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. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Another CS gone (Kelly)

    This GW is a nightmare

    Yes, I captained Abraham

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

      Didn’t we all ...

      1. dr. Phil
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        We reallt didn't.

  2. theodosios
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Benching Targett coz of Kelly...

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Villa are shocking so won't make much difference in the end

  3. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Oops Kelly CS gone too.

  4. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    really need Ings to come on now.

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Grealish survives this GW and at least he won't be banned for picking up 5 YCs. Gives owners some breathing space.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Come on. Why did you say that. Now its sure thing he will get YC

  6. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ings could score easily vs this Chelsea defence

  7. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    There were others here laughing at those who benched Kelly for Aurier. 😉

    1. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I benched both !

  8. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Webster Sidibe
    B) Kiko Digne

  9. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fat Fraud Frank should stop playing his beloved championship players. How the isnt Batshuay getting more chances?

  10. Arse Craic
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tammy ➡ Ings?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Deu?

  11. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Simpson second on my bench 🙁

  12. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Abraham looking slow and unfit. Ate too much Christmas ham

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Played too many games. Lampard thinking this is the Championship and he can keep playing him without a rest.

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He should have rested him this gameweek

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

      Poor passing ; he’s in there with a decent pass.

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Hes in there if he has good running technique. With his height and lean physique he should be a lot faster.

    3. nolard
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Jaded.
      Needs a rest and also competition.

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

      Mids doing nothing to help him

  13. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Byram sitter from 5 yards

  14. SB007
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    5 points from 5

  15. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Well this is a disaster

  16. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    No team are consistently getting clean sheets this season, so I'm pretty happy to continue with a budget defence of Aurier, Soyuncu, Lundstram, Rico, Kelly and put all of the money in attack.

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I have exactly same defence

      it's less painful losing the CS when they are cheapies

  17. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ozil really ticking with those passes. Showing real quality.

  18. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tomori you stupid donkey

  19. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope save point

  20. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tammy and Grealish goals needed to save my GW..

  21. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Top10K: currently 13.25 pts./6 players. Crazy.

  22. Dele
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    30pts so far, pretty horrendous

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      how awful

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      LOL. Average is under 20pts at the moment.

  23. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Auba goal

  24. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    AubaGoal

  25. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    PVA injured

  26. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Auba G

  27. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Auba Goal.

  28. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lucky Arsenal goal

  29. LE CHARO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Guaita and Kelly double up going well...
    Also lost the Sheffield double up clean sheet earlier. Good thing Baldock got an assist.

  30. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    AUBA (C) WE FEAST

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone relevant still owns Auba?

      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I'm relevant enough and I damn as hell captained him.

    2. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why the hell did you get yourself booked ffs

    3. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      YC lmao

      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Probably cost 4 points that YC.