Dugout Discussion

Aguero returns to the City attack as Guardiola makes four changes

Managerless Huddersfield Town face Manchester City in the first of two Premier League matches to take place this Sunday, with kick-off in West Yorkshire at 13:30 GMT.

Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling both start on the flanks again but Gabriel Jesus has dropped to the bench to accommodate Sergio Aguero’s return to the City team.

Kevin De Bruyne is handed only his second Premier League start of 2018/19 in central midfield, with David Silva and Bernardo Silva making way.

Ilkay Gundogan is recalled to the City starting XI, too.

There is a further change in defence as Nicolas Otamendi ousts John Stones at centre-back.

Riyad Mahrez fails to even make the City bench, reportedly for tactical reasons – though official confirmation is awaited from the reigning league champions.

Interim boss Mark Hudson takes charge of the Terriers for the first time since David Wagner’s departure and has made six changes from the 0-0 draw with Cardiff City in Gameweek 22.

Tommy Smith, Terence Kongolo, Juninho Bacuna, Adama Diakhaby, Chris Lowe and Isaac Mbenza replace Philip Billing, Alex Pritchard, Steve Mounié, Zanka, Florent Hadergjonaj and Erik Durm in Hudson’s starting line-up.

Billing misses out with a “slight knee issue”.

City won the reverse fixture of this game 6-1 back in August, with Aguero racking up 20 FPL points – one of only two double-digit hauls the Argentinean striker has banked this season.

Aguero is the second-most-popular FPL captaincy choice of Gameweek 23, having been handed the armband by almost 670,000 Fantasy bosses.

That rout of the Terriers at the Etihad was the only league match this season that one of Sterling and Sane hasn’t started.

Sterling hasn’t scored more than six FPL points in a match since Gameweek 14.

Four City players were transferred in by more than 100,000 Fantasy managers this week, though two of them were Jesus and Bernardo.

Huddersfield Town XI (4-5-1): Lössl, Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Löwe, Bacuna, Hogg, Puncheon, Kachunga, Diakhaby, Mbenza.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Danilo, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Aguero.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £10.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

1,385 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    First to be hauled off? I’d take any of the front 3, but ideally Sane, then Sterling, then Aguero all before 75th minute 🙂

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kun always sure of a subbing.

    2. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Gundo making no use of sane runs, I'd get silva on first. The problem is in the midfield for me.

    3. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      The problem is the MNC midfield - they need to bring Bilva or Dilva on IMHO.

    4. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kun off at 65 if it stays like this.

    5. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Gundogan out for Dilva

  2. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Hey guys, seen a few comments that said there is a possibility of DGW25. Is this true?

    Cheers

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      It's not impossible basically.

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      we should know Thursday / Friday

  3. Riders of Yohan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Expected mewtwo vs magikarp and instead getting diglet vs rattata.

    BRING ON THE GOALS

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I like this analogy.

      1. Marvin Moon
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        You understood this?

        1. Brehmeren
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Something about metoo and the dog from Lucky Luke.

        2. Sharkytect
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          1987 child, aint he.

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Agree with the 2nd statement

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Pep needs to play his pokeflute at half time

    4. MTPockets
        5 years, 3 months ago

        what?

        1. Marvin Moon
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Some folks appear to know what this means. I'm with you pal.

      • VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Enjoyed this. More entertaining than the game.

      • VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Utter snorlax

      • Majestic Chanka
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Weezing vs Slowpoke

        1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Hah!

        2. Riders of Yohan
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Yes exactly

      • Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        If you know, you know

        1. Artemis Titans
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          I’m Rapidash-ly losing interest in this match. KDB owner.

          1. Riders of Yohan
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Eyyyyy

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

        This is more Metapod vs Kakuna

      • OldBenKenobi
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        😆

      • Dannyb
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        That comment is more entertaining than the game. Can someone metapod it?

    5. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Rich/Guiata > Jota/DDG?

      United and Wolves fixtures nice and Rich couldn’t finish his dinner at the minute.

      1. Riders of Yohan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I like it. Will ddg outscore Alison?

    6. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Pulled the plug on Alli and Niasse in for Anderson and mitro for a hit yesterday. Do i need to go for a drink?

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Wow. Alli will play thrice before next GW. Pray for no injury.

      2. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Why get rid of Alli before he's even played and now that Kane is out?

        If anything, people should be getting Alli in.

        1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Read it again 😉 He's still done something silly, just not what you think.

    7. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      just need a few crazy half time subs from pep so that my mind could find peace.

    8. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      City will give a different performance in the second half. City asset owners, relax.

      1. Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I have two and always relaxed about them 🙂

        1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          It's those nuts in you, flapjack. Braver than the rest of us.

    9. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      To me, Danilo's shot looked to be swerving on to the goal before it deflected off Schindler. It started wide but was swerving inwards.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Was going miles wide man!

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          3rd replay Sky showed suggests different. It did start wide,but it swerved inwards onto Schindler's head.

          1. Majestic Chanka
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            All depends on FPL Towers and certain “influencers”.

