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. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cantwell and Jimenez to Alli and Connolly

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ?

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

        ?

    2. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no

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

    Is that it for Tomori?

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

      Sing that to the theme of that's zamora

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

      Christmas period will mean a little bit of CB rotation.

      I wouldn't be worried about keeping him anyway - we're hopeless at clean sheets.

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

        Just someone turning up will be a start!

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

      Missed a CL game last week so he wasn't 'rested'.

      Think he'll still play but he can't be relied on.

      Rudiger back soon makes it worse for him.

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

        Agree

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

    Pope
    TAA / Pereira / Lundstram
    Mané / KDB / Alli / Pulisic / Tielemans
    Vardy / Jimenez

    Button // Aurier / Connolly / Rico

    Thinking I should start Aurier? I'd do it for Tielemans, although Villa's defence is pretty poor.

    .... and Jimenez back to Tammy?

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

    Keep Jimenez & Ings or bring back Tammy?

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      would you have to downgrade Ings too far?

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

      Keep

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

      Can Ings go back to Tammy in one move?

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

        Yes no problem have the cash

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Then yes

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

    Incredible what klopp has built.
    Players that haven't played for ages or with less time this year are playing as a team, and they never left on the bench.

    1. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Indeed esp powercube was great today

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

      It's Liverpool as a whole. They've been building behind the scenes for a while with stats-based scouting. Firmino was a famous example of this.

  6. syke63
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No reason not to do Salah to Mané, correct?

    1. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Too late now. I reckon it's Mane's turn to rest next. Then he has no GW18 so ship Salah for another mid

  7. PrettyDick
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Been away all night and would really appreciate if somebody who watched the Spurs' game could give me an insight on how Alli and Son looked.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli is like a F, Son was peripheral...somewhat involved, but far from the point of attack.

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

        Thanks! What does it mean that "Alli is like a F" though? 🙂

        1. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Erm, F = Forward!!

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

      Son wasn't really involved.
      Alli looked ok, very well taken goal. Overall spurs were awful and didn't look up for it at all.

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

        thank you!

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

    Any confirmed DGW’s before Jan?

    1. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No chance for it

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

    Can i do

    Robbo and perez for Baldock and Alli ???

    Remove that pool favorite defender.. and bring form spurs attacker ???

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

      Do it

  10. Ciarant20
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Jimenez and Pope for Gazzaniga and Abraham good?

    Got 2FTs and Pulisic. I like the rest of my team

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

      Wouldn't get Gazza

    2. Pia06rc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would rather Guiata

    3. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not sure I’d want Gazzaniga. Can you afford Henderson/Guaita?

    4. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would do Pulisic Pope to Tammy Gazza

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        What??

  11. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Greenwood > Rashford. Even with Man City this week? Long term will be good

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

      Rashford likes a goal against city. City still can't defend (though looked a better team in general against burnley). I wouldn't be put off by the fixture

  12. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to get now, Son or Alli? Will probably punt on other gw18 before decide on WC. Son higher ceiling/threat?

  13. Henning
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Repost

    Ramsdale out for? Other keeper is Pope

    1 Henderson( have Lundstram and Mousset)
    2. Ryan(have Dunk)
    3 Guaita

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

      Tough
      3

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

      3

  14. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I'm doing Martial + Aurier -> Alli + 4.2 defender (not Kelly)

    any recommendation? Kiko Femenia? eurgh, just get a 3.9?

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Williams? He should play some games.

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        thanks for the reply, that was my immediate idea but it got poo-poo'd - now thinking Mariappa or Femenia, not actually sure if I care whether they score points

        1. Hart-ake
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah I mean they are all much of a muchness really- not nailed but will likely play games here and there. Kiko of those two for attacking potential I guess?

          Slim pickings!

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            cheers, I am leaning Kiko - apparently he played terribly tonight 😀

  15. MiLK2018
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling to Alli?

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Or Son?

