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. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah or Kane C ?

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

      Salah

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

      Serious question?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        unfortunately yeah. looking for diff

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

          None on form and that’s not great differential approach am afraid

      2. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        P.S. i hate these type of answer, if you cant help just pass mate. zz

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Really??

          😉

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

          Negative thinking ... come on mate

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

      LOL

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

      Neither

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

      IMAGINE owning a luxury bench player and a CDM classified as a striker and considering captaining any of them

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

        I thought the question was joking

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          joke for you, i stucked with both.

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

            Got stung by Kane already and will never come back if that’s help, get rid of both

            1. Niho992
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              to rid of both for -8 before Bournemouth and Burnley ?

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

                Salah if you must, be prepared by cameo ... risky approach

                1. Niho992
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  i think he will start vs Bou

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

    A) Salah+Mount -> Son, Alli for free
    B) Salah, Tomori, Greenwood -> Alli, Kelly, Rashford -4?

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

      A

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      I'd wait for rashford after City's game so yeah A for me

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

        Big stats against big teams though...

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

          Double up Spurs at home against Burnley tho

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

            True true...

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

              Double up would mean missing out on Rash until wc..

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

      I like B

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

      I guess if I knew Whether Tomori was dropped or rotated it would help

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

        Could be 3 starters for 1..

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

      B

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

    Your GW16 captain getting himself ready for Saturday.

    https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1202363220012478464

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rotation risk?

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

        If Mané doesn't play today, three goals aren't scored and Liverpool draw.

        1. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          And if Mane isn't rested before Salzburg?

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

      mane did the full 90, so could get rested this weekend.

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

    Dele and Lunds both in my draft since it started, i knew 😀

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

    Getting Alli, who to take out? Will WC as late as possible so for the next 4?

    A) Pulisic (eve, BOU, to, SOU)
    B) Maddison (avl, NOR, mci, LIV)

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

      A

    2. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A if you have Tam, B if you have Vardy

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

        I have both haha 🙂

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

      A short-term, B long-term.

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

        My thinking yeah 🙂

  6. 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.

    Also: Jiminez > Tammy?

    1. AndyCook
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes, both for me

      • fr3d
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Aurier over Tielemans probably yeah. You think Pulisic starts again at Everton?

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

          Subbed a little early, so more likely than not I reckon.

          Could go either way.

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

        Yea, start Aurier over Tiel. Just about.

        I am pondering the same Jimmy to Tammy move. Seriously tempted. Two great fixtures next.

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

        Yes & Yes

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      worth doing sterling to alli for free?
      better form and fixtures......less like;y to be rotated

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

      Rashford is an amazing player, anyone who thinks otherwise doesnt understand football.

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

        Thanks for the heads up Professor.

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

          he gets a lot of criticism

      2. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hm.

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Cue brosstan

        2. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I need someone to blame for my crappy season. Thanks for convincing me to not go for Lundstram pre-season ;(

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Hahahaha it’s come to half way through the season for this. Fair play you can have this one

            1. Maddi Son
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Never would've thought going Hanley over Lundstram would end up being such a huge decision. Probs cost me around 300-500k places. Is what it is.

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

        Overstatement much

      4. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I feel like he's stepped up a notch this season. He's making better decisions in the key moments.

      5. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        he is overrated english player, another Darren Bent but i agree he is great for teams who has ambition to be in top 10 like United...

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

        Hes shite 😉

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

        Probably the best player outside the top 6

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

        He is improving, and would be even better if he gets played up front all the time.

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

          thats the thing he is flexible, he is smart

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

        give it 2/3 years and you will see 😉

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

      What to do with 1.6m

      Pope — Heaton
      Taa Lundy Tomori — Rico Lascelles
      Kdb Mane Pulisic Mount — Cantwell
      Vardy Rashford Ings

      A: Tomori + Mount >> Kelly + Alli (-4)
      B: Lascelles + Mount >> Hanley + Alli (-4)
      C: Pulisic >> Alli
      D: Mount + Rashford >> Alli + Tammy (-4))

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

      Grealish or Maddison? Don’t fancy a champs league playing mid for this weekend at least

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

        Mads imo

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

          Grealish is Pukki part two. Tallented player in a bad team.

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

            Pukki on 82 points tho.
            More points then Kane, Sterling Salah and so on.
            Not bad value for money.

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

              Granted

      2. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Son/Alli to be rested in irrelevant Champions League game?

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

          Have Alli and can’t afford Son. Just suspicious of Pulisic especially at this point

      3. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Maddison, easy

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

        Must be madders

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

      How good option is Grealish? After this weekend Villa has some many fixtures.

