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. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ings new Pukki?

  2. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I brought Ings this week for the first time ever 🙁

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

    Goal Palace!

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

      Wow

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

    Hah WHAT A SAVE from Steve cook

    https://twitter.com/moster_truck/status/1218557036461527042

  5. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Glad I resisted getting Ings. Knew the hype would end this week

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

    Pukki is bald today

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

    tosun goal

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

    TOSUN!!!!

  9. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mahrez benching all but forgotten now!! Up the Saints!

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

    OMG tosun

  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish close

  12. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'm not upset I brought in Ings this week, glad I've ruined him for everyone

    • Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry guys. I captained Kdb

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

          As did over million other teams

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

        Tosun scores against City...haha

      • bialk
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Captain CS gone.

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

          Mendy?

      • Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tosun G
        Cahill A

        VAR pending

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

        Palace goal

      • Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        LOL Tosun goal

      • Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tosun bandwagon

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

        Trossard Goal!!

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

          Darn. Was going to get him this week but kept Alli

      • Skalla
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mission accomplished to break Ings this GW, was only one in ML not to have him this season 🙂

      • Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        And once again city will be stunned. No surprise at all. They have been rubbish

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

          Wonder why people expected a rout against palace.

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

        Good fantasy football have got all their ings points and moved on to Puk

      • Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        OMG Tosun - of all players 😮

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

        Cahill assist

      • Monkey Hanger
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tosun dream debut.

      • have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        some guy here capped Tosun 😀

      • UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tosun puts Palace in front

        As expected

      • Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Maybe City will finally wake up, now.

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

        Palace terrible to watch, hate it

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

          Wdym?