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. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    So I'm already on a -4. If I hit WC button, can I make unlimited free transfers from where I am now or does the team revert back to where it was before my original transfers for -4?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      The hit is cancelled

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

      From where you are now but it wipes the -4.

    3. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes you can make as many transfers as you want

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks all

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

    Just got in, catching up - how’s Perez doing please?

    1. Budweiser
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez is playing?

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Better lately, bad in 1st

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nearly an assist.

    4. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 7 months ago

        2

      • Greasy Grealish Gang
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Quite invisible tbf. Poor first half by Leicester but much better the second half. Maddison way more involved and hungry. Even Tielemans.

      • Critical Observer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Garbage - infuriatingly bad.

    5. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This game somehow rewards the poor players. You should be deduced 14 points for owning duds like Barkley, not gifted 14 points

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        The half autosub points crowd will be posting next.

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          😆

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

          Granville was right all along

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You really should get half points for autosubs IMO

        1. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yep.

        2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          This is a great idea actually

      3. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Better than you...

      4. Majestic Chanka
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        If it helps I’m getting Wickhams 1pt

    6. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Shall I?

      Robbo, Robinson and Wilson

      To

      Lundstram, KDB and Pukki

      ?

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        -4

      2. Tired and weary
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yep, doing very similar myself

    7. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Why doesn’t Alonso play?

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Because emerson plays

      2. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cause he makes this Chelsea defence worse, somehow.

      3. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Emerson

      4. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Only allowed to field 11 players

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

      Chelsea played high intensity in first half and now it is coming back to haunt them in the second half. Foolish if Lampard says the players are not fit enough - more to do with not being more evenly paced. Even the best marathon runner won't win if they go off too hard too early.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        They just had super cup in midweek

    9. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood goal tomorrow please

      1. Mr. Grv
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        pls

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

    10. fusen
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      THANK YOU LAMPARD!

      I'm currently on 27 points, with only Jota to play.

      My first sub is Lundstram and I have Barkley in my starting 11.

      Barkley not coming on has literally just turned my gameweek from absolutely appalling to just about salvageable

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Doubt Lamps uses this site.

        1. fusen
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          A lot of people have said he's just a casual manager

          1. Karhumies
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Bet he uses autofill for the starting XI?

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You're lucky this site doesn't have downvotes.

        1. fusen
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          It'd be like downvoting a homeless person for finding a £5 note on the floor

          1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            You decided to play Barkley - this example works only if that homeless person decided to be homeless

            1. fusen
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              No it doesn't. A homeless person could have make certain like choices that then caused them to lose all their money. Your reaction to something happening at a specific moment in time, ignoring what happened to get to that point is still a legitimate take on who you are. Empathy for people shouldn't be restricted to a looking back at every decision ever made in the past.

        2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          This

    11. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maddison wastes Perez assist 🙁

    12. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maddison is so technically gifted

    13. SoapAFC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maddison awful miss

    14. Lebowski85
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would you rather have Barnes or VVD starting every week?

      1. Lebowski85
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Would have Kelly as a playing sub then...as opposed to Xande Silva

      2. Differentiator
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        VVD, no doubt

      3. Pinatta
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        If you have VVD en bench him youre paying to much

    15. Canary_Kid
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      WC this:
      Pope Button
      Robbo VVD KWP Bednarek Diop
      Salah Sterling KDB Dendoncker Leitner
      Wilson Pukki Deu

      to this:
      Pope Button
      Robbo AWB 4.5 4.5 Lundstrum
      Sterling Mane KDB Son Martial
      Pukki 4.5 4.5

      Very very tempting, thoughts?

      1. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        If martial falls out of form and son is rotated your light up top.
        Do u need 2 x 4.5 keepers also? Drop 1 for a 4.0 maybe

        1. Canary_Kid
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Button is 4.0...

          Can't see Son being rotated, he's a crucial part of their team.

          Yeah Martial could go out of form but he's the number 9 for an explosive Man Utd side. Plus you could say the same about any player.

    16. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pedro is looking good right?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Nearly scored.

    17. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Didn’t realise how bad Pukki’s fixtures were

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        From today onwards, or from the start of the season?

        Beyobf today, the fixtures really aren't that bad from an attacking standpoint bar Man City.

      2. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You watching Chelsea?

      3. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Che at home isn't as bad as it seems.

      4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        NOR : NEW 55 CHE -96 whu -41 MCI -466 bur 90 cry 39 AVL 95 bou -6 MUN -144 bha 130 WAT 35

    18. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Much rather King than Pukki LT

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Really?!

    19. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maddison fluffs it for a Perez assist

      1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Was lucky to even be in the position to fluff it

    20. SoapAFC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Are Chelsea really in contention for top 4 this season? As an Arsenal fan looks like its between us, spurs and utd

      1. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Wouldn't be surprised if Wolves are in the reckoning as well.

      2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Nah United not really in contention and spurs not really in doubt of getting it.

    21. Moose™
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez and Vardy duo not really working out atm.

    22. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jose wants to comeback to football and Chelsea might need someone to help them stay up...

    23. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kelly in for barkley 🙁

      Barkley to mount yes or no?

      1. cravencottage
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes

    24. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Second week in a row that Chelsea have put in a terrible second half performance. Fitness issues? If so then that's worrying with the season just started

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        They were going flat out on the press in the first half which was never sustainable

    25. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Which looks best:
      A) Wilson, Perez, Robertson > Kane, Ceballos, Dunk
      B) Wilson, Auba, Perez > Pukki, Barnes, Sterling

    26. DR0GBA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Currently have Greenwood coming in for Barkley... will he play any minutes?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Probably.

      2. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yea he should. Signed OGS

    27. Paddy Gooner
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Having trouble deciding what 5th midfielder to get. Any suggestions?:

      A: Ceballos or
      B: Cantwell + 1M.

      1. ClassiX
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ceballos looked really good yesterday. Mount may also be an option - Chelsea have much kinder fixtures coming up...

        1. Paddy Gooner
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          hmmm.., hadn't thought of him. Thanks.

    28. Alnair
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Pukki (CHE) looking like a pretty good fixture right now

    29. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez looking pretty bad

    30. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dunk, Montoya or Soyuncu?

      1. cravencottage
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Montoya or Dunk

    31. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez having an absolute mare

    32. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Chelsea look so vulnerable when they lose the ball in transition.

      Can see why we stuck 3 past them second half.