Dugout Discussion

Leicester hit by injury and unavailability as Rodgers hands debut to teenager

Premier League survival and European qualification places are on the line in this evening’s two 18:00 BST kick-offs.

Everton take on an Aston Villa side who are four points adrift of safety, while fourth plays eighth as Leicester City welcome Sheffield United to the King Power Stadium.

There is plenty of Fantasy interest in these games, too, with Jamie Vardy (£9.8m) and Lucas Digne (£5.9m) each sitting in more than 20% of the top 10,000 Fantasy Premier League sides and enjoying double-digit ownership overall.

Both players start this evening in their respective games.

Leicester are without the injured Marc Albrighton (£5.1m), James Maddison (£7.3m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) for the visit of the Blades, while Caglar Soyuncu (£4.9m) begins a three-match ban.

Albrighton and Soyuncu’s absences have led to two of four changes that Brendan Rodgers has made to his starting XI following the 4-1 thrashing by Bournemouth.

Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m) and Christian Fuchs (£4.2m) also drop out, with Wes Morgan (£4.1m), Ryan Bennett (£4.8m), Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) and 19-year-old defender Luke Thomas handed starts.

This is Thomas’s first-team debut and he is yet to even be given a price by FPL.

Sheffield United’s team news is much more straightforward, with Chris Wilder naming an unchanged side.

John Lundstram (£4.6m) is again only a substitute, while the fit-again John Fleck (£4.7m) also makes the bench.

The most-bought FPL defender of Gameweek 36+, John Egan (£4.7m), starts again at centre-half, having plundered 31 points in his last three matches.

Dean Smith’s only change from the side that beat Crystal Palace on Sunday is an enforced one.

With Neil Taylor (£4.2m) ruled out with a hamstring injury, Matt Targett (£4.3m) returns to play at left-back in a like-for-like swap.

Carlo Ancelotti has rung the changes following the dismal 3-0 defeat at Wolves but Richarlison (£8.2m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.2m) aren’t among the alterations and they start again in attack.

The injured Yerry Mina (£5.3m) is replaced by Mason Holgate (£4.3m), while Alex Iwobi (£5.6m), Bernard (£6.4m), Andre Gomes (£5.2m) and Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) also return at the expense of Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.3m), Theo Walcott (£6.2m), Leighton Baines (£4.9m) and Anthony Gordon (£4.5m).


Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Keane, Holgate, Coleman; Bernard, Davies, Gomes, Iwobi; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Aston Villa XI: Reina; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane; Trezeguet, Samatta, Grealish.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Bennett, Morgan, Evans; Justin, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas; Pérez, Vardy, Barnes.

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

FPL Lessons Learned From Gameweek 36+

1,143 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Fair play Justin and Digne owners. Enjoy the mega haul.

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks.

  2. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    City have got a great squad, but you can see the drop off in quality when Aguero, KDB, Mahrez, Sterling, Laporte, Mendy and Walker aren't in the team.

    Jesus, Silva, Bernardo, Foden, Otamendi, Zinchenko and Cancelo just aren't as good. The defenders there are a significant drop off, IMO. Cancelo has been crap for the money they spent on him.

    1. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Any team is when they don't play 7 first teamers?!

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nah, some squads just have a lot of players close to the average - see Burnley, Palace, Brighton, even Wolves. Look at Leicester today, no Soyuncu, Chilwell, Pereira, Maddison. The drop off is not massive compared to their usual team.

        But with City, their first team is so much better than their second team it is a noticeable drop off. They go from thumping a team 6-0 to beating them 2-0. They'll still win, but the absolute gap in quality is between their first teamers and second teamers is big.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Unbelievable insight! 😉

    3. GAMBIT
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I dont think David Silva gets the credit he deserves.

    4. Critical Observer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      >David Silva
      >just not as good

      Ok.

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Think he means Bernardo

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Scratch that he means Bernardo separately

          1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            *mentions

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        If you think Silva in his prime is close to KDB now you are wrong. Not saying Silva is crap. I am talking about the difference. When you look at the difference (i.e. if you gave the players a rating out of 100) the drop off from Mendy to Zinchenko is bigger than say the drop off from Maddison to Tielemans. So even though Zinchenko, is still a good LB, the drop off from first team to second is noticeable.

        1. InSaneMan-e
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Prime silva vs prime KDB. Now that's a debate. KDB for me.

          1. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I agree. KDB has more to his game.

    5. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I really hope this is sarcasm.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Not sarcasm. Think of it this way. Man City's first team is rated 100. Their second team on the same rating scale is 80.

        Arsenal's first team is rated 65, their second team is rated 52.

