Dugout Discussion

Aguero starts for De Bruyne-less Man City as Sterling shakes off minor injury

Sergio Aguero makes his long-awaited return from injury this evening as Manchester City play host to Arsenal.

Kick-off at the Etihad is at 17:30 BST.

Aguero hasn’t kicked a ball in a competitive match since June but returns to spearhead the City attack in Saturday’s penultimate Premier League match.

The Argentine’s inclusion sees Raheem Sterling, who has shaken off a minor hamstring problem to start, move to a more familiar wide-midfield role.

Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez keep their places but Ferran Torres drops to the bench, with Bernardo Silva replacing the Spaniard.

The other three of Pep Guardiola’s four changes were enforced, with Kevin De Bruyne‘s unavailability having been confirmed on Friday.

Aymeric Laporte or Benjamin Mendy also miss out through injury, with Nathan Ake and Joao Cancelo stepping up to replace their teammates.

As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has made two changes from the side that defeated Sheffield United.

Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah drop to the bench, with Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe returning to the visitors’ starting XI.

Rob Holding had originally been named in the team but picked up an injury in the warm-up and has been replaced by David Luiz.

New signing Thomas Partey is only among the substitutes, along with Alexandre Lacazette.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to lead the line for the Gunners at the Etihad, then.

A red flag for De Bruyne saw the Belgian transferred out by almost 1.4 million Fantasy managers ahead of the Gameweek 5 deadline, making him the most-sold asset of this round of games.

Aubameyang takes second place in the table of Gameweek 5 sales, with over 610,000 FPL bosses losing faith in the Gabon international.

Not one City or Arsenal player was in the top 30 for transfers in.

It’s not often we can say that not a single member of Guardiola’s starting XI is owned by more than 10% of Fantasy managers but that is the case today, with De Bruyne ruled out.

Aguero is a veritable differential as he sits in just 1.4% of squads.


Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Mahrez, Foden, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Saka, Xhaka, Ceballos, Willian, Aubameyang, Pepe.

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849 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Should I dump Reece James or not?
    Don't have playing defender if he is benched again...

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes, asap.

    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Probably yes

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I own him and shipping this week

  2. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I preferred it when Manchester City were in League 1 where they belong.

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not very noice.

    2. puhd
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Oi mate

  3. abhirup780
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Information on Virgil van Dijk‘s injury is that he’s done his ACL, and will be out for the best part of 7/8 months.

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      wow

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      There goes Liverpool’s title down the drain...

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Doubt that but it will be closer

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      sounds possible but I don't see how they could know that already.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        A physio can say if it's ruptured

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          not definitely without a scan

    4. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Source?

      1. abhirup780
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Bein Sports

    5. puhd
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Just a rumor

    6. Blues for Salah
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      NBC Sports reporting the same during the City v Arsenal telecast.

  4. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Andy sold Digne Rodriguez Foden Che Adams on wildcard

    Ouch not a good start so far

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Getting rid of Rodriguez looks like a poor move, other moves make sense.

    2. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He didn't sell Rodriguez

    3. Custard Gannet
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He didn't sell Rodriguez

  5. Bank$y
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero is almost as slimey as Suarez.

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He didn’t bite her

    2. Frucke
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hahahahah

    3. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      At least Suarez sticks with his wife and family and is not fathering kids all over the place.

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yes, like a loyal guard dog. Protects his family and bites enemies

      2. Bank$y
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ok fair point. Kun is worse.

      3. Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I bet neither of them are interested in tabloid tripe though.

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

    If it's true VVD has done his ACL, think I'm happy to get rid of Trent.

  7. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Information on Virgil van Dijk‘s injury is that he’s done his ACL, and will be out for the best part of 7/8 months. #awlfc [bein sports]

    1. Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Wow

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pepe is PATHETIC

      1. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He’s pepethic

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          So bad I laughed

          1. Vazza
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Lol

    3. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      So VVD out of this season

      what to do with double defence hmm

      1. Party time
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Kiss goodbye

          1. Bushwhacker
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            TAA and Robbo are owned for attacking returns.

        • ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Triple it with Adrian

        • Z
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I rly cant belive that you have doubled them wo Alison

      2. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Sterling's hairline receding?

        1. Meinhoff
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Omg selling him for a hit

          1. Frucke
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Hahah

          2. Areyouthereyet
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Hahahahaha

        2. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Can’t attack a man’s hairline that’s low

          1. Frucke
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Haha, yes. Under the belt

      3. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Does anyone know what information there is on VVD's injury?

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

          Read above

        2. Ron_Swanson
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Lol

        3. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          All balls. For now.

      4. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Anyone thinking of filling their entire defence with cheapies now if VVD is out for long?

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          thinking about it seriously

        2. Meinhoff
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Already on it

        3. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          We don’t know it’s that. Some guy on YouTube speculating based on the footage of the tackle. Not like he’s had a scan that’s been released or anything

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Looked genuine to me. Effectively out for the season.

            1. Mambino
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Yes it looked bad to be fair just like I say until he’s had a scan we don’t know

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

          I am playing wo LFC deff from the start of the season and i am so happy (so far ofc)

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

          Already without LIV def this week, was planning to get Robbo in but now thinking twice

      5. Party time
          3 years, 5 months ago

          English football refs are a joke. In fact the EPL is a joke

          1. Ibralicious
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Alright simmer down Hakim

            1. Party time
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Tryna learn this from a Utd fan 😉

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

              Bad joke atm...

