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. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    People did some weird benchings this week by the sound of it

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

      This

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

      Every week Bubz.

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

      Yeah who knew Kelly would significantly outscore Lundstram...

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

        He didn't

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

      My bench is gobshite so I don't need to worry

    5. Essan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Well I certainly did - Traore and Grealish ........ (couldn;t decide which to play, so went for Robbo instead ..... That's really gonna work out well!)

  2. TyroneGAA
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Need Everton to score to give me a chance at 550 quid have Chelsea later only shining light ..

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

      Get what they deserve... was always going to be high scoring

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

    Imagine sell Ings for Jimenez. Lol. Amateurs.

    1. nip-tuck
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Everyone did it so it doesn’t matter, right?

  4. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cantwell is my top scorer so far. 15 points with TAA, Salah and Vardy left to go. All this on a WC, mind.

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

    I'm on a hot streak with the triple call-out. Let's try it one more time:

    Ings Ings Ings

  6. Party time
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish I Love Ya

    • Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      All those KDB (C) experts

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

        Top post fella.

      2. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This

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

        Booooooo!!

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

      Ings looked like scoring at all?

    • Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I sold Jimi and benched Traore for Cantwell.

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

        Same mate harsh old game

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

      Jimi down injured. Possible concussion?

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

        Nosebleed only.

    • HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Started Cantwell over Traore.

      In hindsight was it a mistake or sensible?

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

        I did the same, wont do it again, was stupid

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

        In hindsight it was 100% mistake, but that's the benefit of hindsight...

    • McSauce
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Benched Traoré for cantwell.... savage

    • Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish & Holgate on the bench. Perfect...

      1. Jensen Luiz Coleman
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheer up I played Ryan and Lundstram and have Gazzaniga and Kelly on the bench...

    • ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I waited all games for Ings to go quiet, finally did it this week Jimi to Ings.

      This game defies logic.

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Benched Jimmy for Cantwell. Worst decision of the season.

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

        Me too.

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

        Same, sigh. Group hug. Feels like a kick in the balls from them fpl gods

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

        WTF, I've never benched non fodder forwards.

    • sozopol
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I sold Grealish for doucoure

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

        You dumb mofo.

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

        Not wise move at all. Get him back

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aguero

    • bialk
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kun goal

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

      Falling 5k despite 20pts from 5.

      Grealish mugging me off. Need an Ings goal or some McCarthy saves

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

      Kun

    • Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kun goal

    • School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Benched Grealish for Cantwell this morning

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kun G
      Jesus A

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

      Of course Jimi and Grealish score, of course, just one week, but no.

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jesus assist

    • Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      why have people benched so many points ?

    • Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Jimmy vice captain here. It hurts, I must confess

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

        AGUEROOOO!!!

      • Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Finalllyyyyyy