Dugout Discussion

Man Utd v Chelsea team news: James and Rudiger return to visitors’ XI

A drawn-out Double Gameweek 34 comes to a close this evening with a juicy-looking clash between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 19:45 BST.

These two sides were the only clubs to play twice in Gameweek 34 and consequently there was plenty of interest in their players from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective, particularly when it comes to tonight’s visitors.

Taking the top 10,000 as a rough gauge of ‘active’ FPL managers (see above), there were five Chelsea players with an ‘effective ownership’ in excess of 10% – and all of them start this evening.

Thomas Tuchel has made two changes to his starting XI, with the return from injury of Reece James and Antonio Rudiger being the headline news.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah drop to the bench as a result.

Ralf Rangnick has made only one change to his injury-hit Manchester United side, meanwhile, with Marcus Rashford coming in for the ill Jadon Sancho.

GAMEWEEK 34 LINE-UPS

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, McTominay, Matic, Elanga, Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo.

Subs: Bailly, Jones, Mata, Heaton, Henderson, Mejri, Shoretire, Garnacho, Fernandez.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Alonso, Mount, Werner, Havertz.

Subs: Kepa, Lukaku, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Saul, Ziyech, Kennedy, Sarr.


576 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Yesss Tony

  2. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Does Havertz not realise you’re supposed to aim the ball either side of the keeper

    1. jacob1989
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      He might be having a side job as goalkeeper coach.

  3. Bishopool
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    watching James vs ManU

  4. jacob1989
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Havertz hattrick!! Of efforts straight to ddg

  5. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    All Chelsea & DDG is going to get a 10 pointer 🙁

  6. RogDog_jimmy
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Antonioooooooooooo

  7. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Just get to 60 Havertz and I'll be happy

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    After the shambles of carragher on commentary neville goes the other way

    Non stop criticism of united. Carragher far more annoying. Neville actually has some useful comments but the constant moaning is just tiresome

  9. Grande Tubarão
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Get Lukaku on for Havertz

  10. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    United are so, so poor. Downright pathetic

    1. jacob1989
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      OGS was definitely better than this fool rangnick.

      1. Haalander
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        He’s in for the pension!

  11. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    DDG having one of those games…

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Scarecrow would save those Havertz efforts.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Scarecrow price next season?

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 12 months ago

          Two arms & a leg...

  12. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Erik Ten Months has some job on his hands with this shower.

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      He’s not got a chance

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Correct, will be gone by Xmas

  13. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    DDG with more saves tonight than the five or so gamweeks I held and played him combined. Never change, FPL.

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      DDG is 2nd for no of saves in the PL, even before this game.

  14. jacob1989
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Havertz misses aside, have to say manu are an absolute joke team. Dont think a coaching change will fix them so soon

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Lots of players missing. No Varane tonight

      1. Grande Tubarão
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Nevermind, he’s back actually

      2. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        That's one. Is Ronaldo another?

        1. Grande Tubarão
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 12 months ago

          No Luke Shaw

          1. jacob1989
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 12 months ago

            Their leader pogba missing too.

      3. RogDog_jimmy
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Varane is playing.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Maguires leadership & ability a big miss tonight.

      1. jacob1989
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Lol. Had he played he would have scored an own goal by now

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        For Chelsea

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      It will take years.

      And that's only if they make competent decisions, which seems unlikely. They need to embrace modern data science, like Liverpool, and kick out the dinosaurs.

      https://trainingground.guru/articles/ian-graham-the-one-currency-liverpool-use-to-judge-players

  15. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Just turned it on and Gary Neville is already slating United.

    0-0 would be a good result for United?

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Been pretty close. I’d say Utd edging it

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      They should be 0-3+ down.

