Dugout Discussion
18 April 2026 257 comments
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There’s still another Premier League fixture to come today, and another match involving a side playing twice in Gameweek 33.

Chelsea get their double-header underway with the visit of Manchester United.

TEAM NEWS

The release of the Bournemouth, Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion teamsheets passed by without incident earlier in the day – but we can’t say the same about Chelsea’s.

Joao Pedro is absent completely from the Blues’ squad, so Liam Delap starts up front.

A minor thigh issue is the reason for Pedro’s absence but he could yet make an appearance in Gameweek 33:

“Joao felt his thigh a few days ago. He was touch and go for this one, so hopefully we’ll have him back for Brighton on Tuesday.” – Liam Rosenior, via the Chelsea website

Liam Rosenior’s other change sees prodigal son Enzo Fernandez return to the midfield and Andrey Santos drop to the bench.

The fit-again Trevoh Chalobah is among the substitutes, having returned to training this week after a month out.

As for Manchester United, there are four alterations from Monday’s loss to Leeds United.

There’s a veritable crisis at centre-half, with Leny Yoro joining Matthijs de Ligt on the injury list. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are suspended, too.

Ayden Heaven and Diogo Dalot come into the side, with Noussair Mazraoui set to form a makeshift centre-half pairing with the former.

Kobbie Mainoo and Bryan Mbeumo also return as Manuel Ugarte and Amad Diallo drop to the bench.

LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Estevao, Palmer, Pedro Neto, Delap.

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Adarabioyo, Essugo, Santos, Chalobah, Acheampong, Guiu, Lavia, Garnacho.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Mazraoui, Heaven, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.

Subs: Bayindir, Mount, Zirkzee, Malacia, Amad, Ugarte, T Fletcher, Lacey, Thwaites.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout this season is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DefCon) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

Brighton unchanged

257 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 15 days ago

    WC….
    Could have been better… Could have been worse….
    I’ll take it

  2. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 15 days ago

    CL places pretty much wrapped up?

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      or maybe a it's 7 way tussle between team that are separated by just 3 points if 6th spot gets in.

  3. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 15 days ago

    How long for Rosenior, do we reckon?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Hopefully 10 more years

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Haha! We pray…

      2. Moon Dog
          1 month, 15 days ago

          Average contract size at Chelsea. Might happen.

      3. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Has been shocking since arrived

        1. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          5,4,3,

      4. Cheeky Reijnders
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Er...10 yanited managers since Fergie. Finally found the Messiah after 9 games? Hahahaha.......

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I thought Bruno would be nearly on max bonus nevermind not getting anyway 🙁

    3. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Didn’t realise Chelsea haven’t scored in 4 games.
      Also hadn’t noticed how many teams could easily pip them to the Europa spot - 6 teams within 3 points of them!

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Spurs-like form

      2. Cheeky Reijnders
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Didn't realise how much yanited were a one-man team until 5 years ago.

    4. Absolutely Muñozed
        1 month, 15 days ago

        Bruno 6 pointer so much better than nothing. Glad I kept him on WC like many others

        1. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 15 days ago

          I am glad that I kept him on WC and benched him, but I forgot to check my bench order... Mbeumo 1st was wrong call always...

          1. JohnnyB10
            • 1 Year
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Uff

      • Absolutely Muñozed
          1 month, 15 days ago

          I think those who used their WCs earlier in the season were the biggest losers

          1. JohnnyB10
            • 1 Year
            1 month, 15 days ago

            This

        • #1 Arne Engels Fan
          • 1 Year
          1 month, 15 days ago

          Cole Palmer doing the Delle Alli speed run with his career

          1. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Should have waited for his turn at City

          2. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Nope. He is just having bad season just like Saka. He isn't using drugs ir alcohol etc...

            1. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              1 month, 15 days ago

              Not sure what you ate on about. Drugs and alcohol had nothing to do with Dele Allis career

              1. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                1 month, 15 days ago

                Do check the interview below. There are the reasons why he had his problems that affected his career.

                1. Royal5
                  • 14 Years
                  1 month, 15 days ago

                  Does he mention drugs and alcohol?

