Dugout Discussion

Mount, Pulisic and Ings benched as Boxing Day rotation strikes

There are six Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 GMT this afternoon.

Aston Villa v Norwich City, Bournemouth v Arsenal, Chelsea v Southampton, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Everton v Burnley and Sheffield United v Watford are the half-dozen fixtures in question, with two more games to follow later this evening.

The headline team news perhaps comes from Stamford Bridge, where there are benchings for Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Danny Ings.

Frank Lampard has seemingly stuck with a 3-4-3 for the visit of Southampton, with Fikayo Tomori again lining up at centre-half.

Marcos Alonso, the suspended Mateo Kovacic and Mount drop out of the team that defeated Spurs, with Jorginho, Emerson and Callum Hudson-Odoi promoted to the starting XI.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s alterations both come in attack, with Ings and the injured Shane Long replaced by Che Adams and Michael Obafemi.

Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, the injured John McGinn and Conor Hourihane make way for Aston Villa, with Ahmed El Mohamady, Ezri Konsa, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet recalled.

Norwich City are unchanged.

At the Vitality Stadium, Jack Simpson, Callum Wilson and the fit-again Steve Cook replace the suspended Diego Rico, the injured Simon Francis and the benched Philip Billing.

Mikel Arteta makes three changes from the side that started the goalless draw at Everton.

Sokratis returns from suspension and replaces the banned Calum Chambers, while Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil oust Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe from the starting XI.

Mamadou Sakho returns from suspension for Crystal Palace, with Cheikhou Kouyate moving back into midfield and James McCarthy dropping to the bench.

Max Meyer replaces Christian Benteke in attack.

Neither Lukasz Fabianski nor David Martin have recovered from injuries, so the much-maligned Roberto starts between the posts for West Ham.

Pablo Zabaleta replaces the suspended Ryan Fredericks at right-back in the Hammers’ only other change.

Carlo Ancelotti makes two changes for his first match in charge.

Seamus Coleman and Bernard start, with Tom Davies and the injured Alex Iwobi dropping out.

Robbie Brady replaces the suspended Jeff Hendrick for Burnley, while Jay Rodriguez is in for the benched Ashley Barnes.

There is one change apiece for Sheffield United and Watford: John Fleck is back from suspension and replaces Luke Freeman for the hosts, while Nathaniel Chalobah is in for the banned Abdoulaye Doucoure for the Hornets.


Aston Villa XI: Heaton, El Mohamady, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Grealish, El Ghazi, Wesley, Trezeguet.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, Trybull, Buendía, McLean, Cantwell, Pukki.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, S. Cook, Mepham, Simpson, Stacey, L. Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, C. Wilson, King.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka, Xhaka, Torreira, Nelson, Özil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Rüdiger, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Emerson, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Soares, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Redmond, Adams, Obafemi.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, McArthur, Meyer, Ayew, Zaha.

West Ham XI: Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Antonio, Haller.

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Digne, Sidibé, Sigurdsson, Delph, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.

Burnley XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brady, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood.

Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick.

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

1,485 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Last call WC'ers , are we any wiser after matches so far? Tammy needs to go, surely, but for who? And what about goalie, only sure thing is I want to get rid of the Pope.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wait 2 more Pope matches and then sell

    2. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy -> Wilson, Rash or Kane

  2. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If Rash is trash, I'd do Tammy, Trashford to Ings and (K)un!

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

    20 pointer from KDB(C) will be massive

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      obviously

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

      0-0 game will complete the disappointment of boxing day's football

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

    New pogba owner...
    A. Rage sell.
    B. Keep regardless and assume he starts at Burnley. Prioritise selling Abraham.
    C. Sell him and Abraham (-4)

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

      B

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You told me. I was foolish. Thanks for trying

    2. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It was always a gamble. I bring him in with rotation in mind, think he is good option next 4, and I am sure they will struggle without him. Look how he gets in and bag brace

  5. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Player to include on a WC? Who are the popular picks?

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

      Triple LEI, Triple Liverpool, Double Man C

      1. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        And rest?

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

    26 pts with KDB(C), Jimmy, TAA and Vardy left lol 🙁

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m on 31 with same players left plus Mane, Alli was cap.

  7. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best replacement for Jimenez ?

    A: Deulo
    B: Wilson
    C: King

    Thinking to do B but worry about minutes

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

      A

    2. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      D He is better option than all 3 by some distance

  8. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    39 with KDB, Mane, Vardy left. I hope Salah, Rashford etc keep quiet. Will take 1.5m gw rank.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good score this week well done

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

    Keep Richarlison?

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lol

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who have you in mind for him? Played pretty well. Early days in the Ancelloti era. Lewin, Coleman, Digne also played well in the bit I saw. First half was fairly boring.

  10. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Abraham to Maupay, Wilson or Ings?

  11. NWA
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hi lads,

    Would you ?
    a. keep digne or
    b. bring in Walker or Mendy for next GW?

    Thx

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    LUCKY Pogba owners incomjbg

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      New post

  13. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Time to ship Chelsea assets?

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Selvfølgelig 😉

  14. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Richarlison TO Martial?

  15. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane having an absolute stinker.

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You know it was Keita in that last chance right?

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes I do. Keita has not missed two open goals.

        1. dark91
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yes yes I totally agree with you that Mane is having a bad game but the timing of your post coincided with that miss from Keita

          1. Bushwhacker
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Keita’s been pretty good ; the Liverpool midfield has been excellent. This game should be done, they may regret it.

  16. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    It’s Champ Manager day at the King Power!

  17. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Abraham or Jimenez to Firmino worth it?