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. reason17
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who is the best wolves Defender that is nailed on for the entire season?

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

      Saiss

      1. reason17
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Is he nailed on for the season?

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

      Semedo

    3. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Boly

    4. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saiss until he's dropped, which is unlikely

    5. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cody

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

      To answer your question about who is nailed-on, Coady & Boly. The alternative is Saiss.

      1. reason17
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Is Saiss being used temporarily?

        Is he likely to get benched?

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

          He's the least nailed of the three. However, he's also potentially the best points-wise.

  2. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Wildcard this?

    McCarthy Steer
    TAA Lascelles Taylor Mitchell Justin
    Salah Auba Bruno ASM Bissouma
    Werner Mitro Antonio

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yep

    2. Terry Henry
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I would probably yeah. Am looking at doing the same.

  3. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    LEI: Schmeichel, Söyüncü, Castagne, Ndidi, Justin, Pérez, Barnes, Mendy, Tielemans, Praet, Vardy
    Subs: Ward, Fuchs, Morgan, Maddison, Albrighton, Choudhury, Iheanacho

    BUR: Pope, Bardsley, Dunne, Taylor, Long, McNeil, Brady, Westwood, Brownhill, Wood, Rodriguez
    Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Lowton, Thomas, Anthony Driscoll-Glennon, Pieters, Josh Benson, Vydra

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

      Vardy please

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

      Burnley cleansheet would be nice

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Without Tarkowski and Mee I doubt it will happen.

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

      Lets go Wood!

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

        Careful now!

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Praet keeps his spot... deserved.

      Wood scouting begins...

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

      forgot there was a game on tonight - unusual for a Sunday. Excellent!

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

    Werner hiding on the wing

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

      Timing

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

      Hiding you say

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

    Pen won by timo

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

    Penalty chelsea

  7. Terry Henry
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts appreciated on this potential WC. Poor start and lots of issues / bad calls And punts in initial draft.

    Ryan (or Martínez)
    Digne-Saïss-Taylor
    Salah-KDB-Son-Klich
    Werner-DCL-Jiménez

    4.0-Anguissa-Mitchell-Ferguson

    - Anyone but McCarthy.
    - Digne for TAA - Looking sharp with a similar role in the team, bombing forward and on FK’s and corners. May well be able to keep pace or outscore TAA in the medium term at least, for 1.5 less.
    - Saïss for Vinagre.
    - KDB for Auba - 12m seeming a bit much based on returns so far and KDB proven output for 0.5 less. Could also be Sterling.
    - Son back in for Fernandes - Am just admitting the mistake and buying back at 0.1 less with the fixtures to kick on. Thinking of captaining next week v NEW.
    - Klich for Saka. Klich on pens and heavily involved going forward for a frenzied attacking Leeds team. Could be entertaining to own and good value 4th mid.
    - DCL for Adams - The man of the moment. Potential break out season. Seems like good value.
    - Jiménez for Wilson. Wolves fixtures look good and Jimi is a model of consistency. Potential set and forget.
    - Ferguson in for when he’s fit as a set and forget.
    - Anguissa replacing suspended Bissouma. Could be one of a number of 4.5’s mids.

    Feel free to throw me your opinions and point out any potential issues you see.

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

    Werner injured his shoulder

    1. Terry Henry
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      How bad?

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

    Pen Chel

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

    on WC, should I get a chelsea?
    West Brom next, Southampton in next 3

  11. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Gomez was pretty bad last week, this is quality from Fabinho

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

    That's never a pen ffs.

  13. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ffs pen

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

    Werner doesmt need support

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

      Keep it up laddie

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

    Werner hurt

  16. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    CMON WERNER

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

    ffs double pool def

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

    Wow what a dive

  19. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Of course, the only chance of getting points with a TAA CS and they go and concede a penalty. This GW can do one for me.

  20. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Time to ditch TAA , not worth the 7.5

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

    Thiago bandwagon derailed

  22. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pen

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

    Save

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

    YES!!!!

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

    You've got to be kidding me. Clean sheet wiped due to useless Thiago.

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wiped?

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Needs time to adapt to PL pace.

  26. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    lol

  27. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Yes CS still intact!!

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

    What a bad pen

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

    Oowee clean sheet intact

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

    Jorginho never missed a pen? Well he has now