Dugout Discussion

Kanté injury big blow to Chelsea clean sheet potential

Those hoping to capitalise on Chelsea’s first clean sheet of the season will be disappointed to see N’Golo Kanté (£5.0m) miss today’s game with a hamstring problem.

He is joined on the sidelines by Kurt Zouma (£4.8m) who was ill in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Those absences could see Mason Mount (£6.6m) drop back into a central midfield trio, although Frank Lampard could still use him in attacking midfield if he goes with the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) is paired with Fikayo Tomori (£4.6m) at centre-back.

Opponents Brighton arrive at Stamford Bridge with Yves Bissouma (£5.0m) in central midfield, making his first league start of the campaign.

Spurs have lined up with Harry Kane (£11.0m) and Son Heung-min (£9.7m) leading their attacking against Southampton.

Erik Lamela (£6.1m), Lucas Moura (£7.2m) and Dele Alli (£8.4m) are among the substitutes but Christian Eriksen (£8.8m) starts, with Serge Aurier (£5.0m) at right-back.

Southampton make the wise decision to bring Ryan Bertrand (£4.9m) back in at left-back after issues there in Gameweek 6. Cédric (£4.9m) returns to the right of defence.

Diogo Jota (£6.2m) is absent from the Wolves squad today with rumours circling about a foot injury.

Therefore, Raúl Jiménez (£7.2m) is paired with Adama Traoré (£5.0m) up front while Leander Dedoncker (£4.5m) starts ahead of a benched Rúben Neves (£5.5m) and Romain Saïss (£4.4m) lines up at centre-back in the place of Ryan Bennett (£4.9m).

Bournemouth retain the same starting XI from the win over Southampton for their meeting with West Ham today.

That features Callum Wilson (£7.8m) fronting-up a 4-4-2 formation alongside Dominic Solanke (£5.4m) with Josh King (£6.3m) in the left-midfield position.

However, Ryan Fraser‘s (£7.2m) absence from the starting line-up is enforced this weekend as he misses the game today with an illness.

Taking his place on the bench is Arnaut Danjuma (£5.8m) who makes it into the matchday squad for the first time.

Also named among the substitutes for the first time this season is Simon Francis (£4.4m).

Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini (£6.5m) is fit enough only for the bench.

That means Sébastien Haller (£7.4m) is supported by an attacking midfield trio of Felipe Anderson (£6.9m), Pablo Fornals (£6.1m) and Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.9m).

Aaron Cresswell (£4.9m) starts at left-back, while Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) is absent from the match-day squad with Pablo Zabaleta (£4.4m) able to cover either defensive flank from the bench.

It looks as if Jack Grealish (£5.9m) might be playing in a more advanced position for Aston Villa today.

He appears to be lining up in the front-three, alongside Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) and Wesley (£6.0m).

Opponents Burnley line up exactly as we predicted as Sean Dyche makes no changes from the side that beat Norwich last weekend.

Despite suggestions that rotation could occur up-front, both Ashley Barnes (£6.6m) and Chris Wood (£6.2m) retain their starting berths.

Teemu Pukki (£7.2m) and Todd Cantwell (£5.0m) retain their places in the Norwich side as they travel to face Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton; Targett, Mings, Engels, Guilbert; McGinn, Nakamba, Hourihane; El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish.

Burnley XI: Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick; Wood, A Barnes.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; Rico, Aké, S Cook, Stacey; J King, Billing, Lerma, H Wilson; Solanke, C Wilson.

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Noble, Rice; Anderson, Fornals, Yarmolenko; Haller.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Alonso, Tomori, Christense, Azpilicueta; Mount, Barkley, Jorginho; Pedro, Abraham, Willian.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Burn, Webster, Dunk, Montoya; D Stephens, Bissouma, Mooy; Alzate, Maupay, Groß.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; van Aanholt, Cahill, Kelly, Ward; Schlupp, McArthur, Kouyaté, Milivojevic; Ayew, Zaha.

Norwich XI: Fahrmann; Lewis, Godfrey, Amadou, Aarons; Leitner, McLean; Cantwell, Stiepermann, Buendía; Pukki.

Spurs XI: Lloris; Rose, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Aurier; Sissoko, Winks, Ndombele; Eriksen; Son, Kane.

Southampton XI: Gunn; Bertrand, Yoshida, Bednarek, Cédric; Romeu, Højbjerg, Ward-Prowse; Boufal, Redmond; Ings.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Moutinho, Neto, Dendoncker, Doherty; Jiménez, Traoré.

Watford XI: Foster; Holebas, Dawson, Cathcart, Janmaat; Capoue, Doucouré; Deulofeu, Cleverley, Sarr; Welbeck.

2,226 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mcginnnnnn you beauty

  2. Das Boot
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    SUPER JOHN MCGINN AGAIN

  3. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    All of a sudden i hate my strikers (Pukki and Abraham)

  4. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    And yet people this week will still spend hours talking about and trying to predict the Man City team for the next match.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lesson learned logic lacks

    2. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      To be fair, based on the general consensus pep's roations have been fairly predictable so far

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

    Oh go away McGinn, ffs

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I mean seriously. Cheapskates

  6. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would people mind chilling out about Abraham? Good options do blank. Yes, even the week you bought them.

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Took a hit to get him in over Barnes 😛

      1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Good move long term still, good luck 🙂

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Could have had a hattrick by sounds of it today. Annoying as a captainer

      1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Can understand the frustration as a captainer, but people telling him to get out their teams... I mean come on. If they sell you can guarantee they'll be moaning next time he scores.

  7. JELLYFISH
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Get in Johnny boy

  8. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Nick Pope awful all of a sudden?

  9. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Just waiting for VAR....

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think we're safe.

  10. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Swopped McGinn for Mount this week. Might bring him back in!

  11. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Please let this McGinn goal stand!

    1. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Considering Burnley have since equalisers, think you'll be OK.

  12. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wood G

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Oh flip sake.....

  13. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    McGinn, Wilson and Cresswell essential

  14. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Seems like this is the week to go out of LMS then... 19 from 7, Kun benched.

  15. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Did anyone bring in Aurier for a hit?

    1. Critical Observer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Plenty of folks.

  16. Chirsbom
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    It is Dier times!

  17. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    WOODDDdddddd

  18. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    VAR? 😉

  19. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Lanzini > McGinn and King > Abraham where my choices.

    I chose poorly.

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

    SCORE A GOD DAMN GOAL ASHLEY BARNES.

    Useless man

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope assist?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lowton

  22. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Cantwell to McGinn

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

      I may

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Playing home next week 🙂

  23. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What looked like a pointsfest week had very low scores again.
    Tommorow with a low scores watching those with Auba skip ahead will be painful.

  24. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My rotating keepers are both crap! Haha

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same!

  25. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My game week one team is really tearing it up.
    Shame I got rid of most of them.

  26. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes useless

    1. Woy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Getting him out waste of space

  27. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    23 with 3 to play, spent my (c) on Abraham. At least I didn't make a transfer or a hit this week.

  28. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Chris Wood! My only points ...

  29. Yoshioka
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    McGinn’s all-round game is so good, not just as an fpl asset.

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Approved by Sir Alex

  30. james 101
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Salah and Pukki

    To

    Son and Firmino

    -4

    Yay or nay??