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

    Digne hits the post

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

      Easy square to DCL for a tap in

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

      Did u see DCL complaining in the goal on the replay 😆 it was hilarious

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

        He was positively menstrual

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

    Digne hits the post. minus bps

  3. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Keane and Holgate...

  4. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    First assist for DCL

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

      Most likely gonna be removed when looked over

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

        it won't be, why should be?

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

    Selfish Digne ffs

    1. Bada Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Playing with blinkers on, would have been an easy tap-in for DCL.

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

      What does it matter...everyone has DCL anyway 🙂

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

    Entertaining game ...

  7. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Digne stupid and greedy

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

    The BBC have not awarded the assist to DCL.

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mark now works for the BBC?

  9. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bemba...any chance of a OMG Keane......please?

  10. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    When is the DCL assist going to be removed? Hopefully by half time so the Official FPL account can make a tweet explaining it.

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

      clear assist, did you see the goal ?

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

        Dude stop 😛 Every slow-mo' angle shows the ball came off Lindelöfs head 😀

    2. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      So many trolls here

    3. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sorry what

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

      Doubt it will be removed, why would Lindelöf head it backwards

  11. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno playing like 2nd striker!! Love it

  12. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    LUUCAAAA

    (DCL impression)

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

    Son to Bruno and save the second?

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yup

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Son is like a million cheaper and has scored twice as many goals as Bruno has.

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

      And there’s the dive to win himself a free kick in a promising position.

      Maybe I should just get him in for the next game...

  14. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    The biggest diver the PL has ever seen?

    Which takes some doing considering Vardy, Drogba and Gerrard...

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

      I'm a United fan but surely Ashley Young

  15. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    DCL assist to be removed?

    1. delux
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No, Mark has DCL

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

      Only if you're blind

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

    If money no issue
    Bruno or Rash;for westbrom??

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno

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

      both and money is always an issue

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

      Always Bruno. So many routes to points!

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

    BBC sport is the least reliable place to check an assist. It won’t be removed keep dreaming

  18. Dog and Fox
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    United should just play to Bruno all the time. Rashford, Martial and the others are so overrated. A bunch of average players

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

    Did DCL get an assist or not going to get it?

  20. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Did DCL touch the ball for the assist? Or did it bounce off the defender?

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

    OMG rashford

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

      Bruno clear goal

  22. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Thank you, Bruno

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

    Yay Bruno assist. Rashford goal

  24. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Rashford G Bruno A

    Bruno is somewhat a satisfying differential.

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

      gi for it, go for the win

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

      I wish i had captained him. Was thinking about it

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

      Not much of a differential with 20% ownership!

    4. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Lovely start to the GW for you....

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

    Ole is supper happy

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

    Rashford!!!

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

    Bruno goal maybe

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

    Bruno assist!

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

    Bruno essential for next GW

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

      *for this GW

  30. Ron_Swanson
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno second goal!