Dugout Discussion

Alonso benched again as Havertz leads the line in injured Lukaku’s absence

Chelsea v Norwich City is the first of six Premier League matches to take place on Saturday, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 12:30 BST.

As was inevitable, there are a handful of notable benchings to report from Thomas Tuchel’s latest teamsheet.

Marcos Alonso (£5.9m) is only a substitute for the third Gameweek in a row, while Andreas Christensen (£5.1m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.2m) make way from the side that defeated Brentford 1-0 last week.

The non-inclusion of Alonso in the Chelsea XI means that the in-form Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), the most-bought Fantasy Premier League (FPL) defender of Gameweek 9, is given another start at left wing-back.

Antonio Rudiger (£5.8m) and Thiago Silva (£5.5m) are back in the side after missing out last weekend, while Reece James (£5.5m) gets a run-out at right wing-back for only the second time in six Gameweeks.

Kai Havertz (£8.1m) looks poised to lead the line in the absence of the injured Timo Werner (£8.6m) and Romelu Lukaku (£11.6m), with the ‘out of position’ German joined by Mason Mount (£7.4m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.3m) in the hosts’ attack.

Alonso, Lukaku and Azpilicueta are three of the five most-owned Chelsea assets in FPL, with Edouard Mendy (£6.1m) and Rudiger the only others with double-digit ownerships.

Chilwell and Havertz are the most-backed within the top 10k, however – and Havertz has been handed the armband by over 11% of these leading managers, with only Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) captained by more:

As for Norwich, who are without the ineligible loanee Billy Gilmour (£4.4m) today, they are unchanged yet again following a recent upturn in performances in Daniel Farke’s new 3-5-2 set-up.

GAMEWEEK 9 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovacic,Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Christensen, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Azpilicueta, Sarr.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Kabak, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Lees-Melou, Normann, McLean, Sargent, Pukki.

Substitutes: Gunn, Rupp, Dowell, Rashica, Tzolis, Sorensen, Williams, Idah, Omobamidele.

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1,872 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g_jannyg
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mount or Barkley on pens?

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

    I think we all just need to buy Chilwell now if we don't have him. He's fantasy gold. And just have a decent-ish bench for the occasional Alonso starts.

    I have funds forr Duffy > Chilwell. It seems like a no-brainer.

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

    Will that be a Rudiger assist if they score?

  4. james 101
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Rudiger assist?

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

    penalty chelsea

  6. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Penalty... VAR?!!

  7. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Rudiger about to get an asssit.

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

      Rudiger assist DENIED
      Mount missed penalty

  8. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Is this a rudiger assist if the pen is scored?

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Rudi assist! Love it

  9. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mountinho takes?

  10. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell to take penalty

  11. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    FFS servers are melting

  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    mount on pens

  13. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Take it Rudi 😆

  14. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which is less worse?

    A: Open Controls
    B: Tuchel

  15. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Krul is the best at penalty saves.

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      See

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

    Rudiger assist!?

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

    Rudiger assist!?

  18. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    It was a Rudiger goal.

    Until the hands

  19. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Please miss!!

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      OH CMON!!

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Krul save...

      Encroaching

  20. tambourineman
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Saved

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

    pen saved

  22. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Haha!

  23. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mount pen saved

  24. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sigh. It happens. Will try to learn from this.

    Sensible thing would be to wait and see, but I really want to do a rage transfer from Havertz to Mount immediately...

  25. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lol

  26. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ffs Mount

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

    Mount misses !

  28. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Arrogant tw4t Mason

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    retake

  30. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lollllll