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. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Another Ryan save would be good now the CS has gone

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

    Yahooo Grealish! C’mon Digne and Ings!!

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

    Siiiiiiiiii senioooooooooooor

    1. Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Señor

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

      GREALISH G

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

        Another?

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

          Oops, I fogot I was watching score updates on a delay!

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

      Traore first on bench, will come in if Rashford doesn't play.

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

      7 blanks... I’m gonna be sick.

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

      Ferrrk Traore on bench.. Season over 🙁

    6. Sif
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish, Jimi... any other players I don't own want to score?

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

      Too much drama this week.

    8. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I started Cantwell over Traore 🙁

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

        Same

      2. Effe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        So did I 🙁

      3. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Same. Was a sensible decision. We are unlucky

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

      Jimi out for part of a -8.... Smoooooth

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

      selling Jimmy is never a great idea.

      1. twoplustwo
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nope

    11. Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Grealisssssssshhhhhhh Yessssssssss

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

        Traore and Jiminez to Aguero and Fleck...FML I took a hit as well hahaha

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

        Cahill 🙁

      • THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sold Jimmy this week lol

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

        Ings score or get injured so I can sell you painlessly

      • Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Traore essential

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

        Bloody heck. Up 80k till 80th minute

        Jimenez, Traore & Grealish returns, Ryan loses CS.

        🙁

      • tucaoneo
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ffs I benched Grealish.

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

        Who was slating Traore a few pages back?

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

          Everyone

      • twoplustwo
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Was close to binning Traore and Jimi this week

      • Vinyl78LP
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        KDB roulette these days as to playing deep or bombing forward. The former too often now for my liking.

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

        Blurgh. That jimenez>ings transfer made so much sense earlier in the week.

        I thought saints' defence had toughened up?

        1. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Done the same move

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

        Thank God my rival sold Jimmy this week.. For -4.

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

        Any danger of a City goal?

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

          Nope. KdB playing CB

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

        Come on Papa Ings

      • DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mark i feel your pain

      • Chucky
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        How many goals for Grealy??

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

          1

      • Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        0 goals 0 assists 0 clean sheets. Sold Jimenez because of fixtures... Great game this FPL stuff.

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

          Same atm atleast Vardy(c) tmrw, only positive currently!

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Same. Always happens when I really like my team.