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. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who's getting a red card?

  2. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone know why that wasnt a handball? Thought arm was in un-natural position

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Intention to handle the ball. There's no way he meant to handle that.

  3. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Great stuff from VAR. Was fully expecting VAR to back the ref's decision but pleasantly surprised.

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

    Jimenez damn

  5. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Everyone will now sell kdb

  6. Steinburg FC
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anybody else bench Traoré for Cantwell?

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

    Grealish....

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

      ???? Use your words

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

    Score Ings you mug

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

    Benched Jimi for Sarr...

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

    jimi brace

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

      excellent smithers

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

    hmmm my 18 points is a green? How many players have people got left? 16?

  12. tambourineman
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Godfrey red card, Norwich down to 10

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

    Jimiiiiiiiii

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

    LiVARpool again... Who honestly believed City would get a pen?

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

      Bla bla bla
      It not a penalty.
      And what it has to do with Pool I don't know.
      Here's an an option - shut up.

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

    Grealish G

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

      Ffs, I jinxed Brighton cs on previous page 🙁

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

    JImmmmmy DOUBLE

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

    Godfrey RC

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

    Jimi goal! Traore assist

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

    where are my 2 Aurier baps???

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

    Omg Jimmy.

    Damn Grealish. Anyone but Grealish

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

      This, sold him for Willian a few weeks ago cause everyone was mehhhhh

  21. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Palace defending so well would love for it to finish 0-1

  22. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sorry guys I broke Ings and McCarthy.

  23. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lol @ me benching Jimmy haaaa

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You didn’t...

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

    KdB fail
    He is not even close to the box.. Shite!

  25. korbendallas82
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    come on Mahrez.

  26. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Finally some points

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

    Was my Jimenez to Ings transfer kneejerk or justified?

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

      Justified, just bad luck.

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

        Had Jimenez for a long time and the original plan was to do the move after this week

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

      you weren't the only one

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

        True

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

    Saints fan and I brought it McCarthy!!!!

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

    I can’t handle it. I didn’t cap Aguero last week last minute change and then take Jimi out this week as blanked and wolves looks awful! This game is cruel cruel cruel

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

    McCarthy doing well.

    Thank god I didn't buy.