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. GUSFRING
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Time for my wildcard, finally...

    Guaita - McGovern
    Lundstram - TAA - Soy - Kelly - Rico
    Richarlison - Mane - KDB - Mahrez - Cantwell
    Abraham - Ings - Vardy

    How does it look?

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

      Just not Mahrez. Gametime doubta

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

        Ings fixtures turn after this gw

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

        This is my worry but City look like they could start kicking in

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mahrez is a no go for me. I tried it and wasn't pleased.
      Kelly - what's your SP? I would go for someone nailed

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

        Had Kelly all season to be fair. Just for cheapness more than anything - message heard loud and clear on Mahrez though

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

      Mahrez might play every other week if you’re lucky.

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

    Template is falling away, getting v interesting now. Son red card means lots of money around so be plenty of different players brought in because if you have KDB then nobody sticks out imo.

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      True! Dont know who to bring in

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

    Son 》 Salah for -4?

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

      Or play Mousset?

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

      Play mousset and then do Son, Mousset to 2

  4. Party time
      4 years, 3 months ago

      kane hiding behind the stands?

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

        Is he playing?

        1. Party time
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Last seen behind the ball boys

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

        Zouma should have got a 2nd YC there.

      3. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Abraham injured?

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          possibly

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

            Ok

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

              Cramp, nothing more

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

                Cheers mate

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

          Cramp

      4. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        4 points from 5 players today including my captain....

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

          I’ve got 2 points from 5 players so.....

        2. Dennis System
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          My Son (c), Alli and Gazzaniga have also been fantastic

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

        Replacement recommendations for Martial pls?

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

          Grealish

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

            Have him

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

        Josh King anyone?

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

          No. Terrible player who went on a hot streak once.

        2. Evasivo
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Would love to...but form

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

        No one considering Aguero?

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

          Good shout actually.

        2. Evasivo
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          When's he retuning?

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

            Played yesterday.

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

              Oh! I only saw Jesus

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

              For a massive 1p/min. Will be 90 pts or so next GW.

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

            Yesterday, kind of

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

        Clear as day....

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

        I don't even like Salah's fixtures, but I trust him more than Sterling.

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

        what a garbage game, Sunday and Monday football getting worse and worse

      11. Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        After bringing in Son for a hit this week. I now sell him for a hit.

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

          No lessons learnt then

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Are you suggesting he holds a premium player for 3 weeks suspension?

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

              You get a FT every week

              1. Postman Ty
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Oh is that how it works?

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

                  Why for a hit, and why sarcasm?

                  1. Postman Ty
                    • 9 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    He must have made a transfer already. Maybe silly to do it early, maybe there was just cause. Can't always account for such a random red card from a player like Son.

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

                      I understand and that's my point. Taking a hit last GW and then now taking another. Therefore must've already made an early transfer before GW even over, hence no lessons learnt.

                      1. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        4 years, 3 months ago

                        There's nothing to suggest his hit last week was related to an early transfer.

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

                          I agree, but had I have taken a hit last week I would be less hasty this week.

                          1. Postman Ty
                            • 9 Years
                            4 years, 3 months ago

                            Two separate events. One shouldn't affect the other, but I understand what you're getting at.

                          2. Evasivo
                            • 13 Years
                            4 years, 3 months ago

                            Agreed. Nice rank btw, and good luck

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

          That's -9 points

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

        11k managers bought Son this GW. Lucky that they escaped the -1.

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

          Haha. But now 3 match ban

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

        It was clear offside what is var thinking

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

          The offside would only be given if it lead to a goal.

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

            Didn't know that

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

        Is mane and salah too much lpool for the festive period?

        Or nice differential.?

        Thanks

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

          Thinking about that myself.

      15. Sif
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mount CS point is keeping me in the cup...

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

          thats a nice win, well done

          1. Sif
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Could still lose it... Squeaky bum time!

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

          Tempting fate!!

      16. Dont give a fuchs
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        23 points on the bench. Gw score 38. Wow

      17. Bunk Moreland
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Damn, bought Son this week :/ oh well, back to a liverpool mid i guess.

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

        Sterling C went fantastic at the end

      19. alexl1989
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Today's points haul: Greenwood, Pulisic (Soy coming in), Rashford, Son (C), Gazza in goal = 1 Point; 25 points for the week. Love this game.

      20. JJO
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        VAR doesn nake any sense if idiots are implementing it
        Check for 5m offside ???

      21. rokonto
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Who to get in for Son, money no object???

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

          Salah, Mane or KDB if you dont have either of those.

        2. Evasivo
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Grealish

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

        Willian has been outstanding.

      23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Son(c), Alli, Pulisic (becomes Pereira) and Rashford = 2 points

        What a day...

      24. alexl1989
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Son, Rashford, Pulisic for:

        a) Ings, Alli, Sterling
        b) Ings, Pogba, Salah
        c)any other ideas?!

      25. Party time
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Blow the final whistle Ref!

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

          Any chance red card to be overturned ? If not who are you getting for Son ?

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

            No chance. Likely Salah.

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

            Kdb or Salah. I am torn

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

            No chance
            Alli or Salad

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

            Salah

            Because if I’m going to do rubbish each week at least I’ll do it with players I like owning

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

            Cantwell in for me

        • BigBillyBass
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Son + Rash > Salah + Ings for a hit?

          1. C'mon the Fylde
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Boohoo. Ings' fixtures turn.

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

              He’s fixture proof