  16. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tieleman ➡️ Alli finally after thinking and talking about it for 3 wk ffs.

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do it

  17. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How was mount today

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

    Which option:

    A. McGinn -> Grealish
    B. Gazza -> Henderson
    C. save FT

    Thanks!

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If you have no other problems, save is fine.

  19. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane potentially rotated at Bournemouth?

    Want to captain - at least I can be sure vardy starts....thanks

    1. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah is only just back from injury. Both of them will start imo

    2. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Imo he will get rest ahead of a very imp. Game in ucl

    3. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Klopp always rotates in Dec. Ox, Bobby and Mo are all fresh so reckon that's the front 3

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

        Agree.

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

    A) Madders -> Alli, next week Jimmy + Montoya -> Rash + Kelly (5th def)

    B) Pulisic -> Alli, next week Jimmy + Montoya -> Rash + Kelly (5th def)

    C) Jimenez + Hayden -> Mousset + Alli (unlikely to get Rash later on but don't have to decide between Madders vs Pulisic out..)

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B looks OK if for free

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

        Ye

  21. CC22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Current team of:

    Pope, Burton
    TAA, Lundstram, Soyuncu, Tomori, Mings
    Mane, KDB, Son, Maddison, Cantwell
    Vardy, Jimenez, Ings

    2 FT and 0.6 ITB

    Is it worth doing the following for -4, as I currently have the exact money needed?

    Pope -> Henderson
    Tomori -> Kelly
    Jiminez -> Rashford

    Not entirely convinced by Jiminez out for a hit, but Rashford’s form is starting to look too good to ignore. Plus, whilst the City game isn’t an ideal first fixture, they’re not the greatest defence at the minute!

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

    Any obvious move(s) here? Will WC in GW20 so only 4 weeks to consider.

    Ryan
    TAA, Aurier, Lundstram
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, JWP
    Vardy, Abraham, Pukki

    Button, Söyüncü, Dendoncker, Williams
    Bank 0.0m, 2FT, WC available

    1. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pukki to Ings maybe? Appreciate Pukki’s back on form but Ings is too, plus has the fixtures.

  23. Pia06rc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone getting rid of TAA? Yes he gets assists but they can't keep cleanies and seems expensive for returns

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

      he got 10 last week, 3 this week.
      3x assists in 2 games and people want rid. I admit his 3 points today aint great, but no baps and pool conceded more than normal, and yelow card

      1. Pia06rc
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        More the lack of clean sheets for the price agree he will get assists

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He has ten assists.
      How many clean sheets does the best defenders have?

  24. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1908330/event/15

    I will just leave it here..

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jammy

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

      😀

  25. Reacher
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Feel like I have got away with murder tonight as a none Mane owner and a CS coming in fir Salah but.....

    A, Do I give Salah one more GW as he seems nailed to start v Bournemouth

    B, Swap to Mané as fast as poss and risk being stung by rotation

  26. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Wasnt lost on me that Mane ran the show and looked a far happier camper without Salah in his areas

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

      Am I really immature for sniggering at this?

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

        Was a decent double entendre!

  27. rubberdignerapids
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Do I hold or switch Pulisic to Son?

    Team would become:

    Henderson
    Lund / TAA / Soy
    Alli / Mane / Son* / KDB / Madds
    Jimenez / Vardy

    Button / Rico / Greenwood / Janmaat
    1.5 itb

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

      Hold, especially with no other Chelsea and fact you have Alli

  28. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So annoyed that I got rid of Tammy now. What was I thinking? Really thinking about getting him back in for Jimmy- madness?

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

      Not really. Fixtures turning now for Wolves.

  29. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Laca to

    A) tammy
    B) mouset (if played tomorow, wont get him)
    C) firmino
    D) rash

    1. Reacher
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      a

  30. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Have 9.6m for any midfielder that isn’t Alli.

    Maddison, Pulisic or Grealish?

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would be tempted by Grealish and bank the cash.

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      D.Silva?