        City's second team is better than Arsenal's first team. But the difference in City's teams is 20, whereas the difference with Arsenal's is 13.

        The drop off from City's team is bigger.

    6. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      City B team doesn't play regularly and thats the big reason

  3. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    1ft and 2.4itb.
    Pulisic to Martial?
    FH in 38 so just for this week.

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Cresswell
    Salah KDB Bruno Foden Pulisic
    Rashford Ings

    Nketiah Lascelles Robinson

  4. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The Lord is coming on

  5. Duffy Dunk
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    As good as he may have made his team play, I think our stress levels will go way down after Pep leaves.
    Can't wait.

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think any manager would probably do it with City, they just have too many great players to keep happy

  6. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pick one just for GW 37 only:

    A. Jiminez (CPL)
    B. Ings (bou)
    C. Wood (nor)

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wood

    2. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      So tough - I expect 1 each.
      Ings golden boot edges it for me - but wouldn’t swap him in for either of the others.

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks both

  7. SHIKABALAA
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So I was supposed to do BB in the next gw but my defenders are awful
    TAA,Aurier,Doherty,Kiko,Holgate
    Do you think that I need to take a -8 or -4 is enough?

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Never take a hit for defender.

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      -4 is enough. Defenders aren't doing that well anyway

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Come on Sheffield. Goal is needed

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

      and villa

  9. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Crazy how I have only had the best fpl player in the game 17 gameweeks this season and still doing well. Switching around heavy hitters works

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've only had KdB like 4-5 times.

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Leeds only 1 point away from the Prem.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Marching on together.

  11. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Is Maupay first choice striker at Brighton or should I be worried about benching vs Newcastle.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1st choice but Potter can’t be trusted.

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        think Draco Malfoy said that

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hard to know who is first choice. Potter loves to rotate.

  12. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Connolly haul needed from my bench!

  13. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Will Bruno get the rest he doesn't deserve?

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

      No Chance He Rested Mate.

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

        It's fun to stay at the

        NCHRM

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Lol

      2. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Is that you jinxing again

    2. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes, after United are 3 goals up

  14. socho
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I was wondering...has Lundstram ever played in defense?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Only when he plays for Norway.

    2. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Last season in championship I think, hence his classification

  15. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH in GW 38, so last hit of the season.

    Tarkowski, Doherty, García, TAA/Robertson
    Martial, Trossard, Son, Jimenez, Lacazette

    Which Defender & Attacker to take a punt on?

  16. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy post

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy reply

      1. Right In The Stanchion
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Knee slapper

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Didn't know Vardy was in FFS

  17. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Need Ingsy to stay quiet. Too much to ask?

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nope. They're all staying quiet this week aren't they.

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Seems like

    2. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He is my captain

  18. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Gomes taking far too many set pieces for Digne’s liking.

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Post Vardy

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

      First Class?

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

      Said Diesel's analysis of Man City above was underwhelming.

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy good chance wide

  21. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy misses sitter

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

      He'll find a younger, hotter one to replace his last one

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not a sitter but he would have usually scored I think

  22. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Poor from Vardy

  23. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy 🙁
    Should have scored that man

  24. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How does Gylfi Siguardsson not play in this Everton team? They have no creativity

  25. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Plenty of space behind SHU backline now, only a matter of time.

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Weren't they playing similar against Bou until the car crash

  26. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lineups?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      3 mins or so

    2. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Little time to go

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

      15 mins past the hour.

  27. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I am about to bottle a 70 point mini league lead in the last 3 game weeks. Unreal stuff, I am hyperventilating.

    1. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Last few weeks been cruel

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      How? Did they have sterling/Antonio?

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

        He has a Digne and Justin haul incoming now.

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Eat, Play FPL, whine, repeat

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

        You wouldn't last a second in my shoes mate. I have unreal pressure on me from my mates.

    4. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mate you are nowhere close to losing that lead.

      Stop fishing.

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

        He has BB and FH mate.

  28. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Got rid of vardy for ings. That was too close for comfort.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He should have had two already. You've been very lucky.

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I sold Jimmy and kept Vardy. So you can thank me later

    2. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'll cheer for vardy if Greenwood doesn't play

  29. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So do we expect GW38+ to be a goalfest as last days of the season usually are
    or more of the same of what we seeing now, 1-0 and 2-1 scorelines?

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

      Historically a goal fest.

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

        Without a home crowd though. Hmmmm....

        1. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          plus they will have crammed 8 gameweeks into like 6 weeks so might have an impact too

  30. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Comon Vardy.. a double digit handshake before I get Auba in.

    1. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm doing the same but confused between auba and kane

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        auba goibg for golden boot and after this WE, he'll only have PL to concentrate