Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne starts but Sterling and Aguero benched as Guardiola rings the changes

There are three Premier League matches kicking off at 17:30 GMT this evening.

David Moyes takes charge of West Ham United for the first time since his reappointment as head coach, with Bournemouth the visitors to the London Stadium.

Manchester City entertain Everton, while bottom-of-the-table Norwich City play host to Crystal Palace.

The headline team news comes from the Etihad, where Pep Guardiola has made five changes from Sunday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Kyle Walker, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva all drop to the bench, while Oleksandr Zinchenko misses out altogether.

Ilkay Gundogan, Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo and Phil Foden are the players recalled to Guardiola’s starting XI.

David Silva is among the substitutes after returning from injury.

Kevin De Bruyne – the second-most-captained player of Gameweek 21 – keeps his place amid the rotation.

Ederson misses out with illness, so Claudio Bravo keeps his place.

Carlo Ancelotti followed suit, initially making five alterations to his Everton side.

Fabian Delph, Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina, Bernard and Seamus Coleman came into the side, with Leighton Baines, Michael Keane, Theo Walcott, Tom Davies and Moise Kean making way.

However, Bernard was injured in the warm-up – so Davies keeps his place.

Moyes has made four changes to the West Ham team from Gameweek 20.

Aaron Cresswell, Robert Snodgrass, Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna are in for Arthur Masuaku, Carlos Sanchez, Manuel Lanzini and Issa Diop.

There is no Michail Antonio in the Hammers’ squad.

Daniel Farke has recalled three first-team regulars after handing them breathers last weekend.

Sam Byram, Todd Cantwell and Kenny McLean come in for Jamal Lewis, Marco Stiepermann and Onel Hernandez.

Crystal Palace are unchanged from the team that drew with Southampton on Saturday.


Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, Francis, Cook, Mepham, Rico, L Cook, Lerma, Gosling, H Wilson, C Wilson, Solanke.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Anderson, Fornals, Haller.

Manchester City XI: Bravo, Cancelo, Fernandinho, E Garcia, Mendy, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Mahrez, Foden, De Bruyne, Jesus.

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

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

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, Riedewald, McCarthy, Milivojevic, McArthur, Meyer, Zaha, Ayew.

2,047 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Come on Rashford (c)! Only put the VC on him because I was so certain Vardy would play and it made a nice pattern on the screen. This is how you get to the professional ranks.

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

      Lol I actually captained Rashford, good luck

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good pick mate... could be gold on the counter

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

      Yes please. Rashford as a C this week is a diferential.

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

        Delighted about the KDB flop. He is going to have a laugh against that defence

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

          Arsenal has4 defeats in a row in all competitions, sure they will play for a win. Rashford will have plenty of space tonight.

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

      I can see a Arteta CS tbh

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

        No chance imo

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

          No chance? Lol

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

          So Zico Senna... bit awkward now isnt it 🙂

    4. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nobody using this tactic - can you make an article for it?

  2. teddypicker
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Was kicking myself earlier for Kane VC instead of KDB...

  3. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Whew, major bullet dodged benching Cantwell, thanks to Vardy... On the flip side, it looks like the same KdB (v) heroics from last GW are unlikely to repeat themselves...

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

    Martial C will be exciting

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I don’t even own him

      But cmon Tony get a couple!

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

    Never thought my subs bench would be tested this much.
    Dendoncker is not meant to play a game!

  6. RashFraud
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Can someone tell me what’s going on with Pogba? Two weeks back he was looking like an option, now he’s not even making the bench?

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

      Doesn't want to be there. Has to keep up the odd appearance.

    2. Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He wants to go to a bigger club

      • ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Reckon it’s due to his agent. Oh the drama..

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

        Will be sold in Jan imo

      • Railwayman
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mino won't let him play.

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

      KDB deeper than Jack Dawson.

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

      Richa pretty underatted on fpl this season.

    5. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not that I really give two Sh1ts but is the reason Pogba not being in the March day due to his agents comments about Haaland and United’s subsequent panic response saying they pulled out the deal? Pathetic..

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

        I suspect so.

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

      Arteta putting out the 'no defence' team. Luiz and Sokratis the clowns in defence. Then Pepe, Laca, Auba, Ozil and Xhaka.

    7. tambourineman
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cantwell subbed, cs banked

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        And 3 BAPs?

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

          2 atm

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

      Super Todd!

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

        Saving my GW. Just like last time he hauled and came off the bench for me.

    9. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Creswell red

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yellow card sorry

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

        Yellow*

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

      Diving Foden

    11. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any chance that red card for Cresswell got overturned on VAR?

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

      So if anyone's feeling but hard done by, here's something to cheer you up

      Within my wildcard

      Ings out
      Grealish out
      Cantwell out
      Chilwell out

      Doherty in
      Sterling in
      Cresswell in

      Your welcome x

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

        Oh, and KdB captain

      2. Sasquatch Slayer
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Wow!
        Well that’s all your bad luck for the rest of the season out the way

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

          Nah, FPL continues to punish each week

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

      Foden. Another english diver.

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

        He’s no Daley

      2. PedroFC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        What’s your point?

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

      Super Todd CS locked, what a guy

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

      A) Maupay
      B) Calvert-Lewin

      And why??

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

        To be honest, booth are crap. Maupay owner here.

    16. Johnny Drama
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any intresting West Ham assets from their first game under Moyes?

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

        That DGW fixtures are so bad but it’s the sweet smell of hope which whispers in your ear.

        1. Johnny Drama
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I mean, if Snoddy remains his place he may be a welcomed diferential at 5.2m 🙂

    17. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      17 from 8 and my transfer was richarlison to mane this week... great! Red arrow for me

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

        Huge red for me to with 18

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

      JESUS HIT THE POST

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        No expert but suspect he might of been nailed.

        1. 2's Kompany 3's M…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          har har….

    19. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What does Greenwood need to do to start?
      What does Lingard need to do to be dropped?

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

        Pukki subbed...

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

        Lind prob better in counter attack tactics, greenwood better against defensive teams or late off the bench.

    20. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jesus hit the post

    21. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Does Claudio Bravo not realise that keepers can use their hands?

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

      Masuaku wagon incoming

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

        Fake news

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

      Ings or Deulofeu?

      The Watford mans fixtures look juicy

    24. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thank you Richarlison

      Any other owners here?

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

        Sure there is

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

      Is AMN first choice now for Arteta or is Bellerin injured ?

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

        Bells been crocked all season so far

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

        Bellerin and Tierney injured. So second choice full-backs playing.

    26. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Fred and Matic in midfield hahahah If only Arsenal had a decent midfield, they would be bossing the park. Xhaka adds nothing.