Dugout Discussion

Alli benched for Spurs as Chelsea switch to back-three

Dele Alli (£8.4m) has dropped down to the Spurs bench for Saturday lunchtime’s key trip to Chelsea.

The out-of-form midfielder showed his frustrations after being substituted during their midweek Champions League loss to RB Leipzig and he, alongside Serge Aurier (£5.0m), are victims of Jose Mourinho’s switch to a five-man defence.

Both managers have seemingly plumped for a formation change, with Frank Lampard choosing three centre-backs and the attacking width of Reece James (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.0m). The Spaniard’s only two league starts since Gameweek 10 have come against Spurs.

Willy Caballero (£4.8m) is again given the nod in goal over Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m), whilst Olivier Giroud (£6.5m) is given only his second league start of the season with Tammy Abraham (£7.6m) not deemed ready to start.

The 22-year-old was described as “at about 70 per cent having not trained much recently” in Lampard’s press conference but has at least made the substitutes bench, as does Willian (£7.0m) – the scorer of both goals when these sides met in December.

Spurs are still trying to find a way to score goals in the absence of Harry Kane (£10.8m), further worsened by the fractured arm sustained by Son Heung-min (£9.9m) during last Sunday’s 3-2 win at Aston Villa.

With both out of action for months rather than weeks, Mourinho has put his faith in Lucas Moura (£7.1m) and new signing Steven Bergwijn (£7.5m). The former has scored in FA Cup clashed with Southampton and Middlesbrough but not in the league since Gameweek 17’s trip to Wolves.

Bergwijn, on the other hand, grabbed the opening goal on his debut against Manchester City. Signed for £27m from PSV Eindhoven, he has made an impressive start to life in North London.

Finally, in the absence of Christian Pulisic (£6.9m) and N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) – out for around three weeks after suffering a muscle injury against Man United – there’s a welcome return to the squad for Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.3m) after rupturing his Achilles in pre-season.

Chelsea XI (3-5-2): Caballero; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Barkey, Alonso; Mount, Giroud

Tottenham Hotspur XI (5-3-2): Lloris; Tanganga, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks, Ndombele, Lo Celso; Bergwijn, Lucas.

FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

1,136 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone want to go back to an offside or bone crunching tackle being decided by the referee?

    Refree has f all controll now.

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      English referees are the worst in the world, so it's kind of good they don't have control

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cannot agree, toe being offsides is VAR.

        How can a toe gain advantage?

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Even an armpit

        2. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Search up Man United - Aubameyang offside and that's all you need to know about English linesmen and referees. Corrupt and rubbish.

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

          VAR works at the World Cup, European leagues, CL. Every week in England people moan about it because the referees are awful.

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would prefer if VAR only got involved in clear and obvious offsides (Azplicueta vs Cardiff last season for example).

  2. Pedersen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lo Celso as Eriksen replacement? 723min played in league and zero goals and assist... Kind of shocking. Just goes to show how good Eriksen is

    1. JJO
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He is nowhere near as good as Erik

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Eriksen was fpl gold up to this season

  3. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Next week looks a bit bare

    McCarthy
    Robbo TAA Williams Soy
    Salah Traore Cantwell
    Jiménez Ings Vardy

    Bench all no fixture:
    Martin, KDB Grealish Egan

    1FT 4.6ITB.

    Hoping Williams is starting. I would like to save FT this week!

  4. Agger
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Long live Lord Lundstram

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Fail

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Still 45% EO
      Long live the Sir!

  5. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Saints v Villa the live TV game today. Stream time! 🙁

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      NBCSN showing Sheffield Brighton

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        And if you've not watched NBCSN before, they show all games from all games at half time

  6. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Son and Lundstram to who?
    Infinite budget

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah/Mane and Trent

  7. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Expecting big things from my second sub Soyuncu

  8. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Man Ings could have a goal and assist already from missed 1v1s.

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yep unlucky