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Rob Holding had originally been named in the team but picked up an injury in the warm-up and has been replaced by David Luiz.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. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Artetas big game approach truly is pathetic

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

      He's done alright recently.

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

      U oreferred the emery wenger way of getting thrashed?

    3. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      What do you think he could've done?

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

        Not play auba as a lwb for a start, and maybe try a bit more adventurous approach now that it's only 15 mins left

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

      Know your limits. Parking the bus is his best option.

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

    So who gives the penalties when there is no KDB or Aguero?

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

      Gundogan, Mahrez, Sterling? Not clear.

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

      Sterling or Gundo.

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

        Hope it will be Sterling if so

    3. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Gundog I imagine

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

      Sterling

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

      The ref

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

    What is this attack from Ole, ffs?

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

      Truly awful, AND Slab at the back.

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

      United are getting worst by the minute

    3. MikeBravo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      What's up with Greenwood?

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

    3 - Walker, Sterling, Ederson (27)

  5. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Glad to see Maguire start as a Wilson owner

    1. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I mean.. who else do they have? Alternatives are pretty dire as well.

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Anyone but him haha

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

    Greenwood punters in tears

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

      Where is he btw, not injured right?

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

        Has to be a late injury

  7. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Pogba VDB benched? No Greenwood?

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

      Exactly, what is going on?

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

      Lindelof and Maguire too !!!... Suddenly Chelsea is good option now

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

      Not encouraging news as a united fan

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

    What's wrong with Greenwood?

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

    Great win for Gerrard’s Gers today. The teddy bears are back.

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

      Be careful. FA might invite him to be England manager!

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

        No chance ; can’t upgrade that quick

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

    Luiz OG close

  11. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Agent Luiz with a horrible own goal miss

  12. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Solskjaer did you not watch VDB over the international break! Give the man a start ffs

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

      Absolutely clueless. He's getting sacked soon

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

      He's trying to make VDB super-sub Ole v2

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

    Must say, I'm not regretting having no City or Gunners assets.

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

      Let's see what happens in next 2

  14. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Both teams trying to bore their opposition into making a mistake.

    Tactical genius.

  15. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Maguire all set for a yellow or red card.

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

      Time to score a goal

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

      Not an OG?

    3. MikeBravo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      ASM - make my day...

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

    Any chance KDB comes back for the next GW?

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

      My question as well

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

      Yes. A chance.

  17. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you do this WC?

    McCarthy Button
    TAA Robbo Mitchell Ferguson Johnson
    Salah Son Havertz Barnes Podence
    Kane DCL Davis

    WC team

    Martinez Forster
    Robertson Lamptey Dallas Masuaku Mitchell
    Salah Havertz Grealish Trossard Stephens
    Kane Kun DCL

    0.2 ITB

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

      No

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

      No

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

      NO

  18. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Maguire for a MOTM performance, clean sheet and a goal to shut everyone up 😆

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Who is your dealer? I need the good stuff you are smoking.

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

      Gonna be hilarious

    3. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      More like own goal and red card after 35 mins

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

        Would love that.

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

    Almost 1m red arrow :'(

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

      Don't look...

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

      Until Christmas!

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

    That’s the worst Man Utd lineup since the early 90s.

    Pogba on his way out

  21. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Newcastle are winning tonight. Wtf is that line up

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

      Fraser will run riots

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

    Come on Foden. Get something!

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

      He got a non-existent assist, what more do you want??

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

        More. I'm greedy.

  23. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Get this boring game out the way then onto the main course, BRUNO 😎

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Man City looking very ordinary.......cant work out why ???........

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Too slow, missing the main man

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

    WTH is this Carabao Cup line-up

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

      Maybe he wants the sack sooner rather than later

    2. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Best they got

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

        Greenwood injured?

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

      To be fair Mata is the best player in the United squad.

  25. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    For next week's game at home against WBA.

    Barkley > Trossard for the double up (with Maupay)?

  26. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    VVD out for 8 months. Pickford ought to be ashamed.

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

      Genius move when the rules are so stupid. Assault allowed because it's offside

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Source?

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

    Arteta is so boring. Was a boring player, and now a boring manager. Booooring

  28. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Why the hell would you start James Ole?

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

      Baffling

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

      he wants the suck

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

    Pick uno:

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

    Cheerz

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

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

    Sterling wasting Ederson assist