            They wanted a MacAuley goal and finally found a reply that looked like he got a touch, it was the 22nd different angle or something, but for all the 21 before that disproved it

            #justiceforbrunt

            1. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              LOL. Suggest you read this before going on about 'FPL Towers'...

              https://www.premierleague.com/news/143993

              1. Majestic Chanka
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 3 months ago

                That part was tongue in cheek

                But I’m deadly serious I want my three points (+ bonus [Andy’s favourite phrase when talking about what his players could have got]) from Brunt

                1. HashAttack
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 3 months ago

                  #MeToo

              2. Majestic Chanka
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 3 months ago

                Although that article does say that there is a 3 person panel at FPL Towers near Heathrow that makes the decision

      2. Marvin Moon
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He's not Roberto Carlos mate.

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

        Definitely going wide

      4. TAArt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I agree

      5. Fantastisk
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Top trolling.

    10. Sánchez
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Get Kun off for Jesus

    11. Lucackadoodledoo
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Wonder who Pep is grillin the most lol

    12. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      the guy who awarded Danillo a goal, gonna be giving Son assists later

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

      Ederson 45 mins away from consecutive clean sheets

      He owes us patient owners

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        you're not patient enough to wait until full-time to comment on a CS 😀 - your patience is two-faced!

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

          Ederson being 45 mins from consecutive clean sheets is an event in & of itself, well worth commenting on lol

          1. Majestic Chanka
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Have to disagree

            Usually concedes in 2nd half cod he is sooooo bored of just watching the game so does something crazy

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

              He hasn’t been 45 mins from consecutive CS’s for 9 GW’s, it’s quite a rare occurrence

              1. Majestic Chanka
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 3 months ago

                True dat

                Objection overruled

      2. Ambrosiana Inter
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This

    14. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      HT bps

      Danilo 24
      Walker 16
      KDB 13
      Laporte 12
      Otamendi 10
      Smith 7
      Ederson 7
      Fernandinho 7
      Schindler 6
      Kachunga 6
      Lossl 5
      Sterling 5
      Puncheon 4
      Lowe 4
      Diakhaby 4
      Gunogan 4
      Kongolo 3
      Mbenza 3
      Sane 3
      Aguero 1

      Player who scored an OG on more bps than Sterling, Sane and Kun 😀

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        We love this

      2. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Its not an OG

    15. Gringo Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sane and Kun are terrible so far, no energy at all, City looks poor

      1. Sánchez
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Look

      2. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Sell

    16. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I hope Utd make CL along Spurs, City, and Liverpool just so Spurs can wheel out the same "Only place to watch CL football in London" advert next year and watch everyone fume

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

      2. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        The local pub shows the games live too.

    17. trikster102
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Looking at these replays that is defo a own goal. First of all it looked like it was going just wide, and even if it was just on target the keeper was in the right place to stop it. If it wasn't for Shindler that wouldn't have gone in the net.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Doesn't matter if the GK is going to save it - if it is on target then gets a deflection it is credited to the player who took the shot.

      2. Mysterion
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Keeper being in the right place to stop it would have no bearing on the decision, if it was indeed just on target...

      3. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Key thing is the off target part, not the keeper would have saved it without the deflection
        Replay here: https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1086984573005766657

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          The replay between 33 seconds and 39 seconds shows it well IMO. It just starts to curve inwards before it hits Schindler's head.

      4. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        FPL make it up as they go along

      5. TAArt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        irrelevant if it would have been saved

      6. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Lol, why bother with actual rules when you can make up your own 😀

    18. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Lamela with 7 goals please

    19. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sane, listen mate, I just need one goal from you to make the hit worth it. Pull your finger out.

    20. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Expecting a few goals in the second half but still owe that ref a double

    21. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      get Kun off!

      1. Lukey27
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        get you off mate

    22. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      City will be looking to protect the lead in the 2nd half. 0-1 FT

    23. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ninja needs subbing off

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

      Anyone who has a Spurs player could really shoot up the rankings given they play Fulham...

      Top 10k ownership:
      Lloris 4.5%
      Trippier 6.7%
      Alderweireld 1.7%
      Alli 5.5%
      Eriksen 5.3%
      Lamela 1.3%
      Llorente 3.2%

      1. TAArt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Come on Eriksen

    25. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sane, grab a few golazos lad

    26. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Potentially spent far too much time deciding between Sane and Sterling this week just for them both to blank 😆

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Who you got Bubz

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Went Sane and Alli instead of Sterling and Rich

    27. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Silva(s) needed for City!

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

        Sterling/Sane off pls 🙂

      2. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This, David Silva the real deal

    28. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Man City attack still mandatory?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Only vs Burton!

    29. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Dear Danilo. Learn to pass with your left foot so you can actually pass to Sané outside instead of CONSTANTLY passing it backwards / to the right. Thanks in anticipation, Sané owner.

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        asking a lot of a professional footballer to kick the ball with both feet. They are too busy learning to code in Python, reading Hobbes and learning to play the piano

    30. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully Sane survives until 60 mins

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Echo

    31. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully Sane survives until 60 mins

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Echo