Dugout Discussion

Mount, Pulisic and Ings benched as Boxing Day rotation strikes

There are six Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 GMT this afternoon.

Aston Villa v Norwich City, Bournemouth v Arsenal, Chelsea v Southampton, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Everton v Burnley and Sheffield United v Watford are the half-dozen fixtures in question, with two more games to follow later this evening.

The headline team news perhaps comes from Stamford Bridge, where there are benchings for Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Danny Ings.

Frank Lampard has seemingly stuck with a 3-4-3 for the visit of Southampton, with Fikayo Tomori again lining up at centre-half.

Marcos Alonso, the suspended Mateo Kovacic and Mount drop out of the team that defeated Spurs, with Jorginho, Emerson and Callum Hudson-Odoi promoted to the starting XI.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s alterations both come in attack, with Ings and the injured Shane Long replaced by Che Adams and Michael Obafemi.

Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, the injured John McGinn and Conor Hourihane make way for Aston Villa, with Ahmed El Mohamady, Ezri Konsa, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet recalled.

Norwich City are unchanged.

At the Vitality Stadium, Jack Simpson, Callum Wilson and the fit-again Steve Cook replace the suspended Diego Rico, the injured Simon Francis and the benched Philip Billing.

Mikel Arteta makes three changes from the side that started the goalless draw at Everton.

Sokratis returns from suspension and replaces the banned Calum Chambers, while Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil oust Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe from the starting XI.

Mamadou Sakho returns from suspension for Crystal Palace, with Cheikhou Kouyate moving back into midfield and James McCarthy dropping to the bench.

Max Meyer replaces Christian Benteke in attack.

Neither Lukasz Fabianski nor David Martin have recovered from injuries, so the much-maligned Roberto starts between the posts for West Ham.

Pablo Zabaleta replaces the suspended Ryan Fredericks at right-back in the Hammers’ only other change.

Carlo Ancelotti makes two changes for his first match in charge.

Seamus Coleman and Bernard start, with Tom Davies and the injured Alex Iwobi dropping out.

Robbie Brady replaces the suspended Jeff Hendrick for Burnley, while Jay Rodriguez is in for the benched Ashley Barnes.

There is one change apiece for Sheffield United and Watford: John Fleck is back from suspension and replaces Luke Freeman for the hosts, while Nathaniel Chalobah is in for the banned Abdoulaye Doucoure for the Hornets.


Aston Villa XI: Heaton, El Mohamady, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Grealish, El Ghazi, Wesley, Trezeguet.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, Trybull, Buendía, McLean, Cantwell, Pukki.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, S. Cook, Mepham, Simpson, Stacey, L. Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, C. Wilson, King.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka, Xhaka, Torreira, Nelson, Özil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Rüdiger, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Emerson, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Soares, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Redmond, Adams, Obafemi.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, McArthur, Meyer, Ayew, Zaha.

West Ham XI: Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Antonio, Haller.

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Digne, Sidibé, Sigurdsson, Delph, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.

Burnley XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brady, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood.

Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía, Capoue, Chalobah, Hughes, Sarr, Deeney, Deulofeu.

1,485 Comments Post a Comment
  1. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sell Gazzaniga...

    Yay or nay?

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

      Yay

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yey

    3. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hell yeah, can’t keep clean sheets and Lloris back soon.

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

    Lampard has something against Pulisic (non-owner). Shame as he is actually one of their better players when he starts. Although his shooting was a bit off recently, that has also been the case with Mount and Willian this season too. But they still get games.

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

      Hopefully another home loss for Lamps today.

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

        Ings goal from the bench will be epic

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

      Yeah, makes no sense. Was not his signing though, right?

      1. Grounderz
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If I remember correctly, the signing was agreed even before the season ended.

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

      Might as well hold now lad, should play next game you’d imagine

  3. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Quietly waiting for the Sidibe train...

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

      Shhh!

  4. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Take alli out of WC or what?

    1. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      now that I have sold him, you should keep him

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

    Cantwell was down receiving treatment during the warm up.

    Seems to be still starting but not ideal.

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      My bench is non existent so I'll take it

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

        60’ watch!

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

      Standard half time subbing. Ings Casuals win again

  6. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Goodbye Pulisic for me. Was hoping he would start today amidst rotations.

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

    Pukki Party is about to begin 😉

    That villa defence looks absolutely shocking.

    ElMo Konsa Hause Targett

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

      Pukki missed a lot of sitters recently.

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

        So you’re saying he’s due?

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

          He will get chances.

  8. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    All I want is one goal and maybe a bonus from Abraham 😐

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

    Rico dropped

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

      Lmao

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

      Dropped by Howe after 5 YCs?

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

        Howe hates it when his players get 5 YCs before the extension deadline

    3. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah. Would probably have been against the rules to play him.

