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. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    City taking it easy now

    Same as they did v United and arsenal

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

      Can Grealish sneak a consolation?

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

        not until the 75th min

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yea no goals second half probably

  2. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    *checks who plays villa next week*... *moves captain from Cantwell to Maupay*

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

      Reina in goal will make a difference IMO.

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

    At this rate, I hope KDB gets to 60min before being subbed.

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

    Please stay on the bench Sterling. No need to come on now, have a rest.

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no replace mahrez for a 5 minute cameo

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

      Might come on to rest the 1st team stars.

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

        Silva, Gungodan and Foden can do that. 😛

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

    So does this mean Sterling is finally dropped? More likely just comes in for Jesus or de bruyne drops back in silva place more often. Either way looks like Mahrez is more nailed on now!

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

      It does not mean anything I'm afraid..

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope.

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

    Honestly I think I can get by WCing now if I plan transfers properly when the DGW rolls around.

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Big DGW*
      In like 34 or 35

  7. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I'm def keeping Maupay with his home game v Villa next week. Could be an option for (c)

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

      lolk

  8. zotter
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ultra greedy from mahrez there

  9. SuperDan
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Please help! Choose:
    A) Maddison & Holgate
    B) Grealish & Soy

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      A

    3. mgilbert86
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Normally B but villa horrible and no ndidi wouldn't touch leicester defence

  10. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish must leave this team, awful

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

      He may just be good enough for Liverpool or City. To put the numbers he has in a team this bad is nothing short of remarkable.

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

      Would be ideal for Man Utd. Sell Pogba, buy Grealish. But Man Utd need to find a Herrera replacement. That should be priority no.1

  11. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Clear formation/tactical change for City. The number 9 (Aguero/Bilva) plays more like Firmino dropping deeper whilst the wingers make out to in runs and relatively quite narrow.

    Makes those wingers look like strikers.

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

    Jesus G
    KDB A

    What a pass.

  13. SB007
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Yes!!!

  14. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jesus g kdb a

  15. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jesus g Kdb a

  16. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    dE BRUYNE !!!!

  17. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB assist. What a ball. What a plauer

  18. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kdbbbbbbbb

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

    Assist 2

  20. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ledgend KDB

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

    What a pass.

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

    OMG what a ball

  23. bialk
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB again 🙁

  24. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jesus A
    KDB A

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jesus G

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

    4-0 at HT

  26. Skalla
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Possible KdB assist for Jesus 🙂

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

    Don’t tell anyone but Kevin is pretty good at football

  28. SB007
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB saving his Pace. Oh yeah.

  29. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    these KDB passes are just beautiful.
    Closest to Gerrard you will ever see.

  30. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    He nearly got another assist there.