Dugout Discussion

Barkley and Abraham benched as injured Chilwell misses out

Chelsea take on Leicester City in the second and final Premier League fixture to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 16:30 BST.

There has only been one goal scored in the last three league meetings between these two clubs: two stalemates sandwiching the Foxes’ 1-0 win in west London in December 2018.

The Chelsea starting XI shows only one change from the side that took on Liverpool in midweek, with Mason Mount (£6.0m) replacing Mateo Kovacic (£5.5m) in midfield.

That means there is again no place for Ross Barkley (£6.0m) or Tammy Abraham (£7.0m), who are among the substitutes.

Pedro (£7.0m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) will flank Olivier Giroud (£7.0m) in the Blues’ attack, while Willian (£7.0m) makes the bench.

Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) won’t feature for the visitors this afternoon, with his place at left-back being taken by Christian Fuchs (£4.5m).

Chilwell misses out with a minor hip injury.

That is Brendan Rodgers’ only change to the side that drew 0-0 with Wolves in Gameweek 1, so Ayoze Perez (£6.5m) and James Maddison (£7.0m) will again support Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) in attack.

The Foxes are without a Premier League goal in three matches stretching back to April of last season, although have admittedly faced tricky opposition in the form of Wolves, Manchester City and Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea in that time.

Rodgers’ side managed only three shots from inside the box against a stubborn Wolves side last weekend.

They may get more joy out of a Chelsea backline that has shipped six goals in their two competitive matches in 2019/20, however.

Lampard’s troops also conceded on eight occasions in their final three pre-season friendlies.

The Blues look more promising going forward, however, having racked up 38 shots against Manchester United and Liverpool over the past week.

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Pedro, Mount, Pulisic, Giroud.

Leicester City XI (4-3-3): Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs, Choudhury, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Perez, Vardy.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

2,346 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rigid Digit
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Help please - is Pulisic a decent option / nailed, or is everyone else as confused as me about Frank's selection choices

    1. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I would give it a few more games to decide

    2. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Confusion, I'd say.

    3. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Two of Pulisic/Pedro/Willian will play every game. Hard to claim that any of them are 100% nailed.

    4. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Why don't you ask when the game is over?

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This.

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Watch the game...

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Tielemans, Emerson down

    1. RealVirg
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Perfect a chance for my boy Perez!

  3. Siggy in the Middle
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Best 6.5 striker or under?

    1. fantasyxprt11
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Probably Jota

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Jota for now - he plays tomorrow.

    3. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Jota. Would've scored if he had his shooting boots on last week & Wolves have become sort of fixture proof.

  4. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this move? (exact money)
    Robbo Moura Wilson -> AWB Mount Kane (-4)

    Will give me:
    Heaton
    VVD AWB Digne Montoya
    Salah Sterling Martial Perez Mount
    Kane

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I like that

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Lampard's tactic today is pretty simple. Target Fuchs.

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You've got to be Fuchsing kidding.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pre-match team talk: Pulisic doesn't give to Fuchs.

  6. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Robinson might force me hand to WC....

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Forget the injury, he was rubbish

  7. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Barkley, Vertonghen, Vardy, Moura, Rico.

    Even though I've 2 fts, I think I'll be wildcarding

  8. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Best name in the PL?

    A) Fuchs
    B) Fleck
    C) Farke

    1. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      D) Lundstram

    2. Siggy in the Middle
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Longstaff

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Longstaff with Wood?

    3. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Fleck?
      Not unusual if your Scottish or have watched football for longer than 5 minutes.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I guess Fuchs doesn't raise an eyebrow in Austria either

        1. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I was thinking the very same however, it's a league based in England & Wales and Scotland for the time being at least is still part of GB 😉

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            As a foreigner following the PL for 25 years Ive never heard the name Fleck before. fwiw

            1. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fleck

              Main one Robert, The Sheff Utd one was a rising star at Rangers but hasn't really progressed like we thought.

            2. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              You weren't paying attention then. His father, Robert Fleck played for Chelsea and Norwich.

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                *uncle, not father

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Mason Mount

    5. learnedlizard
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      danny drinkwater

    6. luk46
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Fuchs is a usual name in German speaking countries...

      1. ENZO SZN™
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        How about Gross?

        1. luk46
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Groß is pretty common as well, yes. It's a property name, groß = big...

  9. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Odds of Barkley staying on the bench?

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      low

    2. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      50/1

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      0%

    4. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I’m not optimistic. Lundstrum first on the bench here.

      1. suddenorgan
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        ditto, I think a scenario where Willian/Kovacic/Abraham come on isn't that far fetched

        1. marco_atk85
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Make sense though

        2. suddenorgan
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          YEY

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        79 min cameo.....

    5. marco_atk85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      As much as elvis presley is still alive

    6. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Very low and I hate it. I'm with the masses with Lundstram first on bench.

  10. Penguin
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I dropped Montoya & played Lundstram I’m so happy right now at that decision.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Casual

  11. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Leicester doing nothing today will make my transfer decisions a hell of a lot easier.

    1. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Same but they play shu & BOU next 🙁

  12. FPL-(VAR)dy
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Robertson+Wilson to Lundstram+Kane??

  13. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I’m selling one.... but shock one?

