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

    Where is Sterling and Higgy

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

    Spurs, stop taking Schlupp points.

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

      Idiots they are

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

    No assist, Eriksen goal

  4. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling?
    Higauin?

    πŸ™

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

      On bench

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

    Not sure Kane is going into my WC team!

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

      Is Kane playing deep tonight? Really fancied him scoring in the new stadium tonight....epic fail

      1. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        No he isnt but not getting good service

        Only missed one chance and got close to the assist for 2-0

        Almost scored a FK as well in the first half

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

    Batman was an interesting bandwagon.

  7. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte and Son out of the Baps....

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

      GWG points for Son to be added, still hope.

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

    Eriksen robbing Kane of a penalty to make up for the "claimed" goal πŸ˜€

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

    Come on Dilva. Just a 5min cameo ? πŸ™

  10. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Alli punt failed then.....

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

      Not sure why I went with it in the end either haha. Hindsight and all but he's been poor for a while.

    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Last game he looked the better pick.
      Nearly got him myself but went for son as he could be a super sub type if given a go from the bench

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

    Duffy DSilva Higuain over (I kid you not) Laporte Milivojevic Jimenez

    Nice one, TLD

  12. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If Salah got an assist on Sunday, I expect a Kane assist.

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

      Should be

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

    If Laporte scored and got the baps I'd have just hit 100. πŸ™ ahh well

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

      Still might πŸ™‚

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

      Same. Oh well πŸ™

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

    Spurs are about to throttle Palace.

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

    Higuaita get any minutes?

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

      Higuain or Guaita?

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

        Piguian

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

      Still time for him.

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

    After all the talk about how crap Chelsea players are and Jimmy will be rested they were my 4 top points scorers of the week!

  17. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    could have pretty much captained anyone but Sterling and got a return πŸ˜€ ffs

    1. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You've threaded the eye of the needle with that (c) pick.

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        really wish he had pulled a GW25-Sane tbh

    2. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Same

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

      Clean sheet point!

  18. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any double CPL defence and Kane owners? This game has been horrible!

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

      Mark

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

    Brighton please score ML rival have Luiz and Kepa I have Azpi πŸ˜€

    1. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      THIS

  20. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling TC fail...

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

    Have to feel for the sterling triple cappers. Atleast I TC Kun.

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

    Cmon Laporte

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

    Who did worse?

    1) Aguero TCers
    2) The average FHer

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

    SGW Higuain πŸ˜†

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

      Say it ain't so

    2. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Never aguain

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

    Cardiff miss 1-on-1

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

    Cardiff almost score on counter... Well done Ederson

  27. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    When you refresh to see if you have more points and it’s still on the same page πŸ™

    1. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      i even lost 1pt

  28. Fpl Old Guard
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Has to be a Kane assist there

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Frustrating Salah got given his on Sunday but Kane didn't get that

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

        He never kicked the ball towards goal or teammate, he just had it stolen from him

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

      Negatory

  29. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Ederson you beauty

  30. Ribus
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Nightmare this dgw.

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      As long as you had a logic to your choices don't worry about it