Dugout Discussion

Sterling, Silva and Bernardo benched as Guardiola rotates heavily

Double Gameweek 32 comes to a head on Wednesday evening with three Premier League matches that all kick off at 19:45 BST.

Crystal Palace are the visitors to Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, while Manchester City and Chelsea host Cardiff City and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively.

The headline team news at the Etihad sees Pep Guardiola make seven changes, with Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and David Silva among the players to drop to the bench.

Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gündogan are also among the substitutes, while Nicolas Otamendi drops out of the match-day squad.

Guardiola had previously ruled Sergio Aguero out of tonight’s match, so it is no shock to see Gabriel Jesus leading the line for City.

Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez will flank the Brazilian, while there is a first Premier League start of the season for Phil Foden.

Fernandinho, John Stones and Danilo are also recalled.

Neil Warnock has made only one change, with Harry Arter being replaced in the starting XI by Joe Ralls.

Maurizio Sarri has matched Guardiola in making seven alterations.

Eden Hazard returns to the Chelsea starting XI following his benching at Cardiff on Sunday, while there is a full Premier League debut for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Gonzalo Higuain makes way for Olivier Giroud, while Emerson Palmieri replaces the injured Marcos Alonso.

N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen are recalled as Willian, Pedro, Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Antonio Rudiger drop out.

Chris Hughton has made four changes, the most eye-catching of which sees the fit-again Florin Andone replace Glenn Murray up front.

Solly March, Bruno and Gaetan Bong all start at the expense of Anthony Knockaert, Martin Montoya and Bernardo.

Son Heung-min returns to the Spurs starting XI, replacing Lucas Moura in the Lilywhites’ attack.

Ben Davies is preferred to Davinson Sanchez in Mauricio Pochettino’s only other change.

Roy Hodgson has brought Cheikhou Kouyate, James McArthur and Martin Kelly into his starting XI and benched Scott Dann, Max Meyer and Andros Townsend.

That means Jeffrey Schlupp will move even further upfield on the left of a front three, with Wilfried Zaha switching to the right flank.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Hazard.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Ryan, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Bissouma, Stephens, Propper, March, Andone, Jahanbakhsh.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Zinchenko, Stones, Laporte, Danilo, Fernandinho, Foden, De Bruyne, Sane, Mahrez, Jesus.

Cardiff City XI: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Camarasa, Murphy, Hoilett, Niasse.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Trippier, Sissoko, Eriksen, Rose, Alli, Son, Kane.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Kelly, Van Aanholt, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Zaha, Batshuayi, Schlupp.

3,638 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Noo. Laporte so close. Great save

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Damn!

  2. soup natsi
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    HAZAAAARS YOU BEAUTY

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Again ?

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

    WOW Etheridge, denies Laporte!

  4. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte nearly!

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

      Omg would have nutted

  5. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Haz EO?

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

      82% in the top 10k

    2. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      42%

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Overall

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

      83 10k

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks lads

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

    1 more attack return needed. Come on hazard or sane

  7. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Was just looking at how uninpressive my team looks, now im well over 100 after the update.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not subtle

  8. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte will score. I just know it

  9. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte loves a DGW!! PLEASE STOP

  10. MGD
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Etheridge getting the most out of this game haha

  11. GuillermoDickero
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Was Sons shot on target? If so it makes sense that it's his goal given the rules

    1. MGD
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It was. His goal. Non owner

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

      Thanks Sherlock

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

    Surely it is time to drop Willian, Pedro, Barkley / Kovacic and Higuain now. Probably even Jorginho.

  13. WVA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    ML rival on a -8 outscoring my FH team by 20 points FML

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

      Wtf 😮

  14. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Magic Bean on fire

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

    Please just one goal Cardiff

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

      This

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      This. Feel bad for saying it tho!

    3. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Please!

    4. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No!

  16. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Ok Pep. It’s Dilva time

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

      Yessss

  17. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    On 106 for the GW, imagine if TC Kun had played

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

      206

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      This. onto 101 myself

    3. dansmusen
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      About the same on a -8 and Kun TC

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

    If these cleans hold ill break a 100 even with massive Captain fail

  19. tm245
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Kane skies one on the break.

    Palace dispossessed again - they are entering match fixing territory.

  20. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard (C) delight 🙂

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

      Well played. I wish!

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      G&A

  21. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Must be some monstrous scores knocking about.

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

      If the CS's hold yeah

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

    Winks rdy to come on...dunno for who tho.

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

    Kane getting closer

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

    Any Kante involvement?

  25. Mysterion
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Kane -BPS

    NFL career in jeopardy with kicking like that...

  26. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Put £20 on Hazard to score 2 or more because my ML rival triple captained him, so he goes and scores 1 and assists 🙁 typical, one more please eden for £125

  27. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Etheridge surely stays in the prem if Cardiff get relegated? Solid keeper

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah deserved

  28. Dannyb
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Congrats Chelsea defence owners, cleanie points in the bag.

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

    MCI hit the woodwork

  30. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling won't play right?