Dugout Discussion

City players missing with COVID-19 revealed as fit-again Ziyech returns

A Manchester City squad hit by injury and illness take on Chelsea in the second of today’s two Premier League fixtures.

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 16:30 GMT.

The visitors are missing six of their squad because of COVID-19 positive tests.

The unavailability of Kyle Walker (£6.1m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.1m) we were already aware of, while social media posts from Ederson (£6.0m) and Tommy Doyle (£4.4m) all but confirmed that they too were among those self-isolating.

Ferran Torres (£6.9m) and Eric Garcia (£4.7m) have reportedly been added to that list, with the latter still struggling with injury, too.

Despite the shortage of options, Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) is still only among the substitutes for this afternoon’s fixture.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen (£4.4m) makes his Premier League debut as Pep Guardiola makes three changes to the City side that beat Newcastle 2-0 in Gameweek 15.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) and Phil Foden (£6.2m) are also recalled, with Ederson, Torres and Nathan Ake (£5.4m) dropping out.

Ake is absent because of “fitness issues”, while Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) misses out because of a tight hamstring.

Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) is on the bench, despite his off-field misdeeds.

Frank Lampard makes five changes to the Chelsea team that drew 1-1 at home to Aston Villa last Monday.

Timo Werner (£9.2m) is recalled, while Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) makes his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in early December.

Thiago Silva (£5.6m), Kurt Zouma (£5.8m) and Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) also return to the side.

Reece James (£5.2m) is again absent through injury, while Olivier Giroud (£6.7m), Andreas Christensen (£4.7m), Antonio Rudiger (£4.7m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) and Jorginho (£4.7m) drop out of the starting XI.


Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Kanté, Kovacic, Mount, Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech.

Manchester City XI: Steffen, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Foden, Bernardo, Sterling

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2,436 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    QUIZ: Which 2 under 23 players have the joint most assists in Europe's top 5 leagues?

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      TAA

      1. Basil1977
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You mean this season, whoops

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

          Sorry this is for the year 2020

          1. Basil1977
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            TAA and Sancho then

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Jason sancho

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        * Jadon

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

        Sancho is one of them

        1. Forever In Our Shadow
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          😎

    3. The Road to Turfdom
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Trent?

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

        Surprisingly no he is 13th with 7 assists

    4. Offside Trapattoni
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is Nkunku the other player?

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

        Good shout, but he is 9th with 8 assists

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

      Mount

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

        Nope - 7 assists in 2020

    6. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      some Szo.. guy recently linked to many clubs..

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

        Robbo is too old otherwise him

        Justin ? :))))

    7. Fridges chilwell
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saka

    8. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Havertz?

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

        Nope 7 assists

    9. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mbappe

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

        Close - 10 assists

        Sancho and the remaining guess have 11

    10. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Coman

    11. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Alphonso Davies

    12. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mbappe

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

      Grealish has to be one

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

        And Rashford.

        Boom, I think I got. It

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

          DANIEL GOES THROUGH AND BURIES IT

          Yep it is Rashford and Sancho

          Both with 11 assists in 2020

          1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            He’s not under 23 though

        2. riot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          WP

      2. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Too old.

    14. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      mbappe

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

        Grealish and Rashford?

    15. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hakimi

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

        Good guess - he had 8 in 2020

  2. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Man City clean sheet wouldn't go amiss here

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

      A fail would be better.

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

    Safety score 40

  4. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Zouma my boy C's please

  5. leo_messi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How can I use my FT next week,any suggestions?

    Martinez
    Holding - Cancelo - Stones - Lewis*
    Grealish - Son - KDB(C) - Bruno
    DCL - Brewster*

    sub: Steer - Salah - Bamford - Dallas

    A) Lewis -> Mitchell gives me Grealish,DCL -> Soucek,Vardy week after
    B) Lewis -> Yedlin with no plans for DGW19( not enough money to do to Grealish,DCL -> Soucek,Vardy)
    C) something else

  6. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I'm lying on the floor crying like a baby after this goal from Andy Carroll (James Justin onwer).

    All the none owners feel free to come over and kick me hard.

