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. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Have 2 ft should i go for

    Auba+sane>kun+mane

    Later salah >haz for 31

  2. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Want to do AWB + Auba -> Schar + Kun but I am -4 short. What to do to make that move. Will take a -4.

    Fabianski
    Robbo TAA Pereira Doherty
    Son Salah Pogba Anderson
    Auba Jimenez

    Boruc Højbjerg Rashford AWB*

    1. ROLLING THE DICE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Do it

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

    Kane vs ARS anyone?

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

      That was the plan but Spurs havent played well in their last two games, while Arsenal is in good form

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

        fresh Dele Alli coming back to give some assists to Kane

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

          Is he coming back for that game?

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

            suppose so

  4. 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

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

      That's the spirit! 🙂

      Yeah I'd do that trade.

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

      What are you on abt?

      In top 50k mate, your season is all but over

      1. Fitzy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        *far from over

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

          🙂

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

          Yeah realised my mistake, sorry. Not English speaking in the first place

          1. Fitzy.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Wasn't having a dig, just clarifying what I knew you meant!

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

        48k 😉

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

      Hazard or Sterling if you can afford. Thinking about this myself

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

    Best move here with a FH32, WC34 plans? Was going to do C, but we now have some momentum going into the NLD.

    A) Save FT
    B) Ings -> Barnes/Rondon (bench Pereira)
    C) Auba -> Higuain

    Fabs
    Doherty, TAA, Holebas, Pereira
    Salah, Mane, Siggy, FAnderson
    Auba, Vardy

    Steele, Kolasinac, Camarasa, Ings
    Bank 0.5m, 1FT

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

    To everyone who wants to get rid of salah but are too afraid - what should we do ? 🙂

    1. Dammed Utd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Do it after round 31 I might can’t see him doing much from now till end of the season been found out by defenders this season apart from few good games well more than few

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

      Never get rid of Salah

    3. ROLLING THE DICE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Captain vs Everton

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

      you can always reverse the process and get him back

    5. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'm just gonna have to keep the stupid troll but resolve never to captain him. He already wrecked my OR irreperably when I last took him out before Christmas.

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

      Recommend others remove him

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

      I plan to ship out Salah or Mane in GW32 and FH in GW33

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

    Lloris needs to go...

    Who in from now until GW34 WC:

    A) Dubravka (whu, EVE, bou, ars, CRY)
    B) Fabianski (NEW, car, HUD, EVE, che)
    C) Heaton (CRY, liv, LEI, WOL, bou)
    D) Schmeichel (wat, FUL, bur, BOU, hud)

    Which?
    thx

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

      I was searching exactly the same info to post - thnx mate

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I own Lloris too, fabianski or Dubravka for me

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

      A) dubravka can have a blank in 33 so cud be ruled out

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

      I'm bias as I own him already, but I'd probably say Fabs. Save points and probably the best fixtures.

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

      Schmiechel luks gud as well with Brendan as d manager ?

    6. ROLLING THE DICE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A.

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

    Do we think Snoddy is now first choice?

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

      Would get Brooks for same price

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

        Yeah, but it's MCY this week.

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

          Fair, thought you might be looking to 31 etc.

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

            Definitely have that in mind, but would ideally like to start them this week also. Thoughts on the above options?

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

              As someone said below, Lanzini is back. I think I'm using one of my 2FT to downgrade a player for Brooks then I'll just bench him this week.

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not at all. With Lanzini back and Antonio on proper form it’s this:
      Arnie/chic
      Anderson Lanzini/Nasri Antonio

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

        Cheers

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

    Hear murmurs that Kun could be benched/rested?

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

      No I havent. Have you?

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

        Yeah I read it on here!

    2. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Been hearing that for the last 4 weeks.

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

        Years

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

      Just wishes from non Kun owners like me

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

    Redmond and Auba out for Sterling and Barnes (-4) sounds good?

    ... or Hazard?
    Im probably playing FH31

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

      yeah

  11. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Best mid for gws 31 and 33 below 4.6m?

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

      Idk, Hayden from NEW maybe?

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I heard Hayden not nailed once shelvey is back

        1. Pap Le Cissier
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Not true, Hayden is more the ball winner so his direct competition is Diame who has been fit for weeks now

          I’d rather Longstaff than Hayden personally

          1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Ohh that's great to know. Thanks

            1. Pap Le Cissier
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              No probs

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

      Hayden or McNeil

  12. GOONER
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What happens to my free transfer if I do the free hit? Is it rolled over to the next GW?

    1. ROLLING THE DICE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No

      1. GOONER
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        So i lose it?

      2. GOONER
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Can i use it before activating the free hit?

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

          nope

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

      you get 1FT the following GW...doesn't matter if you had 1 or 2 FT before.

  13. ROLLING THE DICE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Morning all,
    Have gone from 7.5k overall rank to 15k in 3 GWs! Not ideal.

    A) Son + Rich to Sterling + H.Barnes -4
    B) Auba to Aguero

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

      A

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

      B, wouldn't do A for a hit

  14. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hi....any views onzwhat toceoxwithcthis bunch of mediocrity?

