaaaa

    5. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Boooo Hazard

    6. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Balls - was hoping for a Hazfail

    7. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haz assist

    8. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      hazard(c) higuain points alasss getttin

    9. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Holding Son looking bad.

    10. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Perfect match for Sunday evening 😀
      Goals galore

    11. McSauce
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Son to Hazard 1FT this week looks a nice comfortable transfer.

    12. fedolefan
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Azzaaaaaa

    13. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes skipper Haz

    14. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haz over Mane, TAA over Pereira could be it

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        You’ll want Mane for 31 surely ?! They play this very team

    15. Dannyb
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haz attacking returns = max bonus

    16. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No CS points even if Luiz and Alonso come on now. 30 minutes up. True?

    17. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Jorginho started that attack with a great foul 😉

      1. SPorting
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Not a chance.

    18. Richd
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Chelsea gonna smash Fulham and become “essential” for the DGW.

      This fixture has potentially dangerous implications

    19. Zladan
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      The Pogba (c) over Hazard decision worsens.