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. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Quite clear that Alli has watched some Josh King highlights in anticipation of the United game, copying his goal from earlier this season. English players taking pointers from each other, future is bright 🙂

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

      Alli is Norwegian

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Chris Wood also standing out this season.

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

      Its great to see two compatriots learning as one 😉

  2. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Double up spurs with Alli?
    Already have Son..

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

      To be fair they didn't look good before the goal.

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

      Better late than never

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Guess you are not watching.

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

    Long asssit

  4. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Iheanacho in for Vardy at half time

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      for perez

    2. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What?!

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

    Arm glued to his body. Does it matter really?

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

    Martial & Tomori > Alli & Kelly working well.

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

    o my...

    I have 2 FTs
    and exact cash for Tomori + Zaha ➡ Kelly & Alli

    Go for it or too knee jerky?

    Yay or Nay?

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

    Aurier & Rico both on my bench 😐

  9. Nabs Kebabs
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kane, Martial -> Alli, Ings (-4) 😎

  10. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Vardy(c) = 0 pts so far.

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

      Party time is always second half have you not seen a Leicester game all season?

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

    Dele Alli is getting very hard to ignore.

    1. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I didn't ignore

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

    I’m not sure it physically possible to get a green arrow this season.

    Anyone managed it?

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

    Ofc Vardy will blank when i have him for 1st time this season

    1. markus808
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Leicester is such a second-half team, odds are always really good after 1st half

  14. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    VAR 3bps confirmed

  15. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mount YC

  16. markus808
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    My Kelly (6), Dendoncker (6), Rico (9) bench looking good 🙂

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      kelly got 7 lol

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

        Haha. Rub it in 🙂

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

    Mount YC

  18. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I was ready to go with
    Son + Jimenez

    But now I am thinking of
    Alli + Rashford

    What do you think?

  19. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    FFS 3 yellows for me..

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Berty making up for his red card

  21. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aurier and Dings owner.

  22. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Getting so many 50/50 decisions g wrong this season
    Last GW i got Rash & Tielemens over of Alli or Ings...

  23. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sadio gonna tear it up tonight.

    1. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      (M)ane

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

    Its the season for cards after all.

  25. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Var ruined Vardy penalty. Vardy and Soyboy yellow

  26. JJO
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Said it million times I will say it once more
    Faking hate this game

  27. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Wish the games buffered with sound. Bit of an oversight that.

  28. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mount goddamn muppet

  29. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Worst GW ever...

  30. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    My bench has more points than my starting 7!

    1. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      3 bookings already for me. 5 points from 8 players. I need a better second half. Mane, TAA and lundy to come.