            2. JBG
              • 8 Years
              1 month, 15 days ago

              He's, Palmer that is(and Saka), have gotten worse for every season after their best season and not by a little. Just worse and worse

              1. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                1 month, 15 days ago

                Arteta didn't have replacement for Saka in time. He simply played too much imo.They both have had niggling injuries. Let's hope the best for them both.

          3. Moon Dog
              1 month, 15 days ago

              Dele's done incredibly well with the hand he was dealt
              https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aC6_ODwZZf8

              1. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                1 month, 15 days ago

                Yes. He could have done better also, but he could have done much worse. Good that he is alive. I do remember when he was basically as good as Son and had he had better background without those issues, he certainly would have become even better footballer.

          4. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            Enzo Maresca must be rolling on the floor watching this team..

            1. g40steve
              • 8 Years
              1 month, 15 days ago

              Correct, respect the ball wtf is that all about

          5. Coaly
            • 13 Years
            1 month, 15 days ago

            What would a WC team look like now with no FH?

            3 city on bench?

            Who would you load up on or avoid

          6. JohnnyB10
            • 1 Year
            1 month, 15 days ago

            FH 34 4-3-3 why not lol

            Roefs

            Virgil Gab Neco W. Tark

            Rice Bruno Szobo

            Thiago Bowen Gyokeres

            Pickford Rogers Casemiro Dalot

            Pretty much all covered 🙂 Villa game 1.30pm and Sunderland - Forest, Friday evening.

            1. g40steve
              • 8 Years
              1 month, 15 days ago

              No Palace?

              1. JohnnyB10
                • 1 Year
                1 month, 15 days ago

                Away to LFC? On FH no, just not enough room for them. In 36 for sure 2 or 3 assets.

              2. Moon Dog
                  1 month, 15 days ago

                  Palace surely prioritising the semi-final against Shaktar afterwards.

                  1. JohnnyB10
                    • 1 Year
                    1 month, 15 days ago

                    Also this first, maybe even one asset is good for 36, 2 would be cool!

              3. Moon Dog
                  1 month, 15 days ago

                  I think I want double Arsenal defence, so not feeling Gyok. I'm hoping Timber is fit.

                  Looking at something like this maybe:

                  Mamardashvili / Roefs
                  Gabriel - Timber - Virgil
                  Salah - Bruno - Rogers - Rice - Wilson
                  Bowen - Thiago

                  1. JohnnyB10
                    • 1 Year
                    1 month, 15 days ago

                    Cool! Gyok vs that Castle defense not a bad choice, also on pens. One ARS defender is okay, ya never know these days who is going to concede first, like that Evanilson pass lol. Maybe Wilson for him, but good to go for sure 🙂

                    1. Moon Dog
                        1 month, 15 days ago

                        Aye, anything can happen in a single week. Football is unpredictable!

                        1. JohnnyB10
                          • 1 Year
                          1 month, 15 days ago

                          Indeed!

                • FPL Blow-In
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  1 month, 15 days ago

                  Casemiro had 23 Defcons, what a beast

                  1. JohnnyB10
                    • 1 Year
                    1 month, 15 days ago

                    Thinking of playing him, he will get 4-5 points bare minimum. Only one non return in the last 7 games!

                  2. Moon Dog
                      1 month, 15 days ago

                      Wow.

                      What's the record this season for most defcons in a single game?

                      1. Hooky
                        • 11 Years
                        1 month, 15 days ago

                        Garner got 29 against Villa

                        1. JohnnyB10
                          • 1 Year
                          1 month, 15 days ago

                          Garner is the defcon king, forgot about him on FH lol

                  3. Ajax Hamsterdam
                    • 11 Years
                    1 month, 15 days ago

                    Raya
                    alderete munoz gabriel
                    rogers wilson mbeumo bruno F (c)
                    bowen thiago

                    3 fts 8.9 itb

                    would you
                    a save
                    b mbeumo to salah and c salah

                    cheers and gl

                    1. JohnnyB10
                      • 1 Year
                      1 month, 15 days ago

                      Boomo seems to be limping as seen before but he looked quite uncomfortable this time walking out, I’d say B and go for Salah! Cheers 🙂