Dugout Discussion

Sterling benched as De Bruyne, Mahrez and Foden lead Man City attack

Pep Guardiola continues to ruffle the feathers of Fantasy managers as he named Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) on the bench for Manchester City’s Gameweek 34+ meeting with Newcastle.

The England international has been in decent form since the restart, returning double-figure hauls in both of his starts at the Etihad Stadium in that time.

But his 16.3% ownership will have to settle for, at most, an appearance off the bench tonight, where he has been selected alongside Kyle Walker (£5.6m).

Sterling’s place in the team has been taken by Phil Foden (£5.4m), snapped up by over 140,000 managers for Gameweek 34+ having averaged 11.3 points per game at home since the Premier League came back.

His backers will certainly be excited by the prospect of Foden playing in the front-three alongside Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m), support in midfield by the Gameweek’s most popular captain: Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m).

However, Newcastle will certainly do their best to put their bodies on the line as Steve Bruce has gone with a very defensive-looking 5-4-1 formation.

It features Matt Ritchie (£5.3m) and Valentino Lazaro (£5.3m) on the flanks of midfield supported by fellow defenders Danny Rose (£5.3m) and DeAndre Yedlin (£4.4m) behind them in the full-back roles.

Still, they may find it hard to ask too many questions on the counter-attack with Miguel Almirón (£ 5.8m) on the bench and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.5m) sidelined with a knock.

Sheffield United will be in good spirits as they host Wolves, with Jack O’Connell (£4.5m) finally back in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 29.

Chris Wilder also has John Lundstram (£4.6m) at his disposal, recovering from his shoulder injury ahead of schedule to sit on the Blades’ bench.

Wolves come to Bramall Lane in the familiar 3-4-3 formation, featuring Diogo Jota (£6.1m) and Adama Traoré (£5.7m) either side of Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) dropping to the bench.

West Ham are another team with key reinforcements arriving just in time for Gameweek 34+ as Sébastien Haller (£6.8m) has been deemed fit enough for a place on the substitutes’ bench.

Michail Antonio (£6.9m) retains his starting centre-forward berth for now, but it will be interesting to see what impact Haller will have from this point onwards.

The mid-price midfielder, with three attacking returns in his last two matches, is supported by an attacking midfield of Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.2m), Pablo Fornals (£6.0m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m).

Still without Ben Mee (£5.0m), Burnley hand another start to Kevin Long (£4.3m) alongside James Tarkowski (£5.2m).

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Zinchenko, Stones, Otamendi, Cancelo; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, D Silva; Foden, Jesus, Mahrez.

Newcastle United XI: Dúbravka; Rose, Fernández, Schär, Krafth, Yedlin; Ritchie, Bentaleb, Shelvey, Lazaro; Joelinton.

Sheffield United XI: D Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Baldock; McBurnie, Sharp.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; D Jota, Jiménez, Traoré.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Rice, Soucek; Yarmolenko, Fornals, Bowen; Antonio.

Burnley XI: Pope; C Taylor, Tarkowski, K Long, Bardsley; Pieters, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Vydra, Rodriguez.

1,975 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB benched next game

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep. Along with TAA and Salah.

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks pep. I'll start Saka then.

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      starts vs Bournemouth

      Nice

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      They play Bournemouth 3 days before the semi final. So I think he starts against Brighton, and benched against Bournemouth.

    5. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He rested against Southampton, for sure he will play 2 straight

      1. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This

    6. mysteryDave
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I wouldn't count on it.

  2. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Saiss from Jimi late winner would be something.

    1. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes please!

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jesus or Vardy people?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Can’t tell if serious

    2. mysteryDave
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both alongside Greenwood. Lose Jiminez.

  4. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Someone jinx Pope fast,he will get 8 CS in a row after i went with Foster.

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

    KDB 90 just means another 15 of disappointment.

  6. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How did Foden look? Any chance he starts next?

    1. Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He’s a TROLL
      Don’t go anywhere near him. He’ll hurt you

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Already have him.

      2. mysteryDave
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Nah. Scores next time out.

  7. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I’ll be needing a DCL injury between now and tomorrow for Taylor points (not a serious one, just a 24 hr sickness bug)

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

      I’m with you

  8. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I would pay £5 for a west ham goal right now

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      pay up

    2. Bring the Cavalry
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Haha was just thinking the same

  9. mrodgers91
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kdb and foden benched for brighton then both get a massive haul v Bournemouth?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don't think it will be that simple. KDB may start vs Brighton, benched vs Bournemouth, starts vs Arsenal.

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I don't think KDB will be benched against Brighton. Mahrez might.

  10. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    And now Mahrez off. What a depressing second half this has been. 3 attacking City players in my team and only 1 goal and 1 assist out of 4 goals.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Eggs in one basket and all that

    2. mysteryDave
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That is the risk with city though. You know that when you buy in.

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

    Burnley clean sheet banked for sure 🙂

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Confirmed

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Typical

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

    Who says Pep doesn't give chances to kids?

  13. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope on the bench. Concede please.

  14. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why oh why do I keep playing jota over Egan!

  15. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thanks to everyone on here who told me to put the armband on KDB over Kane. You make me sick

    Fishing rod emoji

  16. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope going under the radar here

    Could he?

  17. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Baldock misses sitter.

  18. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thinking it might be FH time!

    Salah, TAA , KDB etc out for week

    Mane and others in.

    Risky mind you!

    1. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah I have those 3 plus Holgate Lascelles and Guendozi on the bench

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Baldock close

  20. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    City gradually moving to an entire team that looks like KDB from a distance. They'll never see him coming.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hiding in plain sight (#GingerPower)

      1. mysteryDave
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        It's genius.

  21. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just score on goal Wolves ffs

  22. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hang in there wolves

  23. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KdB close to 2 BAPS. Get a goal KEV!

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

      Jesus GWG

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Helps to create another goal attempt

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

    Sheff goal coming.

  25. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    50/50 decisions looking good.

    Went Foden over Pulisic and played Saiss over CTaylor. D:

  26. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah has scored only in those away games in which Mane hasn't started. 😉

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Klopp knows?

      1. Sgt. Schultz
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Magnus?

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hopefully he gets sent off

  27. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Should have BB’ed
    Saiss and C.Taylor on my bench... 😐

  28. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Traore > Dendoncker

    1. mysteryDave
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Well duh.

  29. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Walker SOT

  30. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Burnley need to concede!