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

    All this money Chelsea have spent I can’t believe they haven’t bought another keeper

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

      Almost done

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

        Who for? New keeper should have been first buy

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

          Mendy from Rennes. Done apparently

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

      We have. Edouard Mendy. 20m from Rennes

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

      Edouard Mendy has entered the chat

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

        Cheers all, about time for them

  2. zdrojo187
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Looks like Werner become new Son next week...

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

      Most definitely

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

      yeah. Werner will be AOK over the season.

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

    Probably under 200p after gw2 though 2 to go still

  4. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Massive win for the Auba (C) gang

  5. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How was the game?
    Pool deserved win or another boring game?

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

      Deserved win, but kepa and red card helps!

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

      Was on a knife edge til the red card. Comfortable for the scousers after that. Standard kepa error.

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

    Wijnaldum you donkey

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

    Trent wasting Salah A

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

      Wijn

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

        Im a few minutes behind

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

    Gini messes up salah assist

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

    Kepa masterclass

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

    Gini waste great Salah assist

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

    No Salah (c) for me against Arsenal now

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

      Son it is!

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

      Why? His turn ...

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

      Salah does better at home remember!

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

      Definitely capping Salah against Arsenal

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

    Happy with my TAA Robbo double up!

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

      Same.

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

      You don’t recognise value then.

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

        Look at the number of clean sheets and goals this week!

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

        Why? Same pts as a striker scoring a goal. I'd be happy with that.

      3. Alexis Nonsense
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        They are value, prob toing to be 180-200+ ponts each... Sterling got 200 last season!

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Lucky with the penalty save ultimately.

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

        This

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

        No doubt about that! Well the game is mostly luck I guess!

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

        Large part of fpl is luck, all about getting on the ‘lucky’ players.

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

    Wini wasting Salah A.... and wasting my accumulator with Liverpool -2 handicap. Bloody useless turds.

  14. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What's the consensus on Auba? People holding or moving for Bruno/KDB/Rodriguez?

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

      Sterling.

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

      Didn't do anything to persuade me not to keep to the plan to lose him now

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

      off to Sterling

    4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Feel I’ve got bigger issues to fix, ASM, Alli & Adams

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Son?

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

      Selling

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

    All I hear is __ messed up Salah A... so Salah should have an xA of 10.0 today right?

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

    Mo out !

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

    Biggest mistake this season: Believing Mourinho's Spurs weren't capable of scoring 5 goals in a single game

    You?

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

      So far.....

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

      Thinking the old rules of FPL logic will apply to this season.

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

      I believe but I picked Alli 🙁

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

      Starting with Werner instead of Vardy/Kane

    5. Baberto
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Went big at the back with robbo taa digne Tierny Doherty; only to realise this season's gonna be a goal galore

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

      I still don’t think they’re capable. It was all Southampton’s naivety and stubbornness to change.

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

        They could do the same against Leeds...

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

      Maybe Mane and Romeu to Havertz and Willian. No point in mistakes. Say the Serenity prayer and helps prevent making other mistakes. Occasionally!

    8. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Kane to Martial is going to sting for a bit.

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

      Mane over Salah but almost made up the points this week. Will probably do Auba > Salah and right that wrong

  18. BrutalLogiC
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ew -4 for Mane for Bruno, can't be alone I guess! just wish I had the balls to follow through with Puli to Son for a -8.. 5m in the world now, epic comeback required..

  19. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Aaaaaaaand back to normal away Salah

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

      This is making the game easy

  20. fantasyfog
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This season is hilarious so far

    So this week if I bring in Son DCL Mitrovic Kane and Mane I get the points from this week?? No?

  21. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Had a blinder with Son Mane and Ings today

    Kaching!

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

      Lovely

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

      nice

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

      Nice this

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

      Very nice LR, mega that. kept Son , had DCL but lost Ings for Martial grrr

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

      Sweet. Sold Mane. kept Ings, Son,Mitro

    6. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice! Who was your (C) ?

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

      Congrats!

  22. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Would you rather do ASM -> Zaha or get Digne/Saiss in a 4-4-2?

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

      4-3-3 I mean

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

      Zaha imo.

  23. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ings Son and double pool defense with no Mo! Happy sunday!

    Mane on watchlist but can't win em all!

    77 all out

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

      Very solid score

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

      well done

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

    where's that lad who was getting Joringho in for the penalties?!

  25. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How many points are you guys on at the moment?

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

      42 from 8.
      Vardy + 2 SHU defenders to go.

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

      43 with 2 including captain to play

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

    Werner = Origi from Aliexpress

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

      Ah here.....

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

    Nothing more frustrating as a VVD owner than seeing Liverpool constantly playing short corners and messing it up. Just cross the damn thing into the box for god sake!!!

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

    McCarthy
    TAA - Davies - KWP - White (Ayling)
    Auba - Puli - Rodriguez
    Vardy - Werner - Martial

    Surely time to WC?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Or swap Puli to Son and tinker?

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

      similar to my comment, but at least u have Hamez....

      Mcarthy Steer
      TAA Keane Bavies KWP C Taylor
      Auba Bruno Dele ASM Reed
      Werner martial Mitro

      Is there any reason to not hit WC?

      Dele dropped
      ASM injured
      Auba to KDB was planned this week
      Davies has had a replacement purchased so under threat
      KWP and Mcarthy shipping goals
      Could do with Salah or Mane
      Bruno and Martial looked out of sorts
      No Everton attacking cover
      No Wolves at all.

      Looks a strong case no?

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

    Kepa Arrizabalaga is two years into a seven-year contract. Chelsea have literally done a Moyes.

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

      Maybe he'll have a word with Winston Bogarde.

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

      Shocker.

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

    Awful GW. 59 with 2 to play

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

      That seems like a half decent score this week. Seen a lot of sub-40 scores around

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

      thats a good score