Dugout Discussion

Fabinho starts at centre-half as injured Gomez and Matip miss Chelsea v Liverpool

The stand-out Premier League fixture of the weekend takes place at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

Liverpool are Chelsea’s visitors, with kick-off in west London at 16:30 BST.

Both managers have made one change to their starting XIs for this clash.

Joe Gomez (£5.5m) misses out with a knock and with Joel Matip (£5.5m) also unavailable because of a minor muscle injury, it’s Fabinho (£5.5m) who is given the nod to partner Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) at centre-half.

New signing Thiago Alcantara (£6.0m) is only among the substitutes, while the rest of the Liverpool side is as expected.

Mateo Kovacic (£5.5m) comes into the Chelsea midfield in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.0m) in Frank Lampard’s only alteration.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) is still only a substitute, so that means another start for Reece James (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.0m) at full-back – the latter going up against Mohamed Salah (£12.0m) down the Liverpool right.

Kai Havertz (£8.5m) gets another chance to impress after his quiet debut at Brighton, while Timo Werner (£9.5m) – still the most-owned forward in FPL by some margin – again leads the line.

Despite his overall popularity, Werner was the most-sold player of Gameweek 2, with over half a million Fantasy managers ditching him.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) wasn’t far behind him for transfers out and no defender was sold by as many FPL bosses as the Liverpool right-back following his Gameweek 1 blank.

The England international scored home and away against Chelsea last season, with the two league meetings between the two clubs returning 11 goals.

Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) was captained by more Fantasy managers than Salah this weekend, meanwhile.

The Egyptian, who hit a hat-trick against Leeds United last weekend, was handed the armband by over 560,000 of us ahead of Saturday’s deadline.


Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Zouma, Christensen, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Havertz, Werner.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Fabinho, Robertson, Henderson, Keita, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Salah.

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2,462 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Magnificent goal, love to see it.

  2. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    There are people who sold Son, Mane and Ings

    1. Hattrick Harry
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mane is always season keeper

      1. Babelcopter
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        He is so good for away matches.

  3. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Last season's trend continues then

    • TAT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      McCarthy, Davies, Ayling, Soucek, ASM, Havertz, Martial… Almost like you give up two GWs in.

    • waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes Mané!!!!

    • KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      So Mane away, Salah home 🙂

      1. Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        been for 2 years now

        1. KGFC
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yep and it continues

    • Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      FPL is hilarious

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Have you seen Comedy Club 😉

    • Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mane performs away, Salah performs at home. Typical

      1. KAALI_DAAL
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I love your user name!

      2. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        You're forgetting this was Salah's home for a while 😉

        Goal incoming...

    • seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      no pts for TAA/Robbo/Salah

    • Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Jeez the most sold players really punishing this week

      1. beric
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Great to see

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mount the furthest forward

      Work that one out

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Liverpool with a timely reminder of their quality

    • The Chosen One...
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      this is why you hold players like Son and Mane

    • Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Any Werner sellers?

      1. dshv
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Before west bromich no way!!!

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Havertz looking like he could be a huge flop! Hope I’m wrong

    • BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Werner and Havertz are shockingly bad. I say this more as a Chelsea fan but please don't be flops I couldn't handle it

    • Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      They all sold. I kept my faith. Mane and Son 🙂

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I got Sonny in once I realised everyone was ditching him. It do be like that you know 😀

    • The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      What position does podence play

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If salah can’t break his away game hoodoo here then he won’t ever

    • HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kepa 😆 😆

    • _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kepa lol

    • Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      KEPA LMFAO

    • Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wheres that guy who had like 30 points and wildcarded. I told him not to do it. Think he had Son, Mane, Ings etc..

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Ouch

    • Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mane goal again

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      OMG mane.

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kepa hehe

    • Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mane running riot

    • NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      KEPA

    • Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Oh dear Kepa, feel sorry for the guy now

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mane x2