Dugout Discussion

Tomori and Targett absent as Pulisic returns for Chelsea

Christian Pulisic (£7.0m) returns to the Chelsea team to face Brighton on the first matchday of 2020.

Joining him in the starting line-up is right-back Reece James (£5.0m), who was recently ruled out by Frank Lampard for at least a week.

He plays on the right of defence which means another appearance at left-back for Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.8m).

Tammy Abraham (£7.8m) and Mason Mount (£6.3m) also keep their places in the 4-3-3 system.

However, Fikayo Tomori (£4.8m) misses out on the match altogether which means a place on the bench for Tariq Lamptey (£4.0m) once again.

Brighton manager Graham Potter has selected Pascal Groß (£6.4m) and Aaron Connolly (£4.5m) on the bench with Steven Alzate (£4.5m) and Leandro Trossard (£5.8m) starting either side of Neal Maupay (£5.8m).

Burnley host Aston Villa in the other lunch-time match where Matt Targett (£4.4m) misses out through injury.

Dean Smith has gone for a slightly altered shape to usual, lining up in a 3-4-3 system featuring Neil Taylor (£4.3m) and Frédéric Guilbert (£4.4m) as the wing-backs and Tyrone Mings (£4.5m) in the back-three.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Burn, Webster, Dunk, Montoya; Pröpper, Mooy, Bissouma; Trossard, Maupay, Alzate.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rüdiger, R James; Kanté, Jorginho, Mount; Pulisic, Abraham, Willian.

Burnley XI: Pope; Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Brady; A Barnes, Wood.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton; Hause, Mings, Konsa; N Taylor, D Luiz, Nakamba, Guilbert; Grealish, Wesley, Trézéguet.

1,828 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Sociologist
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford (C) it is then with Vardy out. Wish me luck!

    1. jam
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      In the same boat so I deffo wish you luck.

      1. The Sociologist
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hoping for some jam for sure...

        1. jam
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Haha I think we'll get something out of this... didn't pay much attention as assumed Vardy would start.

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

      Same here so good luck

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

    Wonder what outstanding headline David comes up with, regarding Vardy no show? 🙂

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

      Surprised he is missing out tbh.

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

      ....It was Rebecca Vardy's fault.

  3. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Heaton off on a stretcher. Nyland on

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

    GOAL Brighton!

  5. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jakandbag

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

    Ali Reza goal

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

    WTF what a goal from Brighton. Overhead kick.

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

      Goal of 2020 won already.

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

    Need that cs Reece

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Say again?

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

    What a goal

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

    Ok what are the chances i get grealish off the bench here??

    Got chambers and vardy in the starting xi

    Got rico 1st sub, lund 2nd, grealish 3rd

    Sterling and cantwell too

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      hopefully none at all, that sort of jam is just not on 🙂

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

    What a goal from janhkabash hahahahahhaa

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

    Jahank Super Goal.

  13. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Goal Brighton Jaha

  14. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea needs some luck again

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

    farkkkkkkk

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

    What a goal

  17. Rust Cohle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What a goal!

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

      Goal of the decade

  18. boc610
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    ah, so its luck now if you put your subs in the right order....

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

    Dunk A

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

    Dunk A

  21. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Haha Kepa you idiot

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

    WHAT. A. GOAL! Take a bow for Jahanbaksh!

  23. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So proud of Jahanbakhsh

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

    SLAM DUUUNK

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

    Cant wait to sell Heaton

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

    Jahanbaksh
    OH MY GOD!

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wowser

  27. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    But my CS points

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

    KDB and Mane rested would be incredible
    scenes

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

      owner of both but won't mind now if rashford hauls

  29. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maupay 2 pointer coming from the bench for Vardy

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

      Same here.

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

    What a goalazoooo