Dugout Discussion

Aguero and Sterling start for City as Gracia rings the changes

The seventh match of a goal-filled Saturday takes place at the Etihad, as league leaders Manchester City face Watford.

Kick-off is at 17:30 GMT.

Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are joined in a front three by Riyad Mahrez, who replaces the injured Kevin De Bruyne in the City starting XI.

Bernardo Silva drops back into central midfield to take the place of the sidelined Belgian.

Vincent Kompany deputises for the injured John Stones in defence, while Aymeric Laporte is fit enough for a place on the bench.

Leroy Sane is also among the substitutes.

Javi Gracia has rotated heavily for the trip to Manchester, making seven changes in all.

Kiko Femenia, Miguel Britos, Christian Kabasele, Adam Masina, Tom Cleverley, Isaac Success and Andre Gray all come into the side, as Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas, Will Hughes, Roberto Pereyra, Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu make way.

Ben Foster, Daryl Janmaat, Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure are the only Watford players to keep their places.

Pep Guardiola’s side won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in December, when Mahrez registered his highest FPL score of the season (13 points).

Aguero was transferred in by over 125,000 Fantasy managers ahead of this Gameweek, despite City being without a fixture in Gameweek 31.

The Argentinean striker is the second-most-popular captaincy pick of this weekend, having been handed the armband by over 1.45 million FPL bosses.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Gündogan, Silva, Mahrez, Agüero, Sterling.

Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster, Janmaat, Britos, Kabasele, Masina, Kiko Femenia, Cleverley, Capoue, Doucoure, Success, Gray.

2,176 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Red Devil Swede
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Re Aguero assist, it's very clear in the FPL rules.

    "If an opposing player touches the ball after the final pass before a goal is scored, significantly altering the intended destination of the ball, then no assist is awarded. Should a touch by an opposing player be followed by a defensive error by another opposing outfield player then no assist will be awarded. If the goal scorer loses and then regains possession, then no assist is awarded."

    Obviously the opponent didn't significantly alter the intended decision of the ball 🙂

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

      If im an owner im still not happy lol

      1. Red Devil Swede
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Same, wan't more points

  2. Fergietime
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I captained Sterling, feels good..

  3. Ghost Gooner
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Pool fans were laughing at City for paying £50m all those yrs ago must be fuming now. A player like Sterling is £100m now and he denies Pool a title as well 😆

  4. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Planning for gw31 really biting me in the as$ right now. OR taking a big hit, but at least my rivals are in the same boat.

  5. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Group hug Raheem captainers!

    1. i am jose mourinho
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yay

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

      😀
      © Success after eternity

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

        This!

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

      *hugs* 😀

  6. tm245
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Watford ankle bracelets going off as they cross midfield.

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

    going to be like last week another 5-0 with no big captaincy involvement

  8. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I want 5

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

    Next season please, I wanna try again, from beginning.

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Why so that someone you don’t own can score a hatty again?

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

        Yeah, I love the pain. Interested to see who would that be next year.

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

    Guess I captained Sterling one week to early 😆

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

      This

    2. Party time
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This

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

      Who assisted Raheem's third goal

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Aguero

      2. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        David

      3. Eytexi
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Dilva

      4. Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        David Silva

    4. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Why take Sterling off and not Aguero?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Pep wants Aguero to win the golden boot.

    5. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      🙂

    6. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      The one week I finally bring in Aguero and don’t cap sterling and he hauls! At least I kept him in though!

    7. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mark is really a FPL Legend

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        On another level, jay egersdorff also captained sterling

    8. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      C'mon Sterling, don't be lazy I need one more goal

    9. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      STERLINGGGGGGGGGHY SORRY late to party....

    10. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling CS point banked.

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I'm the same aha & have Vardy (VC)

    11. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Currently on 7 off 5. How big a green arrow will that be?

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

        Smaller than a Red Arrow

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Do you also do this when ppl feed you the correct answers?

      2. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You asked to be talked out of it. Don't ask, don't get talked out of it...

    12. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Captain Sterling ... in Sky fantasy football 🙄

    13. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Raheem off oh well

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

        Best news of the day. Damn!!

    14. tm245
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Would love a Watford goal now.

      1. tm245
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yes!

    15. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks Radio!!

    16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling off

      Hat trick, I'll take it

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You have him? Is he your captain?

        1. G-Whizz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          o/

    17. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone but Sterlo boy 🙁

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

      Difficult 2nd half to watch as a kun captainer

    19. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Well done Sterling cappers!!

    20. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sharing the captaincy between the muppets Gonzo & Razzo a successful tactic

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

        What about Elmo Salah?

        And Kermitrovic?

        😉