Dugout Discussion

Sterling, Silva and Bernardo benched as Guardiola rotates heavily

Double Gameweek 32 comes to a head on Wednesday evening with three Premier League matches that all kick off at 19:45 BST.

Crystal Palace are the visitors to Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, while Manchester City and Chelsea host Cardiff City and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively.

The headline team news at the Etihad sees Pep Guardiola make seven changes, with Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and David Silva among the players to drop to the bench.

Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gündogan are also among the substitutes, while Nicolas Otamendi drops out of the match-day squad.

Guardiola had previously ruled Sergio Aguero out of tonight’s match, so it is no shock to see Gabriel Jesus leading the line for City.

Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez will flank the Brazilian, while there is a first Premier League start of the season for Phil Foden.

Fernandinho, John Stones and Danilo are also recalled.

Neil Warnock has made only one change, with Harry Arter being replaced in the starting XI by Joe Ralls.

Maurizio Sarri has matched Guardiola in making seven alterations.

Eden Hazard returns to the Chelsea starting XI following his benching at Cardiff on Sunday, while there is a full Premier League debut for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Gonzalo Higuain makes way for Olivier Giroud, while Emerson Palmieri replaces the injured Marcos Alonso.

N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen are recalled as Willian, Pedro, Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Antonio Rudiger drop out.

Chris Hughton has made four changes, the most eye-catching of which sees the fit-again Florin Andone replace Glenn Murray up front.

Solly March, Bruno and Gaetan Bong all start at the expense of Anthony Knockaert, Martin Montoya and Bernardo.

Son Heung-min returns to the Spurs starting XI, replacing Lucas Moura in the Lilywhites’ attack.

Ben Davies is preferred to Davinson Sanchez in Mauricio Pochettino’s only other change.

Roy Hodgson has brought Cheikhou Kouyate, James McArthur and Martin Kelly into his starting XI and benched Scott Dann, Max Meyer and Andros Townsend.

That means Jeffrey Schlupp will move even further upfield on the left of a front three, with Wilfried Zaha switching to the right flank.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Hazard.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Ryan, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Bissouma, Stephens, Propper, March, Andone, Jahanbakhsh.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Zinchenko, Stones, Laporte, Danilo, Fernandinho, Foden, De Bruyne, Sane, Mahrez, Jesus.

Cardiff City XI: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Camarasa, Murphy, Hoilett, Niasse.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Trippier, Sissoko, Eriksen, Rose, Alli, Son, Kane.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Kelly, Van Aanholt, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Zaha, Batshuayi, Schlupp.

3,638 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Should be Milo OG

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      You don’t have Son I’m guessing?

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Or he has Milo

    2. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Will take the assist either way lol

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    HAZAAAAAAAAAAAA

  3. tambourineman
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Hazard goal

  4. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Woohoo the hit was worth it!

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Hazaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard!

  6. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Cheers Kane.

    1. Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Eh?

  7. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    I just want some returns 😆

  8. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    HAZZZZZ

  9. Trilly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Went from Son Jimi to Dela Higuain. Brutal.

  10. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    My god i needed that Haz goal!!!! Get the F in!!!!

  11. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Where's Bemba?

    Hazard!

  12. tm245
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Haz!

  13. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Hazard!!

  14. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    HAZ!

  15. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Rival has Son, I have Mili, gonna be bad either way.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      😀

  16. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Sissoko takes if off Harrys foot!

  17. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Ehhh it’ll do for now. Duffy next pls

  18. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    NOOOOOOOooooooooooooo

    1. Chelsea Rangers Loyal
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!

  19. MGD
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Haz ownership?

  20. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Jizzard!

  21. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Bemba fail

  22. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Magic bean assist

  23. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Assist ??

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Rlc

    2. tutankamun
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      RLC

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Cheers both

    4. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      RLC

  24. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Yay Hazard!

  25. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Haz G

  26. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Never in Doubt

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Very much in doubt lol

  27. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Hazard yeahhhhh

  28. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Now, lets get a Schlupp G

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Would absolutely love that

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      This! Make up for his lost CS

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Nice work Agent Bemba, giz another jinx 😛

  30. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Finally a goal !!!!