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. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can’t wait to get rid of Mendy on wc this week, been a complete failure of a transfer

  2. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Frank under pressure now
    Roman watching

  3. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    wonderful goal by the Ilkay Bar Kid

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

    Foden wagon trap v2 has begun...

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

    Gundogan the guy to have?

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

    Foden essential

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

    Please don't fire Lampard

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

      Bravo i hyped you already

  8. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Gündogan showing KDB how to finish

  9. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sir Gündogan is essential!

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

      Gondwanaland

    • moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden goal!@

    • Vamos Los Celeste
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I dont remember a game as Kdb owner where gundogan didnt score.

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

      foden g kdb a

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden Goal, KDBassist

    • Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FODEN GOAL
      KDB ASSIST

    • Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yessssss Kevinnnnn

    • Nimby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB silencing the haters.

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

      KDB assist Foden goal

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden G

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

      FODENNNNNNNNN

    • djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Are Soucek/Gundogen the new Ramsey/Yaya Toure?

    • tafrère
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Gundogan trolling KDB owners since a few gameweeks lol.

    • Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden and Kdb lol

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden absolutely essential

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

      KdB assist!

    • Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden wagon

    • Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

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

      Foden delivers

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

      Man City goal