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

    I came soooooo close to (c) Ings, so glad I didn't

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

    Miss it Kun. Please. Blast it over.

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

    KDB to take??

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

      Lol

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

      Hehehhehe

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

    Guita save it

  5. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No pen phew

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

      Varsicle

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

    no pen

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

    No pen

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

    No pen

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

    No pen.

  10. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone do Jimenez to Ings this GW?

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

      Yeah lol

    2. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yup

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

    David Silva the only one subbed in the City side?

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

    No peno

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

    OMG

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

    No penalty. Palace survive

  15. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ofc thats not penalty.

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

    City pen ruled out by var

  17. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    VAR correct decision again

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

    Ffs, that just sums it up as Aguero Capper

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What that VAR got the decision correct ?

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

    how?

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

    Lovely, got to love VAR 😀

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thought you said ffs var

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

          😉

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

      Was never a pen

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

      Should not be a pen to City

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

      How was Maupay looked? Beautiful fixtures upcoming

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good decision, was accidental handball.

    6. bialk
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      VAR is here

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

      LiVAPool etc etc

    8. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      WTFFFFFFFF

    9. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers to everyone who said Holgate over Lunds.

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

      Damn, Traore is getting 2 bonus at this rate.