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

    Who will score more this week

    A Sterling
    B Pogba

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

      Very tough call. Maybe Stirling but toss a coin to be honest

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

      A

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

    Which transfers to make?

    A) Son to Mane
    B) Kolasinac to TAA
    C) both for -4

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

      Both

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

      wouldn’t lose son prior to home game vs leaky ars

    3. Batchain
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Both

  3. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Other than being on the extreme end of positive variance (ie this week having 2 of VVD, TAA, Mane), it seems incredibly hard to get a green arrow in the top 5k.

    Feels like whenever my players score I get a tiny move forward and when any other player scores even those with relatively low ownership I take a bigger step back.

    Never known it so tough

  4. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What are people's likely GW31 teams? Think I'm looking at:

    Fabs
    TAA, Pereira, Luiz
    Salah, Mane, Siggy, FAnderson
    Higuain, Vardy, King

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Currently have

      Lascelles Rice TAA
      Salah Mane Hayden

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

        Free hitting?

    2. danishdynamite
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Similar to yours. Had dallied with Ronni as my third Liv player, but Mane tempts

      Basically Robbo + Haz or Mane +.King

      I'd leaned toward the first as it means selling Jimi (and his value which I'd want back for the FH DGW32

    3. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      VVD Lascelles Diop Digne
      Salah Mane Barnes Fraser
      Arnie

      Currently
      Maybe Kun to Hig or Jiménez to King and will hit to get a Gk

    4. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Fabianski
      TAA Pereira Luiz
      Salah Mane Anderson Fraser
      Higuain Vardy Rondon

    5. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I’m currently looking at getting the below for a -4. Thoughts?

      Fab
      Robertson,Pereira,Luiz,Digne
      Salah,Mane,Rich,FAnderson
      Vardy,King

  5. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you rather have ?
    A) Higuain
    B) hazard

    1. S3
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Haz

    2. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Haz

    3. seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I told myself not to go near Hazard anymore..

  6. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Auba+sane>kun+mane(2FT)
    Yes or no

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

      Do it

    2. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes!! Like yesterday

    3. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      How about to Vardy & Stirling instead? If ever there was a Gameweek that Aguero gets a rest it’s this one

  7. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you start here?

    A) Kolasinac (tot)
    B) Pereira (wat)

    Slightly better fixture for Pereira, but Kolasinac is basically playing as a winger.

    1. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      The injury comments from Emery would push me to Pereira.

  8. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play one
    A) Ederson (bou)
    B) Fabianski (NEW)

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  9. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Save guys? 0.2m itb

    Fab
    TAA, Doherty, Pereira
    Salah, Pogba, Sterling (C), Son
    Aguero, Barnes, Jimenez

    Steele, Luiz, AWB*, Gunnarson

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I would save and play Luiz instead of Pereira

      1. seewhyaxe
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        good shout; was thinking of changing Luiz for Pereira/Barnes

      2. Moosie the Staggie
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        So much this^

  10. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What looks the best here
    1 auba to augero
    2 auba kola to higuain luiz
    3 auba H barnes to hazard rondon
    4 mane auba to higuain hazard

    Fab / stl
    Trent doherty kola / awb yedlin
    Salah mane sterling pogba barnes
    Auba jimenez / kamara

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

  11. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Redmond and Aubameyang

    To

    Hazard and Barnes

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Or just Aubameyang to a Higuain

      1. JT11fc
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Barnes has been looking good so id do both

    2. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good

    3. Batchain
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Both

  12. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Best Defender to get for upcoming fixtures included GW 31
    A - Schär
    B- Luiz
    C- other player
    I have
    Robbo - Doherty - AWB - KOLA- Bednarek

    1. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Azpilicueta or Luiz good bets

    2. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'm going for Luiz
      Schar is a great choice but he doesn't have guaranteed fixture in 33,and if he gets yellow next game he's on 9 so potentially could miss 31/33

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thx guys

  13. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I’ve already shipped Richarlison to Barnes ahead of GW29, should I get Mane in for Son for a cheeky hit?

