Dugout Discussion

Aguero, De Bruyne and Sterling start as Mendy and Cancelo are benched

Six Premier League matches get underway at 15:00 GMT today, with Liverpool and Manchester City among the dozen teams in action.

Sergio Aguero (£12.1m) has been named in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI for the first time in the league since Gameweek 8.

Just shy of 300,000 Fantasy managers sold the Argentina international in the lead-up to Gameweek 11.

Raheem Sterling (£12.1m), Kevin De Bruyne (£10.2m) and David Silva (£7.7m) also start.

Nicolas Otamendi (£5.4m), Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m), Benjamin Mendy (£6.0m) and Joao Cancelo (£5.3m) are the victims of Guardiola’s rotation roulette, however, with all four benched.

The Saints have made three changes from last Friday’s hammering by Leicester, with a switch of goalkeepers among the alterations.

Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) is fit to start and joins Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) and Sadio Mane (£11.9m) in a familiar-looking front three.

The Reds’ back four is unchanged, too.

Fabinho (£5.5m), who is on four yellow cards, is benched, with perhaps one eye on next weekend’s clash with Manchester City.

Jack Grealish (£5.9m) has not recovered a calf injury and misses out, with Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) replacing him.

Unai Emery has recalled Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) to his starting XI for the first time in the Premier League since Gameweek 5.

Nicolas Pepe (£9.3m) makes way for the German, while Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) is excluded from the matchday squad as expected.

Nuno Espirito Santo sticks with the side that started Wolves’ 1-1 draw at Newcastle last Sunday.

Todd Cantwell (£4.8m) has been benched for the first time this season, with Onel Hernandez (£5.3m) taking his place.

Graham Potter has named the same 11 players who started against Everton last Saturday, meanwhile.

West Ham are also unchanged from last weekend, while Steve Bruce recalls Isaac Hayden (£4.4m) and Jonjo Shelvey (£5.0m) for the Longstaff brothers.

There is only one change to the starting XIs at Bramall Lane, with Lys Mousset (£4.9m) replacing Callum Robinson (£5.3m) for the hosts.

Chris Wood (£6.2m) misses out again for Burnley.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Papastathopoulos, Luiz, Tierney, Guendouzi, Torreira, Ozil, Ceballos, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Wolves XI: Patricio, Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny, Traore, Jimenez, Jota.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, El Ghazi, Trezeguet, Wesley.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Salah, Firmino, Mané.

Brighton XI: Ryan, Montoya, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Gross, Pröpper, Stephens, Alzate, Maupay, Connolly.

Norwich XI: Krul, Lewis, Godfrey, Tettey, Aarons, Trybull, Buendia, McLean, Stiepermann, Hernández, Pukki.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Angelino, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong, Ings, Redmond.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson, Basham, O’Connell, Egan, Baldock, Fleck, Lundstram, Norwood, Stevens, McGoldrick, Mousset.

Burnley XI: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Rodriguez, Barnes.

West Ham XI: Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Yarmolenko, Noble, Snodgrass, Felipe Anderson, Haller.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Yedlin, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Willems, Almiron, Hayden, Shelvey, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton.

2,302 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Coldplay
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lol Richard Keys and Andy Gray should read the rule book before saying Firmino's offside call was wrong. A lot of issues with VAR, but offside is the only thing that actually works

  2. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tough on us non-Lundstram owners!
    Mad at myself for advising loads on here to play him over Tomori, Soyuncu, etc. Hopefully they didn't heed my advice and he stays on plenty of benches as this is hard to swallow!

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

      Was always starting him this week.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        loads on here had him benched on their bus teams though!

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not starting Lundstram this week definitely a big mistake.

      1. tsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Captain Obvious strikes again

    3. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I actually considered captaining him

    4. Chirsbom
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He is a regular on my field. Why would he not be? He is at the moment the highest point earning defender in the league. Might change fast, but didn't get up there just new. So yeah, a no brainer to own and play.

  3. fusen
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    5 of the top 12 scoring defenders in the game are from Sheffield.

    Sheffield are playing Burnley.

    What madness involves benching Lundstram in this game?

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

      I don't understand benching Lundstram for this game either. I can understand benching Rico though.

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

        I’m glad you understand me

    2. Coldplay
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Easy to say if you have started him. But plenty of owners would have better defenders playing with better fixtures on paper, which sort of justifies benching him

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        The point is, people should be starting him. There aren't many better defenders to pick this week than someone who is in the top 5 best scoring defenders, playing OOP for a team that has the most if not in the top 3-4 teams with the most clean sheets.

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

    Mendy on for Angelino needed at HT!

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

    D Silva off for Jesus

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

    That frantic moment when you are unsure whether you started lundstrum or not...

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

    Whats going on with City?? Watching the arsenal game

    1. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      That'll be the problem then, they're watching the Arsenal game.

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

        Sorry for ya if you think thats funny

  8. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    if you dont own Lunds this could be another horrific week 🙁

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I don’t. But it’s similar to Vardy haul last week. Potential 20 pointer but not end of world

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

      56% EO in the Top 10k. and 32% EO for Overall. Most active managers own him.

  9. DGW Sane TC Fail....
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    When i saw Gundogan, D silva and Aguero starting i knew this was going to be a grind of a game.

  10. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    For the recorded, I started Lundy.

    So it'll be 4-3 soon and a red card.

  11. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Crazy arse Gw.

  12. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How many % benched lundstram?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Me along with Rico & Mousett

  13. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope didn’t even make a save that first half. Has he become the worst GK in the PL now? Shame as he was a huge talent

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

      Can't wait until I have a spare transfer to shift him.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I fear that day will never come

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Worst?!? From one abysmal performance from Burnley's defence??

