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. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guaita CS gone 🙁

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

    What a cross

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

    Jesus A

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

    Noooo Guaita 🙁

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

    KDB assist?

  6. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB??

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

      No.

  7. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Time to sell kdb for Salah.
    Kdb too deep. Tough fixtures coming

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

    Kun goal

  9. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Of course Aguero scores, of course he does

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

    Aguerrrroooooooooooooooooooooo

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

    Oh ffs not Kun

  12. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    jesus assit

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

    Well done Kun captainers!

  14. Stormbringer22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sounds about right - got rid of Jimi and Grealish for Salah (C) and Ings as part of a -4 move... Classic FPL

  15. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kun (C) never in doubt! Get a second lad 😎

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

    Thank god!!!!!

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

    OMG FLECK

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

      I benched him 🙁

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

    Goal BLADES

  19. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Will it stand? Not watching

  20. Lumberjack
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Fleck G

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

    At least Kelly lost his CS

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

    Fleck G

  23. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aguerooooooo C

  24. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Two weeks ago I had to decide between Aguero and Traore or DCL and Sterling. Made the wrong decision and so far it has cost me around 50 pts. Who would have guessed that lol

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

    I started Cantwell this week only because of Rashford injury. He is a fodder bench 5th mid and should be used as a sub only really. People that benched Grealish and Jiminez for him sorry but this is not a hindsight post he should be a sub only imo

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

    Noooooo huge red

  27. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    KDB(c). No Jimi.No Grealish. McCarthy in goal, No Aguero. No Jesus.
    Kellly & Holgate on bench.
    Not best.

  28. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    7 points.. 100k drop.. so far so good.
    Is from 4 players, so not all bad, but those I dont have a doing well.. grealish, jimi.
    Need a vardy festival tomorrow.

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

    Fleck goal

  30. Unfathomable Ruination
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Fleck!