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

    Score the equalizer Ings you muppet

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

    Jimmy > Ings went well.

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same. Christ

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

      Gotta hurty. I was doing that before Rashford injury made me ditch him for Ings instead. Still hurts.

      Other move was Fabs to McC

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

      Got rid of Jimi for a -8

  3. Party time
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Siiiiiiiiii Señor

      The Mexican Sensation

    • Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ferk switched Jimmola captain to Salah

    • Chucky
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      WOW Jimmy and GRealy COMBO Strikes 😀 Chucky in heaven..

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

      Well now what do i do with Jiminez...fixtures look so bad

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

      Traded Jimi for ings, solid decision there...

    • Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Having a stinker this week. Blanks all round but seems like everyone else is getting goals and assists left right and centre.

    • ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sold Jimi for Ings. Duh.

    • Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      JAMMY JIMMY OMG!!!! WE FEAST!!

    • tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hope nobody did Jimenez > Ings...

      1. kraftwerker
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        5 on this page for starters. Including myself 🙁

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

      Removing Jimi this week will be tough

    • supperspout
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Everyone still selling jimmy?

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

      F**K SAKE! Benched Traore.

    • aborg
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      GREALISHHHH

    • Alnair
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Just need that Ings goal, C'MON DANNY

    • denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Absolute horror show.

    • Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimi never scores more than one he thinks....

    • DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Benching Jimmy for Cantwell... Eeeugh

    • Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Come on Jiménez give us another one

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

        JIMI YOU ANIMAL

      • NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Traore 😎

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

        saints are cack

      • The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Jimi > Ings as part of a -4 🙂

      • Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        No Brighton CS.

        Woohooooo!

      • XABI 15
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        ffs held jimenez for weeks. swapped him to ings this week...

      • Dacra
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nice goodbye 10 from Traore.

        1. moment
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Almost making up for the last 3 weeks...

      • Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish and Jimmy scored in same minute. OMG !!

        GET IN

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

        Yes, nice one Villa

      • HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        TRAORE bandwagon ROLLING ON