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. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    This is dreadful haha!

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

    What did Kovacic do wrong there?

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

      nothing

  3. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Dele always up for a barny.

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

    Spurs should switch to 3-5-2.

    Stop Chelsea's back 3 from being able to push up.

  5. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Spurs rattled

  6. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Alli will get a red Card today

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

    It is Mystery Mount not getting YC

  8. The Gambler.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ref a joke that should be yellows for Sissoko and Mount

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

    Mount immune LOL

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

    MM energiser bunny

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

    Really glad I dodged Alli captain but still upset with Son captain

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Still 2nd half to play.

      Lots can happen, captain pick each week needs a lot lf luck.

  12. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    First red card today by 60th minute ?

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

    did Dele get a YC?

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

      Yes

    2. FPL Xylophone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Indeed... a stupid one

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

    With this midfield Spurs actually want teams to sit back so top 4 can get the ball and play (sort of opposite of Man U)

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

    Lucas Moura is having an abysmal game - loses the ball every time

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

    Mount should have had 5 yellows so far..

  17. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Would like to see Alli and Robertson square off

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

    How many fouls are Mount allowed to make? Should have been a tint away from red by now but he still hasnt even gotten a yellow. Lee Mason is terrible.

    1. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mounting up.

      Is he in baps.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not as bad as Mike Dean.

      English refs are shite in general.

  19. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Son will bang second half.

    Locked in, confirmed and guaranteed.

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

    LOL

  21. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How is that not a pen???

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

    Wtf Gazzaniga was doing

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

    Pen?

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

    Clear pen

    WTF

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

    lol lol

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

    Clear penalty denied for Chelsea.

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

    Gazza takes out Alonso in the box.

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

    Does he know he can use his hands?!

  29. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Referee lost it

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

    Wtf Gazzaniga you can use your hands fool !!