Dugout Discussion

Alli benched for Spurs as Chelsea switch to back-three

Dele Alli (£8.4m) has dropped down to the Spurs bench for Saturday lunchtime’s key trip to Chelsea.

The out-of-form midfielder showed his frustrations after being substituted during their midweek Champions League loss to RB Leipzig and he, alongside Serge Aurier (£5.0m), are victims of Jose Mourinho’s switch to a five-man defence.

Both managers have seemingly plumped for a formation change, with Frank Lampard choosing three centre-backs and the attacking width of Reece James (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.0m). The Spaniard’s only two league starts since Gameweek 10 have come against Spurs.

Willy Caballero (£4.8m) is again given the nod in goal over Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m), whilst Olivier Giroud (£6.5m) is given only his second league start of the season with Tammy Abraham (£7.6m) not deemed ready to start.

The 22-year-old was described as “at about 70 per cent having not trained much recently” in Lampard’s press conference but has at least made the substitutes bench, as does Willian (£7.0m) – the scorer of both goals when these sides met in December.

Spurs are still trying to find a way to score goals in the absence of Harry Kane (£10.8m), further worsened by the fractured arm sustained by Son Heung-min (£9.9m) during last Sunday’s 3-2 win at Aston Villa.

With both out of action for months rather than weeks, Mourinho has put his faith in Lucas Moura (£7.1m) and new signing Steven Bergwijn (£7.5m). The former has scored in FA Cup clashed with Southampton and Middlesbrough but not in the league since Gameweek 17’s trip to Wolves.

Bergwijn, on the other hand, grabbed the opening goal on his debut against Manchester City. Signed for £27m from PSV Eindhoven, he has made an impressive start to life in North London.

Finally, in the absence of Christian Pulisic (£6.9m) and N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) – out for around three weeks after suffering a muscle injury against Man United – there’s a welcome return to the squad for Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.3m) after rupturing his Achilles in pre-season.

Chelsea XI (3-5-2): Caballero; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Barkey, Alonso; Mount, Giroud

Tottenham Hotspur XI (5-3-2): Lloris; Tanganga, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks, Ndombele, Lo Celso; Bergwijn, Lucas.

FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

1,136 Comments Post a Comment
  1. fusen
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    https://anewpla.net/fpl/lineups/

    Chelsea: Caballero (13), Azpilicueta (28), Christensen (4), Rüdiger (2), James (24), Jorginho (5), Kovacic (17), Alonso (3), Mount (19), Barkley (8), Giroud (18),
    Subs: Billy Gilmour (47), Kepa Arrizabalaga (1), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (12), Emerson (33), Willian (10), Kurt Zouma (15), Tammy Abraham (9)

    Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris (1), Tanganga (39), Sánchez (6), Alderweireld (4), Vertonghen (5), Davies (33), Lo Celso (18), Ndombele (28), Winks (8), Lucas Moura (27), Bergwijn (23),
    Subs: Eric Dier (15), Paulo Gazzaniga (22), Erik Lamela (11), Gedson Fernandes (30), Dele Alli (20), Serge Aurier (24), Oliver Skipp (29)

    Burnley: Pope (1), Bardsley (26), Tarkowski (5), Mee (6), Taylor (3), Hendrick (13), Westwood (18), Cork (4), McNeil (11), Rodriguez (19), Vydra (27),
    Subs: Joe Hart (20), Aaron Lennon (25), Erik Pieters (23), Kevin Long (28), Robbie Brady (12), Josh Brownhill (8), Jóhann Gudmundsson (7)

    AFC Bournemouth: Ramsdale (12), Stacey (17), Francis (2), Cook (3), Smith (15), Surman (6), Billing (29), Gosling (4), Wilson (22), Wilson (13), King (7),
    Subs: Dominic Solanke (9), Lewis Cook (16), Artur Boruc (1), Diego Rico (21), Jack Simpson (25), Junior Stanislas (19), Ryan Fraser (24)

    Crystal Palace: Guaita (31), Ward (2), Dann (6), Cahill (24), van Aanholt (3), Kouyaté (8), McArthur (18), McCarthy (22), Ayew (9), Benteke (17), Zaha (11),
    Subs: Brandon Pierrick Keutcha (40), Martin Kelly (34), Max Meyer (7), Wayne Hennessey (13), Jairo Riedewald (44), Andros Townsend (10), Cenk Tosun (20)

    Newcastle United: Dubravka (1), Lazaro (23), Fernández (18), Lascelles (6), Schär (5), Rose (28), Almirón (24), Longstaff (36), Bentaleb (42), Saint-Maximin (10), Joelinton (9),
    Subs: Dwight Gayle (12), Karl Darlow (26), Florian Lejeune (20), Matt Ritchie (11), Matthew Longstaff (43), DeAndre Yedlin (22), Isaac Hayden (14)

