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. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Aargh…no J. Pedro!

  2. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    he has shafted me all season and now the BB ,some players are just bad for people,he is mine

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 5 days ago

      At least it sounds promising for the next game.

      “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

      Will hopefully stop any bench wankery from the non-BBers.

      1. Digital-Real
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Fingers crossed he's back for Tuesday. Last thing we want is those jammy bench points for free hitters

  3. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Here’s hoping JP stays home midweek as well. Got Bijol first on the bench. Though with my luck he’ll just make a scoreless 10 min cameo.

  4. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Right Palmer & Bruno ruin those CS’s 😉

  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Remember the days when DGW’s were guaranteed ton plus points, what has happened?

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      This DGW hasn't happened yet, relax.

  6. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Not too fussed got Bruno coming off the bench for J Pedro on BB team, so not all bad…

  7. Pompel
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    F*** it, this DGW going from bad to worse. First Gomez out , and now Pedro. Really p***ed on Rosenborg for not giving any indications of this in presser.

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      I've Gordon & JP as BB absentees, so far. Not ideal.

  8. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    You just know that Chelsea are dying to be the team that officially sends Spurs down in GW37

  9. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Wow, Welbeck was in the RMTs on this site over 14 years ago:
    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2011/12/19/the-digest-gameweek-sixteen?hc_page=6#hc_comment_1455959

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Captaining Ba over RVP is a bold call Mull.

    2. Absolutely Muñozed
      3 months, 5 days ago

      I don't like the fact that 14 years pass so quickly

    3. Halftime
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Sess was in probably the greatest ever FPL moment. He scored at the end of a double gameweek from an assist by Carlos Cuellar. Everyone on the site had both of those players.
      The site went down for a few mins I think.

  10. Ady87
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Also got Gordon and JP on BB. Yikes.

    1. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Me too mate. Also forgot to shift the armband from Bruno to Haaland.
      Otherwise great points so far, do fingers crossed.
      All the best to you mate.

  11. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
    3 months, 5 days ago

    James Justin popping up with a 15

  12. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    I think I always have Pedro at the very wrongest of times...

  13. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    A hattie for Bruno coming up!

  14. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Hat trick of pens for both teams would be great

  15. Steavn8k
    • 3 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    How does Van Hecke have 16 defcon and an assist but only 16 in the BPS?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Be grateful. Lucky he wasn’t sent off

    2. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      FPL bonus system is rubbish

  16. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Close to being a Chelsea penalty, just outside the box

  17. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Bit late to the party due to commitments
    What happened to Pedro no show?
    Cheers

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Thigh injury

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Cheers for info

  18. tutankamun
    • 17 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Estevao post

  19. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Hammy gone Este

  20. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Xavi on 77 mins: l scored the goal that will keep us up!
    Danso on 95 mins: Nah, mate, hold my beer…….

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      lol

    2. tutankamun
      • 17 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Ridiculous over the top celebrations from Simons after his goal.
      Then crying like girl after the equaliser.

      There’s still 5 games to go! Games gone.

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        Simmons is stupid and the game is gone?

        1. tutankamun
          • 17 Years
          3 months, 5 days ago

          Players attitude in general

          1. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 5 days ago

            Still minority.

            1. tutankamun
              • 17 Years
              3 months, 5 days ago

              Nobody called him out on it. Would never have happened back in the day.

              And I don’t think it’s a minority. Every week we see teams celebrating a win like they’ve won the league.

      2. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 5 days ago

        I can't see Spurs staying up. They're so open defensively.

  21. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Nacho back to haunt Utd

  22. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Just in from a day at Goodwood. Justin on BB wow! Then seen the Pedro news though damn!

  23. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    GarnachNo

  24. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Dear lord, why did I captain Palmer? He's clearly been carrying/managing a thigh injury all season. Zero effect.

  25. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    No quality on either team. Feels like a 0-0 or 1-1.

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Great pass from Bruno, Mbeumo was good, but Cunha failed.

  26. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Cunha YC

  27. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Someone put Flubber on Cunha's shoes. What an awful touch.

  28. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    Cunha must do better there

  29. JohnnyB10
    • 1 Year
    3 months, 5 days ago

    I can’t believe I transferred out Bowen for Pedro! Monday game vs Palace and all my gut telling me to leave Jarrod! But oh well, Pedro will probably play on Tuesday and with that high ownership it was really risky not to do it. Still could have save me one FT for gw 36.

  30. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 5 days ago

    JP spoiled my 15 doublers, so annoyed

    1. JohnnyB10
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 5 days ago

      Yep

      1. JohnnyB10
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 5 days ago

        We also completely forgot on this Delap guy, I mean he is still alive, isn’t he lol