      1. Kroos Kontrol
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Going to be a very popular option once GW18 hits, given how good his fixtures are (and that for GW18 specifically, Liverpool blank while most of the other big teams play each other)

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

      Would having both Son and Alli be too much spurs?

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

        Son is a left back under Jose

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

          I want Alli but don't know who to sell for him. It's either Pulisic or Son.

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

          Demonstrably false

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

        Probably yes

    8. luk46
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would you do VVD + Mount > max 5.8 + Alli?

      Could also do Salah > Son...

      1ft with 1.3 itb, rest is looking fine

    9. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Vardys yellow in first half for diving was harsh no?Only seen it the once but it looked a foul?

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

        Harsh
        Considering his luck so far he deserves it I guess

        1. Feed tha Sheep
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Obviously I’m a biased owner but that incident cost a lot of points should have been a penalty instead of a yellow. Def didn’t look like a dive anyway

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

      Jiminez is definitely Mr Consistent but he is not explosive enough.
      Only 1 double digit score this season.
      Hasn't scored 2 goals yet only 2 assists once.
      Is he worth keeping?

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

        The alternative?

        He is on pens, but I will shift to Tammy again.

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

          I don't have Tammy or Rashford either

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

            I'd get Tammy then, maybe Rash later.

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

        Im gonna give him one more game and then back to tammy before bournemouth

    11. Kroos Kontrol
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tielemans -> Alli done ahead of the price rise.

      Any thoughts on who to bench between Rashford and Kelly? I was originally set on Rashford, but he looked so good today.

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

        Don’t bench Rashford

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

          City haven’t kept a clean sheet for ages as well

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

        Kelly?
        Play Rashford.
        Derby, on form and on pens.

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

        Kelly

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

      Villa defensive stats are so bad but they never seem to get hammered. Any fans know why? Just lucky? Most shots conceded by a mile and thought they might sit deep and allow shots from outside the box but they also have most shots conceded in the box. Tonight they conceded 25 shots with 16 in the box! Anyway it looks good for Leicester assets at the weekend

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

        They will get hammered at the weekend.

    13. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Someone tell me a story about how they were 800k before Christmas, and ended up finishing top 10k. Losing faith in this bag of ass season

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This is a marathon not a sprint. Plenty of time to place outside 2 million

      2. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dead teams have better ranking than me this season

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

        this guy a season or two ago, he was at like 1 mil. he took a -8 evry single week and went from like 1 mil to 25k in 5/6 weeks. didnt see him again so dont know what he finished on, but he was member here. His transfers were flawless

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

          The Special one

        2. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          That's crazy. Think I might take a more aggressive approach. Being patient has not paid off at all for me this season. Especially with Liverpool's defence.

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

            im not saying hits are good lol, but he got some unreal luck and eye test or sumting. Gl tho whatev yo do, theres many good diffs

    14. Macam Dave
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Help pls as bench head ache pick two

      1) Ings or 2) tielmans
      A) Kelly or B) Lund

      Thanks

    15. Twisted Melon
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling to Alli?

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

        Ok

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

        No brainer, Sterling is a left back classified as a 12m mid.

      3. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        The question is why you still have Sterling 🙂
        Hehe just kidding, do the move.

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

      does tammy just score because he is tall? is that whats been going on?

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

      Anyone got news on the Tammy or Willian injury?
      Lamps said Tammy's is not too bad (whatever that means)
      Didn't mention anything on Willian but he is flagged, worried because he is my differential.

    18. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy's Injury - his hip probably wasn't fully healed and he's put pressure elsewhere on his body to compensate for this hence the knee injury.

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

        is he injured or not ? some people saying he is and others saying lamps said hes fine ?

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

          Lamps didn't say he's fine

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

      Salah>Alli best move before price rise? Leaning towards him over Son so can upgrade elsewhere.

      2FT 0ITB

      Henderson
      TAA Lundstram Söyünkü Tomori
      Mané KDB Salah Pulisic
      Vardy Abraham

      Ryan Rico Dendoncker Greenwood

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

        Yup

    20. fplking14
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimenez > Abraham a no brainer?

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

      Jimenez to Rashford?

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

      Robbo perez to baldock alli ?

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

        Alli yes, Baldock no. Get Kelly, you have lunds already right?

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

          Yea but have kelly too because a lot of people buy henderson and i will have double sheffield defence

    23. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why did all my players have to play in a midweek? No rest for nobody.
      Tamme and Rico on the bench, -8 hit, captained Vardy, possibly down to 1.5 or 1.6 million, weeks of hard work undone to even claw back to almost inside a million.

      Such a tough ride, is there anyway back from this? Looking for kind wirds i guess 🙁

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        words*

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

        Still loads of time left of the season 🙂

    24. Openboxman
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial, connoly and son > tammy, grealish and alli for -8?

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

      Will Rashford rise tonight?