Dugout Discussion

Sterling and Bernardo benched as Guardiola starts both Aguero and Jesus

The final match of Gameweek 22 sees Aston Villa play host to Manchester City. Kick-off at Villa Park is at 16:30 GMT.

Ever the slippery one with his team selections, Pep Guardiola has sprung another surprise by naming both Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) in the starting XI for the first time in the Premier League this season.

That spells bad news for Raheem Sterling (£11.8m), who is benched for the second successive Gameweek; that previously hadn’t happened this season or last.

Bernardo Silva (£7.8m) and Kyle Walker (£5.8m) also drop to the bench after their run-outs in the Manchester derby in midweek.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) starts his 14th Premier League game in a row.

Dean Smith has handed Danny Drinkwater (£4.4m) an Aston Villa debut and understandably looks to be treating this game with a lot of caution, sacrificing Trezeguet (£5.2m) from what had been a 3-4-3 in Gameweek 21.

Frederic Guilbert (£4.4m) is only among the substitutes, while Matt Targett (£4.4m) remains out injured.

Jack Grealish (£6.5m) is again handed an advanced role in the hosts’ attack, along with Anwar El Ghazi (£5.5m).

Grealish was the most-bought Fantasy Premier League midfielder of Gameweek 22.

De Bruyne is the second-most-popular captaincy choice this weekend and was handed the armband by 17.98% of the top 10,000 FPL managers.

Grealish and De Bruyne are the only two players on show at Villa Park who have double-digit ownerships within the top 10k.


Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Stones, Mendy, Rodrigo, D Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Jesus, Aguero.

Aston Villa XI: Nyland, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Elmohamady, Luiz, Drinkwater, Hourihane, Taylor, Grealish, El Ghazi.

2,333 Comments Post a Comment
  1. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Jesus has last touch before mahrez scored

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

      Unfortunately VAR does not check FPL decisions.

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Check the FPL then 😉

  2. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    KdB Capper but Mahrez owner. Ups and downs. Still a lot of time to go.

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

    Why does the camera focus on Drinkwater after each goal? It was Mahrez twice!

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Real shame kdb is sitting deep here

    This would have been double digits for certain if he was playing his number 10 role

    Would be fuming as a kdb capper. The potential was there

    Expect city to relax and sit back after a third, just like they did v United. Games won already

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It’s been 25 minutes, chill out lad

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

      This is going to put me out of the cup unless he gets an assist.

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He's actually not playing that deep. Nowhere near as deep as he played against Everton. I would expect some form of attacking returns today.

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

      They've taken Leicester's spot on the table - why not their goal record?

  5. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I cannot believe I didnt put Mahrez!!!! Why I did Alli to Maddison?

    Dumbest decision of my 10 year FPL career.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I bought Alli this week lol, nothing wrong with your decision.

    2. CMJC
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Because you thought Maddison would get attacking returns (almost did) and he has good fixtures. Prob wasn’t convinced of a Mahrez start and he’s not nailed?

  6. Rossendale Rover
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Get in captain Mahrez

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Always one

  7. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Knew I should have captained Mahrez!

    1. FPLzebub
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Some of us did.

    2. CMJC
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Did you know?

    3. Rossendale Rover
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I did but only because I couldn’t afford Aguero

  8. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    drinkwater motm?

  9. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Get your sh1t together now KdB.

  10. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Going to be one of those games. Get involved KDB!

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

    Poor Pepe.

  12. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Drinkwater having an absolute mare.

  13. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling will miss another 8-0 lol

  14. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Reina thinking about getting back on the plane.

  15. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mendy please give Grealish a penalty to balance the game.

  16. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Jesus assist

  17. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Maddison to Mahrez done 🙂

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Wait til.Mahrez is benched next gw. 😉

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Probably benched next week 😆

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rotated next GW

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

    Blew it up early, ref!

  19. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    This is going to be 5+ but KDB has no hope of returning

  20. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    drinkwater is better off just drinking water.

  21. SB007
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How can Jesus get an assist. Was Silva ffs.

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

      Last touch.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Because he touched it?

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Silva pass hit Jesus, which fell onto path of Mahrez.

    4. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Shut up heather

  22. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Went with Sarr over Mahrez. I can't at all understand my transfer decisions this season. No wonder why it's going s**t.

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

      Maybe the 2.2 mil?

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        It wasn't, actually. That spot would only be a two GW punt before bringing in Salah – although it did cross my mind that the price difference could come in handy should an injury occur or something, that would make me have to distribute funds.

  23. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Villa players will be having nightmahrez about this night...

  24. JammySprat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    City walk in the park

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

  25. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A long season in fpl for me. At last Mahrez. Why did I not captain him? Smile

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Can’t wait till it ends tbh

  26. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    This could be 6 - 0 and I’m thinking I would take a KDBC assist. Tough times

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

      This

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Wasn’t expecting it that quick

  27. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Villa on the road to a thrashing.

  28. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    If this was a boxing match the ref would have already stopped it.

  29. zotter
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Grealish needs to depart this woeful team ASAP. Only two half decent players McGinn and Wesley injured

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      This

  30. Manani
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    villa paying 100k/week for drinkwater so they can get relegated

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

      That was our premier league blueprint.

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If it was Drinkbeer then that might be acceptable