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. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Instead of 17 points on bench it's 11. So could have been worse.

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

    Mane getting angry because Klopp not giving him a rest.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Conspiracy theory

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

    Hoping for a Mousset madness tomorrow

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

      So many good forwards at the moment. I'm struggling to decide.

  4. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jeez man, Mané should have a ridiculous amount of points in this game.

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

    NO SALAH 😎

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

    htf did Mané miss that?!?!

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Twice now

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

    Everton should be out of sight

  8. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane couldve got a hatty if he was clinical

  9. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    81 points (Capt Vardy) with Lord to go 🙂

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

      Dayum

    2. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks for sharing

    3. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice. 76 here with Mane captain. Henderson and Lundstram to go.

    4. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Amazing!

    5. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice one

    6. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      74 with Lord to go...

  10. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Has anyone else noticed that playing this game is actually quite annoying?

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

      Yeah. It also ruins my enjoyment of watching the games.

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

      Lol, nothing is more annoying.

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

      Yeah

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That's why it's addictive

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

    Mane captain fail.

    1. Thunder Warrior
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      indeed

  12. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Tammy injured again or just precautionary sub?

  13. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Dendonker comes in for salah.

    Probably should have started him over mo anyway.

  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah (C) this weekend. Going f--- it mode.

    1. Grand Thibauto
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That's the spirit

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

      It might just work ....you never know

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He got a Hatty in that fixture last season

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

    No way will Klopp bring on Salah this late. 😈

    1. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Especially with no subs left.

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

      Even Liverpool can't use 4 subs.

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

        Silly me

  16. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If Everton defend like this vs Chelsea then Tammy is on his way for a hatty!!!

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

      Silva will be sacked and there will be a 'Silva sacking' bounce

  17. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    With Alli rising tonight...

    1. Zaha to Alli (free)
    2. Ings and Dendoncker to Alli and Greenwood (-4)
    3. Jimenez and Dendoncker to Alli and Mousset (-4)

    Quiet like 3 as Wolves fixtures turn, but could cause benching headache!

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

      1

    2. Rojo's Modern Life
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      3. A good headache

  18. mdm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Dilva to Alli?

    1. FPL Bargain
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes. I did it this week even though I knew waiting until now was the best time. You've picked the perfect moment. Great form, fixture decent turning great later, potential captain in a few weeks time.

  19. FPL Bargain
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone got the latest on the Liverpool DGW pretty sure I want to move away from Salah and the Liverpool double up but is there something around the corner?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Unlikely to be until the 30s

  20. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captained Mane last week and Vardy this week. I just can't seem to get the captaincy decision right this year. It's unbelieve le. I would be better off perma captaining one of them

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

      This

  21. FPL FREAK
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 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. FPL FREAK
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone....??

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

      Alli + Ings, but if you have Madders/Pulisic + Rashford then stick

      1. FPL FREAK
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I don't have any of them... Right now I have to choose between 2 duos.....

    3. FPL Bargain
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah Ings potential is waning Rashfords is on the rise if he can maintain his form. He had a great run last winter.

  22. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    lol u see vvd scream to try put kean off his shot

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      noticed that lol 😀

  23. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    My bench's point last 3 gw: 14, 12, 21

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

      my last 4: 36, 10, 2, 4 so I'm improving. That Lundstram 21 + Soyuncu 14 felt brutal when most people got 1-2 of them subbed in and I didn't.

  24. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I feel like a loser here with only Kelly 6 points of the bench

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

    Mane (c) very sweet and sour feeling now...

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

      Just be happy about captaining him.

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      greedy

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

      nice work, i was between him and Vardy but went the wrong way - be happy you made the right choice, even if he could have had a hatrick!

  26. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Planning WC gw20
    1 FT (£0.7m itb)
    Any ideas?

    Hend
    TAA Lund Aurier
    Mane KDB Maddison Pulisic
    Vardy Jiminez Tammy

    Heaton,soy,tomori,dend

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

      Save unless you want Alli

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

      KDB to Alli?

  27. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Mane at last getting his rest on Saturday?

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

      In this form? Lol

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

        How many games has he played this season? After the African Cup of Nations. He is on form of course but couldn't entirely rule it out.

    2. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no way lol

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

      Chance, next Tuesday is a massive match for them

    4. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think yes

  28. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Greenwood now an option considering Martial injury?

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

      I'll get someone more reliable if you want a viable bench. Fodder is fine.

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

    salah starts next GW for sure after full rest...

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

      Yeah, I'm captaining him for sure.

  30. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling to Mane

    Or

    Sterling to Salah (rested)

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

      I'm thinking the second one and captain

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mane.
      Stay away from Salah.

      Salah owner btw

      1. Bubbles1985
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Planned for Mane captain this GW but missed the deadline last night...

        Think I've missed the boat

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

      Mane. Own both, getting rid of Salah