    Sheffield United: Henderson (1), Basham (6), Egan (12), O'Connell (5), Baldock (2), Berge (32), Norwood (16), Fleck (4), Stevens (3), McBurnie (9), Sharp (10),
    Subs: Phil Jagielka (15), John Lundstram (7), David McGoldrick (17), Lys Mousset (22), Panagiotis Retsos (29), Michael Verrips (21), Ben Osborn (23)

    Brighton and Hove Albion: Ryan (1), Duffy (4), Dunk (5), Webster (15), Schelotto (21), Bissouma (8), Pröpper (24), Burn (33), Maupay (7), Murray (17), Mooy (18),
    Subs: Leandro Trossard (11), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (16), Bernardo (30), Aaron Connolly (44), David Button (27), Solly March (20), Pascal Groß (13)

    Southampton: McCarthy (1), Djenepo (12), Stephens (5), Bednarek (35), Bertrand (21), Smallbone (27), Ward-Prowse (16), Højbjerg (23), Ings (9), Long (7), Armstrong (17),
    Subs: Sofiane Boufal (19), Oriol Romeu (14), Angus Gunn (28), Michael Obafemi (20), Yan Valery (43), Che Adams (10), Jannik Vestergaard (4)

    Aston Villa: Pepe Reina (29), Hause (30), Mings (40), Konsa Ngoyo (15), Guilbert (24), Nakamba (11), Douglas Luiz (6), Targett (18), El Ghazi (21), Samatta (20), Grealish (10),
    Subs: Trézéguet (17), Conor Hourihane (14), Borja Bastón (19), Daniel Drinkwater (4), Björn Engels (22), Ørjan Nyland (25), Ahmed El Mohamady (27)

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Top Totty 🙂

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Dean Smith finally drops Drinkwater. Deluded manager.

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Smallbone 😯

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That is exactly what she said

  2. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lundstram to come on against tired legs 😎

  3. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Smallbone bandwagon

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A Smallbone can be good, if it's used effectively. It's a shame that my wife disagrees though.

  4. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    No Rico FFS

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Aye.. hes frustrating, but at 4.0 cant expect too much!

  5. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is Lundstram essential?

  6. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    BOURNEMOUTH TEAM NEWS
    Starting XI: Ramsdale, Smith, Francis, S Cook, Stacey, H Wilson, Billing, Surman, Gosling, King, C Wilson.
    Subs: Boruc, Solanke, L Cook, Stanislas, Rico, Fraser, Simpson.

    BURNLEY TEAM NEWS
    Starting XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Vydra, Rodriguez.
    Subs: Hart, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Brady, Pieters, Lennon, Long.

    BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Sheff Utd: Ryan, Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Webster, Burn, Bissouma, Mooy, Propper, Maupay, Murray.
    Subs: Button, Bernardo, Gross, Trossard, Jahanbakhsh, March, Connolly.

    SHEFF UTD TEAM NEWS
    Team to play Brighton: Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens, Fleck, Norwood, Berge, McBurnie, Sharp.
    Subs: Verrips, Jagielka, Osborn, Retsos, Lundstram, Mousset, McGoldrick.

    ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Southampton: Reina, Guilbert, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Targett, Luiz, Nakamba, Grealish, El Ghazi, Samatta.
    Subs: Nyland, Drinkwater, Hourihane, Trezeguet, Baston, Engels, El Mohamady.

    SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS
    Team to face Aston Villa: McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Smallbone, Armstrong, Djenepo, Long, Ings.
    Subs: Gunn, Verstergaard, Adams, Romeu, Boufal, Obafemi, Valery.

  7. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    BUR: Pope, Bardsley, Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, McNeil, Cork, Hendrick, Westwood, Vydra, Rodriguez
    Subs: Hart, Pieters, Long, Lennon, Brady, Brownhill, Gudmundsson

    BOU: Ramsdale, Adam Smith, Francis, Stacey, Steve Cook, Billing, Surman, Gosling, Harry Wilson, King, Callum Wilson
    Subs: Boruc, Rico, Simpson, Lewis Cook, Stanislas, Fraser, Solanke

    CRY: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, van Aanholt, Dann, McArthur, Kouyaté, McCarthy, Ayew, Zaha, Benteke
    Subs: Hennessey, Kelly, Meyer, Riedewald, Townsend, Brandon Pierrick Keutcha, Tosun

    NEW: Dubravka, Fernández, Lazaro, Schär, Lascelles, Rose, Bentaleb, Longstaff, Almirón, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton
    Subs: Darlow, Lejeune, Yedlin, Ritchie, Matthew Longstaff, Hayden, Gayle

