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. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Think Ancelotti needs to bring on Moises Kean. At least Ancelotti can speak to Kean in Italian, so Kean will understand what is being said.

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

    Pogba bench 🙁

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

      Bad as an owner and Rashford captainer 🙁

      1. Robson-Canoe
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Only captained Rashford because of Pogba, already regretting it.

      2. ChelseaGuy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Pogba capper and chelsea fan here

  3. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tomori A
    Redmond G

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

    Ings involved?

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

      Nope

  5. SH
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Been keeping Guilbert for last 5 weeks for these home fixtures and now he is on the bench!

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

    Pogba fail sorry xxxxx

  7. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea following United’s Robinhood steps.

  8. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea are in absolute shambles

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea stuffed

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

    No more than Southampton deserve.

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

      Absolutely
      Love the club myself

  11. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    REDMONDDD YOU LOVELY HUMAN BEING I TAKE BACK WHATEVER I SAID, YOU DA BEST LAD

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

    Chelsea 2-0 down. Take off Tammy and save him for next GW.

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

      Or just take him off permanently

  13. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Amazing goal from Saint's!!!!!

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

    Game is won sub off ings now ralph

  15. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    We're playing so we'll Im so surprised!

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

      Best performance of season?

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Last week was pretty good too!

  16. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Just got back from a lovely family roast, only to be greeted with no FPL returns except an Aurier assist. Really shouldn't have checked...

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Christmas ruined 😆

  17. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Sou win was 8/1. Sadly put a Norwich win on the ticket too. Got greedy.

  18. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tammy (c) gone bad

  19. Mikeharbrw
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Thank God we've got arsenal next

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

      Not gonna be easy by the looks of it.

  20. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Azpilicueta on rw. Stupid Frank

  21. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Nearly 3-0

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

    So Chelsea assets sales will gather pace, then they will have another Spurs game and everyone will buy back Abraham.

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

    Son to Pogba went well.

    1. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Don't worry, he'll come on for a juicy 1 pointer.

  24. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tomori 0p

    1. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not good at all. 🙁

    2. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      This Chelsea defense disgust me

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

    What is this team.

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

    Chelsea ... disappointing again at home

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

    How did Chelsea play so well against spurs and this week play like this

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

      Style of opponents

    2. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Chelsea were set up all wrong today. This loss is on Lampard.

  28. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba (C) failed

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      High fives

  29. Pranked
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Greenwood starting 😮

  30. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba, Pulisic, Kelly, El Ghazi and so on. -112 incoming