Dugout Discussion
3 March 2019 997 comments
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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. YEAH PITCH!
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    How did Maddison and Barnes look for Leicester today?

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Maddison ok but better towards the end. Barnes so-so throughout his minutes
        Changed formation though

        1. YEAH PITCH!
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks.

      • LǝgleSs e|even
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Lei were pressing play in the final 30 at least. Maddison looked better, as always, more shots and crosses in

        1. YEAH PITCH!
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks.

    2. Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Jagielka rested

      1. Majestic Chanka
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Usually does well in derby game.

        Still on negative points for the season?

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

          Big boost for Pool CS, he's the only current Everton player to have scored a league against Pool (while playing for Everton)

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

            league goal*

          2. Majestic Chanka
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            That is some stat, here’s hoping my double pool defense can keep it that way!

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

      Cmon Higuain

    4. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      What's your ideal 11 or 15 for GW31?

      1. Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Lol

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

        There’s a game on, no time for spoon feeding

        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I will try again after the game then 😆

      3. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        ... nice try 😉

        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Worth a shot, right? 😉

      4. George Sillett
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        You want to bench boost in GW31?

        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Nope! Just FH. Need subs though

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

        I probably won’t put 11 out but I hope to get to

        Fabs/Boruc
        Robertson x
        Salah Mane Haz x
        Higuain King

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

      Hungry Haz!

    6. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Babel is playing good

      1. Rik Waller
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        *well

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

      It would great if you could score one of gazillion chances you’ve had in this game Eden. Cheers.

    8. Differential C (Mark)
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      You can tell Hazard is annoyed that he hasnt scored in 4/5 games. He's trying, still hopeful for more returns.

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

        A goal would be 3 baps. Thats a huge swing for captainers

    9. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haz is so bloody good I feel bad for him. Hope he leaves asap

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

        Will be part of the plan to save Madrid next season.

    10. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Jorginho yc
      Yes

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

        Good for Higuian baps

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

      Anyone seen bearded Mitrović and Abel Taarabt in the same room?

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Theresa May

      2. Differential C (Mark)
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Sww them in the "wasted talents" support group.

    12. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Soft card

      1. La Roja
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Toilet paper you mean?

    13. Differential C (Mark)
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Anguissa on. Haha, this is gonna be fun.
      He is so naive, he plays as if he has all the time in the world on the ball. Very much Ligue 1 level.

      1. La Roja
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        They paid 30m for him

        Let that sink in

        1. Differential C (Mark)
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          XD Really? Insane!

    14. JELLYFISH
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Come on Fulham

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        This... Need Sarri out asap

    15. SB007
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      please higgy

    16. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Fulham will win over Leicester

      1. LǝgleSs e|even
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Brendan Rogers won't let it happen

        1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          He will

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

          This, they'll be a different team once he takes charge...

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

        Pereira haul I've heard 🙂

      3. PepTalk
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        By endearing them with their style of play?

      4. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I was just thinking this!

      5. JELLYFISH
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        If Vardy’s injured I don’t care

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

      Vardy to keep 2 baps?

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

        Yep

    18. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Luiz warming up...

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

      Kepa 3 saves baby

    20. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Luiz sighted

    21. JELLYFISH
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Fulham looking good

    22. seewhyaxe
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      stay on the bench Luiz!

    23. No Salah
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Fulham not looking so easy now!

    24. Differential C (Mark)
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Fulham starting to put pressure on Chelsea. Some good play.

      They're PL Level on the ball, and Sunday League off it.

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

        Simply the best way to describe them.

    25. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Jorginho off

    26. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Kovacic coming on

      Barkley stays on

      Shocker

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Sarri becoming unpredictable. Who knew 🙂

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

      Christy can't last!

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

      George off, Kova on

    29. L'Aeroplanino
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Cmon Gonzalo one more...

    30. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'm getting ryan sessegnon in..