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. Henning
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso injured?

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No - tactical change

      1. Henning
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Ok thanx, have to get a new app for Livescore. Sofascore shoved it as he was subbed becouse of injury.

  2. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Xhaka and Torreira have been brilliant this season. Big factor in their success.

    1. JJO
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Haha really?
      Xhaka??

  3. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    kane may get benched ahead of the do or die trip to nou camp

    1. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      vs Lei on Saturday, probably. Vs Sou on Wednesday, doubt it

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    MIKE DEAN HAS GIVEN ARSENAL A PENALTY!

  5. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Cheap goal

  6. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Auba has the most goals in PL this season.

    1. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      For three hours

  7. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    auba says hi.......to kane owners

  8. @FPLDIARYFPL
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Whats the deal with Kolasnic now starting? Worth considering for the good fixtures at 4.9?

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

      Very good question. I wasn’t expecting Emery to use a wingback setup against a strong side like TOT. Monitor.

    2. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I was looking at that, good attacking potential ... but ruled it out as Arsenal are allergic to clean sheets.

  9. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    not interested in spurs till the barca game

  10. Pilgrim62
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Who do you prefer Fanderson or Sigurdsson for comming GW? (I have Arnie and Richa)