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. ColdRainyNIght
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    For those who prepare for BGW31 and BGW33,
    What do you do with Son? Do you keep him against Arsenal? Bookies expect many goals in this match.
    If not who do you buy? Obvious options are Hazard and Mane, providing you have Salah.
    Hazard has got a great fixture but his form is horrible. Is it best to double up in attack for Liverpool or defense?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I will risk and I will go from son to hazard and double up pools defence

    2. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I’m keeping Son for this one. Fancy a goal from him.

  2. Jonny Sutt
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    When are the 2 big double game weeks we usually have? Not sure when to use my free hot bench boost or wild card

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      32 and 35. might be one more small one

      1. Jonny Sutt
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Who will be getting double game weeks do we think?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Teams that blank in 31 and 33.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            This ^

  3. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    So what happened to hazard last night? Any risk of him being benched now Sarri has grown a pair and dropped kepa

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      doubt it think he was knackered. kepa was a t*t and hazard played out of his skin in the final.

  4. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Son

    B) Hazard

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

      its a dillema for me right now, I think Son, but need to wait on Hazard news, i think Sarri will bench him, Hazard probabbly was instrumental as usual in escalating the pressure towards Sarri

      1. Kane Train
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Hazard won’t start on the bench. Chelsea going for top 4 hard. Can’t afford to rest him tbh

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

          the problem is if you want to get Hazard instead of Son, you should consider captaining him in order to catch a haul. But do you really think Son will blank vs Arsenal? Arsenal always concede goals away from home

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

          i think i will leave Son to play, but if I am to get Hazard, I am defo captaining him

    2. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard for me, not blanking on 31 and Fulham is very tempting

  5. Jambot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Rage transfers last night after a terrible Feb. Richarlison, Son, Aguero>Sterling, Mane, Barnes for -4

    Mistake?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Good job for me. Big guts ditching kun

      1. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers Peter! Made me feel better. Nice rank btw, good luck with the rest of the season

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

    Ederson (Boruc)
    Robertson VVD Pereira Bennett (Kolasinac)
    Salah(c) Sterling Pogba Son (Fraser)
    Lacazette Jimenez (Sinclair)

    1FT 0.3ITB

    1) Lacazette => Higuain
    2) Lacazette => Arnautovic
    3) Hold
    4) Any recommendations???

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

    auba and awb to kun and taa for free?

    Fab, Stek
    Robbo Doherty AWB Bamba Pereira
    Son Jota Pogba Salah Camarasa
    Rondon Jim AUba

  8. Woody01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    2 FT available (still have Trip C, Bench Boost and Free Hit Available) Time to shift Auba?

    Guaita
    Robertson / Pereira / Doherty / Shaw
    Pogba / Salah / Mane / Son
    Auba / Jimenez

    Etheridge / Camarasa / AWB / Kamara

    1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah. I'm ditching for Vardy most likely

  9. nikhil123
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Should I be afraid that despite a 5-0 win for LFC, Salah didnt have even a single goal involvement?

    1. Kub3
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No. He was very unlucky

  10. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What will you do here ? .5 ITB ITB and 1FT

    Alisson
    Robertson Lindelof Doherty Pereira awb
    Salah Anderson son Redmond hayden
    Aubameyang jiminez vardy

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Aubameyang will become king next gw.
      Redmond to sterling
      Robertson to TAA

      Need differentials. the only way I think my rank will improve

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

        No Chelsea players in your plan?

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Actually I am bringing in hazard Nd giving him the armband.

          Auba becomes king.

          Robertson becomes taa

  11. nikhil123
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero or Salah for Captaincy?

    1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Salah. He's due!

  12. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1 FT available (and all chips). Thinking of saving for this week:

    Ederson
    Shaw / Doherty / TAA
    Salah / Pogba / B Silva / F Anderson
    Aguero / Jimenez / Barnes

    Subs: Hamer / Hayden / Digne / AWB

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure b Silva is a good fpl option

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

    Thinking Aubameyang to Kane and Pereira to TAA which would give me

    Etheridge
    TAA,VVD,Luiz
    Pogba,Salah,Sterling,Jota
    Kane(C),Jiminez,Barnes

    Subs Guaita,Kolasinac,Bednarek,Westwood

  14. Longlatini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Benching headache, start one from Anderson Barnes or Almirón?