    1. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m not that cruel. I’ll have little chuckle to myself though 🙂

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ahahahahhaa. But seriously, Andy Carroll has always been a pain in the ass.

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

      Yup, I’m in the same boat. He was on for three bonus points aswell..!!!

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

    If KDB has a poor game, will people still be getting him in for the BGW18 and DGW19?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fixtures are great.

      As Salah will undoubtedly show the premium picks up can't blank all the time.

      Mind... There is Sterling too.

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I won’t

  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Will be interesting to see how Foden performs.

    Man City have the fixtures but no consistent attacking returns.

    Will Foden force himself into Pep's plans and get game time over the next 3 matches?

    False 9... Goals incoming?

  9. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB to rise from the dead this afternoon

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This...

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Subscribe!

    3. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Let's make it GW18

  10. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A Dias 10 minute brace will be the best start to this game for me

  11. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling & Kev up top

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden apparently....

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Or Silva?

  12. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FH Team:

    Darlow (Guaita)
    Tierney Maguire Stones (Mitchel, Kilman)
    KDB Sterling Bruno Son Saka
    Martial Watkins (Silva)

    Thoughts on it?

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nice.

    2. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would want to try and squeeze in Kane

  13. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is the 0.6 difference between Coufal (4,7) and Cresswell (5,3) worth it?

    Also, would you choose Sterling or De Bruyne?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No imo.

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

      Good question. I went for Cresswell in week 8 and then spent a few weeks regretting it, but happy with the choice now.

      Coufal seems to attract more BPS and chances, but Cresswell has been supplying more assists (to Soucek who I also got in)

  14. Basil1977
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What has Mahrez got to do to get a match?

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stop shagging peps Mrs?

    2. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Change teams.

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Perform again

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Move

  15. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stefan lols

  16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dodgy keeper

  17. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KdB double digits you fekkin ginga

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not cool.

  18. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    That’s embarrassing

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

      Could have been worse, he could have done it closer to goal.

  19. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How was that free kick taken from outside box when it was a result of Steffan picking up a backpass inside box...?

    1. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's just on

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It was about a foot outside the box when they kicked it.

    2. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      i thought the same

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

      Chelsea players moved it back and ref didnt care

      1. Cookie Kid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Irrelevant now of course but moving a free kick backwards does give advantage to get ball over wall and down...refs should care - it’s like the occasions defenders take free kicks in opponents half after an offside decision, impossible attacker could’ve been offside in own half

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Its normally not that noticeably.. but when its an indirect free kick from a passback, it was clear to see it wasn't inside the box!

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

    Chelsea looking good at the start.

    Come ooooon Blues !!

    #KBFFH

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      CFC all over City.........

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      0-0 written all over this

  21. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I want Werner in my dgw team

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

      Might get him this week.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        ?

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

          Could be essential.

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Essentially

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No you don't

  22. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My cup opponent - not made a transfer since GW5, ranked over 4m

    - Maddison captain
    - Tierney
    - Cresswell
    - Saka
    - Bruno

    72 with 4 to play 🙂

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

      At least he has 3 next GW.

      1. Cookie Kid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He has Bellerin too so I was loving the pre-60 sub yesterday!

        1. Cookie Kid
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Oh and he has KDB 3rd sub who comes on if Tammy stays benched

          Genius

  23. NejiHyuuga01
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you go Shaw or Bailly for the next couple of GWs?

  24. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who's better for DGW19?

    A) Ings + Raphinha
    B) Ziyech + Rodrigo

    1. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      Not Ziyech for me

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kdb keeps losing the ball

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

      I might get Sterling instead

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

    With laporte having fitness issues, stones a good pick for BGW & DGW?

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

      Doubt Pep wants him out too.

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

    What happens with a tie at fpl cup? If Cancelo gets 2 pts i have a tie.

    Goals scored?

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

      Yes, unless there's been a rule change this year.

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

      Rules section - Cup

      Same as every year.

  28. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Chelsea look so much better with Ziyech.

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

    Pep being exposed even by Fat Frank. The guy has absolutely lost it.

  30. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who's hoping for 0-0? speaking as a Dias-Zouma owner

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1-0 city. Dias header.

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

        You got me excited there mate