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

    So who will be next Eve coach?

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

      David Moyes - Football Genius.

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

      Moyes.

      He has been in talks

    3. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Moyes

    4. Am sorry to say again it�…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Moyesehhhh!

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

      Eddie Howe

  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Thought on these moves? Too kneejerky?

    Pulisic, Tielemans, Greenwood out
    Alli, Cantwell, Mousset in -4

    Would give me this squad
    Gazza (4.0)
    TAA Robbo Lund (Soy, Rico)
    Mane KDB Son Alli (Cantwell)
    Vardy Abraham Mousset

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

      Not convinced by double Pool defense and double Spurs midfield.

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

    Mods having a shocker. Get your asses off twitter and do your job

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

      Are you getting ptsd from ignoring the comments?

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

        Mods banning harmless "lol@" posts on sight but when some gravless cretin troll comes along he can spam for pages without consequence.

  4. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Cyber idiot attack tonight

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

    Calm down guys. He is gone

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

      wHAT HAPPENED?

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

      comments removed thankfully

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

    Has the power gone off at Pool?

  7. HNI
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Did Tammy got subbed with injury? On sofascore its showing he wqs subbed injured again. Feels like he will be rested to play ucl.midweek if its anything even small

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yes injured

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

      Yeah people were saying subbed due to injury (knee).

    3. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      yes i watched the match, it was precautionary because of a knee bang, will 99.9% play on saturday

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

        Top math

  8. FPL FREAK
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    2 questions:

    1. Is it worth bringing in Ings now...?? Cuz he has only 3 good fixtures left before a flood of red ones.....

    2. Alli + Ings (or) Maddison/Pulisic + Rashford.....??

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

      Ings has been suspiciously fit for so long. I bet he will either get injured or rotated soon.

  9. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic to Alli for a free,

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Join me my fellow white

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

      Same dilemma here...

      Puli or Zaha for me...

  10. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mods watching game live on Amazon Prime?

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

      False advertising saying it is "live"

  11. lindeg
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    53 with lunds to play, average? above?

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      53 is top 10 k avg, so yeah

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

      Bang on it.

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

      Just above average I would say but long way to go even now.

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

      Average with less player to play than average - 10K all that

    5. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Red arrow with 54 with Lundy and Auba at 30k

    6. Angelic upstart
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Average in top 10k
      Slightly above if not

    7. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Absolutely bang on average

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

      actually, have aurier off the bench with 4 points, so 57, has to be a bit above right?

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

    Who are Salah owners getting as their autosub?

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Dendo
      Praying hard here

    2. SH
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Hope he stays on the bench. Rico

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

    Salah to?

    A. Alli
    B. Son

    Jimenez to?

    A. Rashford
    B. Tammy

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

      B

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

        Son

    2. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      im holding jimi until gw18, as hes the best captain option, so just get rid of salah, hes useless

  14. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tielemans, Mount & Kane ➡️
    Alli, Son & Tammy (-4)

    Thoughts?

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

      I like it

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

      Why not just tielmans and kane for alli and tammy for free

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Mount is crap too

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good

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

    Klopp would have to be stupid putting Salah on now

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

      Unless hes been talking crap about his injury.. if he is playing with it, you would give him the night off.

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

    Please please please no salah.. dont screw me klopp

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

      so much this. Need those Rico points

  17. rkpower1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Classic midweek evening scenes, what would you fellas do with this lot?

    Pope Heaton
    TAA Lundy Soy Rico Tomori
    KDB Zaha Mane Maddy Martial
    Jimmy Vardy Connolly

    1 FT 0.3 ITB

    Did Mount to Zaha this week, fail lol

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

      KDB to Alli?

      1. rkpower1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Tempted, KDB ticks along and worried re no City cover.

        Contemplating Tomori to Kelly and Martial to Pulisic for a hit (obvs hate -4)

        Or could just do Tomori to Aurier...

        1. rkpower1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Meant Martial to Alli for the hit!

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

    Calling it now.... Tammy rested at the weekend in preparation for CL on Tuesday

  19. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Admit defeat with Kane + Moura and go Son + Alli?

    1. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      The most sideways move in the history of sideways

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Why?

  20. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pretty happy with my team and two free transfers. Feel like I made a mistake getting Son over Alli. Might as well make the switch barring any injuries to anyone else before deadline?

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

      But Son could outscore Alli next week?

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Of course he could. Anyone could outscore anyone but Alli’s looked great these last few games.

        1. OverTinker
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          what KDB to Alli(have son)??

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

      I still slightly prefer Son

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

    Salah looking angry on the bench. Dropped for the important derby is an unwelcome message for him.

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

      Angry Salah against Bournemouth. Oh boi.

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

      His ankle is more important

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

      He’s been terrible

    4. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I don’t think it’s a message. They’re playing three games in a week. There’s going to be rotation.

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        And they’re managing his ankle injury.

    5. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What is the message?

  22. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic to Alli?

    Have Son and Abraham

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

      No probably if you already have Son

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

    Benched Cantwell these last 3 gameweeks and this week he finally gets autosubbed in for 2 points of course.

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

    Maddison+Martial >> Alli+Grealish here? Yay or nay? 2FTs.

    Pope
    TAA • Soyuncu • Lundy
    Son • KDB • Mané • Maddison • Martial
    Vardy. Tammy
    (McGov. Tomori. Rico. Greenwood)

  25. KickIt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Somehow knew I would end up getting a VAR frontline

  26. nzsheep
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tammy drop tonight?

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

      Lol at those who are still selling, the Chelsea player to have.

    2. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Ok

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

      Nope.

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

      No, reversing sales.

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

    Salah not even warming up, the ankle must be very bad.

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

    Ox and Keita warming. Seems good for Salah owners.

  29. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mane misses sitter

  30. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Dedondecker to Alli

    Kane to Ings or Pukki?