Dugout Discussion

Sterling and Laporte benched as Guardiola rings changes

Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) has been benched for the third time this season as Pep Guardiola rang the changes for Manchester City’s trip to Watford.

That will be of huge frustration to those who have signed him off the back of his recent incredible form.

However, the England international was not the only important player left on the bench by Guardiola with ever-present Aymeric Laporte (£6.1m) named there for the first time this season.

Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) and Vincent Kompany (£5.2m) were the two that came in for them.

Elsewhere in the side there was a return for Kyle Walker (£6.5m) and Fabian Delph (£5.3m) at full-back and David Silva (£8.7m) in midfield.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus (£10.1m) and Leroy Sané (£9.4m) kept their places in the attacking line.

Opponents Watford made just one change to the side that lost to Leicester with the suspended Etienne Capoue (£5.1m) replaced by Nathaniel Chalobah (£4.5m).

In the earlier kick-offs David Brooks (£5.1m) returned to the Bournemouth side while Laurent Depoitre (£5.2m) replaced the suspended Steve Mounié (£5.8m) for Huddersfield.

Crystal Palace named an unchanged side from the one which beat Burnley while Glenn Murray (£6.7m) came back in for Brighton.

Finally, Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) was named on the bench for West Ham while Felipe Anderson (£7.1m) and Marko Arnautovic (£7.2m) both start.

The Line-Ups

Bournemouth XI: Begovic; Daniels, Aké, S Cook, Francis; Fraser, Lerma, L Cook, Brooks; King, Wilson

Huddersfield XI: Lossl, Kongolo, Billing, Zanka, Schindler, Hogg, Hadergjonaj, Durm, Mooy, Pritchard, Depoitre.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo; March, Pröpper, Bissouma, Izquierdo; Groß; Murray.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; McArthur, Kouyaté, Milivojevic, Meyer; Townsend, Zaha.

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Snodgrass, Rice, Noble, Felipe Anderson; Chicharito, Arnautovic.

Cardiff City XI: Etheridge; Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson; Camarasa, Ralls, Arter, Hoilett; Paterson.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Stones, Delph, Fernandinho, D. Silva, B. Silva, Sane, Mahrez, Jesus.

Watford XI: Foster; Kiko Femenía, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Doucouré, Chalobah; Hughes, Pereyra; Deeney, Success.

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2,957 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Numb
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    No more than a consolation from Cardiff

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      West Ham weren't bothered

  2. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Fecking Murphy

    Swapped him for Paterson two weeks ago

  3. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Now Fab owners know how I felt as a Pickford owner this past wknd....

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Fab is on for 9 points tho...

    2. Carlton_Goal
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Except Fab didn't do anything wrong. Arguably he was fouled in the build up

  4. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    of course west ham conceed, i mean why wouldn't they

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sometimes you really need nerves for this game!!!! Fabianski lost 6pts with that goal in 96th minutes

  6. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Come on Watford..Wipe that cleanie

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ask and you shall receive!

  7. tattywelshie
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Madness to do Haz & Arnie > Sane & Auba (need to do this tonight before price rises!
    A. Defo!!!
    B. Not for me

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

  8. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Well done cardifffffff

  9. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Those pointless Brighton and Cardiff consolation goals are incredibly annoying.

  10. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Lol Delph isnt really cut out to be a man city player

  11. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    WATFORD G!!!

  12. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    DOCOUREEEEEEE OMMMGGG

  13. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Ederson cleanie destroyed.

  14. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    City cleanie gone

  15. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Watford GOL A !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Mark has Murphy. This guy is unreal

  17. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Come on hornets

  18. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Fabianski clean sheet gone in 5th minute of injury time. You've seriously got to be kidding me.

  19. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Cardiff costing me my third cleanie in four days. F off Warnock

  20. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Man city cleanie gone as well. Delight

  21. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    cleanies all over shop

  22. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Watford attack not looking bad

  23. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    City conceded

  24. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Man City cleanie dirtied

  25. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    City cleanie gone

  26. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    How that Cardiff goal wasn’t a free kick to Fabiasnki is beyond me. Dreadful call there

  27. Baked baines
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    This game really does get to you mind!!!
    FFS!
    Just when you think a fab 14 point haul to make up for Arnie capt fail, Cardiff score last kick of the game!!

  28. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Mark has Murphy

    3rd sub

    But still has him

    #MarkKNOWS

  29. SweepaKeepa
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Cardiff, why do you not let me have any nice things?

  30. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Wtf Ederson.