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

    Jesus can’t score...

  2. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Jesus showing why he doesn't deserve to play in this team.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      he and foden highly overrated due to the team they play for. Would like to see them play for cardiff

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Foden? What? Surely you haven't seen enough of him to make a judgement.

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

    Hold Kepa, freaking hold!

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

    I knew I should'a got Giroud

  5. Ask Yourself
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    i'll take giroud 90 mins if higuain please starts on weekend

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

    16 sitter of the season that Jesus missed with just 6 goals. What a fraud.

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

    Gru outscores Higgy yet again

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

    CHO, RLC and Giroud start and Chelsea score

    Interesting.....

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Have said many times this is the front three Chelsea should start with

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

    I think Stones has had a perm, he looks like that bbc drag artist comic that isn't funny, can't remember his name.

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

      Lily savage?

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

        Yes!

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

    Nail in the coffin re Higuain, that... oof

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

      Na na na na
      Na na na na
      Hey hey hey
      Giroud!

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

        I thought this was going to be a Ty Webb reference.

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

    Sarri the mastermind behind CHO!

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      there is something in this you know

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

      This! He’s created a frenzy and delivered.

  12. IRBOX โšฝ
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Would love to see the skin folds of all those joking about Higuain..

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

    Higuain is a Torres 2.0

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

      Don't dare disrespect Fernando comparing him to that.

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

      Chelsea Torres*

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

      Shevchenko 2.0

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

      Delete this TM

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

      Or a Boselli 2.0

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

        Samuel Eto'o 2.0

        ...both over the hill

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

    Cho in every wc

    1. Old Man
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      if he stays in the Premier League I wonder how much he'll be in FPL next year ...... 5.5?

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        hype makes him 7

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

        Same as RLC this year you'd imagine

        5 and a half magic beans

  15. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    My first sub Hudson-Odoi already outscoring Hazard's points from two games.

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

    Tomkins soaking up the baps winning every header so far.

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

      Will loose them as soon as spurs score..it’s inevitable

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

        ๐Ÿ™

    2. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      H'es my second sub/1st defender sub. He and CHO creaming the points in. Thanks Lindelof, Pogba.

  17. Colonel Shoe ่‚ๆฑ 
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    This season.... Can't get owt right ๐Ÿ™

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

    Anyone from Spurs to score ASAP !

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

      Pump the brakes. Schlupp needs a cs + a goal.

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

        This! And Batsman

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

    Jesus is so wasteful

    Could have had 5

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

    Takes away the Duffy CS ๐Ÿ™ not that it was an expected one this game mind. Any goal threat so far?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He's due.

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

      He wasn't far away from a tap-in a tad earlier actually. Brighton haven't done much, mind.

  21. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    We’re all going to be captaining gks and centrebacks in DGW’s to come. Only players playing twice.

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

      OR Kane ๐Ÿ˜‰

  22. Ser Davos
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which poor souls went for Rudiger over Azpi?

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

      Luiz here. I almost went Foster, Azpi, Laporte, and Schlupp, but that made too much sense.

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

    Hmm annoyingly this is making me think I can’t ditch Higgy now in GW33 cos he’ll start

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Why do you think he'll start?

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

        Just the minutes game. Not sure just a concern

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

    Sane g

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

    Sane G

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

      Jesus A

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

    Sane goal

    Jesus assist

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

      Aw poo

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

    Sane

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

    Sané G
    Jesus A

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

    Sane g jesus a lovely goal

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

    Sane punishing GW25 TC