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
    1 day, 6 hours ago

    Aargh…no J. Pedro!

  2. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 6 hours ago

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

    1. Moon Dog
        1 day, 6 hours 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
          1 day, 6 hours ago

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

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 6 hours 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.

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 6 hours ago

      Right Palmer & Bruno ruin those CS’s 😉

    4. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 6 hours ago

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

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        1 day, 6 hours ago

        This DGW hasn't happened yet, relax.

    5. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 6 hours ago

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

    6. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      1 day, 6 hours 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
        1 day, 6 hours ago

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

    7. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 day, 6 hours ago

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

    8. Moon Dog
        1 day, 6 hours 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
            1 day, 6 hours ago

            Captaining Ba over RVP is a bold call Mull.

          • Absolutely Muñozed
              1 day, 5 hours ago

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

            • Halftime
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              1 day, 5 hours 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.

          • Ady87
            • 12 Years
            1 day, 6 hours ago

            Also got Gordon and JP on BB. Yikes.

            1. bso
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              1 day, 6 hours 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.

          • SIMBOBIANTHEIII
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              James Justin popping up with a 15

            • tiger
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

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

            • bso
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              A hattie for Bruno coming up!

            • Sandy Ravage
              • 10 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              Hat trick of pens for both teams would be great

            • Steavn8k
              • 2 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

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

              1. The Bandit
                • 15 Years
                1 day, 6 hours ago

                Be grateful. Lucky he wasn’t sent off

              2. Digital-Real
                • 9 Years
                1 day, 6 hours ago

                FPL bonus system is rubbish

            • SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
              • 9 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              Close to being a Chelsea penalty, just outside the box

            • Gizzachance
              • 11 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

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

              1. brianutd-why always we? 20
                • 14 Years
                1 day, 6 hours ago

                Thigh injury

                1. Gizzachance
                  • 11 Years
                  1 day, 6 hours ago

                  Cheers for info

            • tutankamun
              • 16 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              Estevao post

            • brianutd-why always we? 20
              • 14 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              Hammy gone Este

            • Nomar
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              1 day, 6 hours 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
                1 day, 6 hours ago

                lol

              2. tutankamun
                • 16 Years
                1 day, 6 hours 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
                  1 day, 6 hours ago

                  Simmons is stupid and the game is gone?

                  1. tutankamun
                    • 16 Years
                    1 day, 6 hours ago

                    Players attitude in general

                    1. Baps Hunter
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 8 Years
                      1 day, 6 hours ago

                      Still minority.

                      1. tutankamun
                        • 16 Years
                        1 day, 5 hours 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
                  1 day, 6 hours ago

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

            • brianutd-why always we? 20
              • 14 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              Nacho back to haunt Utd

            • shirtless
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

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

            • Bobby Digital
              • 8 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              GarnachNo

            • Ignasi M
              • 8 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

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

            • Ignasi M
              • 8 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

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

              1. Baps Hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                1 day, 6 hours ago

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

            • Sgt. Schultz
              • 9 Years
              1 day, 6 hours ago

              Cunha YC

            • Moon Dog
                1 day, 6 hours ago

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

              • FPL Blow-In
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                1 day, 6 hours ago

                Cunha must do better there

              • JohnnyB10
                • 1 Year
                1 day, 5 hours 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.

              • Count of Monte Hristo
                • 12 Years
                1 day, 5 hours ago

                JP spoiled my 15 doublers, so annoyed

                1. JohnnyB10
                  • 1 Year
                  1 day, 5 hours ago

                  Yep

                  1. JohnnyB10
                    • 1 Year
                    1 day, 5 hours ago

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