Dugout Discussion

Rashford, Lacazette and Sterling benched as Sane, Aguero and Aubameyang start

Six Premier League matches will take place this evening to bring Gameweek 28 to a close.

Two of those fixtures, Arsenal v Bournemouth and Southampton v Fulham, kick off at 19:45 GMT, while Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace v Manchester United, Liverpool v Watford and Manchester City v West Ham United start 15 minutes later.

The headline team news arguably comes from Selhurst Park, where Marcus Rashford is only fit enough for a place on the bench after suffering an ankle injury in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Fred, Diogo Dalot and Alexis Sanchez are handed a start, as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard miss out.

Palace are again without Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Martin Kelly replacing the injured Mamadou Sakho in Roy Hodgson’s only change.

Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy are among the substitutes for Manchester City as Sergio Aguero is joined by Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez in the hosts’ starting XI for the visit of West Ham United.

There is no Marko Arnautovic in the Hammers’ squad as Andy Carroll gets the nod to lead the line.

Samir Nasri, Ryan Fredericks and Pedro Obiang also start, while 19-year-old full-back Ben Johnson is handed his Premier League debut.

Roberto Firmino has failed to recover from an ankle injury so Divock Origi leads the line for Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold replaces Jordan Henderson in Jurgen Klopp’s only other change, so James Milner moves back into midfield.

Watford are unchanged.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is dropped after the farcical scenes at the end of the EFL Cup final, so Willy Caballero starts in goal.

Marcos Alonso is also recalled, along with Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain. Emerson Palmieri, Ross Barkley and Willian make way.

Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez, Erik Lamela and Ben Davies replace Serge Aurier, Juan Foyth, Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose for Spurs, as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min lead the line.

Alexandre Lacazette is the premium forward who misses out for Arsenal this time, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Unai Emery’s starting XI for the visit of Bournemouth.

Mesut Ozil is also recalled, while Carl Jenkinson gets his first league start for the Gunners since November 2016.

Emery has made six alterations to his line-up in total, with Granit Xhaka, Alex Iwobi, Aaron Ramsey, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Shkodran Mustafi dropping out.

Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Matteo Guendouzi are the other players to come in.

Lys Mousset replaces the injured Dominic Solanke up front for the Cherries in Eddie Howe’s only change.

David Brooks is back on the bench for the visitors.

Jack Stephens, Matt Targett and Stuart Armstrong make way for Southampton as Maya Yoshida, Charlie Austin and Ryan Bertrand are handed recalls.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin McDonald replace Jean Michael Seri and Ryan Sessegnon for Fulham.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Jenkinson, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Aubameyang, Özil, Mkhitaryan.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Clyne, Mepham, Aké, Smith, Ibe, Gosling, Surman, Fraser, King, Mousset.

Southampton XI: Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Valery, Hojbjerg, Oriol Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand, Redmond, Austin.

Fulham XI: Rico, Odoi, Ream, Nordveit, Bryan, Chambers, McDonald, Anguissa, Cairney, Babel, Mitrovic.

Chelsea XI: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Higuain, Hazard.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Lamela, Son, Kane.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Kelly, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Schlupp, McArthur, Townsend, Zaha, Batshuayi.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelöf, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Dalot, Pogba, Sanchez, Lukaku.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Mane, Salah, Origi.

Watford XI: Foster, Janmaat, Mariappa, Cathcart, Masina, Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Danilo, Kompany, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sane, Aguero.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Johnson, Obiang, Rice, Antonio, Nasri, Felipe Anderson, Carroll.

4,674 Comments Post a Comment
  1. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go this week? And would you play Lascelles over Kola

    Boruc
    Doherty Van Dijk Kolasinac
    Salah Sterling (c) Hazard Pogba
    Vardy Jimenez Rashford

    Steele Lascelles Bednarek Gunnarsson

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

    Would a - 8 be worth it to get Sterling (c), Higuain and a blank player in tonight??

    Auba/Son/Jota out..

    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A hit to get a player who blanks soon?
      Not for me but if you really think Sterling is going to do well you should go for it.

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

        Everyone else on here thinks he's gonna smash Bournemouth??

        Could just do Auba - Kun and leave it at that.

        WC and all chips intact if it makes a difference??

        1. Snevitz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I know they do, I just think Bournemouth are a completely different team at home compared to their terrible away record.
          Probably optimism on my part though as I have no City.

  3. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    A) Aubameyang & Richarlison >> Aguero & Almiron
    B) Aubameyang & Sane >> Higuain & Hazard

    1. MASTER ROSHI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

  4. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Player ratings for:
    A) Hazard
    B) Salah
    C) Higuain
    D) King

    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A) 166
      B) 195
      C) 19
      D) 107

  5. CliveTilds
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Firmino >
    (A) Higuain
    (B) Vardy
    (C) Keep

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. JammySprat
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wait for press conference, if he's back then keep

      1. RIPAguero
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This.
        Vardy and Higuain unlikely to rise tonight and Firmino wont drop.

