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.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

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

    Werner shocking today. Won't even mention Havertz.

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

      Don't mention Davies either

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

      Chelsea just look absolutely rubbish! Prem is so bad these days

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

      You have mentioned them both many times now.

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

      Werners done great with what he’s had which is scraps. Sending offs ruin games

    5. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Lol

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

      2 games in. Waay to early to judge Chelsea. They'll still qualify for CL. Need to upgrade keeper and improve defence besides.

  2. OrmskirkFC
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts about Pereira for West Brom? Will he be a Grealish-type player for them? He scored or assisted in 24 of their 77 goals last season, compared to 14 of 41 that Grealish had for Villa.

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

      Grealish was in the prem and Pereira was in the championship - can't really compare those numbers.

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

      Too expensive, you can get Leeds and Wolves players for less

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

        He's a very good player, but you're quite right...

    3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Are you comparing playing in the championship to the prem?

      1. OrmskirkFC
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        No, just that those players are both involved in about 1/3 of their teams goals. I obviously don't expect West Brom to score 77, but they could hit 40. Grealish was good at 6.0.

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

      Early days but playing well in games that they are poor. Good for the price.

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

    When Kante plays that outer CM role the creativity level drops so hard

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

      Kante is Chelsea's best player

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

        Not in that role

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

      Agree with this.

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

      Wait until they get their first team out...

      Werner-Ziyech-Pulisic up front. Havertz behind to provide the creativity.

  4. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Jimenez it is then 🙂

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

    What position does podence play at wolves

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

      Think he plays just behind Jimenez. Attacking midfielder

    2. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      where traore is going to play.

    3. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      LW

  6. Ser Davos
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Two things I'm sure on:

    Wolves is the only defence I trust

    Jimenez is the attacker I trust the most to deliver consistently and at his price

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

      Crystal palace, leicester, Liverpool defence looks good too

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

        Burnley could still come good as well

      2. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Jury still out on the Pool defence. Weren't tested today and the moment they were a penalty was conceded

        Leicester played WBA...

        Agree on Palace

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

          I guess i would agree on the liverpool bit but don't agree with your reasoning for no leicester defence. Wolves played Sheffield who aren't known to be prolific in front of goal either

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wise words

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

      Semedo + Saiss + Werner on WC is my ideal play

      1. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Ryan and Martinez aside, our keepers will need cash so Patricio or Guiata look good

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

      true, I trust Guaita to do well also tbh

      1. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        He's probably worth the extra dollar given fix and makeshift (though effective) nature of the Palace backline

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

    Now Werner and Havertz will drop in price and I will save some money getting them on wc.

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

      still wasting your money

  8. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This game needs Trent goal

  9. tinear
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner so lazy. Walkin around doing nothing

    1. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      They were saying the exact opposite last week about him

    2. jaguar shark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      That’s not fair. He’s been working really hard.

    3. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      What are you watching?! He's ran hard considering he's chasing shadows and trying to feed off scraps

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

    Bottomed:

    Pretty nailed on my WC team.. any suggestions?

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

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

      Like it

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

        Phew, not fussed about having no Werner after this game tbh..

        1. R Whites
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Very similar. But think am gonna go 3-5-2, with podence/klich 5th mid and a 4.5 attack on bench.

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

    Havertz and Werner have good pen records too, they may get it.

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

    anyone getting both Mane and Salah?

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

      Annual question

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

        Nah.

        Mo last week. Mane this week. Rinse and repeat.

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

          Yep may happen equally to Sterling KDB

    2. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nope. One of them. Sterling or Kdb for season I'm thinking. Also no chasing last week points

  13. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Werner off.
    And also off in many FPL teams...

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

      yes! sell!

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Which inevitably means he hauls next weekend now.

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

        We all knew 😉

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

        Keeping players doesn't seem to work with me don't worry

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

      excellent

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

      He’s still on?

  14. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can everyone please sell Werner before they play WBA. Thanks

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

      Werner will blank vs WBA as well 😀

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Don't think you need to ask actually. Lots are doing just that by the sound of it.