    2.2mitb. 1ft....FH in 32

    Ederson (fab)
    Robbo Doherty Pereira (yedlin bednarek)
    Salah hazard (c) pogba son Anderson
    Rondon jiminez (kamara)

    A.....save ft

    B....son and ederson to sterling (c) and 4m keeper

    C.....son and ??? To sterling (c) and ???

    Thanks

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

      B

  15. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with this crap

    Fab (guiata)
    Robbo doherty pereria (bednarek awb)
    Salah pogba son anderson (hijberg)
    Jiminez rashford aguero

    0.6 in bank 0.3 short to do son to mane

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

    Another red arrow, now what?
    A) Son, Laca, Salah (C).
    B) Hazard (C), H.Barnes, Salah.
    C) Sterling (C), H.Barnes, Salah (-4).

  17. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard or Sterling?

    Higuain or Vardy?

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

      Sterling + Hig

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

        This

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

    Pedro worth a gamble @ 6.3m for ful, WOL, eve, WHU?

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

      not for me...I would only get him if Chelsea have a very nice DGW32

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

      Damn that is not a bad shout tbh

    3. Batchain
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No matter how well Willian or Pedro play they always get benched.

  19. akhilrajau
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    A. Sterling + higuian
    B. Hazard+ any other

    Planng for 31 and 33 and 32 free hit

    1. ROLLING THE DICE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Like the look of A.

    2. Batchain
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A is better, but Sterling won't play 31 or 33. So I guess Haz and Mane, or Haz and Vardy.

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

        Sorry I didn't get. No game for sterling in 31. But y not 33 . Please suggest I am thinking for 31 and 33

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

        I already have Mane and salah

  20. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Salah + Eriksen > Mane + Hazard (-4)?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Get rid of Salah?! No

    2. Batchain
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What about to Mane and Higuain so you have some money for defence or whatever?

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

    Is Brooks fit again now?

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

      I would wait getting him until he played a full match, or at least starts

    2. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Was expected back 7th March as per the FPL site. But no longer flagged.
      He was on the bench last night.

  22. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Good afternoon DZ!

    Thoughts on these moves;

    Auba+Son >> Hazard+Arnie(2FTs)?

    Will give me 9 GW 31 players now, will be able to field 11 before GW 31.

    Current team(have 7 GW 31 players right now)

    Rico Hamer
    Robertson Schar Digne Pereira Bennett
    Salah Son Pogba Anderson Camarasa
    Auba Rashford Jimenez

    2FTs, nothing in the bank.

    Thanks.

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

    8 of his 9 goals and all of his 3 assists were recorded at home.

    Anyone looking at getting King in GW30 for hud, NEW, BUR?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely. Brooks and King.

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

        Thinking of this - whatcha reckon?

        29: Auba (tot, MUN, blank, eve) -> Higuain (ful, WOL, eve, WHU)
        30: Ings -> King
        31: Holebas -> 5.7m (to get 11 players out)
        32: FH

        Fabs
        Doherty, TAA, Holebas, Pereira
        Salah, Mane, Siggy, FAnderson
        Auba, Vardy

        Steele, Kolasinac, Camarasa, Ings
        Bank 0.5m, 1FT

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah, looks like a sound plan.
          I am debating between Higuain and Arnie. Higuain started well vs Hudd but hasn't scored since. Arnie is more prolific, but mostly unavailable.

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

            Cheers. Yeah Arnie was also in my plans, but he seems injury prone/out of favour at the moment so I think I'll leave it for now and see what happens this w/e.

            Chelsea look to have improved recently - holding City and beating Spurs (Hig hit the post too). But it's mainly the FUL fixture that tempts me towards Higuain.

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

      Yeah will get for 31 I think.

    3. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe for 31. Given what you've just said about that record I don't fancy him away from home in 30, even if it is Huddersfield.

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

      Contemplating Brooks in GW31

  24. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Rich > Sterling for a hit?

    If so, bench Anderson or Rondon?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Rondon

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

      That transfer seems sensible, would bench Rondon over Anderson

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

      Yes
      Rondon

    4. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers all, love a definitive answer.

  25. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with PEA? Could switch to anyone for a -4.

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

      I would keep if I owned him.

  26. Zion
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any thoughts on this (2 FT): Bamba, Firmino -> Van Dijk, Vardy?

    Planning on using FH for 32 and WC + BB 34, 45. No idea when to use TC yet.

    Team:
    Fabianski, 4.0M
    Bamba, Doherty, Bednarek, TAA, WBA
    Pogba, Anderson, Son, Salah, Gunnarson
    Aguero, Jimenez, Firmino

  27. child of God
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    How many points qualify for the cup?

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

    Is it worth keeping Anderson even with a gw31?

    He looks so tired

  29. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Not sure about this vardy loving...

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

      Me neither had him early enough break out season. Ever since and there's been a few times been a let down

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

    Which do you prefer?

    A) Alonso (WOL, eve, WHU) + Brooks (NEW, BUR)
    B) Luiz (WOL, eve, WHU) + Wilson/King (NEW, BUR)

    1. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B with king

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

        This

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

      B - Alonso isn’t even a guaranteed starter anymore and his attacking returns have completely dried up - he is a different player to the start of the season

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

        Yeah, I have to agree with you there. Thanks.

    3. danishdynamite
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B