Dugout Discussion

Sterling, Cancelo and Foden benched as Burnley visit Man City without Pope

Pep Guardiola has had the last laugh on Fantasy Premier League managers once again with a textbook rotated line-up for a favourable home fixture.

With the division’s lowest scorers in Burnley coming to the Etihad Stadium, he has taken the opportunity to leave Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), João Cancelo (£5.6m) and Phil Foden (£6.5m) out of the starting line-up, leaving all three of them on the bench.

Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) is handed the left-back berth in Gameweek 10 while Ferran Torres (£6.9m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.2m) staff the flanks of the front-three ahead of Sterling.

Ilkay Gündogan (£5.4m) and Rodrigo (£5.4m) are trusted with the central midfield slots alongside Kevin De Bruyne (£11.6m), which means there is no room for Foden.

Those who opted for Rúben Dias (£5.5m) as a way of covering the Manchester City defence for a favourable fixture will be more pleased than Cancelo owners, as the centre-back starts once again.

Meanwhile, Burnley have moved away from 4-4-2 for this trip, lining Chris Wood (£6.2m), Jay Rodriguez (£5.8m) and Ashley Barnes (£6.0m) in a 4-3-3 formation.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Mendy, Stones, Dias, Walker; Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne; Torres, Jesus, Mahrez.

Burnley XI (4-3-3): Peacock-Farrell; C Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Benson, Westwood; Rodriguez, Wood, A Barnes.

2,039 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That feels like a big wasted opportunity. Don't think I've ever been so disappointed with a 10 pointer from captain!

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

      The goal rather than the post would have been the icing ...

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yep. I owned Sterling and Cancelo also so 20pts from 3 players including captain from a 5-0 win is a bit disappointing.

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Try owning sterling.

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I do.

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Be thankful, some of us own Sterling instead....

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

      This. Vardy/DCL captainers will likely score more

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

      It's gameweek 10 & this is my first captain double figures : Mahrez 36.
      Dallas (6pts) will fill Cancelo's shoes, while 9 from De Bruyne is helpful.

    6. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Could have been 2 goals and 4 assists

      It was terrifying for the non owner

      Few years ago I had to endure Aguero scoring 4 or 5 on Newcastle because I did not want to sell Kane and lose value for one fixture. Today felt that way.

  2. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    25 from 3 so far, could have been better

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      1 from 2 here

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

    Big KDB fail.

    Massive points left behind before the casuals jump on board.

    1. Parsnips
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Still 20 point which I’ll take as I had him captain

    2. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Swooping In!

      I was gonna go Salad now - KDB

  4. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Woah, didn't take a hit to get Salah/kdb
    Both combined for a mere 16 points, got off the hook there! Hope Ziyech gets something tomorrow

  5. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Got to be relatively happy with that in the end as a KDB non owner. Could’ve been a huge haul.

  6. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling(c), no KDB.

    Off the back of last week's discussion about luck, I feel very lucky right now.

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      VC?

    2. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who is your vice and bench

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

    LMS safety score currently 1

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Non KDB owners (me included) were extremely lucky

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep

    2. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Are you buying Now?

      He might have Aguero to finish what Jesus routinely wastes

  9. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No BAPS for KDB

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Excellent

    2. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He and walker on 31 maybe he'll get one bonus?

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He shouldn't

  10. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    We need hauls from Rashford and Son. I don't mind Son blanking as a Chelsea fan

  11. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Of course, it's impossible to be certain until Bruno plays, but so far avoiding the temptation to trade him for Salah or KDB this week does not feel like the worst decision.

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

    3 - Mahrez (72)
    2 - Mendy (37)
    1 - De Bruyne, Walker (31)

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Will he hold the 1?

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Do they both get 1?

  13. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KDB (C) owner should accept this result. Non-KDB owner should also feel not too bad.

  14. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Punished despite brilliant choices; KDB (c), Sterling, Cancelo. Identified the correct match to target with perfect mindset and analysis and still don’t come away with points. Fickle game this

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Getting Cancelo and Sterling is not a correct decision for me. Sorry

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Well, if you go by upside chasing and look at the fixtures a City attack double up looked the route to go.
        So KdB is one, who’s the other? Naturally Sterling, barely anyone would punt on Mahrez

    2. Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Being a generational genius can be hard sometimes

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cancelo wasn't brilliant choice after CL match.

