Dugout Discussion

Abraham fit to start as Martial misses out for United

There are six Premier League matches taking place this evening, with all bar the Merseyside derby kicking off at 19:30 GMT.

Liverpool v Everton gets underway at 20:15 GMT, meanwhile.

Perhaps the headline team news comes from Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea take on Aston Villa.

Frank Lampard is able to call upon Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) as the England striker makes a swift return from the hip injury that forced his absence in Gameweek 14.

Mason Mount (£6.6m), Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) and the recalled Willian (£7.1m) make up the attacking trident behind Abraham but there is no place in the starting XI for Fikayo Tomori (£4.9m), who is replaced by Andreas Christensen (£4.9m).

Jorginho, Emerson (£5.5m), Olivier Giroud (£6.6m) and Pedro (£6.8m) also drop out of the team, as N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) and Cesar Azplicueta (£5.9m) return.

Dean Smith has made three changes, two of which are enforced.

Douglas Luiz (£4.5m), the suspended Frederic Guilbert (£4.4m) and the injured Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) make way, with Marvelous Nakamba (£4.4m), Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.2m) and Trezeguet (£5.2m) taking their places.

The swirling media reports that suggested that Anthony Martial (£7.7m) would miss out have proven to be accurate, with the Frenchman not in Manchester United’s squad.

Speaking to MUTV before the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:

Anthony got a slight injury on Sunday so he’ll be out for a little while.

Brandon Williams (£4.1m), Juan Mata (£6.2m) and Andreas Pereira (£5.0m) all drop to the bench, meanwhile, as Jesse Lingard (£6.3m), Ashley Young (£5.4m), Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) and Scott McTominay (£5.1m) come into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI.

Jose Mourinho is back at Old Trafford after a 12-month absence and has made two changes to his Spurs team, with Harry Winks (£5.3m) and Lucas Moura (£7.0m) replacing Tanguy Ndombele (£5.8m) and Eric Dier (£4.9m).

There were shocks at Anfield, too, with Jurgen Klopp making five changes: two of which see Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) drop to the bench.

Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.3m) and Divock Origi (£5.2m) come in, while Adrian (£4.2m) replaces the suspended Alisson (£6.0m).

Everton are unchanged.

Brendan Rodgers has made only one change to his Leicester City XI, with Christian Fuchs (£4.3m) replacing the absent Ben Chilwell (£5.9m).

Chilwell reportedly has a minor groin injury.

Hayden Mullins, in temporary charge of Watford, also makes a sole alteration, with Troy Deeney (£6.2m) in for the injured Jose Holebas (£4.7m).

That would seem to indicate a change of shape, with the 3-5-2 abandoned for a back four.

Continuing that trend, Nuno Espirito Santo has only made one tweak to his Wolves starting XI: Romain Saiss (£4.4m), who was banned for the 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, ousts Max Kilman (£4.0m) at centre-half.

West Ham’s only change sees Sebastien Haller (£7.1m) come in for Michail Antonio (£6.9m), who failed a late fitness test.

There is just one alteration at St. Mary’s, meanwhile: Norwich City are unchanged, while Shane Long (£4.6m) starts in Michael Obafemi‘s (£4.9m) stead for the hosts.


Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, James; Kante, Kovacic; Pulisic, Mount, Willian; Abraham.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Elmohamady; Hourihane, Nakamba, McGinn; Grealish, Wesley, Trezeguet.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Fuchs, Soyuncu, Evans, Ricardo; Ndidi; Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Perez; Vardy.

Watford XI: Foster; Masina, Mariappa, Cathcart, Femenia; Capoue, Doucoure; Hughes, Deulofeu, Sarr; Deeney.

Liverpool XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Lallana; Shaqiri, Mane, Origi.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Keane, Mina, Holgate, Sidibe; Sigurdsson, Davies; Richarlison, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Young, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, Lingard, James; Greenwood.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Gazzaniga; Vertonghen, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Aurier; Winks, Sissoko; Son, Dele Alli, Lucas Moura; Kane.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, Stephens, Cedric; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Djenepo; Ings, Long.

Norwich XI: Krul; Byram, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Aarons; Trybull, Amadou; Hernandez, McClean, Cantwell; Pukki.

Wolves XI: Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; Jota, Jimenez, Traore.

West Ham XI: Martin; Cresswell, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Fredericks; Rice, Noble; F. Anderson; Fornals, Snodgrass; Haller.

3,820 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Can l buy wild card for tenner?

  2. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Aurier shot on target.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Ban. Was a cross

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

        It is a shot in fpl. 😛

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Would love to know if that actually goes down as a shot or cross in the stats.

  3. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mane Mane Mane Mane, Mane.

  4. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Something I thought I would never say... Fred is playing really well

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      In what match?

  5. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Leicester look like doing anything more?

  6. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Haven’t got Cantwell off the bench all season now I do for Salah and nada

  7. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Draw or Spurs at 4.5 to 1 even with 15 mins left looks a decent punt for a minimum stake

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

    Cmon Puli/Mad/Jim

  9. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic to alli for free ?

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      All day

  10. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    So many fails tonight. It’s hard to keep up!

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Midweek madness. Forget and move on.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Just frustrating. Not getting anywhere in OR gains this season

  11. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic should have scored

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

    Pulisic should score

  13. Steinburg FC
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Seriously I’m going Robertson > PVA FOR CHRISTAMS

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He’s injured

  14. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tammy struggling

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      err no ?

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        err yes

  15. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Salah 1 point cameo please

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

      Fingers crossed

    2. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      +juan

  16. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    William bar

  17. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Saiss almost scores

  18. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic racking up the stats for the gullible

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Me, love dem stats

    2. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Chumps

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

    Heaton is not a good GK choice.

    Has to be either Guaita, Schmeichel or Henderson.

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Haller fail

  21. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Maddison needs to get sold.

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

      Yep. Out for Alli funded by Laca downgrade

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Decent first bench option in my case

  22. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Son complete fail

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What about Daughter ?

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

      His role under Mourinho is different.

      He plays wider and doesn't get support from the full-back. So he is more of an assist guy than a goal guy now.

    3. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I BLOODY BROUGHT SON IN FOR DILVA OVER ALLI

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yikes

  23. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Sick of captaining the wrong player

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Captains poll. Your only man.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Who are you captaining next week?

      Need to know who to avoid.

  24. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tammy injured

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Really. Glad I sold him then. I'll gain those 12pts soon

  25. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Willian so f****** unlucky!!!

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

    Tammy struggling

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

      People who transferred in Ings or Jesus for Abraham are celebrating.

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

        They are. Or Mousset.

        Not Laca though!

        Rashford or Ings is the question now

  27. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Saiss come on!! I’ve held onto you and you keep missing

  28. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Gents you think Salah may get a cameo or it's done ?

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

      If Everton score again

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely not done.

    3. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It's done.

      His ankles needs rest

    4. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I have him, so he'll come on and block Kelly points

    5. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Would be strange of Klopp to risk him.

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

      Shame they conceded useless goal before ht. Increases the chance. As an owner I am bit worried that he is going to play anyway because he was already warming up at 30mins.

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

      Nearly certain to come on for the Merseyside darby,probably for Mane around 70min.

  29. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What happened to Tammy?

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

    Tammy rushes back to soon. Rashford Alli in. Easy