Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne returns to central midfield as Aguero makes the Man City bench

Kevin de Bruyne (£10.3m) takes his place in central midfield once again as Manchester City host Leicester City.

The Belgian was handed a more advanced role against Arsenal but is back in his usual position in Gameweek 18.

Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.3m) are the two selected to flank centre-forward Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) for the crucial encounter.

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero (£11.7m), who has been missing since Gamweeek 13, finally makes a return but is named among the substitutes for now.

Either way, it may spell the end of Jesus’ run of games in which he has been considered a nailed-on starter.

With plenty of Christmas fixtures to come, we may well see Aguero back in the starting line-up again very soon.

Meanwhile, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has reverted to his 4-1-4-1 formation for this afternoon’s visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Ayoze Pérez (£6.1m) and Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) return to the starting XI to add some width for the usual suspects of Jamie Vardy (£10.1m), James Maddison (£7.8m) and Youri Tielemans (£6.5m).

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Mendy, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker; de Bruyne, Gündogan, B Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, R Pereira; Ndidi; H Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Pérez; Vardy.

1,296 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How he hell has KDB not got a return in this match

    Could have 2G 2A on another day

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

    KDB captainers has been really unlucky this game, couldve easily hauled instead it looking like a 1 pointer

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      One of my most hated fpl phrases goes " On another day he would have hauled..."

  3. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So instead of scoring himself, KDB ends up with a booking instead. Great.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not his fault that ref is poor.

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

    Mahrez doing his best to keep Leicester in the game

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

    Barnes blows Vardy A

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

    Shouldn't that be a pen, didn't get the ball first Ederson

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

    I'm certainly happy I swapped captaincy from kdb to son this morning!

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

    Bring KDB back in isn't going to great but on the plus side my mini league leader capped him

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

    Was so close to captaining KDB, went Grealish in the end!

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

      Well done

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

      well done supaman

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

    This match is killing me. KdB should have scored a ton of points. But it's just one of those games...

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Big shout out to you if KdB blanks

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

    C’mon I need more goals have 4 attackers in this game and just Vardy to show a return for it

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KDB and ?

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

        Jesus.

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

          And Maddison

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Hmmm, still time. A bit excessive but no choice.

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

              Yeasssssssss

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

              It is excessive but I didn’t want to sell any for a hit hands were tied

              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Yep, well done.

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

    Albrighton on
    Barnes off

    Perez spared substitution because of Barnes injury.

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

      Bad injury ?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Doubt for next GW for sure.

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

        He was hobbling and needed the physio to lean on to get off the pitch.

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

    Mahrez shot was 100% going wide. Should be Soy OG

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keeper was where the ball was going.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        i.e on target

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

      Yawn

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

    Vardy bossing the baps

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

    Bit confused with the ref. Which side is he on?

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

      Whole league biased towards City.

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

    KDB (c) hurts

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

      Still 30 mind left

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

        ** mins **

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

      There you go

  17. Dreaming of glory
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Never get those given when a keeper does it but that should be a pen.
    If that's a def or midfielder taking someone out it's a pen no doubt

  18. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No matter the circumstance, Harvey Barnes should not be permitted to shoot.

  19. Nas
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Not owning kdb is nerve wracking.
    Would you lose son or alli for him?

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

      Before Brighton...

  20. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mendy having a good game.

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

    If KDB was taking the shots Mahrez was getting, City would be 4-1 or 5-1 up by now.

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

    Should I keep Mendy, he has great assist potential and baps, but how certain is he to start?

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

      Personally, don't trust him enough to own him.

      That said, if you're keen on him, depends on your bench. Would you have two decent enough subs?

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

        Rico and Pereira for next week on bench, Rico suspended..

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

          Again, not that keen on Mendy myself. BUT, if you yourself are, with that bench, I'd say go for it... IF your other 10 starters are certain ones.

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

            Cheers

    2. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      City defense is not worth the money.

  23. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pulisic haul tomorrow would be amazing

  24. tisza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    what a save

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

    Gray on
    Perez off

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

    KDB has that kind of lack of ruthlessness that is painful to watch when you captain him.

  27. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lads, if I may bother you: I do apologise for asking mid-GW, but I have just the money for this WC team, and I have to use it this week or the next anyway. What do you say:

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Chilwell, Lundstram / Kelly, Rico
    Salah, KDB, Son, Grealish / Traoré
    Vardy, Jiménez, Ings

    Good? Should I go with Cantwell instead of Traoré and improve somewhere?

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don't double up on Bournemouth defense.

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

        Thanks, mate, thank you very much indeed.

        If I may: would Cantwell over Traoré, Dunk over Rico do it? Or rather another goalkeeper and keep Traoré and Rico at 4.2?

  28. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KdB yellow for a challenge on Vardy for a penalty Maddison converts. Is it really too much to ask?

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

    Kdb a jesus g

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

    Jesus G
    KDB A

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KdB celebrated his assist like a goal and rightly so.