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

    Contemplating Chilwell (if injured) to Kelly and Maddison to Alli

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

    Maddison to Pulisic?

  3. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Everybody flicking over to the derby for half time then I take it!

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

    Not having vardy the past 5/6 weeks has basically killed my season.

    Bringing him in and captaining him this gw, and he continues to wreck my season.

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

      I have had him for 3-4 week but captained blanks on Sterling and Mane. This week is probably his 1 pointer with a yellow so a still blank C 🙂

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good thing about Vardy is that he doesn't stop trying to score for the whole 90, he'll get his chances.

  5. Come on you Kante
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Help needed.

    If my startingdefender doesn’t play and my first defender subs does not play will it go to the next defender on sub bench who has played in the game week ?

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

      Yes

      1. Come on you Kante
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Get in Rico 9points

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

          So lucky

  6. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I am doing Salah to alli and will leave 4M ItB

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

      I'll do this as well.. then watch as salah scores his haul on the weekend.

  7. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    maddison, mount, connolly to alli, ings, 5.6 mf for a -4?

  8. Stef rocks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This is going to be the GW of benches - all cheap options are rocking - Rico, Kelly, Dendo
    Now i expect Greenwood to score LOL 🙂

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

      Salah owners the real winners!

      1. Stef rocks
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He still can get a cameo appearance. Real winners so far are Martial and Chilwell owners !

  9. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Perez and mount to Who ???

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

      Grealish, JWP, H. Barnes, H Wilson.

  10. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    YCs for Vardy Soyuncu and Mount. Really like I need those points

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

      I have Aurier benched behind Tomori. Martial not starting means I stand a chance 🙂

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

    Man i just always fail and struggle with midweek gameweeks! They always seem to be erratic

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

    Checking my team and seeing Vardy (C) didnt start. Rico might come off the bench then, stay off the pitch Jamie!

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You fool no one

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

      Are you joking haha

      1. McSauce
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He sees a zero and doesn’t realise he got a yellow

        .... I remember my first fpl season

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

      he is joking obvs

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

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

    Go for it or too knee jerky?

    Yay or Nay?

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

      I'd keep Zaha tbh

    2. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Zaha is crap. Do it.

  14. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kane + Douglas to Mousset + Alli for free. Yay or nay.

  15. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Done Son/Mousset instead of Ali/Ings. Lovely!

  16. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane assist

  17. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Vardy(c) Soyuncu Mount. Ideal.

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

    Mané assist

  19. Stef rocks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What a pasa by Mane wow

  20. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Origiiiiiii

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

    DIVOCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK

    MANE ASSIST

  22. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli should be ashamed of himself. Under performing to get poch sacked. Now scoring for fun.

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

      You're probably joking, but he was playing further back.

      Back up top now.

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

      Ha ha, good one. Kinda set up differently don't you think. 🙂

  23. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    G Origi
    A Mane

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

    Mane A

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

    Mane assist

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

    Origi G

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

    Would you bring Tammy straight back in and admit defeat? Or go for Ings/Mousset instead. Lacazette on the way out barring a hattrick tmr

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

      If you're happy with rest of the team,then go for best attacker in best clubs out of those ,which is tammy

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

    Lovely goal

  29. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling and Tielemans for KDB and Alli for free?

    1. McSauce
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Think I’ll be doing this

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

        Nice, mate, cheers.