Dugout Discussion

Abraham fit to start as Martial misses out for United

There are six Premier League matches taking place this evening, with all bar the Merseyside derby kicking off at 19:30 GMT.

Liverpool v Everton gets underway at 20:15 GMT, meanwhile.

Perhaps the headline team news comes from Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea take on Aston Villa.

Frank Lampard is able to call upon Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) as the England striker makes a swift return from the hip injury that forced his absence in Gameweek 14.

Mason Mount (£6.6m), Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) and the recalled Willian (£7.1m) make up the attacking trident behind Abraham but there is no place in the starting XI for Fikayo Tomori (£4.9m), who is replaced by Andreas Christensen (£4.9m).

Jorginho, Emerson (£5.5m), Olivier Giroud (£6.6m) and Pedro (£6.8m) also drop out of the team, as N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) and Cesar Azplicueta (£5.9m) return.

Dean Smith has made three changes, two of which are enforced.

Douglas Luiz (£4.5m), the suspended Frederic Guilbert (£4.4m) and the injured Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m) make way, with Marvelous Nakamba (£4.4m), Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.2m) and Trezeguet (£5.2m) taking their places.

The swirling media reports that suggested that Anthony Martial (£7.7m) would miss out have proven to be accurate, with the Frenchman not in Manchester United’s squad.

Speaking to MUTV before the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:

Anthony got a slight injury on Sunday so he’ll be out for a little while.

Brandon Williams (£4.1m), Juan Mata (£6.2m) and Andreas Pereira (£5.0m) all drop to the bench, meanwhile, as Jesse Lingard (£6.3m), Ashley Young (£5.4m), Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) and Scott McTominay (£5.1m) come into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI.

Jose Mourinho is back at Old Trafford after a 12-month absence and has made two changes to his Spurs team, with Harry Winks (£5.3m) and Lucas Moura (£7.0m) replacing Tanguy Ndombele (£5.8m) and Eric Dier (£4.9m).

There were shocks at Anfield, too, with Jurgen Klopp making five changes: two of which see Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) drop to the bench.

Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.3m) and Divock Origi (£5.2m) come in, while Adrian (£4.2m) replaces the suspended Alisson (£6.0m).

Everton are unchanged.

Brendan Rodgers has made only one change to his Leicester City XI, with Christian Fuchs (£4.3m) replacing the absent Ben Chilwell (£5.9m).

Chilwell reportedly has a minor groin injury.

Hayden Mullins, in temporary charge of Watford, also makes a sole alteration, with Troy Deeney (£6.2m) in for the injured Jose Holebas (£4.7m).

That would seem to indicate a change of shape, with the 3-5-2 abandoned for a back four.

Continuing that trend, Nuno Espirito Santo has only made one tweak to his Wolves starting XI: Romain Saiss (£4.4m), who was banned for the 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, ousts Max Kilman (£4.0m) at centre-half.

West Ham’s only change sees Sebastien Haller (£7.1m) come in for Michail Antonio (£6.9m), who failed a late fitness test.

There is just one alteration at St. Mary’s, meanwhile: Norwich City are unchanged, while Shane Long (£4.6m) starts in Michael Obafemi‘s (£4.9m) stead for the hosts.


Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, James; Kante, Kovacic; Pulisic, Mount, Willian; Abraham.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Elmohamady; Hourihane, Nakamba, McGinn; Grealish, Wesley, Trezeguet.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Fuchs, Soyuncu, Evans, Ricardo; Ndidi; Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Perez; Vardy.

Watford XI: Foster; Masina, Mariappa, Cathcart, Femenia; Capoue, Doucoure; Hughes, Deulofeu, Sarr; Deeney.

Liverpool XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Lallana; Shaqiri, Mane, Origi.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Keane, Mina, Holgate, Sidibe; Sigurdsson, Davies; Richarlison, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Young, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, Lingard, James; Greenwood.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Gazzaniga; Vertonghen, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Aurier; Winks, Sissoko; Son, Dele Alli, Lucas Moura; Kane.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, Stephens, Cedric; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Djenepo; Ings, Long.

Norwich XI: Krul; Byram, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Aarons; Trybull, Amadou; Hernandez, McClean, Cantwell; Pukki.

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

West Ham XI: Martin; Cresswell, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Fredericks; Rice, Noble; F. Anderson; Fornals, Snodgrass; Haller.

3,820 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane & Robbo lets go!

  2. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pulisic will score today mark my words

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    RIP Salah

    1. Gaddafi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      The end of the pharaoh's era.

      1. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yep
        Me too

  4. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I have 9 players for this GW only. Lol.

    No Martial, no Jaanmat. Tomori and Salah on the bench. This is great

    1. Gaddafi
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why do you still have Salah?

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You got Rico and Kelly on the bench?

    3. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      *hugs*

  5. Gaddafi
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Got in Dele Alli & Danny Ings.

    Lets hope Jose pulls some magic today against MU and pushes them closer to relegation zone. :DD

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

    Klopp + midweek games = popcorn

  7. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Martial - more knocks than a part-time postman

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bottled the Mourinho challenge.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What about a full time postman? Or is that just silly?

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      OOP on his sofa more like.

  8. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Klopp has big balls.

