Dugout Discussion

Pulisic benched as Lampard switches to a 3-4-3 against unchanged Spurs

The final match of Gameweek 18 takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Chelsea the visitors to north London.

Kick-off is at 16:30 GMT.

The team news is straightforward from a Spurs perspective: Jose Mourinho has named an unchanged side for the third game running.

The Chelsea starting XI requires a bit more explanation, however.

Frank Lampard has benched Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) for the first time in the Premier League since Gameweek 9, with Jorginho (£5.0m) and the injured Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) also making way from the side that lost to Bournemouth.

Marcus Alonso (£6.0m) gets his first start since Gameweek 10, with Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) and Fikayo Tomori (£4.8m) also recalled.

All of that would seem to suggest that Lampard has switched to a 3-4-3, with Tomori joining Kurt Zouma (£4.7m) and Antonio Rudiger (£6.0m) at centre-half.

Mason Mount (£6.5m) and Willian (£7.0m) appear to be flanking Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) in attack.

Mount, Pulisic and Abraham were three of the four most-sold FPL assets of Gameweek 18.

Lampard’s side have lost four of their last five Premier League games and haven’t kept a clean sheet on the road in 2019/20.

Spurs, by contrast, have won four of their five league games under Jose Mourinho since the ‘Special One’ first took charge a month ago.

Dele Alli (£8.8m), Son Heung-min (£10.1m) and Harry Kane (£10.9m) are averaging 8.0, 7.8 and 5.4 points per game respectively under their new manager.

Kane is the fourth-most-popular captaincy pick of Gameweek 18, while only three FPL assets were bought by more managers than Son in the run-up to this weekend.


Spurs XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Dier, Sissoko, Dele, Son, Lucas, Kane.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Abraham.



1,997 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What exactly is Harry Maguire good at because it ain’t defending.

    1. Calderano FC
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Being English?

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

      Think Man Utd are in a similar situation to West Ham re their GK. Roberto to Martin made a huge difference. Think DDG to Romero may do the same.

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

        What a brilliant idea ... starts Romero

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

      A short lived meme in the summer of 2018.

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Giving me the best summer of my life

  2. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Should I keep Willems or swap to Holgate/Kabasele?

  3. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Does Yellow card threshold go to 10 games from next GW onwards?

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

      After the players team have played 19 league games.

      A GW later for Pool/Hammers

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        So players will receive a ban for 5th yc if they get it in the next game?

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

          Yes.

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

      After gw 19

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

      - One-match ban if five yellow cards received before 19 Premier League fixtures (Dec. 26 round)
      - Further two-match ban if 10 yellow cards received before 32 fixtures (weekend of March 30)
      - Further three-match ban if 15 yellows received (no fixture limit)

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers.

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

        does anyone get 15 yellows - even Holebas has only reached 14

    4. Railwayman
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

  4. Arse Craic
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

    Alli (c) 🙂

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

      o/

      Fingers crossed

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

      Should have wrote;

      Captain Alli...

  5. joeyc_33
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on Zaha and Maddison to Alli and a 5m mid?

    Was going to do Jim > Rash this week but that plan is now over

  6. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    That open Rashford shot from 8 yards out straight at Foster set up by Martial really upset me

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

      The left footed one? I think it might've been marginally offside anyway so don't think about it.

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

    Anyone captained Rashford (c)?

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

      Plenty

    2. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      O/

      Never again.

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

      Never trust Man U with arm band imo

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

        This

    4. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      For all my sins, yes.

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

    Not 'FPL community stunned as Pulisic benched' then

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

    Many got High hopes for Likes of Son Alli Kane Tammy

    Would probably be 1-1 (Dier Alonso) goals assisted by Toby and Willian 😉

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

    Yes. After a team has played 19 games.

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

      Half the second is finished.... Owen ...

  11. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Please FPL gods , a no show from Pulisic

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

      Low chance

  12. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Eagerly waiting for January when United play the so called though games.

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

      United fans laughing at arsenal on here yesterday hahaha

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

        I'm embarrassed ...

