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. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Someone tell me why I’ve got Barnes in my team. Please.

    1. Planet Head
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You thought he was good

    2. 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Keep for 1 more game.

  2. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Diop YC- 0points

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Brutal

  3. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Mate has Kun playing, McGinn first on bench, the chances of Kun getting minutes?

    1. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      High.

    2. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Very high

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      High. Probably 10 min cameo at the end

    4. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Kun 1 pointer written all over this

    5. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He’ll come on at 0-0 59 mins.

    6. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good to hear

  4. Am sorry to say again it�…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Everyone who shipped Sterling to get Aguero, how nervous are you?

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Can't do nothing about it..nothing genius from sterling owners is it. Pure luck

      1. Am sorry to say again it�…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Actually it was dumb for people to bring in Aguero for Sterling, think Sterling would get benched two weeks in a row...

        1. Pumpkinhead
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          This - was foolish to think playing 70 mins over two games would earn him a rest.

      2. Pumpkinhead
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Don't think it's luck. If you chop and change with the Man City team you're bound to have this happen.

      3. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Swapping from someone just rested to someone due a rest isn’t just down to bad luck

  5. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Tammy useless

  6. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Looks like selling Bilva after a hat-trick, capping Sterling and avoiding Aguero could be genius 😎

    Or just a fluke...

  7. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    The Australian link between Wood and Barnes is incredible

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes is Austrian though

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

      That's very smart actually

  8. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    F*** off Abraham

  9. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ashley barnes has to go.

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sadly yes

  10. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Tammy subbed

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        hallelujah

    2. TAT
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Best Heaton replacement? Wildcard tempting now…

      1. Critical Observer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Chasing goalkeepers = rookie move

        1. TAT
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Just need someone who isn't Villa…

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

      Starting the season with Wood, switching to Barnes and missing all their goals. Masterclass.

    4. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      McGuin > Cantwell

      1. Pumpkinhead
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Obviously but McGinn also cost 1.0 more so you have to factor that in.

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          If you buy today not. I don't have either

          1. Pumpkinhead
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I have both 4th and 5th mid - Still 0.6 in it.

    5. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      This is actually ridiculous from Barnes now

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        What is??

    6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      need a brighton goal

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yes plz

      2. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Don't we all.

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

        Need a Rope!

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

      Real test of Sterling vs KDB debate without Kun a factor...

    8. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I brought in Abraham this week..
      Serial 2pointers in my team :'(

    9. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Useless pos Barnes subbed off

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Rly?

    10. Feanor
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Abe captain fail.

      Should have gone with Sterling.

      1. Pumpkinhead
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        You don't know that. Sterling hasn't played but likely.

    11. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Batman vs Southampton next week 😮

      1. Pumpkinhead
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        No way.

    12. TyroneGAA
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Everton always donwell against city !

    13. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Such a bunch of crybabies 😀

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        No way was Barnes just subbed.

        Spew

      • Ady87
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Got Webster and Barnes, 3 points in a 2-2 game lol

      • Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cantwell off, good.

      • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        cantwell fail

        1. Pumpkinhead
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Can you consider it a fail when a 4.5 doesn't get points?

          1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            i'm desperate for points

            1. Pumpkinhead
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Fair enough

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

          Kelly 1st on bench. The Pukki double-up was too tempting :/

      • Grounderz
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Hope Kun doesn’t come on.

      • sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Diop or Rico, wouldn't have made a difference apparently. 0 both.

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Crap from the Norwich and Burnley boys two weeks running then

      • FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cantwell and Tammy blanks