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

    66 points with Aurier n Alli in this, should I care if they get nothing?

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

      I don’t care

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

      No

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

      Depends about your mini leagues

      Plenty with higher scores in my league therr I'd be worried

      You might be in a league with lower class players though

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

      How does one attain so many points?

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

        captaining Ings lol

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

      Yes if they get Red

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

      Depends on how much guff you want to take for humblebrag.

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

    LMS safety score currently 32

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

      Going out currently!

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

        Wow, expected bench points.

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

      Yay

    3. Mince n Tatties
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wow - thought it would be higher - may still scrape through

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

        Autosubs will boost a bit.

        1. Mince n Tatties
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          If son is a red card - I'm in trouble...

          1. Mince n Tatties
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Oops...

            1. Mince n Tatties
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Rough with the smooth will be easy this week

    4. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Breezed again 🙂 thought I'd be gone this week. Hendo the saviour

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

    Maybe spurs can come out to play this half please

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

      They need to. Havent tested Chelsea at all.

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

      Imo they must and they will

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

    Can anything just go right this season? Like even for just 1 GW?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      just play your own game, dont follow the crowd

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    We want Tammy goal !!!

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

      And Son, Alli, aurrier

  6. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford to Aguero got free?

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

      No

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

      Rotation risk?

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

        Have Maddison as first sub as also on Ings and Grealish.

        Hated bringing in Rashford immediately I did it. Really don’t want another week of him.

        Want back in Jim but even as someone who backs form over fixtures that feels odd

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

      Rotation risk every week

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

      After some 1 pt cameos you'll regret it.

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

      Nope

  7. Kaiser123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    One point from 3 players in this match...disgusting!!

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

    2 points so far from 3 players including (C) 🙂

    """"""""""""""Super""""""""""""""" Sunday

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

      3 from 5 for me.

      I thought I was guaranteed at least a small green arrow going into this game - oh how wrong I was

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

      2 from 4 !

  9. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Taylor is a terrible ref. He gave Sakho a straight red early in our game recently for a foul in the middle of the park, so much less and yet just a yellow for the keeper. Joke ref.

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

      Yeah I remember that. Clear red

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

      He’s still terrible but Sakho was reckless and it was a red.

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

      Alonso wasn’t going to reach the ball.

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Poor decision to take him out then, still a pen

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

        doesnt matter, Gazza didnt win the ball and took out Alonso in the process, if Gazza cleared the ball no pen

    4. DROP IT LIKE IT'S HART
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sakho's was a clear red card.

    5. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      VAR should have changed that Sakho foul to a yellow

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

    Mourinho needs to switch to 2 up front. Chelsea CBs are being given an easy time to push up the pitch. That is squeezing the space in midfield, which means Spurs can't play. So they are resorting to long balls, but Kepa is sweeping up.

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

      Pearls before swine mate

  11. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hopefully I'm still in LMS

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

    In cup, 2nd criteria incase of tie breaker is fewest goals conceded.

    Conceded by GK and defender or whole team?

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

      Whole team I believe...my team went through on this rule last week.

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

        I may go out because of that 😆

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

          I actually I just checked...i got through on either whole team gc or GK+DF...so I don't know which it is!
          Hope you get through!

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

    Jose wake up ...

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

      He's been awake for at least 60 minutee

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

        Give him expresso and have a look at Dier

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Respect

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

        Always

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

    This gw has got to be a joke right??

    Rashford captain, Alli and Vertonghen.. =4pts lol

    God help me.

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

      Alli, Aurier, Gazza, Tammy= 0 points. Beat that!

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

        They do have points

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

          Plz show me where? I have only woken up until 2:30 to look for points.

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

      Typical fpl gameweek. Need to get used to it.

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

    Why didnt Gaza not use his hands? Or he doesnt have any?

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

      Didn’t use his brain.

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

        Crazy stuff.

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

      I wondered that. The reaction of Sanchez was hilarious. He knew it was a pen. So did Gazza. He didn’t complain when it was overturned

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

      Maybe he thought he is outside of box 😀

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

        Yeah could be.

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

      I wonder if he thought it came off a Spurs player .. but how?

  16. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Having essentially 3 cb's plus Dier is just pointless. Ndombele on to progress the ball and get Dele higher.

  17. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Dont know what is worse.
    Gazza going in with his karate kick or the referee for not seeing a clear penalty!

  18. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How about this for a garbage day
    Rashford C 4 pts
    Ali 0 pts
    Aurier O pts
    Tammy ( no penalty) 1 put
    Surely confirms FF is mainly luck

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

      Make your own luck.

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

      Anyone who hasnt realized FPL is all about luck by now has simply been on the lucky side of variance and is deluded.

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

        It's 99.9999% luck

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

      As someone doing well completely down to luck I deem FF a game of luck

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

      Its always been luck.

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

    How did the ref think that was a free kick to Spurs for the pen?! Ha

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

      He’s clueless.

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

      Angles.

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

    Pukki cap next week, anyone vs Villa. Who else has Pukki?

  21. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Eriksen coming on, for a dm i think

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That would be suicidal. Spurs central midfield is the problem this season, taking a DM off would expose them further!

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dier off

  22. Pras (FPL)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Yup Erik’s on

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

    Huge 45 mins incoming

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

    Spurs triple up letting us all down.

  25. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which GK in for Gazza? He’s wasteful...
    5.6 max to spend

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

      Guata.

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

    Eriksen on...goals incoming

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

    Eriksen on
    Dier off

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

    Terrible half from Spurs.

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

    Dier subbed.

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

      Yeah ... Jose has listened

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

    Eriksen on for Dier is incredibly risky. It could work but they could be cut open and beaten up.