Dugout Discussion

Hazard starts and is boosted by Giroud’s inclusion in line-up

The west London derby is the first of three matches on a busy Sunday of Premier League football, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 12:00 GMT.

Chelsea are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and are up against a Fulham side who won last weekend for the first time since Gameweek 3.

The big team news concerns the inclusion of Eden Hazard (£11.0m) in Chelsea’s starting XI, with the Belgian having shaken off the ankle knock that forced him to miss the Europa League win over PAOK on Thursday.

A potentially positive omen for Hazard’s owners is that Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) has been chosen to lead the line over Alvaro Morata (£8.8m): the significance there being that all seven of Hazard’s Premier League goals this season have come while the French striker has also been on the pitch.

Hazard was the most-transferred out player of Gameweek 14, having suffered over twice as many sales as any other FPL asset ahead of Friday’s deadline.

Pedro (£6.3m) gets the nod over Willian (£7.4m) on the right flank and the last time the Spanish winger lined up alongside Giroud and Hazard in a front three, Hazard racked up 20 FPL points (in Gameweek 5 versus Cardiff City).

Chelsea are otherwise unchanged from the side that lost to Spurs last weekend, with Ross Barkley (£5.8m) not in the matchday squad after picking up a knock in the win over PAOK.

Fulham are also unexpectedly missing a player through injury, with Andre Schurrle (£5.9m) having “felt a twinge” in the lead-up to this match and rested as a precaution.

Stefan Johansen (£5.1m) comes in to take the German’s place in midfield, though Claudio Ranieri hasn’t otherwise tinkered with Fulham’s starting XI after the 3-2 win over Southampton last Saturday.

Such is the fickle world of FPL, Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m) was the most-bought forward of this round after his brace in that Gameweek 13 victory.

Chelsea XI to face Fulham: Kepa, Alonso, Rudiger, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Giroud.

Fulham XI to face Chelsea: Rico, Le Marchand, Odoi, Mawson, Christie, Sessegnon, Chambers, Seri, Johansen, Cairney, Mitrovic.

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1,331 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ranieri's done a good job of organising their defence. They're still bad, but not as bad as they were.

  2. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso has been terrible today.

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He often looks terrible, doesn’t stop him getting points

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Shocking, missed placed passes and awful crossing

  3. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    lol Hazard was in the LB position and someone in the crowd reflexively booed

    1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hahaha

  4. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Even just one goal would be nice, captain

  5. Totti
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    obviously Hazard won't score today 🙁

  6. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Remove a CM, get Willian in and give Haz a fully free roll...

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Why? Chelsea are winning

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Because 3-0 is better than 1-0

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard Hatty incoming midweek whilst sterling rests

    Can't wait

  8. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Did Sterling play 90 mins yesterday?

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Surely you can check that yourself

      1. BENOIT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Of course, I COULD....

        Should have rephrased the question - are people worried Raheem won’t start midweek?

        1. yakirh
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I think its between him and Sane midweek

          Mahrez Jesus XXX

      2. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        No need to be a complete douche.

        1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          He wasn’t being a douche.

    2. Ross From Friends
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Post value: 0.0000000002%

  9. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I swear there are better footballers in my rubbish Sunday league than Alonso.

    1. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe they'd be up for a swap deal?

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I'd stop playing if that happened. Driving to games wouldn't be safe anymore.

        1. evilfish
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          XD

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Theyd be gassed after 20 minutes playing the way he does for 90 every single week. His stamina is insane.

  10. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Emerson to start midweek?

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Could be

    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe

  11. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    sterling still under 20% ownership overall..forget the top 10k, happy to see people still doubting him

  12. kime67
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    if hazard was more selfish..

  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso has been terrible so far

    1. Sap
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes))

    2. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      who cares clean sheet

  14. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard isn't fit to clean the dirty laces of Raheem Sterling's boots, not a patch on him (in FPL terms).

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      You’re quickly becoming ‘that guy’ on here

      1. mrwinner
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Hazard owner?

  15. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso shocker

  16. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Is alonso pissed?

    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not something to joke about with his record.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Again?

  17. J T
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I hope you’re watching Giroud, Morata

    1. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He's been studying Lukaku

  18. CaTriEm
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Is Cyrus Christie actively trying to give possession away? No wonder O'Neill had to go, dark times when a player that limited is playing in central midfield in the national team.

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      he should stick to country music - Cotton eyed joe was a great track

    2. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Honestly, I have no idea what you’ve said but are you talking about wonen’s Football?

      1. CaTriEm
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Im trying to see how a literate person could have read my post and not understand what I'm talking about.

        Cyrus Christie. The Fulham and Republic of Ireland player. The eejit having a mare right now. That guy.

        1. Les Bleus
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Ok guy

  19. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    why are people slating Alonso??? He has always looked terrible and still ended up delivering big points. Or is it some form of reverse jinxing?

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I agree, he’s not that good but still delivers.

    2. CaTriEm
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      People whine and feel sorry for themselves with this odd idea that their player will score 5 minutes later to turn it around.

      Oh and of course he's a "murderer", very convenient that people can take the moral high ground yet have him in their FPL teams.

  20. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Where can i see effective ownership of players like Hazard ?

  21. bialk
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Boring game.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yep, it’s Sarri’s Chelsea. Possession the main priority.

  22. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Watching two games at the moment, and both matches features teams wearing blue and teams wearing white. Difficult!

  23. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    No suprise Alonso cant get in to Spanish team

  24. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Has Poch mentioned any updates on Trippier recently?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      In final stages of recovery.

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Hmm. Reckon he’ll play midweek/ next weekend? Im contemplating Alonso > Trippier to fund Aguero > Kane

  25. Superballzzz
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonzo finished the half right wing furthest man forward

    1. M'arvin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      That's why we love him.

    2. french holiday
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      keep a check on the penalty box touches between him and the other players

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Err, Alonso plays on the left.

    4. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Alonso on the right. Good one. :).

  26. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    sterling proved that why he is the ultimate city asset brushing aside sane lovers

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ok

    2. mrwinner
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      agree, Sterling is the man. you just have to love him

    3. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Sane is 2m cheaper. What's the point in this dumb comparison

      1. french holiday
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        its a slap in the face for those people who think they can cover city with sane instead of sterling

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Get both.

        2. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Nobody thinks that, that's your straw man

          People who bought sane bought him because they think he's worth 9.2m

          Stop being a wally

          1. Wally banter
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            eRMMmm!!

  27. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    This sucks

  28. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea have been pretty bad.

  29. Rsforstar
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso is always not that good of a player (but a very good fpl pick). Why are you guys so surprised to see him play like this 😮

  30. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I have zero confidence in Hazard to get anything in this game. Complete zero.

    1. Ross From Friends
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      same 🙁

    2. mrwinner
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      he has a point mate, cheer up

    3. Blanka
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Is he looking horrendous?

      Everytime I own him he's atrocious.

    4. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Calm down lad. Only takes one chance

      1. mrwinner
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        exactly, plus he has 1 point already

    5. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Never write hazard off. Only needs one chance .