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He’s been deplorable last 3 now. Can only blame defences so much considering he never has to make difficult saves

    3. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm thinking of shipping, but no money for an upgrade.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Need to get that Henderson I think as soon as I can do it for free

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gazzaniga as soon as get spare FT

  14. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I did Lunstram to Zinchenko. This week can't get any worse.

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What on earth were you thinking

    2. STEP rOVERS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Good move

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      VAR check in progress to check if this is a lie

    4. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What??????

      I have faith if you can make that decision there could be worse in store. Don't go out.

      1. Modest Bob
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Well i captained Lukaku so maybe that was close.

    5. Goujon82
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Horse dung

    6. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ha!

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

      What's your team ID?

      1. Modest Bob
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        It's linked

        1. Goujon82
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          556 transfers. Give me strength

    8. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      was that for the -24 or -28? 😉

      1. Modest Bob
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        -1038

    9. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Drunk transfers rarely work out

  15. F4L
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Maupay keeps on fluffing his lines 🙁

  16. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hate Pep.

  17. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Last week not owning Leicester players was a pitfall. Not having Lundstram in your final XI is going to hurt in a similar way this week..

  18. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Knew it i should C Lunds

  19. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How many captaincy blanks do we have this season? Going in for my 8th this week with Sterling...

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I’ve hit 2 returns all season, Salah GW1 and Sterling last GW. It’s a season of complete rubbish for elite astute managers

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yup 100%

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

      2nd half hatty

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      9th

  20. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    this really is the season for the cheapies..
    Rico, Lunds, Connolly, anyone else?
    Kelly could have been one and may still be, Newcastle defenders as well? Henderson?

    1. DGW Sane TC Fail....
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      It certainly is 🙂

    2. Chirsbom
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      AWB, Doherty, Jimenez and Fraser says hi from last season. There will always be like this. Remember when Mahrez and Alli exploded?

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        so many below 4.5 tho its epic

  21. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Just logged on...

    Wth??

  22. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Casuals everywhere doing well. Honestly what a season of horror for good managers

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      no one has done well apart from Lundstram?

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      its not casuals tho, its people jsut adapting to whats happening.
      Playing Rico and Lunds is not a casual move its just common sense. Lunds @ home vs Burnley, highest scoring defender. Rico at home on set pieces..

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

        This. The problem with IRBOX is that he thinks that just because he uses Xox stats he is the most pro manager.

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Absolutely knob comment. To ignore xG is so stupid, it’s the most powerful metric we have when it comes to fantasy.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            xG means nothing, deal with it

            1. IRBOX ⚽
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Seriously a dumb mentality that

              1. Salah’s Sonnet
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                only you thinks that though, so i’m not really gonna take that seriously, bot even one little bit. As you were.

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

              Nah dont think so, I use them to support my decisions.

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

            I do use them. Along with a variety of other factors, with eye test being no.1 weight.

            Its one thing knowing what they mean, and another think knowing how to interpret them correctly and not depending completely on them. basing FPL transfers on Xox stats alone is a casuals move

            1. IRBOX ⚽
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Righto champ, link your team like the rest of us. I’m sick of casual noobs having a go at me for making the most informed and correct statistical decisions. My track record speaks for itself. SEASON OF CASUALS

              1. PapaWengzz
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Lol

                1. IRBOX ⚽
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Another numpty

                  1. PapaWengzz
                    • 4 Years
                    4 years, 5 months ago

                    Yeah everyone except for you is a numpty.

              2. Marvin Moon
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                You're ranked over 2 million.

                1. IRBOX ⚽
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  No shite, another genius!

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

      Plenty of good managers tried to tell you martial cant keep up his consistency and United are not a top 6 team.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I didn’t get Matial genius

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

          Certainly tried to convince literally everyone with long arse paragraphs about his stats and united definitely being a top 6 team and he being the ultimate OOP option etc. Can find a link but not bothered

          1. PapaWengzz
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah i remember this

          2. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Good one. You’re a fun chap aren’t you. To say Martial is not a good option is plain ignorant. Like I said, casuals doing well this season

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

              Youre a casual looking at what you base your decsions on

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Tbf martial is killing it in terms of ppg

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

        Nice to see that some casuals who have overperformed for years are brought back to earth though

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Lol, doing well for a change are you?

      4. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Is your definition of a good manager a manager which isn't doing well...?

      5. Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Are Mane owners casuals too?

    4. gonzalocampos
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The big lesson this season is to own only 1 City player: Sterling or Kevin.

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Not sure I agree with this lesson. 3 of the top 5 scoring midfielders are City players.

        1. gonzalocampos
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          If you have them all but is not the case.

      2. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Indeed. Got Sterling for a hit, and looking like dropping outside the 1m because of it.

      3. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Doubling up on LFC for the nice run. Mane, Salah, KDB for me

    5. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What to do with Pope? Best replacement?

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Henderson

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

        I'm going Ryan when their fixtures clear up, either that or double up with Henderson after Utd game.

    6. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Forgot to log on last two weeks in a row. Have Lundstraum first sub with Cantwell playing...

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        "Forgot"

    7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lundstram battling it out for 2 points with fleck

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        2 baps

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

        Not if the CS pts are added. He will get a big bps boost.

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

      Never. Bench. Lundstram

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

        I plan to bench him next GW against Spurs.

        1. Chirsbom
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Why? We can't win a thing and leak like a sponge

    9. Spab
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      So, is this lundstrum bloke worth getting?

    10. JELLYFISH
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Willem or Lascelles? Thinking Willem

    11. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ederson wtf?!