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. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Geezus

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

    Son shining

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

      This

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

    Rotation in Gameweek 35 could hardly get any worse than this surely!

  4. The Train Driver
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Biggest troll award surely must go to Pep?

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

      He is just managing his team. I doubt he ever thinks of fantasy football or has ever heard of this site.

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

      Donkey award goes to us for expecting a club with squad depth who are fighting on four fronts to field a predictable team?

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

    Schlup over the bar

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

      Why can't he finish πŸ˜•

  6. KAPO KANE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    BLOODBATH time at Spurs!

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

    Sane and Jesus could haul here.

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

    lets go Hazard C

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

    Schlupp looking lively

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

    Would of been Mili A, Schlupp G

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

    Schlupp the absolute tease.

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

    KDB G

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

    I assume the debate will be after this gameweek -
    hot topic are FH/WC worth it in a DGW given rotation of the big sides etc etc etc ???

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

    OMG KDB

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

    KDB G

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

      Laporte A πŸ™‚

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

    KDB goal

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

    Wow that’s quick

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

    Laporte ASSIST

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yes!!

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

      Woohoo!

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

      Nice

  19. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte

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

    Ah boy. Bad start with no City playing lol

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

    Laporte assy 😎

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

    Bloody Laporte

  23. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte again looking good for top points scorer this double GW

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

    Laporte points. I will take that !

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

    Laporte is a player you can trust in a DGW.

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

      Yeah he definitely plays FPL

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

    DSilva over Laporte was terrible lmao

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

      Same πŸ™

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

        Allowed me to pick A Young though πŸ™‚

  27. Annie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Laporte you beautyyy

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

    KEVINNNNNNNnnnnnnnnn

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

    Laporte casuals omg the correct pick was ederson! Fuming!

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

    Get in Laporte!!!!!!