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. jimmyabs1987
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo assist no!!

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

    Cancelo and KDB owner here, used to this by now

    1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same here but recently acquired Cancelo

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

    KDB out of form.

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

    KDB misses a sitter. Not his season

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

    We sure that African voodoo doctor didnt put the curse on KDB rather than Salah?

    Taking the piss now...

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

    Oh my days I own Cancelo and KDB wtf Kevin

  7. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No way city keep cs today

  8. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDBs finishing been so poor last few weeks

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Last weeks? Has not scored from open play all season.

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Really frustrating as an owner. Seemed like he was scoring tougher chances last season.

  9. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB big miss

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

    Kevin playing striker and missing sitters

  11. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB can't finish to save his life. What kind of chance does this guy need beyond a penalty to actually score.

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

      Won't trust him on pens as well he missed one.

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

    Stupid KDB ruin Cancelo assist f*** off

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

    Argh Cancelo & KDB combo - 🙁

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      🙁

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

    De Bruyne awful 1 on 1

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

      Second game running.

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

    Sounds like would have been Cancelo A

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

    KDB ruins a clear chance yet again

  17. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    why would anyone have KDB over Son?

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

      Nostalgia

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      At this point? Stupidity

  18. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kdb this year is basically poor version of Benrahma

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

    He's finished. No goals from open play this season. No striker to assist.

  20. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why do I still have KDB in my team? His finishing all season has been attrocious!

    1. Top Dog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That’s why BOOM!

  21. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kdb become crap all of a sudden?

  22. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What a player Cancelo is... I'm shocked

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

    Is there a chance KDB is just out of form? Has had so many chances and seems to has lost his clinical edge

  24. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Fck off KDB... so annoying

  25. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    C'mon Kev. Persisting with him, despite the dodgy form, has really killed my rank this season.

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

    If it is not a penalty he is not scoring

  27. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Urgh I keep wanting to get rid of KDB but keep thinking surely he can’t keep missing.

    No goals from open play!

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

    Gundo goal

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

      foden a

  29. moz_1983
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Gundogan goal

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

    Gundo G