Dugout Discussion

Gameweek 20 team news: Lukaku, Foden and Grealish start as Alonso is benched

Gameweek 20 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) continues with two more matches this evening.

Chelsea v Brighton and Hove Albion is first up at 19:30 GMT, with Brentford v Manchester City getting underway 45 minutes after that.

On the team news front, Thomas Tuchel has made four changes to the Chelsea side that defeated Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

Romelu Lukaku, Andreas Christensen, Mateo Kovacic and Cesar Azpilicueta return to the Blues’ line-up, with Trevoh Chalobah, Marcos Alonso and N’Golo Kante dropping to the bench. Thiago Silva misses out altogether after picking up an injury in Gameweek 19.

Kai Havertz is back on the hosts’ bench after his reported recent spell in self-isolation.

Brighton won for the first time in three months on Sunday but Graham Potter has nevertheless made three changes to the starting XI who impressed against Brentford, with injury forcing his hand in one instance.

There is no Leandro Trossard, who has a hamstring problem, while Adam Webster and Enock Mwepu drop to the bench.

Yves Bissouma, Solly March and the fit-again Joel Veltman return to the Seagulls’ starting XI.

Shane Duffy is back among the visitors’ substitutes after missing out on Boxing Day.

In the other match in west London, Pep Guardiola makes four changes to the side that beat Leicester City 6-3 three days ago.

Gabriel Jesus, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden make up the all-new front three, with Nathan Ake coming in for a start at left-back.

Raheem Sterling, Rihad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko all drop to the bench.

Two of Thomas Frank’s three changes are enforced, as Bryan Mbeumo is injured and Christian Norgaard is suspended.

Yoane Wissa, Frank Onyeka and Mads Roerslev are brought into the side, with Sergi Canos only a substitute.

GAMEWEEK 20 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi, Mount, Pulisic, Lukaku.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Kante, Chalobah, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Havertz, Sarr.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sanchez, Lamptey, Veltman, Burn, Cucurella, Bissouma, Lallana, March, Moder, Mac Allister, Maupay.

Subs: Webster, Mwepu, Gross, Alzate, Welbeck, Steele, Duffy, Richards, Ferguson.


Brentford XI: Fernandez, Pinnock, Jansson, Sorensen, Roerslev, Baptiste, Jensen, Onyeka, Thompson, Wissa, Toney.

Subs: Canos, Forss, Ghoddos, Peart-Harris, Bidstrup, Stevens, Cox.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Ake, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Bernardo, Jesus, Foden, Grealish.

Subs: Sterling, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Steffen, Mahrez, Carson, Mbete-Tabu, Palmer.

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1,967 Comments Post a Comment
  1. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Foden on fire tonight having a point to prove.

    Lets go Phil.

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      You wish...

    2. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Hope so

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Me too.

      2. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Me three

    3. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Jack & Phil masterclass for poetic justice.

  2. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I need Foden and Bernardo and James to do well if I’ve any hope in the cup

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Brighton have never scored at Stamford Bridge...

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      But they still have bigger chance of scoring then Werner.

    2. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Always a first time

    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'm sure James can score for them

  4. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I think I will regret not buying Grealish before this gameweek began. I thought he was a guaranteed starter for this match and worth a punt. If he performs well tonight, he has a better chance to be involved against Arsenal. Let's see how it goes and call me crazy, but there's a small possibility he could become Man City midfielder to own in the 2nd half of the season.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Can see it, KDB & Sterling probably too pricey when Salah is back.

      Mahrez is amazing for FPL, when he starts though.

    2. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Surely he would have been a guaranteed starter in hindsight with rotation but we had no idea if he was off pep's dominatrix list

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I'm certainly on that list this season

        1. POGON 1948
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Dias nailed? Cancelo nailed? Foden nailed?

          As it turns out we're the ones being nailed by Pep

  5. 420king
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    DDG
    TAA Cancelo James Johnson Targett
    Foden Bernardo Son Bowen Brownhill
    Antonio Watkins Eduard
    1FT, 4.7m ITB

    A) Bernardo to Maddison
    B) A

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I’ve considered both options and tend to favour a

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A then in either way

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Will you want to sell Bernardo after his haul tonight?

      1. 420king
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yes 🙂
        Thanks all!

  6. FourLokoLeipzig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    So with Watford likely to have a DGW this week, would anyone care to tweet this guy and check I’d be safe switching Foster to Bachman? Thanks! https://mobile.twitter.com/Daniel_Moroney_/status/1476007079982809089

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Its a trap!