          2. Steve The Spud
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Tempted by vvd > Dallas and wood > kun or Kane then downgrade jimi fail to Antonio in a couple of weeks,

            1. Ibralicious
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Good move, Kun worth a shot if he can get back to a shade of his prime self

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

              KDB Wood > Grealish Aguero could be on the card here ...

            3. Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Kun looks way off form. Overpriced if he keeps playing like this

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

                First game back ...

                1. Andy_Social
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  He and Pulisic lack match sharpness today. They'll come good.

                  VVD - I'd get a 4.5 and invest 2 million on a midf/fwd.

          3. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            3 - Sterling (30)
            2 - Walker (27)
            1 - Dias (26)

          4. Ibralicious
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Which combination is better? Lamptey/Ayling would usually my 1st sub generally behind Castagne in a 3-5-2?

            A) Martinez + Ayling + Mitchell
            B) Ryan + Lamptey + 3.9

            Cheers!

          5. Champions League Varane
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            VVD out for 7 months? Or is that fake?

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

              Can it be concluded by medical exam that fast? Doubt it.

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

                Scanning doesn't take that long. He didn't have to wait in que..

                1. Mambino
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Yes but the rumour isn’t coming from a leaked scan it’s a medical guy speculating by watching the tackle

              2. Party time
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  It was a nasty challenge. Pickford no red card. No penalty to Liverpool

                • Brosstan
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Torn ACL is easy to diagnose. I did mine and the doctor said he was 99% sure that was my injury just by feeling the movement in my knee/leg. Of course it took a bit longer to get the exact scans done

                  1. Brosstan
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    But Liverpool can probably get scan results a lot faster too

                  2. Brosstan
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    That said I really doubt the physios would have let him walk off if the tests they did on the pitch indicated acl damage

              3. Party time
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  It appears to be true

                • Ginkapo FPL
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  As a surgeon located in the merseyside area I cannot confirm that till 20:00 hours

                • Bushwhacker
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Fake. Only official note is he couldn’t play on.

              4. Flynny
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Was planning getting Robbo in addition to trent this week.

                Clearly buying for attacking returns.

                Is this inadvisable if vvd out? Need someone to replace James

                1. Steve The Spud
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  I'd say so, Allison is one thing but VVD is a huge loss and will lower the confidence of the whole squad, it could still come off but I wouldn't do it

                  1. Flynny
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Cheers....

                2. Pukki Party
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  I kept both on my wc this week as Alisson is probably back soon. VVD out is bad news from defensive perspective, but no teams are really keeping a cs at the moment.

              5. Gobigorgohome
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Kun fail

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

                Best VVD replacement?

                1. Right In The Stanchion
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Lovren

                  1. Ginkapo FPL
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Jokes on them, they sold the best defender in the world

                2. Pukki Party
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Digne

                  1. Brosstan
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Probably correct

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

                  Watch Telles this evening maybe

                  1. Brosstan
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    No chance I get a united defendee

              7. Gobigorgohome
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                well with VVD.. they not been keeping CS anyway...

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

                  But now it's even sure?

              8. Ginkapo FPL
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Brewster captain next week?

              9. Cok3y5murf
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Aguero looking very happy despite being subbed off

                1. Party time
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Lol

                2. Mambino
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Neck feelers off

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

                  Rashford, Mata, James front three for United today.

                  Pogba not starting.

                  Might just be enough to see off Newcastle...

                  1. Gobigorgohome
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    ummm

                  2. Ginkapo FPL
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Doubt it

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

                      https://twitter.com/salfordredss/status/1317523432876158977?s=19

                      Good track record. We'll see.

                      1. Ginkapo FPL
                        • 12 Years
                        3 years, 5 months ago

                        The seeing off newcastle part

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

                          Haha. Fair!

                  3. Bushwhacker
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    JAMES?! Could be a Bruno haul, he’ll spend most of the game on the deck.

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

                    This is Ole out all over the place ...

                4. Pratik
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Is the game boring or am I just sleepy?

                  1. Gobigorgohome
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    both

                  2. Mambino
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Feel the same

                  3. Frucke
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Boring....

                  4. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Cagey, Arsenal getting into the game now.

                  5. Bushwhacker
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Buses aren’t terribly exciting.

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

                  Foden does not like BAPs

                6. Right In The Stanchion
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  David Luiz hasn’t scored one of those since the World Cup in 2014

                  1. Gobigorgohome
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    he is due

                  2. Frucke
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Hahaha true?

                7. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  3 - Sterling, Walker (27)
                  1 - Ederson (25)

                8. Sim Simma
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  ⚽ Team News 📰
                  NEW: Darlow, Krafth, Lewis, Lascelles, Fernández, Shelvey, Hendrick, Hayden, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton, Wilson
                  Subs: Gillespie, Schär, Manquillo, Murphy, Almirón, Fraser, Carroll

                  MUN: de Gea, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Lindelöf, James, Fernandes, McTominay, Fred, Mata, Rashford
                  Subs: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Matic, Pogba, van de Beek, Ighalo

                  1. Warby84
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 5 months ago

                    Van de Beek still on the bench??

                    1. Bushwhacker
                      • 4 Years
                      3 years, 5 months ago

                      How do you start James over him?!?!?