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. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimmy hello sm there?

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

    I'll find solace in that it seems a bad FPL Saturday often tranlates to a change of luck on Sunday. Salah(C) to smash it.

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

      mane (c) hatty

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

      Good choice

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

      Not for me. This season I can never get any points on a Sunday. If I score bad on Saturday my weekend is ruined.

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

    Grrr lucky goal that

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

      Which 1

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

        Arsenal's

    2. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      i guess a bit luck with the deflection but its the numbers and positions in the box they say 😉

      last week with CPL it went against us

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

        Your 1 player in the box and it fell to him from the deflection 🙁 ahh well

        1. Dr. Agabuse
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          it wasnt deserved. true that. i really admire Fleck as a player but who else wouldnt you want to lose out of the lot?
          it seems a perfect example for System bigger than players.

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

            Fleck is amazing. As are our fullbacks tbf, need a striker... Missing mcgoldrick massively today

  4. toerag
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    dcl 1st sub 🙁

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

    My faith in Martinelli pays off 🙂

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

    Need a wild card do over lol

  7. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sidibe benched and Holgate gets the assist.. boy did I choose the wrong Everton defender

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

      Same. I could have picked Digne before last week as well. Not the biggest mistake ever but that is some poinst gone for sure

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

    Why would Ancelotti bench Sidibe? He has been playing well hasn't he? Back in the starting line up midweek??

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      The beauty of rotation

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

        Lovely stuff

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep him. Atleast I will

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

        I will but it just isn't nice to draw the shortest stick lol

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

      He talked about resting Holgate!!

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

        Keane was poorly.

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

        I think that he will get rested in the near future if Mina and Keane are fit

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

    Us Jimenez and Abraham owners must have done something very bad in a former life - every week they blank and EVERY other viable alternative returns

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Patience is our problem

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

      You are doing something bad in this life (maybe keeping them is one of the things)

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

      Abraham scored last week and hasnt played yet? And its 45min left.

  10. FirMinaMiMo
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    City slowed down! 🙁

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

    Pep going to show some balls and sub-off Sterling for Jesus or Mahrez?

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

      He never makes subs like that

  12. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guaita cs would be massive 0_0

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

      Don't get my hopes up mate

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

        haha

  13. SB8
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What a player Holland is haha... Took 3 minutes to score in Bundesliga

    1. SB8
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Halland*

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Haaland*

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

      If Rashy’s out for a while we should sign hin

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

        Him

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Bit late to sign a guy who just signed a new contract

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

          More incontinence from Ole

          1. Pukki Blinders
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Not Ole's fault, he picked Dortmund over us dude 🙁

            1. SB8
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              And he obviously made a right decision

              1. Pukki Blinders
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Straight out won't deny that

      3. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        lol

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

    Mahrez has to get 45 mins here.

    City are just putting hopeful crosses into Kun vs 6ft+ defenders or overplaying.

  15. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Why are Man City incapable of defending from set plays....anyone for a game of statues?

  16. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    well Abraham well o well

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

    Need Villa to score. Rival got double Brighton defense...

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

    Anyone else noticed that city struggle to break down opponents when Sterling plays ?

    Its a crime he plays ahead of the more inform Mahrez this season .

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

      Sterling cursed!

  19. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    1st ML rival has Gazza
    2nd has Martinelli

  20. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    8 goals that half and I think Pukki at 6.5m is the most expensive player to get an attacking return.

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

    That kinda shows the tunnel vision people were having with Ingsy. Loads of great option out in the South Coast, not just Danny.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Like? Please don't say Martinelli 😀

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Che Adams for one

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

    7 points so far, could be worse

    1. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same here from 5 including kun (c).

  23. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sidibe over Holgate on WC not looking good atm

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

      I did Webster over Holgate based on manager comments ffs

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

    My bench boost is looking good so far.
    - Guaita picking up saves, CS possibly?
    - Alli's 3 points are better than nothing
    - Lundstram could still score, ARS always collapse at the end
    - Rico hasn't get sent off yet

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

      Not really

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        why use it this week and not a double?

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

    Also, Traore seems to have started and ended that half in Cedric's pocket. Odd choice of position.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bertrand?

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

        Seemed to position himself on Cedric's flank a lot for some reason. Did he switch? Either way, totally invisible.

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

    How has ings not scored!!! 2 goals but both not his

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

      Long grabbed from him during 2nd goal !

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nah, he missed the chance...

  27. B Sharp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    ....Dont say I didn't warn you. MARTINELLI

    1. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      he had 3 shots i believe

  28. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    funny how it hurts more when the team scores but your player hasnt.

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Especially when it’s against one of your defenders. Such as...I have Ings and Saïss

  29. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I effectively did Abraham > DCL for -4. Working out so far.

  30. Dthinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ugh. First instinct this week was to replace auba with Martinelli. As the week progressed I was back and forth between dcl and Maupay. Who did I end up buying? Ings!

    Maybe he’ll grab one in the second half...

    1. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don't worry you're not alone, also brought Ings in this week...All I need now is an early benching 🙂