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why rest the big guns for the derby though?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        One is injured. The other has played a lot of football.

        Salzburg must not lose now so not place for a rest.

      2. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Shaq over Salah makes sense given Salah still looks injured.

        Rest is very ballsy.

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

      Maybe he is being smug about 8 points clear. Doesn't take long for the tables to turn though.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He missed out a title with 97 points, he won't be taking anything for granted. I think he has picked today's team with Salzburg in mind.

        Dropping into the Europa could potentially dismantle the title charge.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I like balls.

  9. Greyling
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any reason why Chilwell is not in the match up at all?

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Minor knock

  10. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mo pain Mo problems.

  11. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If Tomori never comes (on), will tell my sweetheart Kelly that I love his first sub 6 points.

  12. Gaddafi
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What's up with Martin?

    Why is he starting all of a sudden (from someone who was presumably the third choice)?

    Is he nailed to keep starting/getting occasional gametime?

    1. fantasyfog
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Roberto shocking and fabs injured...keep up

      1. Gaddafi
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I am aware of Fab being injured and coming back after Christmas.

        Haven't been following the Roberto saga, what's he done this time?

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He's nailed until Fab returns

      Roberto would have been sacked if it was a job where sacks were normal. So he's just dropped to the bench instead

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Roberto cant use his hands.

      Until Flappy is back.

  13. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah.. wtf.. my only real differential..
    Gonna get shot of him I think.. alli or son incoming..

  14. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What do we think about Prime?

    While I am not a massive fan of streaming services (to be fair I dont get the best internet connection where I live and struggle sometimes with Sky go and BT sport), I do like the ability to watch every live game, similar to what foreign countries (i.e not in the UK) have the freedom to broadcast.

    I know the old argument that allowing every game to be broadcast may lower physical attendance at grounds across the country.... one that I think is BS.

    Do we think that Amazon introducing this will make Sky and BT take note and start implementing this on their own platforms?

    I personally would love not to have to stream games on dodgy sites so can only see this move as a positive.

    Thoughts?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think it is written into UK law that 3pm Saturday games can't be televised.

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I wasn't aware of this tbf, any idea why that is?

    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You’d prefer it not to be free ?
      Odd sentiment

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Where is it free?

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          1 month free.

          1. CheesyZoot
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            What you doing for the other 11 in the year? Just wondering

      2. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I think he means based on not watching a dodgy stream in a foreign language or buffering every 20 secs..

        1. CheesyZoot
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Ah I see...

          Yeh, after 10+ years of watching these streams I would be happy to pay a subscription fee to whatever company allows to watch every game on a reliable service.

          Not for everyone thought I guess...

    3. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      The Goal Centre is great.
      They’re chopping and changing between games so you don’t miss anything.
      Loving it so far... 🙂

      1. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I agree

        I also like the way BT Sport do something similar for Champs League

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Klopp will sub Salah on at 65th minute and he will get injured.

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Poor Klopp - trips over a water bottle?

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Biceps cramp from his celebrations?

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Thin air tonight

      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      And in doing so will block out my rico 9 pointer..

  16. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rico first on my bench...quite a few players not starting tonight, but none of mine! Will need Lundstram not to start for Rico to come in

  17. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mini league rivals all get valuable bench points (one gets both Rico and Kelly – second and third sub). I have all my players starting, so Rico's 9 points (first sub) stays put…

  18. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane and Trent, safe fam. Hopefully Tammy / Mount don’t punish, Vardy hauls and Pulisic delivers!

    GL all

  19. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Klopp to be caught out by the lack of respect shown to Everton in a derby. The back 4 will be exposed without the high press of the usual front 3. Everton win here

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Scenes

  20. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah (C) here. Were do I delete my team so I can enjoy my christmas in peace?

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I made that mistake at the weekend... not gonna do it a 2nd time, I thought just having him was a big enough differential.

    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Just stop caring. Free yourself. 🙂

    3. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      After WC

  21. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Liverpool riding easily with 3-0 lead after 75mins and Salah stays on bench just perfectly for Rico to take the place. How good can it feel to have a non playing +12m?

  22. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah and Tomori out we’re my transfers 🙂

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Were*

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Well done

  23. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bye Martial, how am I looking now?

    Henderson

    Robertson Lordstrum Soyuncu

    Mane Alli Son KDB

    Jiminez Vardy Tammy

    Bench Button Traore Rico Kelly

  24. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jack Grealish gets his hair cut at Poundland

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I wish l could still do it

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Villa salaries are modest

  25. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    It’s GO TIME!!

  26. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gone mad C Salah
    Lord help me my VC

  27. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Shocking start with Pope, Sterling & KDB. Need some points tonight! Come on lads

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

    Salah owners, surely can't sell before Bournemouth game?

    Perfectly setup for the troll.

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Will be captaining hm for sure.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I don't think people that own Salah log onto FPL, never mind FFS.

      1. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sadly l do and l never learn the lesson

    3. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not selling yet. Hopefully Abraham has some of the price drop avoidance magic left for Salah.

  29. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Spurs probably win this but you know it'll go the opposite way.

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      1-3 in my opinion

  30. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Perez wastes Vardy assist