Dugout Discussion

Rodriguez returns to Everton line-up as Greenwood misses out for Manchester United

James Rodriguez (£7.9m) is back in the Everton starting line-up after missing the past two gameweeks through injury.

The Colombian has so far racked up 34 points in three home games, including one 18-point haul against Brighton in Gameweek 4.

Rodriguez is set to operate on the right of a front three for the Toffees, with Bernard (£5.8m) playing from the left in the absence of the suspended Richarlison (£7.8m).

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m), fresh from an overnight price rise, leads the line for Everton.

Seamus Coleman (£4.9m) is another injury returnee at right-back, while Lucas Digne (£6.1m) resumes his place on the other side of defence following a reduced one-game ban.

The fit-again Mason Holgate (£4.8m) is preferred at centre-back over Yerry Mina (£5.5m). Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) returns between the sticks for the Toffees, having been dropped in favour of Robin Olsen (£4.5m) in Gameweek 7.

Ancelotti made it clear in is pre-match press conference yesterday that Pickford would come back into the Everton XI.

On the pitch he [Pickford] has to be focused on what he’s doing. He has to know where his quality is. He knows what to do tomorrow. His mentality is good, I don’t want to change it.

I think sometimes he made mistakes because he thought too much. He has to use his instinct more, which is really good. – Carlo Ancelotti

Anthony Martial (£8.7m), back from a three-game suspension, begins up front for Manchester United.

Mason Greenwood (£7.2m) is absent from the Red Devils’ matchday squad so Juan Mata (£5.9m) earns a start in attacking midfield.

The Spaniard could play from the right or centrally, potentially interchanging with Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m), while Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) looks set to face off against Coleman from his usual left-side attacking berth.

Alex Telles (£5.5m) is back in training but does not make the 18, while Paul Pogba (£7.8m) is on the United bench.

Victor Lindelof (£4.9m) has recovered from a back injury to take up his spot in central defence beside Harry Maguire (£5.4m).

Victor is feeling okay in his back, hopefully he can last the game because he has had trouble with it. The energy of Scott McTominay and Fred after not playing this midweek [in the Champions League] will help us. – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

On Richarlison, who will return for the Toffees’ sweet clash away to Fulham in GW9, Ancelotti said last night:

it is impossible to replace Richarlison. There is no player in the world like Richarlison. So we have to replace him with another player with different quality.

We have to change a little bit our style of play without Richarlison, but the defeat [against Newcastle] was not because Richarlison was not there. It was because we did not play well. Simple.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, was full of praise for the Everton manager when quizzed by BT Sport on his decision to join the Merseyside outfit.

I needed to play under a coach who knows me; how I behave on and off the pitch. Carlo was exactly what I needed for coming to this club.

It was because of both reasons [Carlo and the club] that I moved here. They trusted me when no one else did. I;ll be forever grateful to the club and to Carlo. – James Rodriguez

Everton XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Digne, Keane, Holgate, Coleman; Sigurdsson, Allan, Doucouré; Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Rodriguez.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, B Fernandes, Mata; Martial.

1,173 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mile Plankton
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I wish someone wipes that annoying smirk off of Bruno's face.

  2. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    people complaining about bruno not having a second yellow but the ref set a precedent by not sending Keane off for literal assault...

  3. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno trying his hardest to lose 3 BAPs

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

    Bad day for man u fans. Ole keeps the job.

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Managers can be sacked after a win too!

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      United fans always blame the manager. Same old story.

  5. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Welp choosing Rashford over Fernandes not looking smart. Hopefully that extra 1.0m can be used well.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      it won't. penalties are surely worth 1m. I am going Bruno or maybe double. Magnus has Rash too so you are not alone

    2. sambyy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same here, but really feel like he should have got more than an assist here.

  6. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    United should have won this more convincingly I think. Everton haven't done a lot.

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

      MUN never been convincing for a while

  7. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Suddenly Bruno is the hot stuff

    No one seem remember they've been awful since end of "project restart"

    They always play well when Ole is about to get sacked, then after 2 games they're back at it again I guess

    Reporting fresh?

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Whether United are good or bad, Bruno is fpl gold

      1. George Agdgdgwngo
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This. Will be getting him tonight. Son on his way out

      2. Alexis Nonsense
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Good asset yes, but not gold at 10.5 imo

        Grealish, Hamez, Son etc. might easily match him for less this season unless something big happens

    2. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      This is a frustrating aspect of this season so far. Teams blowing hot and cold in form. Utd might well be poor again next week.

      1. Alexis Nonsense
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I'm expecting 1-0 vs. WBA to be fair

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Strujk starts is he 4.0? he might be the solution to my problems

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Won't start once Phillips is back. (4 weeks ish)

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I need him for 1 week only or 2 so it is good for me

  9. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Biases aside. Is there any chance the DCL assist is reviewed and potentially removed?

    1. Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      https://twitter.com/OfficialFPL/status/1325058735878922242

      Accrdoing official twitter, still reviewing.

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Good to know thanks

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      see yourself

      https://www.flashscore.com/match/MPPzIyNq/#video

      Clear assist

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 5 months ago

          That's not clear at all

        • dark91
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I watched it like 10 times already and 'know' DCL didn't touch it 🙂
          But let's see what FPL will decide

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

      So who is the worthy MUN asset for WBA at home then? None?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Check BBC Sport

      2. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Rashford, Bruno and Maguire/AWB.

      3. Lazaretti
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        2games without penalty cant be 3 in a row.., Bruno

    4. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      How come Bruno has 2 goals, wasn't 1 goal and 1 assist?

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Rashford didn’t touch the cross

    5. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Doucoure is an awful, awful footballer. So clumsy and clueless.

    6. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Richarlison on the left and Bernard in the centre over Siggurdsson for next week

      1. Third Eye Vision
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        It’s Bernard’s best position, but no Everton manager has trusted him there in the Premier League.

    7. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      People think commentators are biased towards United when in actual fact its the people on here with the bias view AGAINST United.

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I’ve heard it all now

      2. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I mean yes, staying the bleeding ibvious

      3. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        So true.

    8. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Options Decoure should not be one of them!

    9. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Come oooon Zaha !!! and DCL

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

      Rashford is so frustrating, thank god I dont own him. Been there so many times, I really like him as a player but jesus he is very frustrating to own, the amount of chances he misses is mind boggling.
      So many games he could have braces or even hattis and walks away with nothing

    11. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno still Uniteds best FPL asset and plays the same position.

    12. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno is a dangerous captain home at WBA, he always hauls away

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        So don't captain to WBA.

    13. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Unlucky United fans.

    14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      OMG cavani

    15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno assist

    16. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Football fans: players these days are mollycoddled prima donnas and divers

      Also football fans: OMG there should have been 16 red cards in this game!

      1. tafrère
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Bruno should have been sent off, end of the discussion lol.

        1. Hulk Smash
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Well that's me convinced

      2. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Lol, so true. Tbf most ppl here are clueless Fifa players...

    17. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Assist 🙂

    18. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Cavani Goal
      Bruno Assist

    19. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      OMG Skeletor

    20. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno 2G 1A

    21. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno massive 17-pointer. Non owners are screwed.

      1. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yup that 10% EO against is painful..

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          20*

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        no we are not

    22. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno is gonna rise tonight

    23. Better Call Raul
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Are they seriously giving that assist to DCL?

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Casual?

      2. dark91
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Still under review

      3. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Everyone has him, won’t matter really

        1. Ode
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Didn’t know his ownership was 100%

          1. fr3d
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            He's not talking about the dead teams

            1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Yup