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Ouch. Flip some coins.

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

        Haha, I know!

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      almoron

  15. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Early transfers again, I never learn.

    G2G?

    Ederson
    Robbo, Shaw, Doherty
    Salah, Mane, Anderson, Richarlison
    Higuain, Vardy, Jiminez

    Desperate to ditch Richarlison. Cannot wait for WC in GW34.

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

      G2G

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

    What do you think about Son to Hazard?

    Either way, my season is over...

    Fab
    Pereira/Doherty/Shaw
    Salah/Mane/Pogba/Son
    Kun/Barnes/Jimenez

    Hart/Bednarek/Puncheon/WB

  17. GAMBIT
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Completely at a loss on what to do here, considering the WC32, FH33 strat

    Pat
    Robertson, Kola, Pereira
    Salah, Sterling, Son, Pogba
    Aguero, Jimmy, Barnes

    4.0, Bennett, Bacuna, AWB
    1FT, 0.0 ITB

    Feel like I should be getting a Chelsea asset but no idea how

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Having Stelring I wouldn't hesitate to do kun to higuain

      1. Pieterke30
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Really?

        I surely would, as long as Jesus is out

    2. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'm on the same strategy. Kun to Vardy. Try not to over think it! I am. I need to chill!

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

    Who wins over the next 4 GWs?
    A) Aguero (-4)
    B) Vardy

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      depends on what you do with the extra funds if you go Vardy imo

    3. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy
      Aguero will be benched in either 29 or 30 and blank on the 31

    4. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

  19. Babit1967
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Benching headache here

    Fab

    Azpi Trent Robbo Doherty Bennett

    Salah Son Pogba Sterling Felipe

    Barnes Rondon Jimi

    Who would you bench ?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Kepa would bench sarri
      I don't know about you!

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      turn it into advantage push BB

  20. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Son out for?

    Sterling (bou, WAT) but blanks in 31.

    Hazard (ful, WOL) plays in 31 but is often a troll player to own

    1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Keep a minute. There'll be goals v Arsenal

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Troll time

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

    I cant think of any change to get Haz/Higuain in for ful (a) Thoughts?

    Heaton
    VVD Robbo Diop
    Mane Sterling (c) Pogba Maddison
    Vardy Kun Jimenez

    Boruc, Lascelles, Clyne, CHO

    Thanks

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just do kun to higuain

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

        Its in my thoughts but very risky

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I have d same situation n I can't find a way either

  22. QUEN
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fs TAA rose in price last night when he wasn’t due a rise

    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It’s a hopeless and pointless exercise trying to predict price rises. I never give it any thought.

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

        Priced out of him now though was going to get him in but where wasn’t due a rise I didn’t do it last night

  23. Mikei
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Allison
    Robertson - Doherty - Pereira (Bednarek AwB)
    Sané - Salah - Pogba - Son (Hudson)
    Auba - Rashford - Jimenez

    2FT.

    Son + Sané + Auba => Fraser + Sterling + Kun?

    Thanks.

  24. balint84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    bench 1 pls

    A) Fraser (MCI)
    B) Diop (NEW)
    C) Lascelles (WHU)
    D) Richarlison (LIV)

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Richarlison

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      D

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

      A

  25. Barca_Rover
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Tge Tottenham hotsperms have suddenly got cold lol..what to do with their assets ?

  26. S3
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    SMEs....pls help!

    A) Son & Laca - Hazard & Arnie (-4)
    B) Laca to Higuain

  27. Eytexi
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling or Hazard in for -4 & (C)?
    Or just play Son and Salah (C)?

  28. fpork
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    With 3.3 ITB, 1 FT and still got all chips+WC, what would you do? Bring in Aguero?
    Foster - Hamer
    Keane - Robertson - Doherty - Schindler
    Mané - Pogba - Son - Salah - Kenedy - Zabaleta
    Barnes - Jiménez - Aubameyang

  29. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Salah,Groß > Hazard,Mane -4?

  30. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    How do these moves look like?

    Robertson to TAA
    Redmond to hazard
    Aubameyang to King

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      In the lines of preparing for 31, it’s good