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

    Mount to Martial, Rash(c), Pukki in this week. That just now sums up my gw! Fuming!!

  2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic is the worst signing I've ever made in FPL

    And that's saying something

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

      Pretty much

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2,2,2,2,3,0 is it? And a few price drops for good measure

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Go rid for Alli and -4 before this GW

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

    60 with kane(c) Son Aureir to go

    Spurs 4-0 to take me to 100..

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

      You’re probably a good guy but right now I despise you. 😉

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

    United will bounce back massively against Newcastle.

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

    Martial SOT

  6. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Most expensive defender Maguire what a joke

  7. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Martial is decent. keeping for one more week

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

      Has looked much better when moved out wide.

  8. Shultan
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How on earth are Man utd the only team to have taken points off liverpool!

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

      They play well vs teams in the top and vice versa

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

      Pace

    3. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Historical rivalry

  9. Gentlemens club
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Dan Bilzerian has been brilliant in Watford goal.

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

      Ha ha references.

      1. Gentlemens club
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        😉

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

    Just get one Rashford

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

    Shaw gets to much stick about his weight, its not funny tbh. He has been depressed ages, had a hard few years. Doesnt deserve it, his effort cant be faulted

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

      As a professional footballer you should be fit

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

      Apparently the slowest player in the squad according to information posted by pogba by accident

      He's a professional footballer, if he's the slowest player and in his position he needs to fix up

  12. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hollllld Hornets

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

    Here’s Rashfords goal

  14. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    That could have been red, right?

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

    Rashy fk

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

      Nvm Mata stealing it

  16. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bizarre from Cathcart

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

    FK to Utd in dangerous area.

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

    Mata 😆

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

      Rubbish

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

      Not even close

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

    is it over yet ?

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

    Pathetic from Mata why not let Rashy take

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

      Seniority

      Pogba will be next on the list

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

    Rashford close but he left it for Mata

  22. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Wd lads

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

    Rashford and Martial blanks. Beautiful.

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Dream result

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

      Glad for Rash blank but disappointed Martial owner. Could have had 2-3 assists on another day.

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

      Absolutely

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

      Now for Alonso screamer to put Spurs to bed 1-0

  24. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Important clearance from Mata.

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

      Haha

  25. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    This match featured the best keeper in the world

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

      Ben Foster isn’t the best keeper in the world?

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

    OGS sacked yet?

  27. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What happened to Pogboom

  28. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    My cup opponent used a FH to bring in DDG, Martial and Rashford C.

  29. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    When you realise KDB was x2 the better captain option than Trashy this week hahaha

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

    Rashford didn't get booked.

    Well that's something.