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. HNI
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Last time i removed Salah before Bou match he scores hatrick...Worth doing Salah to Alli?But Salah seems he got his rest this gw

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

      Having the same problem.

      1. HNI
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Maybe with imp Salzburg ucl match midweek he will be rested further? Whereas Spurs have sealed 2nd place so.Alli seems.nailed

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

          If it was one transfer I would hesitate, but for me its salah connolly to alli tammy. That makes it easier for me! Mane seems enough cover on his form

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

    Tettey assist.

    Green arrow for his owner.

    1. HNI
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mount owners blocking it lol

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

      Which is Norwich.

  3. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    That Pukki player looks decent. Anyone know about him??

  4. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pukki!! Great stuff

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

    Soooooooooooo
    Lacazette Jimenez Maddison to Tammy Ings Alli (-4)?

    Couple 0.1s away from affording Rash over Ings

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

      Not Ings IMO.

    2. HNI
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Next is Mcity so Rash can wait

    3. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Jimenez and dodge the -4?

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

    I held Pukki for so long and when I sold him he gets 2 goals and an assist since. Oh dear

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

    My worst week in a long time unless Jimenez gets a return

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

      I own him so Zero chance

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

      Me too. And Trent/Madds

    3. HNI
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I have him put glad Mount rewarded me with patiencem Was all set on Mount to Pulisx/Zaha but thought Avl H is wrong time

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

    Come on Watford. wipe that cleanie

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

      You can cut out that sort of talk right away! (please)

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

      I’m routing for Watford cleanie killers

  9. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pukki with 2 goals and an assist since I got rid 3 gameweeks ago

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Damn, after all those blanks

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

      PUKKIPARTY IS BACK

      Kane-->PUKKI DONE

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

    DCL streetwise

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

    70k to 250k

    Dropping like stone.

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

      10k to 35k here

  12. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    For goodness sake Jiminez. Missed a sitter

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

      Not the first time today

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

    Tomori & Zaha

    Kelly & Alli

    for 2 FTs?

    Have exact cash?

    Yes or No?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Y

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

      That was last weeks move?

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

    Who’s more essential to get in Alli or Rashford?

    For Jimenez/Maddison

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

      Rash

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

        Not what I wanted to hear haha.

        City next tho

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’d say Rashford

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

      Alli

  15. Vlad Tepes
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tomori stay on the bench please

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

      Same here thinking if he does Rico points are coming my way

  16. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Harry 😉 down

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

      😉 😉 *

  17. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Some game of ball at Anfield.

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

    Jiminez > Tammy such a fail move.

    Would think about moving back, if not for GW18 fixture

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

    Madness to transfer out Pulisic and Mount for hits right? Would be for Alli and Rashford

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

      #DoitNow

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

    Need another goal Jamie or its a massive fail.

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

    How is Pulisic doing? Anyone watching the game

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      others dominating

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

    crappest GW eevr

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

    Pls give Salah Tomori Firmino cameos

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

      No

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

      Think Salah gets his rest

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

      This

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

    Tielemans CS confirmed

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

      I'd bench for Aurier next week but he has Villa..... grrrr

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

    Need some more goals Vardy / Jimenez / Madds

  26. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    James has a lovely curve on his shots.

  27. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kane > Abraham?

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

      Every day of the week, and next.

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

      Yes

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

    Knew that Mount would score when I got Pulisic in for him.

    Still did it. I like pain.

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

      I honestly thought pulisic is better longer bterm option. Damn frustrating

  29. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maddison always disappoints

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

      Getting Alli in for him

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

        Want to do this too, but Maddison has Villa and Norwich next!

  30. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Can't believe I did mount to pulisic. Why???? And retained martial instead of getting alli.