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

    Lol, Brighton fans chanting 'ole' with every Brighton's pass 😆

  2. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Scoutcast tonight?

    1. Effe
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Tomorrow I think someone said

      1. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ok thanks

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

      Thursday

    3. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      andy on now...

  3. Tasty Jerk
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Townsend on, come on!

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

    Townsend on for Kouyate

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

    Please let Laporte stay out of the baps. And keep Kane in check...

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

      Timing

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

    Brighton close 😮

  7. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Just saw Azpi went off. At least CS is banked, happy with that

  8. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Am I right in thinking that any Sterling points will effectively hurt those in the top 10k unless they've captained him?

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

      Yes

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

      Yes

  9. Says
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    "Faith in Jesus" definition : The system of beliefs around Jesus' ability to finish and score goals despite there being no evidence it exists .

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

    Made some terrible decisions...

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

      Pep*

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

        Yeah him too, bald knob

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

    Eriksen G

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

    2 nil eriksen

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

    Laporte shot off target, well out of the bonus now

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

      Still joyful with his clean sheet and assist

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

    3 lovely BAPs for Trippier owners, what a differential he is...

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

      Whaaat great news 🙂

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

    Eriksen g

    Kane would have had a penalty, it looked like.

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

    No BAPs for Laporte. Now need 3 points for 100 🙁

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

      make that 4

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

    Erik G

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

      Kane ?

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

    WGTA?

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

    It gets worse and worse!

  20. Ambrosiana Inter
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Really eriksen goal? Yesss my boyy

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

      played

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

    Could be a Kane A, but shouldnt be...

  22. Steve Stiffler
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Townsend on

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

    Kane assist PL0X

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

      Looks like no assist

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

    No assist? Or Kane?

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

      It shouldnt be, he got dispossessed...no attempt at a pass.

    2. Effe
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Looks like no assist

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

    Laporte shot off target minus baps. Small mercies

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

      A goal will make it up

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

        The fear is real

  26. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Bring on sterling

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

      Please no

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

    Bats off
    Benteke on

    Alli off
    Lucas on

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

      Batshuayi. What a flop pick.

    2. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thankfully never boraded the Batmobile

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

    Dele off, Lucas on

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

    None with the assist.

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

      Kane wasn’t it?

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

      Rainer always brings bad news 🙁

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

    Doesn't look like Kane assist, def touches it. FFSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS