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. GAMBIT
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captained Mane last week. Captained Vardy this week.

    I hate the captaincy

    1. GAMBIT
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sorry for the negative top post

    2. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Haha same here

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

      Effin this

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same here . At least vardy.getting points this week

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

      I had this same problem

    6. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same here. But tbh, Vardy didn't blank at least unlike Mane last weem

      1. dark91
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Week*

    7. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same lol

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

      I thought the same badluck. I really wont mind if they remove captaincy in fpl

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

      Same same

  2. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just when you thought Everton couldn't get any worse!!

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

    Barnes deserves a goal

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

    Salah gets his rest !!!

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

    Can't see Silva lastin to the weekend

  6. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Poor Everton.

  7. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lol at Klopp critics. Some beautiful goals tonight

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

    Tasty haul from Mane(C) 😀

    Silva's going in the morning.

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

    Silva's bags were packed last night

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

    Does Mane cover Salah?

    I'm worried about Salah having pens, but other than that.

    Thanks.

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

      I have both still suffering. Worth doing Salah to Alli? Problem is last time I removed Salah before Bou he did a hatrick

    2. Licky
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think so.

  11. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Liverpool pickpocketing again

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

      Oh we're very bitter tonight.

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

      Haaland would relish it

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

    Magnus going to win the thing methinks.

  13. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Well done to Mane captainers. Green arrow!

  14. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Silva Christmas in Spain

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

      Watford

  15. Garth Marenghi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sooooo does Tammy start this weekend?

  16. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best Martial getaway plan. Got 2 ft.

    A. Martial to Maddi (or someone 7,9m)
    B. Martial and Tomori to Alli and Kelly
    C. Martial and Pulisic to Alli and Mount

    1. Paulie Walnuts
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

    Sold Trent instead of Robbo 2 weeks ago.

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

    Mane's overall improvement over the last 2 years has been insane.

  19. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    FPL combo meal right there.

  20. WrightnBright
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I am a sheep. Had (c) Mane but followed the herd everyone was on Vardy. Idiot.

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

      I had Tammy C but wussed out

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

      Same here 🙁

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Didnth sam wig Aubameyang

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

    C'mon Vardy, one more.

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

      Or two 🙁

  22. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    About time , people admit Mane is a better footballer than Salah? Not just on current form but last season as well, and overall consistency as well

  23. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on Jimmy -> Rash after this GW? Jim has TOT, nor, MCI and then I WC (he plays liv gw 20 for what its worth). Rash has EVE, wat, NEW in the same period

    Would mean getting Alli over Son this GW

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

    My 7 Yr old has Salah (c) Mane (vc).

    Sending him to bed at half time! He's already ahead of me!

  25. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guy I’ve got a bet with in work has bench boosted with Alli, Rico and Dendocker. I’m absolutely sick!

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

    Bringing Tammy back in..
    Ings or Jimenez out?

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimmy for me

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

    Really need another Vardy goal to get him into Baps and a decent score, yellow has wiped his 2 or 3 baps

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

    Richarlson goal

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

      FFS

  29. Steinburg FC
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I’m not just saying it, I chose my cap early always, but had mane cap until an hour before deadline... 🙁

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

    Richarlison goal