Dugout Discussion

Wednesday team news: Havertz and Martinelli subs as Rudiger misses out

Four more Premier League fixtures take place this evening on the penultimate night of Double Gameweek 33.

Chelsea v Arsenal, Everton v Leicester City and Newcastle United v Crystal Palace all get underway at 19:45 BST, with Manchester City v Brighton and Hove Albion kicking off 15 minutes later.

Pep Guardiola has made six changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Liverpool at Wembley on Saturday, with many of the big guns returning.

Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez are all brought into the midfield, with Ederson and Aymeric Laporte recalled at the back.

Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Zack Steffen and Oleksandr Zinchenko drop to the bench, while Ruben Dias is once again a substitute.

Graham Potter has made two alterations to the Brighton side that prevailed in north London at the weekend, both of which are enforced.

Yves Bissouma is suspended and Leandro Trossard is absent from the matchday squad due to illness, so Solly March and Danny Welbeck come into the side.

Over in west London, Chelsea make four changes from their own cup semi-final.

In come Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N’Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Malang Sarr, as Kai Havertz and Jorginho drop to the bench. We knew that Mateo Kovacic would not be in the squad due to injury but Antonio Rudiger‘s absence has caught us on the hop – he is not involved due to a minor groin problem.

Opponents Arsenal make three changes from the defeat at Southampton, as Emile Smith Rowe, Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny come in for the benched Cedric Soares, Gabriel Martinelli and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Alexandre Lacazette is on the bench after recovering from Covid-19.

The Leicester rotation continues on Merseyside as Brendan Rodgers makes seven changes following his side’s injury-time loss to Newcastle on Sunday, reverting to the bulk of the side that played in the Europa League last Thursday.

The back four are completely overhauled, while James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho are all reinstanted in attack.

Yerry Mina returns in place of Michael Keane as one of two changes for Everton but Frank Lampard has lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin to a quad muscle injury that could keep him out for 10-14 days. Demarai Gray steps in.

An unchanged Newcastle, still without the injured Ryan Fraser, take on a Crystal Palace side showing five changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Sunday.

Conor Gallagher, ineligible at Wembley, returns alongside Vicente Guaita, Nathaniel Clyne, Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard.

Jack Butland, Joel Ward, Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and James McArthur all drop to the bench.

GAMEWEEK 33 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Azpilicueta, Sarr, Christensen, Alonso, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Lukaku, Werner

Subs: Kepa, Jorginho, Thiago Silva, Pulisic, Chalobah, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Havertz

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Holding, Tavares, Xhaka, Elneny, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka, Nketiah

Subs: Leno, Lacazette, Soares, Pepe, Lokonga, Martinelli, Azeez, Swanson, Hutchinson


Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Allan, Delph, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray, Richarlison

Subs: Begovic, Kenny, Holgate, Keane, Doucouré, Gomes, Van de Beek, Alli, Rondón

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Fofana, Evans, Castagne; Mendy, Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes, Iheanacho

Subs: Ward, Justin, Söyüncü, Amartey, Albrighton, Pérez, Choudhury, Lookman, Daka, Lookman


Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett, Guimaraes, Shelvey, Joelinton, Almiron, Wood, Saint-Maximin

Subs: Darlow, Lascelles, Ritchie, Fernandez, Manquillo, Murphy, Willock, Gayle, Longstaff

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kouyate, Andersen, Guehi, Clyne, Olise, Gallagher, Schlupp, Mitchell, Edouard, Zaha

Subs: Butland, Ward, Tomkins, Ayew, Eze, Hughes, Mateta, McArthur, Benteke


Man City XI: Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Ake, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Foden.

Subs: Dias, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Grealish, Zinchenko, Steffen, Fernandinho, Palmer, Lavia.

Brighton XI: Sanchez, Veltman, Dunk, Cucurella, Lamptey, Gross, Caicedo, March, Mac Allister, Mwepu, Welbeck.

