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. Absolutely Flabulous
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Someone please settle a dispute raging amongst my mini-league.

    When Vardy was booked after 38 minutes he had 0 points, because his 1 point for playing up to 60 minutes was wiped out.

    The point of contention is this: if you captained Jamie, why didn’t the booking double from -1 to -2, making him a -1 overall?

    Do minus points for a booking not double up for captain’s?

    1. TOPCAT1960
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      His score was 2 surely at the point of booking

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It doubles the total score, not the individual items making up the score.

    3. Ole.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Overall points double.

    4. No Totti No Party
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      U are great at math dont u

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

      no they dont double

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

      What?

      He was on 1 point so as captain 1 x 2 = 2.

      He then got yellow carded so lost a point: -1 x 2 = -2

      So then he was on 2 - 2 = 0

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

      Is this a joke? The booking was minus 2 but he was on 2 points before as his appearance point doubled as captain

    8. dansmusen
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Zero X2 equals Zero

    9. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      if he was captain then he had 2 points instead of 1 *facepalm*

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

      His one point for up to 60 mins was also double so 0 overall after booking.

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

      I think you're overthinking things. Just calculate the individual player's total score and multiply it by 2.

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

      Ffs did you go to school?

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

        He got 1 point at kick off x 2 for captain so 2. Then he got booked so -1 x 2 = -2. Net points ZERO.

    13. rojojojo
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Well the 1 point for playing was doubled as well...

    14. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What the hell

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

      Post of the week.

    16. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      lol

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

      Doit listen to this lot you're right and should email fpl towers immediately. Let us know how you get on.

    18. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yes but his appearance points double. His 1 appearance point was 2 for those who captained him. His booking is -1 but minus 2 for those who captained him.

    19. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He was on 1 point.
      Lost 1 point so was on Zero points
      Double Zero for Captain is still Zero.

    20. Slow regard for silent thin…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What a fool

    21. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Hope this is a joke

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Hulk it

  2. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford or Abraham in?

    Tielemans or Mount out first?

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

      Former 2

    2. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I've asked your top question too, I'm trying to fathom.

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

    Vardy 0 bonus?

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

      Yes.

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

      Definitely

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

      Yep 🙁

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

      Yes.

  4. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic finally stops rising following 2, 2, 2.

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

      Him & Zaha were a trap, Jimmy was never a a Tammy replacement.

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

        He's not a trap. Zaha is.

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

    Why did I not play BB for the second time this season?

    56 on pitch
    28 on bench

    Lundy & Mousett tomorrow

    🙁

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

      Because you can only play it once.

  6. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Absolutely bang average week on about mid fifties with Lundstram to play. Probably a marginal red after tomorrow. Seems a decent enough result with two FTs and Abraham benched

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      surely most are on mid 50s?

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

      troll

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Top 10k AVE about 51, bit less outside top 10. People own Auber, hendo, mousset etc. Will prob be a minor red

    3. Slow regard for silent thin…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Sounds about right. Definitely not a troll post. Think most in mid 50s-60s

    4. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Think I’m on 77 after baps with Henderson and Lundstram to go finally a good week. Vardy captain slightly disappointing

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

    Sick of that Maddison goal. Mousset brace and Salah bench needed.

  8. Chi not God
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mane ©!!!

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

      Nice!

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Well played!

  9. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pick 1

    Zaha
    Madd >>>>>> Alli
    Pulisic

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

      Pulisic due to rotation

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

        Says who

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

      Keep Maddy & Alli

      1. Threat Level Midnight
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I have the 3 on the left. Which one out to Alli

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

          1,3

  10. The Gambler.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Did the live league table on a.new.planet die?

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

      You can use http://www.livefpl.net for live leagues, put your FPL id in the rank page and you will find your live leagues on the leagues page.

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

    Aurier is a baps monster! Looking forward to the added CSs ticking in.

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

    Salah cameo cmon

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

    Need more TAA involvement. That Maddy goal ruined everything.

  14. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rotation galore at the weekend for dendoncker and rico coming in for 1 point each while staying on bench this week

  15. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bench points are literally irrelevant. If anything its good to have them rather than 0 point scoring duds. Stop whining.

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Kelly in for Tomori thank you

  16. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    I’d rather take a punt on a Salah cameo and risk 1pt then take Cantwell off the bench blocking Aurier and Rico

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

    90th minute Maddison 7 point goal is what FPL is all about 😎

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah that’s a great feeling

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

      As a non owner I had to be content with being a Foxes fan. Happy enough

      1. Slow regard for silent thin…
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Foxes are doing real well. Hope pool drops some points

  18. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pope
    Robbo soy lund .. rico kelly
    Sterling perez mount mane
    Tammy vardy kane

    2 fr ... tell me

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

    Hahaha! A rival played Firmino, Martial and Tamori. His bench is Tammy, Dendocker and Kelly! Wow.

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

    Risky getting Abraham in? How did the injury look?

  21. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Can't get much worse than that..

    Sold Mount for Pulisic

    Sold Abraham

    Went Tieleman over
    Maddison.

    Bought Kane instead of Alli.

    1. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      This takes the cake for sure

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

      Well done sir, that takes skill.

  22. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Benching nightmare turned out predictably badly. Now for part 2 this week

    Bench two

    TAA
    Rico
    Soy
    Lund

    Maddison
    Pulisic
    Son
    Jiminez
    Ings

  23. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tomori OUT, Abraham IN. 😀

  24. Wakanda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    did tammy got injured again ?
    soccernet says that he is substituted due to an injury

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

    kean will nab

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

    A nice parting gift from Maddison.

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

      villa norwich coming up, he stays

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

      Who you selling for?

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

        Alli

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

      Should give him a few more gws..

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

      He stays until GW19.

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

        This

    5. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Im planning to ship him out as well after next GW. Who are you getting in?

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

    Jimi back to Tammy. Easy decision

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

      tammy off injured. rashford for me

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

        MCI away?

    2. Spambo
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Naa i'm keeping Jimi, why would you want to get rid?

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

        TAmmy better pick. And I’m playing with 2 strikers

    3. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He could be injured

  28. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Abraham bad injury???

    1. Spambo
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It didn't look bad.

  29. Mikeharbrw
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    I'm looking at Alli's next 5 and kdb's next 5 and I think Alli will outscore him. Would be ballsy though...

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

    Keane taking the Dunk role here...