Dugout Discussion

Sunday team news: Kulusevski benched, key Chelsea assets all start

Two more top-flight matches kick off at 2pm BST this afternoon and there is plenty of interest from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective, particularly where Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are concerned.

The Lilywhites are at home against a much-changed Leicester City, while Thomas Tuchel’s troops are on the road again at relegation-threatened Everton.

Where Jurgen Klopp perhaps rotated more than we thought he would yesterday, Tuchel has taken the opposite approach, making only one change to his starting XI to make light of the 64-hour turnaround between trips to Old Trafford and Goodison Park.

The Chelsea head coach’s sole alteration is even enforced, with the injured N’Golo Kante replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield.

The teamsheet of opponents Everton shows two changes, with Yerry Mina and Fabian Delph replacing Michael Keane and Allan.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is among the substitutes after recovering from injury.

In north London, there are nine alterations across the two teams – but only one for the hosts.

It’s a significant one, too, as popular mid-price FPL midfielder Dejan Kulusevski drops out of the Spurs line-up for the first time since Gameweek 25.

Lucas Moura takes the Swede’s place and joins Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in the three-man Lilywhites attack.

“It’s rotation. When you have the possibility to change good players, you do. It is a normal rotation.” Antonio Conte on dropping Dejan Kulusevski

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has made eight changes to his side, clearly with one eye on Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final, second-leg tie against Roma, 

Kasper Schmeichel, Timothy Castagne and Marc Albrighton are the only three players who started against Jose Mourinho’s side on Thursday who keep their places, with James Maddison and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall missing out altogether.

Rodgers said the two Leicester midfielders have both been left at home as a precaution – a tight calf for Dewsbury-Hall, a hip issue for Maddison – but the reality is probably that the pair are being wrapped up in cotton wool for Italy.

Jamie Vardy, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes are among the substitutes.

GAMEWEEK 35 LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Mykolenko, Delph Doucoure, Gray, Iwobi, Gordon, Richarlison

Subs: Begovic, Kenny, Branthwaite, Keane, Allan, Davies, Alli, Rondón, Calvert-Lewin

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Rudiger, Silva, Alonso, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Havertz, Werner

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Sarr, Chalobah, Kovacic, Pulisic, Ñíguez, Ziyech, Kenedy, Lukaku


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Emerson Royal, Bentacour, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon, Lucas Moura, Kane, Son Heung-min

Subs: Sanchez, Craig, Kulusevski, Scarlett, White, Gollini, Bergwijn, Winks, Rodon

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas, Mendy, Soumaré, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Pérez, Daka

Subs: Ward, Justin, Fofana, Brunt, Choudhury, Tielemans, Barnes, Lookman, Vardy

949 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 days ago

    OMG Richarlison

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

      My rival is so jammy 😆

      1. SEXY SON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Super Saints was due tbf!

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

          He wishes he was my rival.

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

      Shocking from Azpi.

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 2 days ago

    Mud flying about.

    1. Haalander
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 days ago

      Lots of double Chelsea cleanies gone walkabouts

  3. SEXY SON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 days ago

    OMG YES RUCHARLISON!!!

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

      You don't own Richarlison.

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

        He owns all the players.

      2. SEXY SON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        I want Everton to stay up bro

        1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          Why?

          1. SEXY SON
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 2 days ago

            Too big a club to go down

  4. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 days ago

    Richa!!

  5. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 days ago

    What the heck was Azpilicueta doing there? Game on now

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

      He’s finished

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Annoying that he now seems to have taken over at RWB from James again

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

    Not good for us Leeds fans

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 2 days ago

      You'll beat Chelsea.

    2. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 days ago

      Leeds have got we’ll and truly dragged into the dog fight

  7. @persecuted_by_mods
      2 years, 2 days ago

      Gray owners rewarded for patience!

    • BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 2 days ago

      Pen v Arsenal now this...Azpi is finished I think

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 2 days ago

          He's Spanish

      2. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Feck off Azpi.

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

        Azpi is so bad

      4. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Azpilicueta becoming Chelsea's Xhakha

      5. DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Oh ffs

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

        Now watch James get a 59 min sub

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

        Azpi has really not looked good when I've seen him in recent weeks

      8. PartyTime
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        More of the same Everton

      9. BobB
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Certainly means James is nailed on - either WB or FB in back 4

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

        So Richarlison didn't just get a YC when he threw a flare INTO A STAND?!

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          Cleaning the field.

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

            Into a crowd of people?

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 2 days ago

              It's not a firecracker.

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

                smoke bombs can cause people with asthma to have attacks

        2. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          Yer that was wild!

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

        Azpi has no place in that team anymore.

      12. Jock Grealish
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Lol rudi james

        1. Dammit_182
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          Snap

      13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        what a miss

      14. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        mykolenko sitter

      15. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Mykolenko has to score that

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

        Urgh double Chelsea cs gone.

        What a terrible punt a few weeks ago

      17. SEXY SON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Ah man Gordon was open square!

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

          Are you blind? There were two Chelsea defenders directly in front of him.

          1. SEXY SON
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 2 days ago

            Ah that was space to slot it through!

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

              There was literally no space. They couldn't have been closer together if they tried.

      18. dshv
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Kulusevski Havertz -> Gordon Foden 2ft???

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          A little early for that.

          1. dshv
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 days ago

            Yes you are right

      19. BobB
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Chelsea and Newcastle will swap places within 3 seasons

      20. Jon Snow
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Crossing my fingers and hoping Mount makes it to 60 mins.

      21. PartyTime
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Chelsea have been playing poorly lately. Not sure their assets are essential for dgw

        1. Haalander
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          Also risky don’t know which two would even play both! Not even mendy

      22. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Kulusevski on

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

          Excellent

        2. BobB
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          He was very unlucky to be dropped.

      23. jonnybhoy
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 2 days ago

        Thinking of FH36. What team is better?

        A)

        Schmichael
        TAA Cancelo Robbo Laporte Alonso
        Salah (C) KDB Mount Coutinho
        Richarlison

        B)

        Schmichael
        TAA Cancelo Laporte Alonso Matip
        Saka Maddison Salah Gordon KDB
        Richarlison Watkins

        C)

        Schmichael
        TAA Cancelo Laporte Alonso Robbo
        Saka Salah KDB
        Richarlison Watkins

        1. jonnybhoy
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 days ago

          B benching Gordon*

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

          B