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

    At least those who sold Tammy can get him back on the cheap

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

      No funds unless I sell Salah

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        That not bad either.

  2. Railwayman
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Thank you Mount !!!

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

    Damn it Mount! 🙁

  4. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    VAR is pointless.

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

    Rashford mental dive but slight touch so given

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

    TAA should have got a red card for that.

  7. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Soft pen at Old Traf, wow.

  8. That Was Easy!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Carlsen is going to win FPL. Kelly, Dendoncker points off the bench for Salah + Martial, then (C) switch from Salah to Mane.

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      he has planned it since gw10

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      jammy casual!

      1. Calvin Valance
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Should play blitz fpl

  9. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    RASHHHHYYYYY

  10. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Just the Mount, Dendoncker, Kelly bench.

    When will the nightmare end

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Bench points are here to stay

      NBD anyore, gotta accept them

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

    Anyone have the balls to C Abraham and hope if he didn’t play the VC would do or way too risky if he got a cameo?

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

    Genuinely can't believe it lol

  13. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Shocking first half, Mount GOAL great start to the 2cd half!

  14. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    At least Liverpool have conceded, great news

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

      Why is that great news?
      I have double pool defence still

      1. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        No expensive Liverpool defenders

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

    rah never dives, must b contact

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

    Tammy or Rashford in?

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

    How was that a pen for Rash?

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

      Clipped his ankle.

  18. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

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

    Go for it or too knee jerky?

    Yay or Nay?

  19. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    SICK of Rashford now. Time to sign him up?

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

    Rashford > Mbappe

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

      😀 Maybe you were right!

  21. Stef rocks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Wow Rashford starting to look essential !

  22. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    The likes of Aurier, Lundstram, Soyuncu are offering better value than the Liverpool fullbacks. Don't think they're worth the outlay over the strong alternatives until Liverpool sort out their defence.

  23. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford world class next few years!

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      At what?

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

    Need Tomori and Salah off the bench to punish jammy bench points

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

    Mount is a troll

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

    Terrible midweek so far..

  27. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    3 benched players each scored a goal and now Mount who I removed from the team has only gone and scored too! Haha amazing

  28. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Yes Rashford help me here mate!

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

    Console myself with selling Tammy to Rashers, it's just the Kun to Kane that irks.

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

    Mark my words Vardy shall never score again.

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

      ok thanks mate LOL

    2. Railwayman
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      😀