  7. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I don’t care if Foden scores 10 or 20 points, as long as Bilva doubles that score 🙂

  8. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Contrarian thought but I think James has been more at fault for Chelsea poor play than Alonso

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      James is either a world beater or awful. I’d say they feared Alonso being targeted.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I don't think Alonso has been as bad as people are saying & agree James has been wasteful lately - but it's also very evident Alonso has limitations that cause us issues.

      Before going into this game I though Alonso vs. Lamptey was a match up made in hell so not surprised we have put a better, faster defender up against him. Lamptey would have turned him inside out.

  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Lamptey vs. James is a sweet academy match-up.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Lamptey will probably try too hard and break.

  10. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    What sort of land of milk and honey do some people live in when they have the opportunity to bench Bowen?! Are they all free hitters?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      He was benched on FFS lineup prediction

      I got him for a hit, with some trepidation... We're lucky because Moyes doesn't have a replacement. Bowen is to Moyes as Salah is to Klopp atm. If he's rested, West Ham's attacking threat evaporates

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Lukaku bouncing off Brighton players!

  12. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Just waking up here in New Zealand. Alonso dropped from the first team then?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Si

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Rested to deal with Salah at the weekend..

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Played 90 few days ago, his rusty legs vs Lamptey wouldn't have been ideal.

    4. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Rested probably

  13. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Bought Sterling, benched

    Sold Jesus and Bernado, starting

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Never try to second guess Pep

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, thats just madness unfortunatelly

    2. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Unlucky with Jesus in particular. He's been a possible option for me a couple of times but I always went with someone else.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah he's been awful for me (as have most City players this season). 3 no-shows and an average of 3pts in the 5 games he did show up.

    3. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      First time?

    4. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      That really is a fail my Deulo. It can be only better from here.

  14. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Love that from Rudi

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Lamptey has James on toast.

    1. Jarnathan
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Looking like the player we saw last season. Exciting to watch and all up and down that pitch.

  16. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    And they thought James could handle Lamptey…

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      If that was Alonso he still wouldn't have caught up.

  17. bodgejob
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Lamptey has rapid acceleration and top speed whilst retaining close ball control

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Basically Maradona.

  18. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Can anyone tell me % of Foden captains this GW please?

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      1.65% top 10k

  19. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Mahrez benched -.-

    If he stays off, cool Dennis 7 pointer on the bench. If he comes on, I'll take 15mins v tired legs! Hopefully this means he starts against Arsenal too!

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Rest Mahrez vs Arsenal is beautiful.

    2. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Your team must be good if you benched Dennis

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        This week;
        DDG
        Trent, James, Rudiger, Cancelo
        Rashford, Mahrez, Bowen, Bernardo, Son (c)
        Antonio

        Dennis, Johnson, Gelhardt

        1. Old Bull
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Yes it is good. Comes down to personal preference though. I would have played him ahead of Rash. Not convinced on the double Chelsea either but that’s the lesser of the two.

  20. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish to feed his ingenue tonight

  21. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I have King first on bench.

    Should I hope that Bilva, Cancelo or Foden starts or not. Cameo would be awful.

    1. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nevermind, we already have lineups

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'd pick either of them three starting over 5 points.

    3. Thanos
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      All starting. Teams are out.

  22. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Do we think sterling gets a cameo?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Will City need a goal?

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Rudiger & James nearly 🙁

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Azpi sneaky post in there...

  24. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea bullying Brighton

  25. Thanos
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Mendy seems to have lost his confidence. Should have come out for that ball.

  26. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I guess this lineup confirms Gundo as second string, for the second half of the season

    KDB and Bilva clearly preferred at AM

  27. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Sanchez on 3 saves yet? 😉

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      😮

  28. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    If Watford has a double in GW21.. will Dennis play both games?

    1. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Likely not, think even the first game of of GW21 isn't certain for all.

      For example in Salah's case he can stay for Chelsea because AFCON starts on the 9th but Egypt only play on the 11th

  29. Legohair
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Which wc team looks better??

    A. Ramsdale-Sanchez
    TAA-Cancelo-Laporte-Reguilon-Dalot
    Son-Jota-Maddison-Bowen-Martinelli
    Ronaldo-Antonio-Dennis/Broja

    B. Ramsdale-Sanchez
    TAA-Cancelo-Emerson-Tierney-Dalot
    Son-Maddison-Bowen-Martinelli-Ramsey
    Ronaldo-Kane-Dennis/Broja

  30. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    If any of the City attackers were nailed they would be great options.

    Just think how good an option Sterling or Mahrez or even Foden would be if they played every game?

    As it is I'm not going near any of them.