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. elchilangles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mané sellers in tears!

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

    Can Chelsea forefeit and go home with a 3-0 defeat?

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

    Kepa's last game in a Chelsea shirt today

  4. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Scorched earth policy from Arrizabalaga.

  5. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    STOP CRYING FRANK LAMPARD

  6. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Get Kepa out of my f***ing football club

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

      He is pathetic - you are low on confidence and you try sh*t like that.

  7. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    lol Mane owners rejoice

  8. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Lmaoooo Kepahahahahhaha

  9. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Still no Salah involvement

  10. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Frank shouldn't be playing Kepa anymore, not good for his mental state at this point

  11. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    It started so well yesterday, but today is horrible so far.
    Does this team need a WC or just Auba Asm-> KdB/Sterling Podence for -4?

    McCarthy (Button)
    TAA Egan Justin (Douglas Taylor)
    Auba Salah Bruno ASM Souchek
    Werner DCL (Brewster)

    1. luk46
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Just that for a hit

  12. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I want to know Kepa's IQ

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

      69

      1. Pedram
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Nice

    2. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Same as his jersey number?

  13. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sold Mane Son Pereira Mitro this week on a WC! In Salah Bruno Martial

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I got rid of son and mane and now want them back next week 🙂

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

      Ouchie! 🙂 They'll bring points

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

      Lesson to be learned.. patience usually the key

  14. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I got rid of son for Bruno and mane for auba

    🙁

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

      Yikes!!!

      1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I know 🙂 Awful start for me this season

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

    Don’t think I can trust Werner(C) now. So what’s the point in keeping hmm

    1. Greasy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He’s playing Liverpool, what in the last day could have put this in your mind. What have you learnt from today that makes you think that

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

        His defensive positioning

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      9.5m players don't need to be captained to be good value.

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

        True. Looks rubbish value at the minute though

    3. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      You can’t sell him agead of wba. Personally I thought he looked ok given opp

  16. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This is just a cursed week. All will be normal next week

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nope
      Will be cursed in another way

    2. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think this is my worst GW in 4 seasons of playing, for real.

    3. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      This. Stay strong

  17. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mane to Salah lads in shambles

  18. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Kepa making Karius looks world class

  19. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Get Caballero on. Send the poor lad down the pub.

  20. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son, Mane, Antonio, Mitrovic all in my pre wildcard team. Just sickening.

  21. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Maybe Chelsea can get Nyland to replace Kepa? 😆

    1. elchilangles
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      he literally would be a better option 100% seriously

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

      Even getting Cech from stands would work

  22. Utopsis
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I imagine a few did Salah - - > Mane, either for a hit or on Wildcard...

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

      Mane - - > Salah*

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

      After he scored a hatrick? Seems very weird

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

        You got me! 😉

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

    Kepa nearly just kicked it into Salah 30 seconds after that goal...

  24. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    It was really obvious before the season that Mane was the right pick.

    If you take offence at this post then consider apologising for the horrendous gloating last week.

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      😀

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mane better footballer, Salah better FPL asset. It's simple really.

    3. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Salah is still the better pick as they're the same price but he has penalties. He will get more points than Mane as usual at the end of the season

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        They are both good picks! It doesnt have to be black and white. Its not A or B, Mane or Salah.

    4. mattk lfc
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      One day will be Mane's, one day will be Salah's. Thats just the way it is but both will end up with well over 200 points

  25. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How the f*** can that joke of a keeper still get gametime on this level

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He won’t for long

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

    I love Kepa 😀

  27. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    is it possible to have 20 players?

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

    feeling for those who had mane in GW 1 and sold later

    1. money face bandwagon
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It just show these ppl are knee jerking and thus dont deserve the points

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

      I dont. I told them not to knee jerk.

  29. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I wonder if anyone talks to Kepa in the changing room

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

    Seriously Frank play Caballero, he is definitely better than Kepa

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

      This, Willy is not bad

    2. elchilangles
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Werner would do a better job in goal