    4. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling was highly likely to be benched given previous and the fact he could do with a rest anyway. Clearly didn't do enough research.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He was rested against Spurs?

    5. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      So many hindsight geniuses here. This place is full of retrospective managers only (very sad)

      1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Says the one who is defending wrong choices.
        The other's did not pick Cancelo or Sterling.

      2. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Not hindsight at all. Like I said, do some research. Pep has said (might have been in the City documentary) that he prefers Mahrez (and Sane in the past) against teams that defend deep because their trickery and skill is more important than the runs of Sterling in a fixture like that. The fact he's been benched every time recently against them is even more evidence.

      3. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Agree with this.

        "If man score goal, he right pick."

        Hindsight is extreme here.

        But Cancelo was a bad pick imo. I made the same mistake. Took the risk over Dias, despite knowing what could happen...

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Haaaaaaaa used hindsight to figure out whether a player was a good or bad pick. You wouldn't have picked him if you thought he was a bad pick at the time, Giggsy!

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Nope, I knew I made a mistake way before this game.

            I should have checked how far Mendy was away from being fit. That was my mistake. Were he fit, I wouldn't have gone near Cancelo. Bad foresight, if anything.

      4. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I would have done Lamptey to Cancelo had I been certain that he starts. But Mendy started in CL, played well and is left footed. Cancelo played full 90 minutes. So without hindsight the risk was more than obvious. Dias I didn't get since he lacks attacking threat and Walker is expensive if in form Mendy starts.

        I think this was widely discussed here.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah, I wouldn't have bought him had I saw that CL game beforehand...

          But had him a couple of weeks unfortunately. Aw well, lesson learnt, easily corrected...

    6. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Brilliant choice this week would of been Mahrez C

    7. DGW Sane TC Fail....
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      who you got coming from the bench?

    8. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Unlucky Ibrox hopefully Sterling will be back next week. Cancelo to Dias on a free might do it.

    9. NejiHyuuga01
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      True, the game can be punishing sometimes for perfect players like you with genius analyses

  15. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KDB very close to ending up with zero baps

  16. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pool defenders hold or bin?

    Got Robbo just cannot keep a clean sheet!

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I binned before the Leicester game which didn't go well but I think they are overpriced this season

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thinking Bellerín & move cash into midfield

        1. WVA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yes ML rival brought Bell in a few weeks ago and he's been doing great. Personally I don't trust Arsenal defenders and think he is a bit injury prone so I've gone cheaper with Lamptey Justin KWP Coufal rotation but I'm not exactly having a good season :(!

    2. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Next two are easy games
      Wolves and Fulham

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

      I'm keeping until I really need the funds

  17. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'll take 20 points from KDB (c)

  18. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Foden punishes sellers

    1. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Didn't he get 4 points?

    2. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      “Oh man! I left 4 points on the table!”

      Said No One Ever

  19. King of Kings.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What are cancelo owners thinking? I'm not too worried long term as they have more good fixtures and if he's been benched now he should come back into starting 11 next week.

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hope so. Mendy played well though on his first time back to fitness. It remains to be seen. I'll hold as have a bench to provide.

  20. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone thinking about playing Hokey Cokey strategy with the big hitters?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If only it were that easy

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

      of course ... just line them up against WBA & Fulham etc

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I am planning. But not A to B and then B to A. Salah to Kdb now is on cards, but perhaps MU player to Salah after that.

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It's tempting, but nah. Been burned in the past. I want 3+ fixtures to return the investment

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sold Hames to Sterling as part of a -8....oh dear please keep quiet Hames...

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That and everyone else you could have bought 😉 Who's on your bench to come in?

  22. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Klopp showing poor form in that post match interview...if Liverpool ever start to really struggle the man will fall apart!

  23. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That pool defence... Should I hold Jimmy now lol

  24. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    0-3 Leeds please

  25. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Plan to get Sterling now, he could haul big time vs Fulham. Have KDB so it would be city double up. Will wait for midweek games ofc but what do you think of doing James and Bruno to Sterling and Jota?

  26. Camino Aleatorio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Fulham, Burnley and WBA are The official teams to feast on this holiday season

    If Sheffield panics and fires Wilder, the next dude might All-Attack to score a goal. Then you have 4 teams to feast on during the Festive Period.