        1. CliveTilds
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          When’s Liverpool’s press conference?

  6. antis0cial
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Was Hazard injured or did he just come off early?

    1. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just tired

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Came off as exhausted I heard

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

      He played 120 minutes in the Carabao Cup final. It's likely he's just having his minutes manager. No injury.

      1. JammySprat
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        wish he managed 1 less minute though >

  7. dezille
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1FT 4.6 ITB

    Fabs/Guaita
    Robbo Doherty AWB (Kola, Digne)
    Salah Son Pogba Anderson (Puncheon)
    Auba Jimenez Rondon

    Keen to get one of Hazard/Mane. Currently haven't a viable captain option other than possibly Pogba.

    A) Puncheon, Auba > Mane, Vardy (-4)
    B) Puncheon, Auba > Hazard, Vardy (-4) - could leave me tight on getting a third Liverpool spot though (TAA).
    C) Auba > Vardy
    D) Son > Mane
    E) Son > Hazard

    1. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      E

    2. maxmckinley
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

  8. Victor6359
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do auba to Arnie to fund son to hazard or is Arnie not fully fit yet?

    Cheers

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Arnie was ill today.

      1. Victor6359
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure why you would even think of bringing in Arnie. He's clearly out of favour since the move to China collapsed - 2 sub appearances in the last game prior to this one despite being fit.

  9. MASTER ROSHI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Can't decide which to do...
    Richarlison >
    A) Maddison
    B) Barnes
    C) Almiron
    D) Felipe
    (already have vardy and arnie)

    thanks!

    1. RIPAguero
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      All pretty viable.
      I'd go Maddison or Barnes.

      1. MASTER ROSHI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        They are my top two haha I just cant pick which one, maddison seems to create a lot more chances, but barnes is more exciting and looks like he might grab a goal every game...

        1. RIPAguero
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I went Maddison if that helps.
          He's on set pieces and if you have the extra funds available.

    2. Victor6359
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B for me

  10. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Giroud probably will take some mins from Higauin, no?

    1. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard as false nine is the bigger worry

      1. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Believe that Sarri learnt from his mistakes

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Doubtful, Sarri was playing Morata instead. MORATA.

      1. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        rofl 😆 😆

      2. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Haha this is funny, and can't fault the logic!

        But it should be said that Giroud did take some minutes from Higuain tonight.

  11. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which combo would you onboard?
    A. Hazard and TAA or
    B. Mane and Luiz

    1. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. maxmckinley
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

  12. maxmckinley
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Best combo to transfer in for GW29?

    A) Son, Vardy
    B) Hazard, Jimenez
    C) Sterling, King

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      C

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard King if lurking at GW31 as well?

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

      What even is this... Son? Jimenez?

  13. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    son auba sane -8 to haz sterling vardy ? or only -4 haz/sterling higuain/vardy

  14. mash
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Patricio
    Luiz Robertson Doherty
    Salah Pogba Son Anderson
    Aguero Jiminez Barnes

    Fabianski Trippier Hojberg AWB

    1FT, 1.3 in the bank

    Had planned to save the FT this week, but had also planned to get Mane in before GW31. With him likely to rise is it worth doing Son -> Mane right now instead?

  15. bitars
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Gonna free hit 32 and then wildcard 34. Its very difficult to know who of my assets to let go but i decided to keep Doherty, Jimmy and one out of Pogba & Aguero.Witch of these to options looks best?

    A. AWB, Pogba*8,6, Son to Luiz, Hazard and Maddison.
    This will make me have 10 playing players for 31 with Doherty, Jimmy and Aguero on the bench.

    B. AWB, Son, Højbjerg, Aguero to Luiz, Hazard, Brooks, Vardy
    This will give me 11 staring players but will also cost me -4 and i will have Pogba on bench instead of Aguero.

    *The price i bought the players for.

    1. bitars
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      *Pogba bought for 8,6 & Aguero bought for 11,3.

  16. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1. Was Higuain that convincing today? See many people advocating bringing him in, presumably with the BGWs in mind. Same q for Haz?

    2. Son - you keeping or selling? ARSTOT has 6 goals in the reverse fixture, mind. (Despite that, think I’ve gotta sell Auba now, but....)

