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. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Well done Pukki, I didnt expected anything more than that from my captain!!!

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

      Is grealish playing deep ?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Started deep but getting involved more since 20mins or so.

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

          Cool
          Thanks.

    2. ppv
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Villa are playing deep

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah, hopefully they can break that defense, shouldn't be tough but its NOR, who knows...

  2. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Best game to watch second half?
    Watched SHU v WAT first half but interest has waned!

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Avoid AVL vs NOR as well

      CHE vs SOU looks decent, open game

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

      Chelsea - Southampton. Chelsea will attack to go for the win.

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

      Have 3 games here on t.v Chel:sou is bit promisingthan arsenal:BoU then sheff:wat

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        How are Fraser and Ozil playing?

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

    I’m losing my patience with Tammy. Just look at his body language. Every time someone fails to find him or if his team mate loses the ball, he just throws his hands up in the air and literally stops operating.

    This says so much about him as a player.

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

      This. Noticed it a month a go too. It is an attitude that should never be on a sunday league pitch, yet alone the premier league

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

      Reckon its worth going Ings instead of Tammy on WC?

      1. Old Man
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        As long as you don't expect miracles. This run over the past few games is as good as it's ever going to be, and he will regress.

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

          Fair point. Any players you see as priority if on a WC?

          There are literally no strikers other than vardy which I'm sold on

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

            If that’s the case, just go for Aaron Conolly/Greenwood and get yourself a decent 5-man mid - more options there I reckon

  4. Tasty Jerk
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Checking my transfer history/points since I transferred out Alexander-Arnold for Baldock in gameweek 10, points return...

    Baldock = 51 pts
    Alexander-Arnold = 32 pts

    Surprising.

    1. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      not so subtle brag

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      K

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

      wow

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

      about as subtle as one of the birds off TOWIE

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

      Good bit of forward thinking mate. Well done. That's the kind of "diffs " that you need for a rise up the ranks.

  5. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Where are them Richarlison goals at?

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

      I’m looking for them too

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Postponed till next year

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

      How is he playing?

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

      Need the clocks to go forward.

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

    Arsenal fans unveil new banner at HT

    https://i.imgur.com/oUpqTRZ.jpg

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

    This gameweek may be even worse than last

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Impossible

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

    Who is your C next GW?

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

      Vardy until the end

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

        He will rest next

        1. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Never

      2. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Bit of a risk for WHU away if you ask me. I think that he will be rested. 2 days turnaround for a 32 year old forward may be too much. Bench at best I would suggest.

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

      Rejoining Party

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

        Maybe kane....

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

      Salah

    4. KINGS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah or KDB

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

    My players tend to score in the 70th minute and later. Still hopeful.

    1. Old Man
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not good for the blood pressure though.

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

    2nd half hat trick for....

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Norwood

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

      Ingsy

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

      Richarlison?

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

      Auba

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

      TAMMY

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

      None

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

    Mount on
    Zouma off

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

      Yesss

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

      This
      ML rival has Zouma

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

    How shite has Abraham been as a pick those last weeks.... Garbage championship player

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

      And thus nearly scores. Do it again!

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

      Not getting real chances

    3. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Has looked poor for a while now. Regretting the Jimmy switch. Moving him on this week?

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

    Watching Ole walk into Old Trafford is like seeing a kid that’s been given a one week dream job for Jim’ll Fix It. Results about the same too.

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

    Come on West Ham !

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

    Abraham close

  16. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should be scoring that. Not a clinical finisher at all

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

      Panicked, lashed at it

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah. Doesn’t seem a natural which makes me think he’ll never make it at the very top level

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

      From that angle? Pretty miserable keeper to let that in (see Delefou goal for that).

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He should score

  17. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tammy with one of those that a quarter of the ground celebrates

    1. Old Man
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nice description!

  18. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Harsh on Championship strikers to label Tammy as one.

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

      😀

  19. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea switch to a back four, now that's something for them. 343 at home is just dumb.

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

    Abraham showing his championship level skills there. 😉

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

    Auba will get a shot on target one of these days

  22. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lundstram G Kelly G+CS and Pope CS+Pen save on the cards this half

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

      Boring

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

    It's going to be a long half for us! All Chelsea

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

    Rudiger and Tomori are championship level players.

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

    FFS should be 2-0

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

    So nailed for next GW (other than GKs):

    Rico
    Dunk
    Mount
    Ings
    Maupay

  27. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lampard hates Pulisic now?

    1. Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks like it.

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

      Always did. But couldn't drop him when he was scoring goals. As soon as Lampard had the chance, he kicked Pulisic out of the team.

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

      Pulisic is just a US pr stunt

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

      He’s American abroad ; like his hols.

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

    Özil not exactly strong as an oxe

  29. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Not feeling great about my Tammy captaincy pick. Can see him being hooked before any returns.

  30. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Other than not being able to run with the ball or pass the ball Chelsea have been ok.

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

      Southampton have pressed well. Will likely tire though, not their game.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Oh we will press until the finale whistle mate, Hassenballsport.