    Yay or Nay

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No for a hit

      1. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not this week at home vs arsenal

    3. LE GOD(C)-AMERICAN DYCHO-(1…
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks both

  14. Xhaka_Laca
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Have Salah & TAA, who to pick for the 3rd pool spot?

    a) Mane
    b) Robertson

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      VVD

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Robertson.

    4. Ëð
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mane

  15. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi All

    Would appreciate some input on my GW 31 planning (will free hit 32, wild card 34 etc)

    Current team:

    Fab
    Robertson,Pereira,Luiz,Digne,Bennett
    Salah,Son, Rich, Pogba,4.5
    Auba,Rash,Jimi

    2FT’s. current plan is:

    GW29: Auba & Son -> Vardy & Sterling (c)
    GW30: Rashford -> King (would like to do Jiménez instead but too much value tied up)
    GW31: Sterling & 4.5mid -> Mane & FAnderson (-4)

    That gets me to this team for GW31

    Fab
    Robertson,Pereira,Luiz,Digne
    Salah,Mane,Rich,FAnderson
    Vardy,King

    Thoughts?

    1. Ëð
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks like a good plan to me!

  16. child of God
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How many points to have qualified for the cup?

  17. Ëð
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Auba -> Aguero?

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Auba to someone definitely!

      I know you can’t second guess pep but surely Aguero is due a rest and Jesus is likely to be back? Sterling seems like the city player to have this week (no doubt this means Aguero will get a hattrick and sterling a 1 pointer)

      1. Ëð
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Depends on the fitness of Jesus I guess.

  18. THEKID_88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any news on Arnie's injury/illness?

  19. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How did Son look last night?

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

      Apparently we were idiots for selling him, so we were told on Tuesday.

      So I assume Son ran riot last night and punished his sellers then..........

  20. Leeds-Utd
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    So wats the general plan on using FH & WC..is it?
    Have a decent team w31 them FH for w32
    Then WC for w35?

  21. Budweiser
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Can TAA play 3 games in a week again? Klopps comments above scare me and if he played yesterday, plays against Everton and then Bayern that's 3 games in a week

  22. St Pauli Walnuts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi fellas,

    How does this plan look?

    Current team is:

    Fab/Button
    Doherty/Digne/Pereira/Bedna/AWB
    Salah/Son/Fanderson/Jota/Richarl
    Laca/Firm/Jimi

    With no hits I can get 11 out for GW31/33 and FH in 32. It might look somet like:

    GW29 TAA and Hig in for AWB and Laca
    GW30 Leicester or Bourn mid in for Jota
    GW31 King in for Jimi

    Fab/Button
    Doherty/Digne/Pereira/Bedna/TAA
    Salah/Son/Fanderson/Richarl + Leicester or Bourn (either HBarnes/Mad//Brooks/Fraser in that order of preference at the moment)
    Hig/Firm/King

  23. rjcv177
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Morning guys. Last few weeks going alright.
    FH32

    A) tripp for maguire/luiz
    B) salah to haz
    C) mane to haz

    1. Sotamendi84
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Luiz

  24. akhilrajau
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A. Almiron
    B. Maddison for.comng weeks . FH plan in 32

    1. Sotamendi84
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Maddison

      1. akhilrajau
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks so I can an Hayden as a budget pick to in sterling and higuin

  25. Sotamendi84
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    for 30 onwards
    A) Hazard + king/wilson
    B) madders + higuain?

  26. CarrollsPonytail
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Early thoughts on Son & Auba >> Maddison & Aguero for -4 this week? Building for the BGW31 and then FH32. Alternative is to not get Aguero and only make 1 transfer this week.

  27. akhilrajau
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Best city asset for coming as well as gw33

  28. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    1) Use my last Liverpool slot on Mané? Already have TAA and Salah.
    2) If yes, Son > Mané -4?