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

    Quiet 0-0 please between Leicester and Burnley

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

      This

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

      PARTY TIME

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

    Did one of the most meh moves of the week.

    Werner to Martial

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

      actually good compared to most others

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not as bad as my Ings to Martial

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

        this

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

    Werner diving

  18. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Salah has done absolutely nothing ... only good for lucky penalties 😉

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

    Werner down again

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

    Is this team in need of a wildcard?

    The fires I feel I need to put out are: McCarthy, Adams, ASM and to a lesser extent Ayling and Egan, while I was already planning to bring in City/Wolves players.

    Ideally would like to hold my wildcard and, while there’s a chance that could work, does this squad need a WC do you think?

    0ITB 1FT
    McCarthy Steer
    TAA Justin Egan Ayling Mitchell
    Salah Bruno Auba ASM Reed
    Werner Mitro Adams

    Thanks!

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

      No

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

        Thanks. Do you think give Saints another go at Burnley? I was thinking of a -4 to bring in Sterling and Podence for Auba and ASM before the Saints Spurs horror show.

    2. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      See my post below. I think hold for a GW or two. Impossible to know who to pick right now

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

        Thanks mate. That’s my worry: not enough data to make fully informed decisions.

        My thinking before the weekend was Auba to Sterling for GW3.

        Considered ASM to Podence for -4 too but could just play Mitchell.

        Give McCarthy and Adams a last chance at Burnley?

        1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          36 more GWs to go. Avoid hits even for price changes now. Maybe see how things shape up in 2 more GWs and then pull WC

  21. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My takeaway from the start of this season:
    Tempted as I am to make changes, I'd have to rejig my entire team. But then it might be the same again next week. Urgent changes are fitting in Sterling for Auba. Holding WC for another week or two but I'll be triggering it earlier than I have before.

    Don't see enough trends to do an informed WC

    1. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Played mine GW2 but if i had would wait after GW4 transfer window to close and international break.

      1. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Agreed R9

  22. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Would you start Taylor & Soucek ahead of the 2 Newcastle schmucks (ASM/Wilson) next GW, or just Taylor for ASM?

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

      Probably just the Tyalor thing, cant bench Wilson really. ASM maybe injured as well

  23. LeicesterA
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Rival has Allison 🙁

    Over 60 points behind already after just two weeks. Ugh.

  24. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What an awful week. 33 all out and some in my ML already have a 60 point lead. I'll catch them up but even so, can't remember a start like this. Bad choices.

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

      Same boat, my friend.

      1. Hect.OR 98th
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Still, chasing makes the game enjoyable. More fun that defending a lead.

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

      Reckon you need a wc or can manage with what you have?

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

        WC played now for me.

  25. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pros and cons of WC now please. Looks likely atm for me

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

      Here's a con, gw2 is a troll gw to encourage us to waste our WCs on fake bandwagons

    2. Horlicks esq.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      PROs - Your players arent performing, youre sad, alone and angry. You want to swap 4 or more players right this second. You made bad life choices and should probably eat more greens.

      CONs - You'll probably flap the WC and cry for a few weeks.

      1. Hospital Pass
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Well said.

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

      Now is the time imo,the template is shifting alot.
      Everton, Spurs, City, Jimi/Saiss, Zaha, Lamptey ditch Saints..

    4. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      + get players before price rises and sell them before falls
      + no hits this week
      + get city and wolves players in

      - more information would be better to make decisions. the gw4 WC team may be wildly different to the gw2 WC team.
      - not really enough of a window to make ££s ideally you want to use the international break and give yourself to 2 weeks to make 0.2 off player trading
      - transfer window hasnt closed yet

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

        International break is extremely overrated when it comes to price rises.

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

    People should learn from this week, don't get rid of premiums. People getting rid of Werner just asking to be trolled next week

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

      They'll still do it though

    2. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      This

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

      A not so casual point 🙂 , agree

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

    Abraham got a shot on target in 2 minutes while Werner has none in 90

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

    Vardy must party

  29. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Looks like Mendy in for Chelsea.
    Bye Kepa.

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

    TAA on 1 bp

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

      Very nice