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. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Stephens or williams, as Rico replacement

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

    Wow, Mendy on 2 BAPS!

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

    Is every game over? Can I breathe?

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

    Was having a pretty decent gw until those damn Kun goals ffs

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

      Just had to score didn’t he, hate the guy

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

        yup

        Guiata should surely save the second one too imo

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

          All set for his 8 pointer 🙁

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

    After 2 weeks of haul, selling Agüero for Salah will be awkward today

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'd rather have Aguero and Gomez as the liv def than TAA and another player.

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

        Tight fixtures coming up for City and I think Salah will do good upcoming weeks

        1. Esalman
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          That's the thing.. because I opted for Gomez, I can have Salah Mane Vardy Aguero- all of them in my team.

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

    3 saves from Ramsdale!

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

      Surely an error from Opta.

  7. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimmy oh deaaaaar, banana skin trip for me this week. Shouldn’t of have so much faith in Cantwell / Southampton defence

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

    Cahill & Tomkins’ performances today, wow.

    What a superb pairing!

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

    I did say i didn't understand all the KDB love, was never going to big scoring game vs us. Now have to hope Abraham (C) works out 🙂

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

      He could have easily scored, hit the bar too, very unlucky not to get something, palace defence were shocking

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

        Yeah, i saw the game and yes he hit the bar. But recent history tells you we were never going to ship loads vs them. Yes, our defence were shocking agreed (having been rotated so much due to injuries), no idea how we have conceded the 4th least goals in the league.

  10. The Fed
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Good job Pep, your offensive juggernaut is playing sweeper the whole game. Just look at Arsenal game to see what he does when he is playing advanced.

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

      The problem is Sterling. He should be demoted to the reserve team

  11. st4rty
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tosun a lovely transfer. 😉

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

      Well played 😉

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

    29 and 5 to go incl Salah(C). Need Salah goal for solid GW

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Put your fishing rod away, sir.

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

        Why?

  13. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimmy sellers sold one gw too early 😉

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

      Now idk should i sell him for Firmino?

  14. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero(c) dug me out of a major hole today

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

      Good differential c when chasing too

  15. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Traore on my bench

    Please tell me that Rashford is ruled out

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

    6k rise happy with that

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

    49 from 6 AND I sold Jimi and Traore with Fleck on bench....what an emotional 90 mins

    Welcome to my team Lord Aguero

  18. SkeletONv01
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gets in Jimenez after he keeps scoring, get 1, 2, 2 from him, shifts him to Ings, as he keeps scroing, Ings blank, Jimenez 2 goals. My season overall.

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

      Exact same for me. Brought Jimi in twice this season and he's done that.

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

      Same. This game is just pathetic luck based crap at this point

  19. Stef rocks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    LOL 10pts from 5 players - amazing crap

  20. puhd
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Second time in a row I bench Fleck. He has out scored KDB Lund and Ings all together.

  21. socho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    The bragging on here is real

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

    Any chance Maddy doesn't start... Badly need Adama points 🙁

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

      Sorry bro, those points are gone

  23. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    13 points total from 6 players with great fixtures. Cant write this shite

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

    37 with bonuses with Vardy(C), Soy, TAA, Mane to go. Huge rank swing for me.

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

      See below.. just the 30 more than me 🙂 well done!

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

    Ok.. 7 from 4.. I need leicester to smash Burnley, and some high scoring utd win in the pool utd game, with rashford pulling off an amazing comeback and smashing a hatrrick, to beat salahs brace assisted by TAA.

  26. One More Hit
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    44 from 6. Rewarded for keeping the faith.

    Was on the verge of -4ing Jimenez > Ings, would have had to delete my account if so.

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

      Thanks for the brag

      1. One More Hit
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        No problem 8)

    2. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lol

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

      K

  27. StayoutheSpiceZone
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just horrible. Bench scored more than my team. Captains rubbish again.

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

      This GW is so bad my bench can't even score only 5 from 3 on the bench...

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

    10 from 5 quite impressive how I avoided all pts so far, hopefully Vardy and Tammy can change that 🙂

  29. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Easy transfer next GW....KDB to Salah...

  30. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guys Help

    Jimenez and rico for DCL and VAN. DIJK ????