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. bialk
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Palace goal

  2. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Killed by Kun.

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

    coulndt do it could you palace

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

      😆 timing

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

    ZAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  5. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is there anything worse than FPL than not owning Aguero when he hauls

  6. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lol

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

    PALACEEEE

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

    Palace equalize

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

    Hate you Palace

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

    YESSSS ZAHAHAHAAA

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

    Sterling ... so glad to see the back of you ... off you go fella out of my team

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

    Absolute Scenes!!!!! Zahaaaaaa

  13. Kushal
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Agueroooooooo

    Glad i bought him last week

    5 goals and captained in both week.

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

      Very well done

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

    Prioritise Kun over Salah? Hmmmm

  15. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kun captain was OK after all.

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

    Palace goal fernandino og

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

    Cynical OG

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

    Sterling done as a fpl asset?

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

      For now yes but not forever

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

    Hahaha go on Palace

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

    FernandinhOG

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

    One more save please Ryan

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

    All these goals doing nothing but hurting my rank

  23. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Despite being non owner. Happy to see Kun scoring. Served me well in past yrs 🙂

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

    I give up

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

    Scenes!

  26. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hahahaha if you don’t laugh you’ll cry. I’ve been destroyed by Aguero(c) in ML. Going to WC and get him in along with double Pool Defenders and hope for the best.

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

    Fernandinho GET IN !!!!!!!!!!

    Now you re gonna believe us !!!

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

    Fernandinho OG?

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

    Get some saves McCarthy!!!!

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

    What a goal by Fernandinho..