Dugout Discussion

Pogba on the bench as United and Watford name unchanged starting XIs

The first of two Premier League matches to take place on Sunday kicks off at 14:00 GMT, with Manchester United the visitors to Watford.

Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nigel Pearson have named unchanged starting XIs from the sides that lined up in Gameweek 17.

There is a surprise returnee among the substitutes, however, as Paul Pogba (£8.4m) makes the United matchday squad for the first time since the end of September.

Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) is also on the bench for the visitors, as Anthony Martial (£7.7m) once again leads the line in front of an attacking midfield trio of Marcus Rashford (£9.1m), Daniel James (£6.2m) and Jesse Lingard (£6.3m).

Rashford was the most-bought Fantasy Premier League forward of Gameweek 18, with just under 290,000 managers drafting the United striker into their teams.

The England international was also the second-most-popular captaincy option this weekend, having been handed the armband by over 800,000 FPL bosses.

Rashford has only blanked twice since a ‘two-pointer’ in Gameweek 8.

Both he and Martial were on target when these two sides last met in March.

Adam Masina (£4.3m) and Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) are both fit to return for the Hornets but only make the bench.

Troy Deeney (£6.2m) gets his fourth straight start up front following his recent return from a long-term injury.

Interested is limited in Pearson’s troops from a Fantasy perspective: not one of Watford’s players is owned by more than 2% of FPL bosses.

The Hornets have only scored in one of their last five home fixtures, with that solitary strike coming from the penalty spot against Chelsea.

United are without a clean sheet in 12 Premier League matches, however.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía, Hughes, Capoue, Sarr, Doucouré, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, James, Lingard, Rashford, Martial.


1,381 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mods please ban those laughing at Pulisic owners

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

      This is an FPL safespace and that won't be tolerated.

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Pulisic yourself together for Christian's sake

  2. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    No Jorginho.

    Who's next in line for pen duties at Chelsea?

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

      Mason

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Willian

    3. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Willy

    4. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Lottery

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

      Willy be my guess.

  3. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Willems MIA, Pulisic benched. Soyuncu first sub. GW done.

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

      He’ll play.

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

    Have Yank Walcott owners bought Sarr yet?

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

    Rash to Kane? Or just get back on Jim?

    1. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Im selling for Jimi. Then Maddison > Mane/Salah

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

        Irritatingly 0.2 off that - but seems bold as I’d have both Mo and Mane

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

    Mount to be benched vs southampton now?? Need him for that game

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Think he'll start, one of Kante/Kova/Jorg will drop.

  7. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Can keep Tomori one more week it seems.

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

      Lampard won’t start 3 CBS vs SOU

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        True but he's ahead of Christensen in the pecking order. Zouma is an absolute bag of crusty piss flannels.

  8. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    F off united

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

      So much this

  9. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    All Pulisic owners needed to know was that Pulisic is American, and this explains everything

  10. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Yes Kane, Mount and Aurier all start!!!

  11. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic to grealish was good

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

    Pulisic u bum 🙁

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

    Pulisic rested for Southampton? 😀

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

      Looking that way. Deserved rest

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

      Permanently rested. Been really bad.

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

        You clearly haven't been watching him.

    3. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah, might aswell keep him for that game

  14. clempro
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Well Jimenez to Rashford last week turned out great XD

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

      Imagine doing it for a hit.

  15. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Please stay on bench Pulisic, Cantwell 10 pointer waiting...

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      PLEASE!!!!

  16. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Keeper to replace pope ? For 4.6?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Gazzaniga

  17. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Interesting 3-4-3 line up for Chelsea,
    Alonso back, Pulisic rest

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

    Pulisic to come on and punish the lol @'rs

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I really hope not.

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

        They deserve punishment mate.

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I never laughed. I own him (accidentally) and would love him to get a full rest just to give me some sort of happiness with this game

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

    Please stay on the bench Pulisic. Cantwell would be coming on for me.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Please please please stay on the bench Pulisic.

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Unlikely imo

    3. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You know he wont

  20. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    I’ve been ranked 2m+ for most of the season. I’ve had an ok game week so far. But please please pray that Pulisic doesn’t come on.
    #prayforRupert

    1. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'll pray for you man

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Finally not a terrible week. But to have a good one might make me fall back in love with the game.

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

    Maguire misses sitter. Carlsen fuming.

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Playing up front?

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

    70m down the drain.

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

    Imagine owning the American 2 points merchant Ross Barkley 😆

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Excuse me? He got 3 points last week.

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

    How much was Fred?
    Too much whatever the price.

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Shut it.

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

        Touchy

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

      Fred on here?

      He’s a cheap night.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Whatever points they have got recently have been because of him 😀

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

    Pogba misses sitter.

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

    Pogba close

  27. Pras (FPL)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba looming essential

    1. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Looking*

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

    Pogbclose
    Martial xA

  29. KOKAK
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    EPL is the only league in the world, where there is little or no difference between the top teams and the worst!

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

      Mid vs bottom teams, yes
      Top vs bottom teams, no

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

      More like mid table and bottom

  30. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba close.

    Martial could have had 2 assists this game