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. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Gabriel Jesus was ready to come on but didn't get the chance before HT. City players speaking to the ref at half-time about a couple of decisions. What's going on here?!

    https://twitter.com/SamLee/status/1190656812485402625

    1. DGW Sane TC Fail....
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      over confident

  2. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    man i really hope my captain can kick the ball into the net

    would be so cool

  3. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    As a Villan I can confirm the comeback will be complete around the 70 ish minute mark

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      thanks epic fail, back to you in the studio

      *smiles and holds for a few seconds*

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        😀

    2. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      For city?

    3. JELLYFISH
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Trezeguet could have had a couple already. I fear we will be rueing missed chances at the end

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Always the way. 🙁

    4. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You've got 2 Egyptian kings against 1, no comebacks here.

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Possible. Villa have an issue conceding second half goals.

  4. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Just came on to rejoice in the legend that is Lundstram 😀

    1. M'arvin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He is a beautiful human being.

  5. Spab
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Thankfully, I've made a concerted effort not to take it to seriously this year. This game week is going so badly that I can find it almost funny.

    1. Hughes the Daddy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Can be a tad frustrating at times

  6. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    This is going to be a tough 45 as an Ota owner with Lundstram first sub...

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

      You’ll be fine

    2. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sold Ota for Chilwell... Lund 1st bench.

      Worst transfer of the season and I've had some bad uns.

    3. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      This

    4. Babit1967
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fortunately played big John, have Rico on bench tho for Ota hopefully

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yes I've had enough. Ota out, playing Trent/Robbo/Lunds every week. Rico incoming.

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pieters subbed
    Taylor on

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Injured or crap?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        possibly crap, had a feeling one bad performance and he might be out the team

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

    Weird week so far

  9. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Have finally lost faith in the Pope.

    1. M'arvin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      If only the rest of the world would follow.

  10. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    So glad I never took hits.

    Lord Lunstram!!!

    Please Salah haul second half!!!

    1. Babit1967
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I ended up captaining Salah over Vardy, I'll take one goal, I'm not greedy

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    David Silva off
    Jesus on

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Ffs

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      whaaa 😥

    3. DGW Sane TC Fail....
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      he baffles me pep

  12. Chalobah's Witness
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Keep your head up lfc owners. We'll score big in the 2nd half if the VAR lets us !

  13. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Selling Auba to fund Mané didn't go so well

    1. Hughes the Daddy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It will in time

  14. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is Dilva or bilva off for Jesus?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      David Silva.

      Has an injury apparently.

      1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ah that’s a shame, wanted to bring him in.

        Cheers mate

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

    Lol at Pope for that third goal.

  16. balint84
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Next week Sterling to Son for me

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I'm considering Sterling > Richarlison.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        everton have terirble xmas fixtures tho

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          For two weeks then Salah.

    2. Hughes the Daddy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He will boot your cheeks big time if you do that

  17. MikeBravo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Played Callum Wilson instead of Lundstram, going against my gut, and having listened to some 'experts', and my triple Liverpool defence has let me down yet again

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You can’t come on here asking for opinions and then blame everyone but yourself if a decision goes wrong.

      Don’t be a sheep.

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

        Not blaming anyone but myself, don't get that wrong...

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

        ... and I thought the idea of these forums was that you're not to be rude to other users, yet the sheep comment/ insult has been voted up three times! At least that hypocrisy made me smile!

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

        .. and the 'experts' I was referring to weren't even on here!!!

  18. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Winner of fpl this year should buy me a lottery ticket

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      What's your address?

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

        Not a postcode lottery!

    2. fusen
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Every single years winner has to be INCREDIBLY lucky to win this game.

  19. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Tf going on w Pope/Burnley defence?

  20. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is it time to say goodbye Pope?

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

      im selling him.

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

      Yes a Hendo or Gazzaniga me thinks

  21. DeathoftheParty
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Why is John Lundstram my first bench again?

    I give in...

  22. Rash
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Been out for the rugby and united, bit worse for wear but just came on to say..

    OMG LUNDSTRUM!!

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      LundstrAm

  23. Arse Craic
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    No sign of David Silva at the start of the second half

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Subbed for Gabriel Jesus. Apparently David Silva has picked up an injury.

  24. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pieters, Pope and Diop owner 🙁

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

      It could be worse, you could have TCd Sterling

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        captained Salah 🙁

  25. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Dilva was the perfect pick on here a few days again!

    1. Tomerick
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Still a good pick. You can’t really foresee an injury.

  26. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I have Lundy and Auba but... Sterling (c), kdb and TAA are big concerns right now! WTF us going on there? How can that be happening to MCI and LIV?

  27. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Time for me to finally realize (perhaps too late) this is not last season with premium defenders being fantastic picks. Lundy and Rico can be played every week it seems

  28. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Most of my rivals get rico points off the bench. I just can't make up ANY ground on them.

    Writing this season off now, I think. Everything has gone wrong.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It is for the better - focus on more important things in life

      This game is largely luck

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        …and lack of it.

        I'm just going to do some punts now. It's the only way to get some excitement out of this game. Captaining Lundstram and stuff like that.

  29. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Great performance from
    Yarmolenko.. i don’t why took this guy

  30. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Stg if Kun blanks