    4. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Suspended

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

    oops

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

      lol I made same mistake, I saw red flag removed and forgot he had one :p
      Casuals we are

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

        🙂

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

    Only one player in 3pm's for me.

    How many you got?

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

      3 - Ramsdale, Lundstram, Kelly

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

      11

      Ever-ton ever-ton ever-ton...

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      four here

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

      wow i have 6

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

      Ummm 7. Only KDB and vardy left

  12. Viper
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Does anyone in Ireland know how to select what game to watch on Premier sport?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Supposed to be a red button.

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

      Same problem . Do I have to pay ?

      1. One Wheels Enough
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

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

    Merry Christmas all

    Been looking forward to this for weeks.

    COYBs!

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

      gl

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

      You still doing your correct score multiple / cash-out betting?

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

        Yeah. Failed at the first hurdle today. It works best if correctly prediecting the early KO result (spurs are great for a 3-1 so was unlucky in the end). Made £2-3k in the last 18 months or so.

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

    Pope to Ederson with those fixtures?

    Ederson
    TAA Soyunca Dunk
    Mane KDB Alli Grealish
    Vardy Abraham Jimenez
    Button Cantwell Rico Lundstram

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

      Looks decent. And yes, agree City defence worth a go here. I've opted for Otamendi but Pope to Ederson sounds sensible

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would rather Alison at that price given the future DGW.

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

    Nearly Fraser goal

    1. *Reformed-Character*
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nearly worth posting that comment

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

        all you do is come here and attack people, get a life nub

        1. *Reformed-Character*
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Oh The Irony

  16. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sidibie OOP

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes. Choosing which Everton defender will be a tricky one.

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

    Tammy hoovering up those baps 😎

  18. Hands Guber
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What a game Webster had for Brighton today. Kicked the ball in the net and disappeared for the rest of the game but give that man 3 bonus points for having that impact for 30 seconds.

    1. Legendary!
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Headed

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

      CBI, passes, tackles.

      Miss all them?

      1. Hands Guber
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I did to be fair. I genuinely forgot he's a defender and it makes more sense.

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

      If a defender is invisible in the game it means hes had a good one

  19. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cantwell shot on target

  20. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mount rested or dropped? Not been following chelsea at all

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

      Rested

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

      rested - back for ARS

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

      Did a lot of off the ball work from Spurs, rested.

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

      Good dont have to sell him then. Thanks

  21. Igz08
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Sidibe actually playing rw? Wish i'd gone for him over Digne now..

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

      Digne is on free kicks, simmer

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

    Why has Sheff game not started ?

    1. Igz08
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      about to start now

    2. Saint Tim
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      10 min delay

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

      Operational issues.

      Starting at half.

      1. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It started

  23. Saint Tim
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On wildcard...

    Tomori, Dendoncker and Alli OUT
    Otamendi, Cantwell and Salah IN

    Gives me:

    Ryan
    Otamendi, Soy, Kelly
    Salah (C), KDB, Mane (VC), Grealish, Cantwell
    Vardy, Rashford
    Bench: Button, Jimenez, Rico, Lund
    £0.2m ITB

    Thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

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

      No

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

        No what?

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why Ali?
      Gets you 8 points today and has Norwich next

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

        Because not convinced about Spurs despite the returns today. Think Salah is fixture proof and in awesome form

        1. InSaneMan-e
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Perhaps. I've gone for Salah and Ali.
          But dont have Mane.

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

      Don't think getting rid of Alli is ideal. Doubl LIV attack is a no for me with upcoming fixtures at least.

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

        Think fixtures are irrelevant for players like Mane and Salah

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

          Agreed. I presume an Otamendi downgrade could get you Alli in midfield?

  24. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    West ham with no Diop. Roberto and zabaleta starting.
    Even Palace will score today.

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

      Lets hope so 🙂

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

    Omg no Rico or Cahill?? Season in tatters

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rico suspended...

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

      A professional ITK on here mentioned a Rico dropping.

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

        Stool sample to make a diagnosis?

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

          Bull stool!

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I hope Rico hadn’t been on the Vindaloo beforehand

  26. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rich wins dangerous FK

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

    Nervy extended wait later on for the Sheff CS.

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

      Would prefer them to concede. With Lundstram EO at 100% then what he does doesn't matter. Better to screw over the double Sheff Utd owners.

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Prefer them to concede. Few in my mini league have doubled up on their defenders

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

    All my defenders keeping clean sheets so far..best gameweek ever!

    1. Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If I think this right, Boxing Day Gameweek seems to have recorded the fewest GW across.

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

        this is making my head hurt even more...

        1. Grounderz
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Sorry, was meant to say fewest clean sheets. Lol

  29. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pukki wastes 1v1

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

      Consistency is key!

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

    has no one scored yet? Booo emoji