Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Jesus benched as Guardiola rotation strikes again

Pep Guardiola has frustrated Fantasy Premier League managers once again by leaving Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) on the bench.

That move sees Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.8m) come back into the side for the visit of Crystal Palace.

There is better news for owners of Kevin de Bruyne (£10.7m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) who both keep their places from the win at Aston Villa.

Owners of Martin Kelly (£4.4m) have some reasons to be encouraged, even if they are benching him for the Eagles’ trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Despite Joel Ward‘s (£4.3m) return to fitness, the budget defender starts at right-back while Cenk Tosun (£5.7m) is set to make his Palace debut, named up-front alongside Jordan Ayew (£5.0m).

It is Moise Kean (£6.4m) who replaces the injured Richarlison (£8.1m) for Everton, while Djibril Sidibé (£5.4m) is benched in favour of Seamus Coleman (£5.3m).

Jack Grealish (£6.5m) looks set for another outing as a centre-forward for Aston Villa as Dean Smith lines up in a 3-4-3 formation, with the midfielder at the apex.

There is a return for Matt Targett (£4.4m), who looks to operating as a left wing-back in front of a back-three.

Opponents Brighton have gone with a front-three of Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), Neal Maupay (£5.9m) and Aaron Connolly (£4.4m).

Despite suggestions of rotation at Southampton, Danny Ings (£6.9m) holds onto his starting berth against Wolves.

Mikel Arteta is forced into a change at the back for Arsenal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos (£4.9m) out with illness. That sees Shkodran Mustafi (£5.2m) replace him at centre-back.

Meanwhile, Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) holds onto his right-back berth although Hector Bellerín (£5.4m) is back on the bench.

Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) comes in for the suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.7m).

Opponents Sheffield United are without David McGoldrick (£5.4m) who has suffered a minor foot injury, which means Lys Mousset (£4.7m) and Oli McBurnie (£5.7m) lead the line, supported by key midfielder John Lundstram (£5.1m).

Norwich have handed an immediate debut to new signing Duda (£5.0m) while there are starts in their attack for Todd Cantwell (£4.9m) and Teemu Pukki (£6.5m).

Bournemouth have lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Ryan Fraser (£6.9m) and Harry Wilson (£5.9m) either side of Callum Wilson (£7.4m).

Arsenal XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, D Luiz, Saka; Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil; Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; McBurnie, Mousset.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Alzate, Dunk, Webster, Bernardo; Mooy, Stephens, Propper; Trossard, Maupay, Connolly.

Aston Villa XI: Reina; Konsa, Mings, Hause; Guilbert, Drinkwater, Nakamba, Targett; Trezeguet, Grealish, El Ghazi

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Mendy, Fernandinho, Stones, Cancelo; D Silva, de Bruyne, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, B Silva

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Riedewald, Cahill, Tomkins, Kelly; Zaha, Kouyaté, McCarthy, McArthur; Ayew, Tosun.

Norwich XI: Krul; Byram, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Aarons; Tettey, McLean; Duda, Cantwell, Buendía; Pukki.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; Rico, Aké, S Cook, A Smith; Billing, Gosling, Lerma; Fraser, C Wilson, H Wilson.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, J Stephens, Cédric; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Armstrong; S Long, Ings.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; Neto, Jiménez, Traoré.

West Ham XI: Randolph; Cresswell, Diop, Ogbonna, Zabaleta; Rice, Noble; Snodgrass, Lanzini, Fornals; Haller.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Holgate, Mina, Coleman; Bernard, Delph, T Davies, Walcott; Kean, Calvert-Lewin

2,126 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mousset already missed 3 sitters. Imagine if SHU had a good striker

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

      He’s so consistent!

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

    Palace playing with fire.

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thats how we roll 😀

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

      Is the Queen safe?

  3. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Has Maupay scored yet?

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

      Twice.

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

    City looking ominous

  5. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB captain fail

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

      Out for a hit this week methinks

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

      Sterling ruining the team?

  6. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Man City have conceded more goals than us this season, starting to think that might change 😀

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

      Judging with comments above hmmm

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

    City fan with an Anti-VAR sign.

    Not a fan of playing by the rules, just like FFP.

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

    Still waiting for the first OMG of the gameweek

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

      OMG Gazzanigga pen save?

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

        Doesn't sound right

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

    200 minutes played this GW, 0 goals

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

      Games gone.

  10. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What Dulux colour is Aguero’s hair?

    Pigeon sh.t gray?

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

      🙂 - nice one

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

    El Ghazi OOP anyone?

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

    Martinelli sitter

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

    Kun wins a KDB range free.

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

    Scottish Iniesta yc

  15. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Martinelli great attempt at the corner flag challenge

  16. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB freekick

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

    KDBar

  18. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB bar

  19. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ings scored yet?

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

      Someone scored anyway

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No, Bednark taken over goalscoring duties. Bandwagon incoming.

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

    Kevin de Boer (Bar)

  21. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb woww what an freekick unlucky

  22. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ouch.

    My mini league rival and his "brother" (ie rivals second team...) both benched gazzaniga for Ryan.

    COME ON GREALISH!!

  23. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kbar dbar kar

    • Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ouch, fearing a KDB haul today.

    • WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      FFS KDB captain

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What a strike from KDB, wow!

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

        minus BPS for it though

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

      OMG Soton

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      How did that not go in Kev

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Palace are shocking.

      1. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yep, only spent £3m this season and sitting in 9th. Roy out!!

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

      Bednarek? That's not Ings...what's going on there!