    A) VVD 6.5
    B) Zinch 5.5
    C) Coleman 5.5
    D) Zouma 5.0
    E) Rose 5.5

    1. Can’t beat em so&hell…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      That should say... ‘which one’

    2. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Between B and E

  14. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I think I'm settled on my WC team now. 😀

    Adrian - McGovern
    AWB - Zinchenko - Pieters - Lundstram - Kelly
    Sterling - Mane - KDB - Lanzini - Mount
    Kane - Pukki - Wickham

    0.2m in the bank.

    Thoughts? 🙂

    1. MTPockets
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Bet it changes again after wol-mun

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          It won't. Loving it.

          Only a United attacker is of interest but Lanzini/Mount + AWB/Zinch more enticing than Martial + 4.5m def.

          1. MTPockets
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Good luck then

        2. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Was Mount there 20 minutes ago? 😛

          Jk, nice team.

          1. pundit of punts
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Check my comments history from a few days ago. He was in my thinking. Really liked what I saw in GW 1. On set pieces as well. 🙂

            1. Maddi Son
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Fair nuff'

        3. Rolls-Royce
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Salah brace vs Arsenal will throw all the Salah-> Mane spanners in the works.

          1. pundit of punts
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Nah.....Mane would get his fair share of points.

            1. Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Just like Salah got his share of them against Southampton

        4. RealVirg
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Zinchenko hammy compromised right? Inevitable further shredding situation?

      • Pinatta
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Might wildcard to

        Pickford 4.0
        Maguire WP lundstram montoya *wanbissa
        KDB Martial *sterling *mane *Ceballos
        *pukki *jota *king

        That's 6 new players upfront, yes. Now have Auba vardy greenwood siggy fraser and moura

        1. ENZO SZN™
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          King? Man City next tho

      • The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Glad Perez doesn't seem to be playing, Lundy points incoming.

        1. Tcheco
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Playing

        2. The Man Pastore
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          really?

          1. The Ejiptian King
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I was joking, he's playing but been completely anonymous.

      • diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Vardy blank today could lead to a price fall.

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah, already well on his way before kick off.

      • Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Evening chaps. How much accurate has fplstatisics been for the price drop?

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          predicted quite a lot yday pretty accurately

        2. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          It's accuracy has picked up, quite accurate for me now

        3. Four Hit Wonder
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Much more reliable than ff fix

        4. Rolls-Royce
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Cheers, lads.

      • Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Anyone else not going with any spurs this week?
        I have Moura but considering dropping for KDB. Seems to be loads of players battling it out for a midfield slot and also not sure Kane is as good value as Mane KDB Martial etc.
        Also not sure about jumping on Son from the off until he has played a couple of games.
        Thoughts appreciated.

        1. Rolls-Royce
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Probably capping Kane.

      • Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        A) VVD, Mount, Kane
        OR
        B) Robbo, KDB, Pukki

        1. Rolls-Royce
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          B) Just cos of Pukki.

      • The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Ayoze playing so deep...

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          All the pre season info has so far not been reliable....

      • Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Do you think it would be worth a -8 to bring in Kane and captain him? Are Newcastle that woeful?

        Move would be Zinch, Perez and Wilson out for Lund, Cantwell and Kane.

        1. Dannyb
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No

        2. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          definitely not worth a -8 just for Kane. Would prefer Pukki in for Wilson for free

          1. Bartowski
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I have Pukki

        3. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Those transfers will destroy the balance of your team so no not for a -8 especially

          1. Bartowski
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Not really if Perez continues to blank. I'm basically just losing out on potential clean sheets in exchange for possibly more goals.

        4. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Would maybe consider for -4. For -8 its clearly bad.

          1. Bartowski
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I'm only contemplating it but its potential payoff would be based on Captain Kane Vs Captain Sterling.

      • KGFC
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Leicester defense seems to be in a charitable mood today

      • Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Use one of my frees this week (2 if need be) to ditch Barkley. Thought Mount, before his goal, but not secure either. Maybe Trossard?

        No money ITB .... who would you boys bring in for Barkley?

        Pope Ryan
        TAA Coleman Zinch Diop Lundstram
        Salah sterling martial dedonker barkley
        Kane king greenwood

      • bangers and M*A*S*H
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        No brainer?

        TAA and Perez to KDB and Lundstram for free?

        Got VVD. (and Sterling) if that matters

      • Mattias
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Barkley, Vardy, Moura & 1FT... is a wildcard a panic move?

        My stance with the WC is that you just know when it's the right time. It certainly seems that way, but GW3 feels early and dirty haha

        1. grumpyman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I'd keep Moura for Newcastle if I were you.

          1. Mattias
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Yea I think so. I need to carefully think what is sensible and what is just a knee-jerk thought following a poor gw.

      • have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        i swear Leicester dont have a midfield, there is nothing there

      • 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Having Lundstram as my 1st sub hurts. Played Zinchenko instead of him, guess it was a 50/50 decision.

      • EL_FENOMENO
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Tross or Mount

        1. St. Joseph
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Mount

      • Baberto
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Is Digne's price gonna fall anytime soon?