Dugout Discussion

Jesus benched despite Aguero injury as De Bruyne and Sterling are recalled

The final match of Gameweek 31+ could be the Premier League title-decider, with Manchester City needing a win to prolong Liverpool’s wait for their first top-flight crown in 30 years.

Chelsea provide City’s opposition, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 20:15 BST.

The injured Sergio Aguero (£11.7m) is of course missing from Pep Guardiola’s starting XI but Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) doesn’t benefit from his positional rival’s absence, with the Brazilian only named among the substitutes.

Guardiola said of his selection ahead of kick-off:

We have Phil Foden injured, Joao Cancelo is injured, Sergio Aguero is injured.

Gabriel had a big kick, too, in the game against Burnley and the day after he could not train.

We have Newcastle and Liverpool, and we need him, so that’s why we decide to rest a little bit. He may help us for half an hour or an hour.

Guardiola has instead gone “strikerless” for the trip to west London, although it remains to be seen how exactly he lines his side up and which of his midfielders – if any – occupies the false nine role.

The City boss has made six changes in all, with Raheem Sterling (£11.7m), Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) and Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m) all returning.

Christian Pulisic (£6.9m) and Ross Barkley (£5.7m) are both recalled by Frank Lampard, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.2m) and Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) making way.

Jorginho (£4.9m) is back from suspension but is only on the bench.


Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rüdiger, Christensen, Alonso, Kanté, Mount, Barkley, Willian, Pulisic, Giroud.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Rodrigo, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling.

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 31+

973 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy masterclass

  2. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Absolutely obvious. Pep has told them to lose. 100% on purpose.

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Okay I’ll bite. Why?

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        So City dont let Liverpool win on their own home ground? pretty obvious stuff

        1. Pep Roulette
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          But they're fine with giving them a guard of honour?

        2. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Nah I don’t buy it. Guys like Pep Guardiola don’t give up on titles before they’ve been won or lost.

      2. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        What sunnyh said

    2. Supertrooper
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Why would he do that?

  3. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    19!!!!!!!!

  4. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Terrible defending but he took that very well.

  5. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Pulisic in Sarr out it is

  6. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Puli wagon

  7. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy horrendous

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Chelsea dominating against City.

    Salah captain next week?

  9. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Pep needs to be back in the transfer window to improve his full backs.

  10. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Alonso YC

  11. Bun Rab
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Alonso YC

  12. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    My Labrador would have stopped pulisic.

  13. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 10 months ago

      If pulisic is fit he is an amazing option, stats were amazing even when he was unfit/injured and had his blip

      1. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Notice how his many detractors that I've battled this year have clammed up?

    • FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Pulisic the dark horse. No wonder my thumb has been twitching...

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      it's coming home

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Long night for Alonso.

    • EL tridente
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling to Salah worth a hit?

    • Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Vinicius, Hazard and Asensio will rip this City defense apart in the UCL. You heard it here first

    • lordkippe
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Richarlison > Pulisic ?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Too late for me. Not a bad idea though. Just have to hope he starts!

        1. bench boost for every gamew…
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Klopp will drink a paulaner or another bavarian produced beer if City lose points tonight. Robertson might have a scotch ale to his late supper.

    • keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Does anyone know if the Liverpool players are holding a Vardy style party anywhere tonight ?
      Socially distanced of course !

    • FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      So will Liverpool win the League tonight.

      ***EVIL LAUGH***

      🙂

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Just about to say this

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          So much for those who wanted the srason void.

          Ha ha

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            *season*

    • dansmusen
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      What a shitty GW...all my rivals on 80-100 point. How is that even possible.

    • KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Do you expect Klopp to ring the changes given the trophy is in the bag... Almost??

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Nah they will go full strength for city surely? And the record not like they have CL

    • FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Feck it I do know what I’m doing. Switching to 352.

      Cantwell and Jota to Pulisic and Nkietah(sub)

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        352 even 451 not too bad at the moment

    • Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      How about that Pulisic?...I just love proving the doubting dunces on here wrong.

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Never in doubt 🙂 pure gold next season

        • Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          settle down puppy

          1. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Another hater?

        • FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Yes yes and yes.

      2. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Mendy has Maguire like quickness

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Are they brothers?

      3. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Giroud improves the overall attacking quality play

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          That's why he plays before Benzema

        2. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Gru is quality. Been massively underutilised at Chelsea.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Giroud is a super sub, not a starter tho imo

      4. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Pulisic Werner Ziyech

        Dangerous.

      5. aborg
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I’m a Liverpool fan but I prefer to see them win the PL after beating City than in this way !

      6. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        These are the kind of games where KDB steps up, KDB haul inbound

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          What can I say? Yes let's do it!

        2. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          These are the kind of games where KDB blanks