Dugout Discussion

Pulisic benched as Lampard switches to a 3-4-3 against unchanged Spurs

The final match of Gameweek 18 takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Chelsea the visitors to north London.

Kick-off is at 16:30 GMT.

The team news is straightforward from a Spurs perspective: Jose Mourinho has named an unchanged side for the third game running.

The Chelsea starting XI requires a bit more explanation, however.

Frank Lampard has benched Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) for the first time in the Premier League since Gameweek 9, with Jorginho (£5.0m) and the injured Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) also making way from the side that lost to Bournemouth.

Marcus Alonso (£6.0m) gets his first start since Gameweek 10, with Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) and Fikayo Tomori (£4.8m) also recalled.

All of that would seem to suggest that Lampard has switched to a 3-4-3, with Tomori joining Kurt Zouma (£4.7m) and Antonio Rudiger (£6.0m) at centre-half.

Mason Mount (£6.5m) and Willian (£7.0m) appear to be flanking Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) in attack.

Mount, Pulisic and Abraham were three of the four most-sold FPL assets of Gameweek 18.

Lampard’s side have lost four of their last five Premier League games and haven’t kept a clean sheet on the road in 2019/20.

Spurs, by contrast, have won four of their five league games under Jose Mourinho since the ‘Special One’ first took charge a month ago.

Dele Alli (£8.8m), Son Heung-min (£10.1m) and Harry Kane (£10.9m) are averaging 8.0, 7.8 and 5.4 points per game respectively under their new manager.

Kane is the fourth-most-popular captaincy pick of Gameweek 18, while only three FPL assets were bought by more managers than Son in the run-up to this weekend.


Spurs XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Dier, Sissoko, Dele, Son, Lucas, Kane.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Abraham.



1,997 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    if alli didnt want a week to make a decision in the middle of the park spurs wouldnt be so awful

    1. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He’s been poor. It doesn’t help Spurs that neither Sissoko and Dier are great on the ball either. A real lack of creativity centrally.

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

    Alonso essential. Mendy also played well yesterday.

    TRAM on the cards

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

      2 major rotation risks. No thanks

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Doubt he goes with the same system in the "easier" games

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

    Get Erik on

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

      Winks still injured? He's better on movement and passes

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

        Get them both on

  4. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Not a single spurs fan there behind the goal trying to.distract William in the penalty run up.
    Poor show.

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

      They were on my TV.

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

        The angle I saw there were none.. maybe in the wide shot there were..

  5. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    HT Mou masterclass incoming

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

    Spurs lucky it’s only 2.

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

    Kante and Kova smashing it in midfield

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

      Read Kane. Still the same.

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

      Absolute dominance

      Great players. Frank sorted Kovacic out

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

    How the hell is Gazzaniga a professional footballer?

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

      And Aurier

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Same at Eric dier

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

        De Gea could not catch ball either earlier today

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

          Sure De Gea has been in rubbish form but I can't even comprehend what Gazza's decision making was for that incident. He could've easily taken it with his hands.

      • Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dier in that midfield is the blatant problem here

        Frank doing the biz with that formation here today

        Great to see

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2% own Willian

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

        ME!

    4. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I am on Son C with Alli yellow and Abraham too 🙂

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

        Be thankful you don’t also own Aurier too like me.

        3 points from 5 players....

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

        Son C, Alli YC, Aurier 2 goals conceded, Tammy top 6 no show

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

        Mee too. Loving it.

      4. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Glad to see we are all so happy.
        It’s a game of 2 halves or 2 mares I think.

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

      What counts if you tie with equal points against your cup opponent?

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

        Goals scored

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

          Cheers.

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

        Goals scored I think

      3. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Transfers made?

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

        Which Cup?

        Rank for FFS
        Goals for FPL

    6. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mou getting schooled by one of his students here.

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

        Lamps was never his student

        1. Sid1891
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Apprentice ?

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

        Frank is a clever boy

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

      Terrible game for my Fantasy team, great news as a Chelsea supporter!

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

      Good game for FPL so far this

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

      Gazz has been one of my worst decisions this year

      Robbie Earl claimed before the game that Serge Aurier has been playing really well, before the game. Is Robbie Earl the most clueless pundit? He also couldn't fathom why United keep losing to the teams they keep losing to. Clueless

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

      Abraham is dreadful

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

        Father Abraham had many sons....

      2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He's done well non FPL wise, making good runs off the ball and keeping the 2 CB occupied

      3. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Eh?

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

      Alli captain fail would make it 5 in a row under double figures for me
      So frustrating

    12. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Too early to start praising KDB cappers?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Don't think a 4 point c is worth praise? Maybe if it's a disaster week.

    13. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Spurs totally overrun in midfield. Expect to see a sub or two at HT

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

      I'll say it again
      Proud and PATIENT Willian owner here 🙂

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

        Good man, well done

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

        Team link?

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

        Well played.

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

        I mean yeah he’s doing alright now but he hasn’t returned since GW12 what you been doing

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

          Lol
          Been hoping and praying
          He's had some good chances in between.
          Had bigger issues every week and wanted a differential.

        2. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Red red red red red red red GREEN GENIUS!!

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

        Cheers guys!

    15. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Once upon a time, I was considering Willian instead of Pulisic. But Pulisic is so good...

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

      My Spurs players Alli and Aurier ... both on zerrooosss

      1. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you
        Same here

      2. Abraham & Cheese
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Same

    17. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      LOL ! 4 players 0 Points! and I am awake for this until 2:30

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

        Gts, unlikely to change anything

        1. sunzip14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Going to Sleep now! would be great to see Alli red and Chelsea 4 goals when I check the score tomorrow to see it decrease from today!

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

        😀

    18. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Assuming alli and mount play 60 mins. And neither contribute or get yc and Chelsea keep cs, i will be tied with cup opponent. He has Vardy captain and cantwell, so 2 goals, i have ings and Vardy but kdb captain so 3 goals. So if tie, i go thru? Fact his captain scored doesn't mean it will be considered as 2 goals, right?

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

        Correct, just single goals.

      2. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Alli already got a YC

    19. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This game 100% sums up this season of FPL

      It is not a skill game this year

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

        Ever.

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

      Tomori first on my bench, CS will happen here no doubt

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

        Zero chance

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

          Zero was in Watford case also?

    21. Abraham & Cheese
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      As a Chelsea fan who subbed Tomori to Aurier and put the captaincy on Alli, I feel very conflicted about this score. Here's to a Dele hattrick in the 2nd half!

      1. Abraham & Cheese
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        transferred* Tomori -> Aurier

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

        Yeah... You're not a Chelsea fan is you're hoping for an Alli hat-trick.

        I have the (C) on him too, but I don't want Chelsea to lose.

        1. Abraham & Cheese
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I should've added that I also expect a hattrick from Abraham too, to make it a 5-3 Chelsea win.

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

      Is there a betting market where you can back Mount to get one?

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

        Absolute loss for you, ref won't give him if his life depends on it.

    23. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Small red atm.

      1. Jafoole_88
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        What happened to your 'Son of a chink' comment?

    24. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gud bye cup thanks to this game

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

        My opponent wildcarded this GW (OR 7mil, clearly)..and is on 24 points..karma