Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Wilson benched as Guardiola opts for Torres over Aguero up front

The Premier League action on Boxing Day concludes with two matches that kick off simultaneously at 20:00 GMT.

Manchester City take on Newcastle United at the Etihad, while Everton are the visitors to Bramall Lane for a clash against Sheffield United.

After all the talk and worry over whether Pep Guardiola would roll out some seasonal rotation for tonight’s fixture, the City boss has made only one alteration from the starting XI that defeated Southampton in their last Premier League outing.

It’s an enforced one at that as Nathan Ake comes in to replace Kyle Walker, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Gabriel Jesus also returned a positive COVID-19 test result ahead of this match and, like Walker, is currently self-isolating.

Sergio Aguero is again only among the substitutes, with Ferran Torres given the nod to lead the line for the hosts.

There are four changes for Newcastle from their 1-1 draw with Fulham, the most notable of which sees Callum Wilson benched.

Sean Longstaff, Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett also make way from Steve Bruce’s line-up, with the latter two not in the matchday squad.

Matty Longstaff, Fabian Schar, Isaac Hayden and Jacob Murphy are the players handed recalls.

Bruce said of Wilson’s benching ahead of kick-off:

He has got a knock as well, so he’s not quite 100%. He’s played four games in 12 days, so it’s important to look after him a bit.

Over in South Yorkshire, there are two changes made by Chris Wilder from Gameweek 14.

John Lundstram is banned and John Fleck drops to the bench, with Oliver Burke and Ben Osborn handed starts.

That means that Rhian Brewster gets another run-out in attack for the visitors.

Carlo Ancelotti, who has promised rotation in the Gameweek 16 match against Manchester City, goes full strength at Bramall Lane – or at least, as full strength as he can amid the glut of injuries at the club.

His only change to the starting XI from last weekend is enforced, with Richarlison missing out with a concussion and replaced by Anthony Gordon out wide.

James Rodriguez remains out.


Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Baldock, Osborn, Ampadu, Stevens, McGoldrick, Brewster, Burke.

Everton XI: Pickford, Holgate, Keane, Mina, Godfrey, Doucoure, Davies, Sigurdsson, Gordon, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Torres, Sterling.

Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden, M Longstaff, Murphy, Almiron, Joelinton.

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2,017 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KDB and Lamptey -> Robertson and Son -4?

    Have Trent.

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good

  2. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just checked the score... season well and truly over

    Salah (c) enjoy tomorrow

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Unlucky.

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

    Man City are one of the most boring teams in the league. All that money spent and they're serving up this shite pretty much every week.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Couldn't agree more... can't think of anything worse than watching a Man City game... Boring sideways passes

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

      It's temporary. They've been top scorers at the end of the last 3 seasons, and they're looking much better today.

  4. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Gotta feel for TAA and Mane owners

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Like salah owners last week?

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

      Legit just for TAA ffs

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

    I’m on 4 points, anyone worse?

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

      No Villa or City?

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

        I have Grealish

  6. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish YC given

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      dial up?

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      great conversation on here

  7. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Are Sheffield playing good or Everton trash?

    Was sure DCL will get a goal... 🙁

    1. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      ML rival capped him

    2. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Been a very scrappy game. Sheffield United defending like old it seems.

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Conditions making it scrappy.

  8. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Cancelo assist still missing

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      What assist?

    2. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Spam FPL complaints department

      1. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yes. My bot army is warming up

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

      Will be added at 4am.

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    It's not DCL fault. Without Hames Richarlison and Digne he simply doesn't have service

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

    How's this WC team? FH18 BB19.

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Robbo Dier Dallas Taylor Balbuena
    Salah Bruno Son Raphinha Soucek
    Vardy Bamford Adams/Wood/Antonio

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

      I don't get the Johnstone love

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Mo Johnstone was a great player.

      2. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        It's similar to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb7AiuIOUKU

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

    3 - Gündogan (36)
    2 - Aké (30)
    1 - Cancelo (29)

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes keep that Dias fella out of the baps.

    2. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Ferkin hold.

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

      Cancelo juhuuuu

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

      Joke bps system as always

    5. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Damn it Stones, do something!

    6. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Come on Cancelo make it 2 BP

  12. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KDB viable on a FH for 18 or look elsewhere ?

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

      I might gamble on Sterling or triple defense

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

      Sterling over KdB. Cheaper more points

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

      Triple def

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

    Evening guys. Would you do.
    KDB and Brewster to Kane Soucek

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

    How come pep hardly ever makes subs

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

    Cancelo officially cursed.

  16. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Man city CA banked. Kdb will score too shortly.

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

      He will do nothing, 11m+ wasted

  17. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    5 CS in 6 matches today.

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

      Time to go 5 at the back!

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

        Maybe

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep

    3. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Jinxing it.

  18. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Andy Carroll my first ever triple captain

  19. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone try looking on Linkedin for the FPL towers

  20. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Really want to get Cancelo back. He's a brilliant player. How he hasn't got attacking returns I have no idea.

  21. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero coming on

  22. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KDB VC fail

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

    Kun coming

  24. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kun

  25. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Aguerooooooo

  26. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Martinez Cancelo Grealish Son Kane too much SGW for DGW19 ??

    1. Cruyff Turn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes.

    2. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Considering their fixtures, they can all easily outscore most DGWers

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

      Grealish isn’t needed I feel, and only one of Son Kane needed

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

      Walker should be playing by then.

  27. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Agueroooooo is back!

  28. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on Ampadu (SHU) at 4.2 and has played last 4 matches?

    1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      *4.3

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Timing

      • Andre W
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Looking at it myself for GW18. Think he should play

    3. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Time for KDB to get assists.

    4. yalala
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Oh yes