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. Patch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Come on Kane the Lame Name, you are Bane of my Life

  2. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Sterling warming up. No no no, do not ruin this gw

  3. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Azpi OUT great.

    Now, Kepa take yourself out

  4. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Sterling coming on? I'm on 99 points. I'd like to hit 100

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Same here. Either him or Higuain

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Sterling warming

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Yesssss

  6. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    118 -4 if BPS stay this way (Son 1, Haz 3). TC used.

    Missed every good pop for a ton GW in last few DGWs so happy with this performance. That’s with Lukaku as well haha

  7. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    any ton up posts without fh/ wc? thats worth posting

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Above.

      1. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        good lad

    2. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      i'm on 104 (-4) pre bonus. used TC.

      but hope Hazard stops getting points

      1. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        well done mate

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Ederson save 😮

  9. azz007
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Smashed the 100.wothout a FH, 11 DGW PLAYERS!

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Fair play well done

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Smashed the 100 barrier with 8 dgw’ers here

  10. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    My dad, the biggest casual you could hope to meet, is currently on 116 points.

    I hate this stupid game.

  11. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Azpilicueta off

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Sweet, cleanie banked

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

      Great.
      CS locked

  12. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Zappacosta coming on!

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

    Son looking good lads ??
    Playing up top or wide ??

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Yes, and on the left wing now

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

        Cheers

  14. Trilly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Azpi off clean sheet preserved. Can't complain.

  15. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Nooooooooo stay on that bench, Sterling.

  16. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Stay on that damn bench sterling!

  17. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Azpi 16 pointer 😀

  18. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Azpi OFF
    Zapa ON

  19. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    SCORE DUFFY

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      This AZpi now off!

  20. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Any sign of Higuain warming up?

    An extra point would be a bit of a consolation..

    1. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Oh god leave it what is the point. We just messed up with him.

  21. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Obvs Son was getting the goal, no way they would allow the first goal at Stadium to be an OG 😉

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Agreed

  22. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 23 days ago

    Azpi owners lucky yet again

    1. JohnnyMagrinho
        5 years, 23 days ago

        Yeah. Clean sheet against Brighton. Lucky, that.

        Right.

    2. tm245
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Azpi!

    3. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Sterling 2 hands round a cup of dairy milk hot chocolate, toes by the fire, mittens on hands, mutton chops to keep the cheeks warm

    4. Bees4Lyf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Azpi off! Come on Brighton!!!!!!

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        No

    5. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Azpi, its been amazing. Thank you!

      More again on Monday 😀

    6. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Azpi worth every penny.

    7. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      When I said Kane would grab a brace, I meant x2 blanks not goals ...

    8. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Mahrez should get booked

    9. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 23 days ago

      Please Hazard score another one, I will never tell a bad word about you if you will...

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 23 days ago

        This