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. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pukki pen?

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

    Pukki time

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

    Rico. Save the pen.

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

    Pukki party

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

    PUKKIIII GOALL

  6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any Watford fans know if Kabasele is not first choice anymore?

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

    Pukki Pukki Pukki

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

      YES IT WORKED!

  8. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Digne nearly assist.

  9. Pras (FPL)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rico on for his -1 haul

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

    Cantwell robbed

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why?

  11. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lol Cook red card and penalty

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

    ^^

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

    Pukki was a good choice this week.

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

    Sidibe been a disappointing punt!
    Got me 6 points last week but could've gone for holgate & Saved money or spent a bit more for Digne

  15. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    PUKKKKKKIIII Capitano!

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

      Well done

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

      Lol! Fair play man!

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, just a one week punt then moving on to Bobby

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

      Nice one, can I have Tuesdays Euro numbers ?

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

    Boutnemouth relegated imo

    1. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Need new manager

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed.

  17. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Dropped Pukki a few weeks back. Meh

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

    Bournemouth are the nut low

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

    So....because I got Ings in for the first time this season, Bednarek goes to score instead of him !!

  20. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rico needs to score now.

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

    Norwich really need this win, might play to hold out.

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

    who dafuq is duda

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

      New loan signing from Hertha Berlin. Plays as an attacking midfielder.

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

      Came from hertha Berlin. Czech player, attacking mid

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

    Where’s flat cap boy he has Pukki C

  24. RealVirg
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Woohoo Cook RC = Simpson nailed in the future!!!!

  25. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bou might just go down. Damn what a turnaround

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

    @Kaptain Kane let me try:
    DCL DCL DCL

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

    Palace are such a grim team to watch

  28. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Wilson -> Ings for FT?

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

    Knew I should have done vardy to pukki

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

    Steve cook doing a Luis suarez 2010 world cup qf. But it didn't work for cook