Subs: Webster, Maupay, Lallana, Steele, McGill, Leonard, Offiah, Ferguson, Sarmiento.

1,000 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Might not see Laca tonight...

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Still hope for James now he is playing at RWB.

  2. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Sickeningly lucky that goal for City

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Luck & decisions falling nicely for them this season.

  3. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Martinelli up front

  4. JariL
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    This game makes me tempted to go Alonso+Mount+Werner as my Chelsea triple up on WC. Anyone else?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Havertz is a pretty good pick especially given Lukaku was boo'd off.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Makes me tempted to go Mount, Havertz, James if they lose. They can't piss about now.

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        There's something in this.

      2. JariL
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        Alonso has looked so attacking though. Tempting.

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Werner or Havertz on FH is one of my few remaining questions and I don't feel much closer to making the choice noe

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        Now

      2. jacob1989
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        i am considering werner & havertz/ mount.. FOr some reason I have Mendy in goal.

  5. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Please palace, score.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Please don't. I need this.

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        Me too. Double Newcastle defence omg

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Longer standing Dubravka holders know not to relax until final whistle blows

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

        How long to go?

        Palace not so strong away from home.

  6. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Need this Newcastle cleanie busted

  7. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Trying to build for double GW26 BB, FH in 37.

    A: Weghorst/Toney > Werner
    B: Doherty > 7.2
    C: Weghorst/Toney Doherty > Werner 5.0

    Schmeichel Foster
    TAA Rudi Doherty White Liv
    Salah Saka Raph Kulu Ramsey
    Kane Toney Weghorst

    1FT 2.5ITB

  8. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Why was Barnes taken off? That good or bad for nxt game?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      He's always taken off.

    2. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Goal an cs banked

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        Great

  9. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Maddison doing anything? Huge L over the DGW

  10. fusen
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    All this talk of Havertz being a good pick.

    I've owned him since gw 30 and I'd much rather have Mount at this point

    1. BUZZBOMB
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      I dont think its about one or the other. Its about both or just Mount. By Friday, we could have talked enough on here that Alonso is a better pick than either.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      If it was since GW28 I guess you’d say otherwise!

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        I'd say it was time to get off the boat

  11. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Targett on 3 bps. Think we'll need a VAR check on that one.

  12. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Wood only got 10 mins to match Salah

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      F off

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        Wood (c) here. We live in hope.

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 18 days ago

          Me too.. Lol @ us

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      He's a cult hero though. No, I said CULT.

  13. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Saka so close to points tonight.

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      That was close but both Marti and Saka suck when I own them. Saka C still playing is something 😀

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Been invisible pre to that chance

  14. Babit1967
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    If anyone is feeling hard done by I got rid of Mahrez for Son on a -4 and captained Son last minute over Salah

  15. Rohirrims
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    100 points this week. Now need all these cleanies to hold for the next 30 mins

  16. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    ASM you beast

  17. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Phil Foden

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Mahrez easiest assist ever

      1. COLLIN QUANER
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 18 days ago

        Just watched it, sublime corner, lol!

  18. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Even Fodens scoring. This season is broken.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Where’s the Knight

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Get some decent studs Saka

  20. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Saka doing his best Bambi impression there

  21. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Foden scores whenever not in my FPL team basically is the rule for this season!

  22. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Just realised KDB started.

    Him being injured was my tipping point to FH… just wonderful. He’ll probs score now too!

  23. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Phillll laddd!!!

  24. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Mahrez haul

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Pep likes this

  25. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Alonso rested for the DGW... all aboard!

  26. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Sarr is comically bad.

  27. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    Tavares specsavers appointment needed asap

  28. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    City attacking points are so spread out
    Next match it will be a Sterling brace probably

  29. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    What are the chances neithet LfC nor City drop points for the rest of the season?

  30. asr
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 18 days ago

    What was that from Tavares...

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      Lol

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 18 days ago

      His best