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. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I'm obviously waiting for city game.

    BUT if Foden starts and does well I'm ignoring Sterling/KDB and using the mid spot for the young kid to boost the rest.

    With a

    Son, Mane, Foden, Rodriguez, Fernandes

    Jiminez and DCL

    for a 3-5-2 moving forward on WC.

    Looks exciting.

    1. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah but even if he starts the next game he's nowhere close to nailed surely?

      1. Horlicks esq.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Why ever not? He's the future of the club. Silva gone, this is the breakout season. 100% imo.

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nice attack.

      So many options this year

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Not too sure on that mid

      1. Horlicks esq.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        A joke?

  2. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Werner is so fast

  3. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Wildcard locked now - wholesale changes coming up

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

      Same here. Nightmare start! Think lots of people will activate this week.

  4. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    YES ALLISOON.
    NEVER A PENALTY.

    1. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      simmer

  5. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Premium goalkeepers aren’t worth it, they said.

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Which they aren't.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I think if this weekend is anything to go by, we shouldn’t listen to a lot of opinions.

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Which doesn't make a difference to them not being worth it.

    2. money face bandwagon
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Premium keepers usually have more clean sheets, but they also have lesser saves and lesser chance of penalty save.

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

    Oh that has really ticked me off.

  7. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Ederson figured it out, had a feeling Allison did too

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Missed it, what’s that? Fake lean before ball is kicked?

  8. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    scout cast will be hilarious this week 😉

  9. ZLNR
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Very happy with that save!

  10. Marvin Moon
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Fabinho is Liverpool's second best centre back.

    1. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      You're not wrong, but he's also their best CDM.

      1. diabydoesgallas
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Thiago can takeover

        1. ilikewud
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Maybe - coming from a double pivot to a single could take time.

  11. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    C'mon Salah, score one!

  12. Neevesy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I know Mane is on a hattie, but they are trying to find him woth every forward ball.

  13. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    As a Werner owner I'm buzzing. Werner gets all pens for the rest of the season now...

    1. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      How'd you come to that conclusion?

    2. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Doubt it. Jorginho's record is amazing, he won't be off them because he missed one.

    3. Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      doubt it. first miss since forever, at least he will get another chance IMO

  14. Sahil.....
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    BREAKING NEWS - Chelsea offer kepa + 100 million £ for Allison

    1. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Only 100m

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

      So 20m?

    3. Horlicks esq.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      What?

  15. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    even though chelsea not playing well, surely have to get one of them if you are on WC?

    West brom, southampton in next 3

  16. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Werner -> Jimmy tempting

  17. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    TAA goal coming up now ffs

  18. diabydoesgallas
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Klich or Costa?

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

      Yep I want to know

    2. Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      klich on pen, so klich

    3. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Klich looks more involved and is on pens. This game is crazy with pens this year

    4. diabydoesgallas
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Turns out klich is 5.6, missed that - Costa it is then 😀

  19. Ser Davos
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Trent time for another twist

  20. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    The entire game goes through Robbo, goodbye TAA

  21. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Salah and Trent arguing over the free kick

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It was all a ploy

  22. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Salah and TAA figjting over ball

  23. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    And casuals with Allison get penalty save points... just gets better for those casuals doesn't it

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      You're not competing against them, who cares?

    2. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      He's their cheapest nailed defensive option. Nothing casual about it.

  24. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Pretty nailed on my WC team.. any suggestions?

    Martinez (Steer)
    Trent - Saiss - Taylor (Mitchell & Lamptey)
    Salah - KDB - Son - Jrod (Reed)
    DCL - Jimmy - Bamford

    1. SINGH
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Why Bamford? Why Son? No Leicester cover?

    2. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      after chelsea vs west brom you might want to wildcard back!

  25. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Salah FK

    1. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      TAA

  26. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Has Alison just shown how to deal with the 'hop-skip-shoot' penalty?

    The whole point of that technique is you hop to hide which way you're shooting and then kick the ball the opposite way the goalie starts to dive

    It looked like Alison waited until the ball had been kicked and then dived that way afterwards.

  27. R Whites
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC?

    Ryan - Martinez
    TAA - Justin - Lamps - Taylor - Mitchell
    Salah - Son - JRod - KdB - Podence (or Klich)
    DCL - Jimi - Brewster

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Leics just signed Under winger?

      1. R Whites
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah will be interesting to see value.

  28. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Wood scoring today I know it 🙂
    Everyone forgot about Wood didnt they?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wood isn't something u miss

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Cant see the Wood for the trees

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I don’t know, that Burnley team is missing a few

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        sweet fixtures tho, todays game the toughest for a while. Hopefully he goes on a run, if he stays injury free Wood could potentially do an Ings

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No one forgot... it's Burnley

    4. Auntie Niemi
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Based on how this week has gone for mid price strikers I wouldn't be surprised.

  29. Dannyb
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Trent to Robbo on wc is an easy decision imo.

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Van dijk seems better

    2. mattk lfc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Until Trent bangs in a free kick next week

  30. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Who scores more?

    A) Mitchell
    B) Podence(-4)

    1) Aub
    2) KDB(-4)

    1. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      podders and auba