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. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pen for Wolves?

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

      Meh. Neves takes them.

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

        No, Neves and Jimenez rotate.

      2. Party time
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hahahahaha Meh at you

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

      30 mins for KDB (c), Cantwell, DCL and Grealish goal or assist each. Please

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

      Why do we waste our afternoons?

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

        This

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

        3am on a saturday night down here 🙁

      3. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        1125 am here Bemba

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

      Jimmy PENO please

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

      Pen wolves

    6. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      "I might rotate Holgate."
      Rotates Sidibe.
      Classic Carlo 😉

    7. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pen save McCarthy or G Jimenez either way I’m cool

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

        What if he had blazed over the bar?

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

      Jimmy Nez pen goal

    9. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Please save mccarthy

    10. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lord Lund row z

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

      Jimmy!

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

      Jiminez G

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

      Jimenez terrible fixtures so I sold. Of course he scores a pen instantly..

      1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I did as well

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

        I sold too, I'd been waiting for him to get a pen for ages as I knew it was his turn.

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

        Rage induced transfer

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

      Benched Jimmy arghhh

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

        Who did you play in his place?

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

      Jimmy G

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

      Of COURSE I did Jimi to Ings.

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

      Essential!

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

      Yessss Jimi

    19. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ings golden boot down drain

    20. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      RAAAAAUUUL.

      Thank you mate. Kept faith.

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

      Jimenez never on pens. I take him out and he's on pens

      What is going on

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

        jummy and neves rotate...

      2. Am sorry to say again it�…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He's always on pens

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

        He swaps with Neves. This was known since he joined Wolves, pretty much.

    22. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      JIMMMYYYYYYYYY

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

      At least this means Ings will stay on a little longer to get the winner, right?

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

      Typical.

    25. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ugh, would’ve preferred the pen save and inevitable BAPs

    26. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Glad I did Jimi to Aguero for a -4 oh and Traore was other player I left

    27. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Si senior

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

      Ings stays and benched vs Palace so.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Why would he be benched?

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

      Jimi, why did I ever doubt you !

    30. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grab the winner DIngs