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. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mahrez on
    Bilva off

  2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    phew...
    few to many jammy aguero owners this week otherwise

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

    It wasn't a pen tbh. Not deliberate handball .

  4. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Looked like handball tbh.

  5. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who crossed the ball in for the non pen?

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

      Cancelo

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks

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

    Scenes?

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

    Pep is a fraud. Why bench Mahrez when he was in the best form for City? Fullu deserved.

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      yep

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He never gives Mahrez a run of games no matter how well he does.

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

    Would've been awarded to the cheaters Liverpool

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

      Say it without crying

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

        I can't

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

      Lol

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

      Mahrez C whoops

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

    Thank me later for bringing him in finally, Ings non owners. Saved you some pain today x

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

    Laca off

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

    Desperetaly need Villa goal. Anyone.

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

      Me

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

      Same

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish

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

      Desperately need Brighton to keep cs. Grealish on bench

  12. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pep gets rotated

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

    That feeling when I have a few clean sheets and I already know I'm gonna lose them at 85'

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

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    NEW: Dubravka, Fernández, Clark, Krafth, Lascelles, Willems, Saint-Maximin, Shelvey, Hayden, Almirón, Joelinton
    Subs: Darlow, Schär, Lejeune, Matthew Longstaff, Atsu, Longstaff, Ritchie

    CHE: Kepa, Rüdiger, James, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Mount, Kanté, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham, Willian
    Subs: Caballero, Emerson, Zouma, Kovacic, Barkley, Batshuayi, Pedro

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

      Interested in Almiron. Seems to have perked up since Bruce changed his position.

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

      Ritchie?

      Schar on the bench is interesting as well

      Would be nice to know who's nailed as the injuries ease up and the coach actually gets to choose

      Lascelles coming into my team someday soon 🙂

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

    Lacazette off, Nkietah on

  16. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    come on mahrez score please

  17. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tbh Riedwald played the ball and he never have the time to remove his hand when it ricocheted. And no clear goal action at the back.. So fair decision.

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

    Hold Guaita"!"""!!!

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

      This pleaseee

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

    Unintentional, which matters defensively.

    Grey area needs clearing!

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

    Grealish you mug score!!!!!!

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

    Masuaku, I'd love an attacking return mate 😉

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

    Chelsea team settled with Puli out

  23. Party time
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I broke Kdb

    • Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      City loss will have Liverpool smelling blood tomorrow 😎

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

        The race was already over, so its meaningless

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

      Villa and City need goals

    • Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kdb captain fail.

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

      FIRST MONITOR USE!

    • FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      sold Guaita and Kelly.

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

      Southampton collapse

    • Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      LiVARpool at it again... Was never going to be a City pen