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

    Who wins alli or kante

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

      Kante has more to worry about than Alli

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

        Well that’s his role

  2. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Many thanks to big Ben foster for assuaging the pain of benching Henderson yday. 23 points from me two keepers this week. Insane.

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

    Wish I could take my captaincy off Son and put it on Vardy now...

    1. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Has he been subbed off already?

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

        He's playing very defensively and also doesn't look up for it at all. Seems knackered.

        1. Surfeit of Lampteys
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          How can he be knackered? Hasn't played for a week.

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

            He sprinted loads last week. He's not a robot.

            1. SEXY SON
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Vardy says hi

            2. Surfeit of Lampteys
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Lol you just trolling?

    2. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Already? Why?

      I captained Rashford over Alli/Son/Vardy... Gotta stop trying to catch up with captain decisions

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

        Just been a really poor start. Feel like Jose doesn't want him too central and far forward. Wants him to be able to get back fast if Chelsea counter.

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

        Rashford played Watford, Vardy city. Are you captain hindsight or something?

        1. Zenith UK
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          City haven't had a clean sheet in seven of their last eight... Nothing to do with Captain hindsight and Vardy is the league's top scorer and in best form right now. I just thought he'd only get one and I thought Rashford would get one and an assist or two goals.

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

      You have still 88 min of hope. Not like us who capt Rashford.

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

        It's always false hope though isn't it.

        1. Jimbo74
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Give him a chance. At least he still has his game to play to realise any hope in him.

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

    Will Reece James ever play for Chelsea again please can we make it next game?

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

    The only thing that could have encouraged me to watch the match is the faces and manner of greeting between the formerly special one and hiss untouchable. Those watching the game how was it done? What were the looks in their faces?

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

    Chelsea showing the better game thus far

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

      nah 50/50. Chelsea look shaky/scared in defence imo

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

        That’s coz their defence sucks

    2. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      'Show the better game' eurgh strike me down if I ever say this.

  7. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hopefully Mount and Abraham YC

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

      I own Tammy. Why would you hope I lose points in my team, I don't even know you?

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

        Agree, so many rude people here, having more fun laughing at others than the joy they have when own players do well

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

          I want to win in cup how is that rude?

  8. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Appreciate input on final dilemma for GW20 WC:

    A) Maddison Kelly Greenwood(fodder)
    B) Ings Evans Cantwell(fodder)

    Rest of WC:

    Ramsdale 4.0
    Soy Aurier Lund Dunk XXX
    Salah Son Alli KDB XXX
    Vardy Tammy XXX

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B

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

      Leaning towards A given fixtures

  9. Ser Davos
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    No Winks nor Jorginho are interesting selection choices

  10. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    One of the worst gws in yrs.

    Rashford (c)

    BUT.... got rid of Tieleman and Pulisic...

    One of those replacements was Richarlson however..

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

    Doherty to

    A) Aurier
    B) PvA
    C) Digne

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

      Not A

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

    Alli and Son double up massive fail...

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

      An Aurier, Alli link up will be so sick

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

      Pretty much. Disastrous week for me.

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

      They’ve not started well

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

    Will Pogba take the pens from Rashford?

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

      See next GW when they’re gifted one, doubt it though.

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

      There's a chance. But I don't think so.

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

    This game has 0-0 written all over it

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

      Aurier owners in Dreamland.

      1. Party time
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Indeed

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

        I will take Aurier baps then

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

        LOL

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

        Does it, aye?

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

      Anyone else asleep yet?

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

        Timing

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

      WILLIANNNNNN

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

      Willian G

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

      Willy goal

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

      Willy wonder

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

      And Spurs CS is gone...

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

      Aurier is a terrible defender

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

      Wow, Willian

    10. FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Willyyyy rocket!

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

      Great defending from the essential Aurier.

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

      Hopefully this will wake up spurs

    13. SEXY SON
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mount assist????

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

        Kovacic

    14. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      no assist?

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

        Kovo I think.

      2. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Kovačić

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

      Aurier is shocking

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        In what way?

    16. Party time
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Aurier kept a dirty sheet

      • Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        this game has 4-4 written