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

          Good on ya

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

            Thanks.
            Appreciate it !

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

        Arsenal are one of the so-called lesser sides this season. Utd will struggle against us.

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

      Just heard that this is the longest no CS since 1971 ... 14 games in a row ... is that true?

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

        Don't know mate.
        Our GK is paid 350k £ per week ....

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

          Really frustrating 🙁

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

          Exactly horrible ... and CB £80M RB £50M. Someone above suggests to start Romero which may be a good thing ...

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

            Don't know what to expect

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

      Haha told ya after the city game rashford was gonna blank thrice , one more to go now

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

        Yep

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

    Son looks tired

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

      He looks focused

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Put him to bed then

  14. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    LMS safety score currently 31

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

  15. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    magnus carlsen did TAA to Maguire, he must know something in the future

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Maybe he thought Maguire was still playing for Leicester

    2. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Planning for next season obviously. He knows...

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        brilliant haha

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

      His algorithm might include how expensive the defender is ...

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

    Alli blank, Son Goal, Pulisic Goal, Aurier CS

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

      Pulisic goal and Aurier clean sheet, I like it

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Possible

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

          Yeah Aurier out after 65, Puli and scores

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

        ooops

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Nah Pulisic to be rested fully , CHO , Bats and Jorginho coming on.

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Ha

  17. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Best substitute for Pulisic?

    A) Pulisic himself
    B) Grealish
    C) Richarlison
    D) Maddison

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

    Rashford>(P)ukki
    done 😀

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      before Newcastle (h) and Pogba now back? madness

      1. Jon Snow
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Man U can't be trusted

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

    Thoughts on this WC team? Leaves 0m itb

    Ryan — Button
    Taa Lundy Aurier — Rico Kelly
    Son Salah Kdb Grealish — Dendocker
    Vardy Rashford Ings

    - Ings has a tough fixtures and not sure about TAA so could swap Taa/Ings >> Otamendi /Tammy

    - Worth keeping the trio Rico, Lundy, Kelly?
    - Kelly will get dropped once ward is back
    - Rico might get dropped once the fb Bournemouth purchased gets a run
    - Lundy horrific fixtures between 20-25

  20. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford >>>

    A) Ings
    B) Jimenez
    C) Callum Wilson

    1. Jon Snow
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      or D) keep

    2. Jolly Good
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Pukki?

  21. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bottomed in old article. Who scores more today?
    a> Kane (c)
    b> Son and Alli

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

      B

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

      B

  22. Party time
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Never make your kid a united fan, flog the support out of the kid by all means

    • Rash
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Sold pulisic and avoided rashford.. hopefully (S)on can make it a very good afternoon for fpl

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

      Hurrikane imminent!!

      Brace yourselves and take cover

    • Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone binning Rashford? If so for whom?

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

        Pukki, starting with Villa as well..

        1. Danstoke82
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I’m really tempted to do;

          Rashford + Grealish > Kane + Traore

          Madness?

    • Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What to do here? 1 free transfer and 4.2 in the bank.

      Guaita Button
      TAA Aurier Soy Lund Reid
      KDB Alli Son Grealish Hayden
      Jimenez Vardy Abraham

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

        Save

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

          I got so much money in the bank so it feels wrong

    • Lebowski85
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Thoughts on this...

      TAA Zaha Mousset
      To
      Otamendi Son Greenwood

      (I already have Ali and still have Robertson. Would rather lose Robertson but it leaves me 0.1 short. Damn price drops)

      1. Lebowski85
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        That would be for -4 hit

    • fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Is it worth keeping Williams after Man Utd's performance today? Got 2 free transfers and 1.3 million in the bank:

      Guaita
      TAA, Aurier, Lundstram
      Salah, KDB, Son, Maddison, Grealish
      Vardy, Ings

      Martin, Greenwood, Kelly, Williams

    • diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Slow start to the game. Very cagey.

    • Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Had Rashford (C) and Martial blank earlier today. Now hiding behind the sofa for 90 min.