    3. If no City, would you still bring Aguero in (maybe for Auba) this week? FH in 32 for me, FYI. Could he be benched? Just more convinced by him than any other option

    4. Got the standard Salah And Robbo - but who of TAA or Mane joins em?

    1. b91jh
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      4. U will get mad when Milner play at rb once again if klopp is rotating the squad. Mane all the way.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Mmm I suppose Mane maybe more nailed. Some performance by Trent though

      2. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        this has happened twice in the league this season when taa has beem fit iirc

    2. RealSocialDads
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      2. Sold for Sterling. Had always planned to do that though, was meant to do last week but Rashford out was prioritised

      1. RealSocialDads
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        3. Think Aguero is worth bringing in though mins will be managed. Sterling better option for next two imo. Although I have both.

        4. Not sure which is best. Probably going Mane myself due to nailedness and his form

    3. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      1 watched liverpool so not sure but saw he hit post with a good volley. will watch full game 2morrow.

      2 keeping arsenal are awful away from home, chels and burnley were tough games, he’s still basically reverse oop

      3 not personally, would get hig or vardy, but im a hardline 31/33 planner. city too prone to rotation to be worth it for 2 games.

      4 in isolation taa is better value but if you have 105m+ to build a team for blanks then getting mane probably makes more sense as there aren’t many premium attacking options avail for blanks but lots of good value defenders in 4.5-6 range

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        agree with this

  17. Viper
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Son - > Hazard (c) look good?

    It has all the makings of a Hazard brace.

    - Chelsea have been playing well last two

    -Hazard has been playing well

    -He has no attention on him in FPL so conditions are perfect for him 😉

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      dont mind it but think arsenal at home and soton away are good fixtures for son. i have both son and haz

  18. Cubillas
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I noticed that Arnie didn't play this GW because of "illness". What are the chances he starts next GW? Also, if healthy, good chance that he is always the starting forward, whether they play with 1 or 2?

    Thanks!

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      would wait and see with arnie, too uncertain atm

    2. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      When healthy he is nailed. But he hasn't been that for some time now.

  19. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    2nd hit of the season:

    Laporte (Bennett autosub 1), Rashford (1) > TAA (18), Vardy (7)

    Net gain = 23 points. Finally some luck!

  20. davies
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Over the next few weeks, any suggestions as to what I should be looking at changing with this lot?

    Currently eyeing up Mane/TAA + King/Wilson

    Fabianski Boruc
    Robertson Doherty AWB Bennett Bednarek
    Salah Hazard Son Pogba
    Aguero Jiménez Rondon

    Cheers.

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Would ya do Son to Mane/Sterling or wait for now

    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'd wait home to Arsenal is a very good fixture this season.

  22. Snevitz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Start Luiz (ful) or Barnes (CPL) this week?

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Luiz

  23. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    why is everyone WC in gw34??

    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Its the week before a double and the blanks are out the way.

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Guess?!? Same chip strategy is problematic for us chasing 🙁

  24. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    My OR up to 1928 with 72(-8) points. Went past Mark.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nice I'm planning to leave it to GW38 to leapfrog him, personally.

  25. juho
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one for GW29:

    (1) Son -> Hazard
    (2) Son -> Sterling
    (3) Vardy -> Aguero

    I'm terrified of not owning Kun, but Vardy plays Watford and Fulham next

    Cheers, guys

    1. rjcv177
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      1

  26. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    GTG for next GW? Any changes needed? Ta!

    Guaita
    Doherty - TAA - Lindelöf
    Salah - Mane - Pogba(vc) - Sterling
    Aguero(c) - Rashford - Jiminez

    Subs: Perreira - Camarasa - WB*

  27. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fabianski
    Lascelles, Robertson, Digne, Chilwell
    Son, Salah, Mané, Pogba
    Rondón, Aubameyang

    Bench
    Button, Wan-Bissaka, Kamara, Ward-Prowse

    I'm a bit directionless at the moment. 1FT and 2.4 ITB. Still have all chips and WC.

    1. RIPAguero
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Decide your chip strategy and work towards that.
      The most popular is FH32, WC34, BB35. In which case you'll want to be prioritising players from Leicester, Liverpool, West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea as all these teams play in WK31.

      I'd transfer our Son looking at your team.

      1. noahzark22
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I'm well on that path it appears! I thought of Son, but Arsenal and Southampton next makes me want to keep.

  28. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    53pts and a red arrow at 11k :/

    Was hoping to make ground back up

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You must have a million comments on here today.. ease up son

  29. rjcv177
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    After kola to diop...is it madness changing one salah/mane for hazard?

    Fab
    Robbo, lascelles, diop
    Salah, mane, pogba, fanderson
    Kun, jimenez, rondon

    Billing, tripp, clyne

    G2g?

    1. RIPAguero
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Madness to do that. G2G.

  30. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero yo get a rest at the weekend? Played lots of minutes in short time. Sterling false 9 always an option if Jesus not ready...

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      To**

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Have both. C on Sterling atm