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

    Vardy has been terrible

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

    Leicester close to winning this match, end to end as well though

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

    Perez to Vardy not working...

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

      They just don't link up it seems.

  4. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    10000000000000000000000% Chelsea not going to score now ...

    Its 1-1 or Leicester will win it 1-2 ...

    Mark my words and bookmark it.

    11 mins to go

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

      It wont work when you overdo it.

  5. pjanns
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barkley - Wilson - Robbo --> Son, Pukki, Pieters

    Will leave me with:

    Pope
    VVD, Digne, Montoya
    Salah, Sterling, Perez, Son
    Pukki, Jota

    (Button, Greenwood, Montoya, Rico)

    What do you think?

  6. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pukki to Ndidi for -4pts, yay or nay?

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

      Of course

  7. dg
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Gutted I didn't trust my gut and and captained Salah instead of Lundstram.

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lol next you will be telling me you didn’t have Cantwell and Ceballos in your midfield

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

        Lol, there are people who really dont have Cantwell and Ceballos?

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

        😮

  8. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    ughh these streams, why would u stream when you have inetrnet conenction comparable to 1991. Every stream is pathetic

    1. zizoo10
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      how about u pay for a subscription

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        what to BT and skysports? Sounds great man I can think of a million things I would rather waste my money on tbh

        1. zizoo10
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          lol fair enough

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

    Perez sighting

  10. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Perez off 🙁

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Albrighton on

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

      Off my team too. Not clicked at all. Misplaced too many passes.

  11. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Get out my team!

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      True

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

    Ugh, Perez off

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

    Perez off
    Albrighton on

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

    Perez is 100% GARBage

    1. Nemes1s
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Shockingly bad. Looks like he hasn’t got a clue.

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

      Could have scored if Vardy wasn't selfish.
      Could have had an assist if Maddison didn't miss an easy shot.

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

        Could've scored a hattrick if he had touched the ball in from 1 yard each time

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

        What? Perez was easily the weakest out of the 3.

  15. 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..

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

    Perez just jogging around when there is lots of space in the right wing and should be sprinting and because of that Maddison just continues to hold the ball and finally loses it. And now Perez off. Beautiful story

    1. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah, that was shocking. Didn’t want the ball

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

      He was literally standing around moping as Maddison was swamped by Blues

      F right off!

  17. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This is not your father's Chelsea.

  18. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    When you get excited having three players to play and they end up getting you a total of 5 points.

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I swear every Sunday goes like this - I always seem to get trolled so hard on Sunday’s

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

        Wait for Monday night when all the United and Wolves players come in...next stop, red-arrow-ville

        1. TheDragon
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          If united get a clean sheet I might as well delete my team

  19. Wag the Drog
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best replacement for Barkley? No extra funds.
    McGinn? Trossard?

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

      Mount?

    2. DarkGreen
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      get Mason mount. lampard favouring him lately. and chelsea upcoming fixtures are not that bad

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

    Is Cantwell the best long term 4.5 mid or is there a risk of rotation and we should stick with boring players like Dale Stephens?

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

      Cantwell is ya man

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

      Don't forget Dendoncker.

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

    Perez out of my team before he's made to to the touchline.

  22. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Depending on how Marty does tomorrow, he might be coming into my team for Perez. Even though fixtures suggest I should give Ayoze a couple more weeks.

  23. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Perez may have his purple patches. But he's terrible

  24. La vida FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Perez you're fired!!!

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

      Actually, it was last night, but yes. 🙂

  25. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Perez have never been really good has he?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Newcastle effect

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

      Played well last year

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Only a couple of games I think.

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

    Don't think I'll be going anywhere near this shoddy Chelsea team for the foreseeable future.

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      good fixtures

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

        Not if they're going to play poorly in them they're not

  27. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wonder if Albrighton sometimes wakes up at night wondering how he managed to be a starter in a Premier League winning team?

    1. Captain Remorse
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He should be starting now!

  28. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is KWP too risky to bring in? Need a 5.0 defender.

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

      Think he's fine unless has has a nightmare game. Oreo not close

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers. What about Fourth though?

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

          KWP better at RB IMO. Foyth out for a month probs

          1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Tyvm pal.

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

    Defo WC time when you have dross like Perez, Fraser, Wilson, Rico, Balbuena and Wood in your team

  30. Mini Mahouse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    King, Perez, Robertsson -> Pukki, Martial, AWB ?

    For -4

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

      Could be good. Martial very streaky though.