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. golden skulltula 69
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hi!! Who to bring first?

    1. Alli (BUR)
    2. Abraham (eve)

    1. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2 and do it now

      1. golden skulltula 69
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I don't have 2 FT

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

    Any chance Tomori comes on??

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

      Zero point zero one

  3. WrightnBright
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic, Jimi to Alli, Ings?

    Feels like I’m chasing points though.

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

      Keep Pulisic and Jimmy

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You are. I wouldn't

    3. Jayv807
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Jimmy has NOR GW18 when Liverpool have their blank. I am holding till then at least.

  4. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Maddy SOT

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

      And that's it?

  5. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    2ft
    Jimmy -> Ings
    Son -> Alli
    Pope -> Henderson

    Yes or no?

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

    Stay on the bench Tomori moron

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

    Tammy done, looks like a knee injury

  8. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Guy in work league has triple captained mane.

    Thinking jimmy to ings, Pulisic to Alli.

  9. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Jimenez huge fail

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

      Not really, he's been consistent for weeks and will continue to be

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

    With Silva's neck on the line he has no choice but to make attack minded subs.

    Second half should be a bloodbath.

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

    Tammy looks ok, not too bothered taking his seat

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

    Jimmy about to be subbed me thinks

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

    Rashford or Ings, hmm

  14. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Last GW, I captained Mane over Vardy. Didn't work out well.
    This week the other way, wrong way again!

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

      Same aha

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

        been the theme of my season

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Join the club

    3. Kane-harry Island
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Same with me. I hate this game

  15. tambourineman
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Cantwell subbed

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

    Tammy getting another flag?

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

      nah, seemed ok

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

      Yes, so FPL can protect his price.

  17. SkeletONv01
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    From 14 after last night, to 62 now, games not over and pre baps, good times 🙂

  18. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Lampard to waste time in the last few mins and bring on Tomori for 1 min and lose half of FPL scount members 8 points on Rico.............WATCH

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'll take that point, tbf. No Chilwell and no other DEF cover.

      1. McSauce
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        stop that

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

    Would you ditch Jimenez?

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

      No, could easily have had a brace tonight.

      1. Kane-harry Island
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Nearly don't kill a bird. I brought him in for Tammy only for him to blank. Gtfo Trollminez

  20. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Jimenez off btw that's why I said fail

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

    Lovely Cantwell blank.

  22. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How do I see if Sterling likely to rise? Want to swap him to Mane!

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Google fpl price change

    2. Kane-harry Island
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      fplstatistics.co.uk/Home/
      ...and Sterling ain't rising tonight

    3. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers both. Think I'll make sure Mane gets through the game then change him tonight.
      Missed the deadline last night to make the transfer and it could cost me both MLs

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

    Dendoncker has come off my bench twice in the last four weeks but of course I put him third on the bench this week. Tomori first looks like a no-show but Connolly second will surely get minutes.

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Same here. Tbf hes playing cb now so right call. But unlucky yes

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

        I know, especially when Connolly plays that Arsenal defence. It's frustrating that he waits until he plays CB to get attacking returns though.

  24. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mount Pukki Rashford Mane(c).. Having a good week after ages 🙂

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

    Score again Vardy come onnnn

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

    Not watching the Chelsea Game, did Tammy come off injured again ?

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

      yes

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

    Pulisic fail

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

    No need for flagman at FPL Towers to do anything about Tammy

  29. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mount or maddison for alli?

    Guessing ill have to move tonight to avoid being priced out

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

    I hate myself. Mount to Pulisic. WTAF

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

      Inevitable to be fair.

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

      Same 🙂 I think Mount's comeback was due to Tammy's injury. Who knows if he would have even started last game without Tammy's injury

    3. WrightnBright
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You’re not alone mate!