      1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Fair enough. Hope Alonso hauls

    3. RogDog_jimmy
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      would be a minor miracle to keep it 0-0 at the current rate

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Yes, but Che is unable to score. My fault though 🙁

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 12 months ago

          Don't know which witch doctor has cursed my team 🙁

          1. NorCal Villan
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 12 months ago

            Doctor Bombay

    4. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      They’ve been an absolute joke

  16. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Anyone watching Leicester game Justin injury, how bad?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      What? BOTH their starting wingbacks down?

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        My mistake Justin on at 21 for Castagne 🙁

        Phew

    2. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Thought Justin just came on for Castagne?

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Oh yeah, Pereira on the other side.

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Yes the info I saw was incorrect, owning Justin last thing I needed was another flag

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Not injured- came on for injured Castagne

  17. jacob1989
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Alex Ferguson needs to step out of retirement and fix this team rather than come to the stadium to watch these pathetic performances by ManU

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      He’d soon sort these refs out too

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Wouldn’t risk his legacy

  18. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Mc Tominay is a dirty &@£! Discuss…

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Harsh on the Scottish.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Roy Keane nastiness with none of the ability

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      He is NOT Utd quality

  19. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    C Havertz here... It was good idea on paper...

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Again

    2. RogDog_jimmy
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Kai - 0.98 xG that half.
      One more minor chance and he gets a goal!

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Not with his finishing

  20. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    This is primed for Mount to come in and steal all the points

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      If hes not protected at HT he got a whack

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Havertz 0.91 xG that half.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Ah well. At least he's trying.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Not been a fun watch as a non-owner.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Nor as someone who has given him armband.

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      As expected... He is my C, so he he will be the biggest underperformer. When stars align against, these things happen.

  22. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Think will need to move out one of Werner or Havertz

    A Werner to Watkins or
    B Havertz to Coutinho

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Yes!

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        A+B / B+A, doesn't really matter which.

  23. balint84
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Dgw36
    Pukki, Dennis or Nketiah

    1. Chelsea Dagger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      tough one. I may go with Nketiah depending how he does next game. If not, Pukki

  24. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Why is everyone repeatedly shocked that United are second best when they play a superior team?

    Neville calling them an 'absolute disgrace'; it's 0-0 and you are playing a team that ultimately has better players in almost every position. United do not have some divine right to dominate every home game they play.

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Its hard not to compare them to their great sides of 90s

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      We’re still Man Utd at the end of the day

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Blinded by nostalgia rather than facing up to the reality of the present.

    4. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Because they barely try

    5. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      The scoreline doesn't always reflect the performance though. United should probably be about 3-0 down by halftime. That's poor from any team.

  25. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    DDG on free hit hopefully being vindicated

  26. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    What happened to Castagne? Injury?

  27. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    When was Reece James given the freedom of Manchester? Didn't see anything in the news about it.

  28. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Pogba was the catalyst for United being so bad.

    Sold for nothing, bought back for £90+ £30-50m in wages. Silly little dances, silly little haircuts, injured or sulking he’s never there.

    Awful purchase.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      I don't think the protesters would agree with you that this series of events was the catalyst...

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        OGS was decent after all...

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Goes back further than that. The catalyst was a horse's c0c*, namely that of Rock of Gibraltar.
      It led to the Irish shareholders selling out to the Glazers and them bring in moneymen to run the club at the expense of football.

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Poor decision-making from the top.

      Apparently Jose tried to shift Martial, but Joel Glazer insisted he was the next Pele and vetoed him. Sums it up.

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        JFC if true...

    4. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Ferguson was the catalyst for them good. They have reverted to how they were pre-Fergie. The rise and fall of teams is natural. It's the Champions League money/attraction plus billionaire owners that has skewed this view of football and allowed those at the top to stay at the top.

  29. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    Would not be surprised if Mount is done for today

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 12 months ago

      Looked more an impact hit on his knee.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 12 months ago

        Hope so as a capper it came at a good time to recover at least

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 12 months ago

    No United wins this season without Maguire, says it all. 😮

    Captain. Leader. Legend.