    SHU: Henderson, Egan, O'Connell, Basham, Norwood, Fleck, Berge, Stevens, Baldock, McBurnie, Sharp
    Subs: Verrips, Jagielka, Retsos, Lundstram, Osborn, McGoldrick, Mousset

    BHA: Ryan, Duffy, Webster, Dunk, Bissouma, Schelotto, Pröpper, Burn, Murray, Mooy, Maupay
    Subs: Button, Bernardo, Trossard, March, Groß, Jahanbakhsh, Connolly

    SOU: McCarthy, Bertrand, Bednarek, Stephens, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Smallbone, Højbjerg, Long, Ings, Armstrong
    Subs: Gunn, Valery, Vestergaard, Boufal, Oriol Romeu, Obafemi, Adams

    AVL: Reina, Hause, Mings, Konsa, Douglas Luiz, Nakamba, Guilbert, Targett, Samatta, Grealish, El Ghazi
    Subs: Nyland, Engels, El Mohamady, Trézéguet, Hourihane, Drinkwater, Bastón

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hulk

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      3rd

      You are slowing up 😉

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I know. Posting from a phone is a nightmare.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Is it ?
          I've never used the site with a computer.
          Mobile is best for me

    3. kamdaraji
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No Hayden!!

    4. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Largebone-> Smallbone done

  8. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    rico benched

  9. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lundstram was benched last game too...

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Correct

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    No 3pm surprises.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Rico is one tbh

  11. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Long starts 🙂

    1. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He will mix things up with Smallbone

      1. SuperMane Returns
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        ShLong & Smallbone. Polar opposites.

  12. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Down to 1 defender for the week

  13. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I hope Lundstram owners FINALLY realise he isn’t a starter anymore

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Non owner here. Sold him for a profit

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I still own him, but hes on the bench for me as well, prob shift him on this week.

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No need, they will hope him to start next weekend also.

  14. Party time
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I brought in Lundstram

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        What you gonna spend your 1 point on?

        1. Party time
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Biscuits

      2. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Deluded Lundstram owners getting what they deserve

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Another goal from the bench?

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Another goal off the bench?

        3. Leaf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          A second half goal from bench ?

        4. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          What , another 7 pointer?

          And yes we do deserve 7 points

          1. Maddi Son
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            What happened to your prediction of 15 points? 😉

            1. TheDragon
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Well I don’t want to come across as over confident but yes I still see a 15 pointer 🙂

              1. Maddi Son
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 1 month ago

                Logic does tend to go out the window when you own a player. Splash your face with water, see if that helps.

                1. TheDragon
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 1 month ago

                  If you genuinely believe that I think a 15 pointer is the most likely outcome then I don’t know what to say....

                  1. Maddi Son
                    • 6 Years
                    4 years, 1 month ago

                    What's the most likely outcome then Dragon? 🙂

                    Go on, say it.

                    1. Maddi Son
                      • 6 Years
                      4 years, 1 month ago

                      Checkmate.

        5. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Probably a jammy goal off the bench again...

        6. Forza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Winning goal off the bench?

      3. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Lundstram is now a dead asset.

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          He was 4 weeks ago

      4. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Maupay to punish me live in the flesh. Uh oh

        1. tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I finally managed to get rid of him too...he better not do anything!

        2. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Maupay will 100% score today.

          I’ve owned him for all the games he has been dropped and sold him this week

        3. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          You know he will

        4. @persecuted_by_mods
            4 years, 1 month ago

            The guy is awful at scoring, just always looks busy

        5. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          No Wood, glad I got rid. I almost kept after being rated touch and go in presser.

          1. SuperMane Returns
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            I guess you have Smallbone then?

          2. XabiAlonso
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Maybe it's a blood flow issue

        6. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Maureen is a Fraud.

          1. XabiAlonso
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Absolutely, been past it for years now

          2. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Icluding bald fraud.

        7. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Tough if you are on the old guard (Rico/Lund)
          Still...you can always get Soy off the bench 🙂

        8. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Another smallbone joke... 😀

        9. tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Alli on

        10. wulfrunian
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I have Alli,Gross and Rico in my team.

          1. TheDragon
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            You do pick the team yourself you know

        11. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Aurier goal guaranteed.

          1. TheDragon
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            *own goal

            Fixed your typo

            1. SuperMane Returns
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 1 month ago

              Dragon, you're on fire today 🙂

              1. TheDragon
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 1 month ago

                Fire is what us Dragons do 🙂

        12. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Must be a lovely atmosphere in that spurs dressing room at the mo

        13. tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Will Willy keep a clean one?

        14. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          One hour until Mat Ryan spunks his clean sheet

        15. Party time
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Smallbone 😆

          • diesel001
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Alli, Abraham, Aurier all subbed on. Three of the highest owned FPL assets in this match.

          • Botman and Robben
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Played Aurier. Rico first Def sub, then Soy.