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. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All eyes on Foden now haha

  2. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Put some respect on the albino wizard's name.

  3. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB mega haul!!!!!

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

      It’s just an assist.

  4. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Foden essential

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

    anyone owns foden?

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

      Once

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

      Only casuals

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

      dead teams

  6. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Title Contenders? having a laugh

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

    Mendy sleeping?

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

    Will take an assist for now, finally.

    Foden though wtf

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

      When he plays he does well, not sure what Peps problem is with him

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

    Frank is getting sacked in the morning isn’t he? That eleven is pretty much handpicked by him. No excuses to hide behind.

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

    I’ve seen enough, wc active city In!

  11. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    F**k Phil Foden so much. Had him since game week three and finally got rid this week.

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

      No wayyy

    2. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ouch.

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

      Curious why this week was the last straw...

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not so much the last straw. Wanted to get rid for ages but always had something else to do.

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

      Ouch

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

      Link or I call bluff!

    6. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Buy him back

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’d rather guide my dad into my mum.

        1. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          😀

        2. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Haha

  12. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How much did Chelsea spend this season?

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

      Clearly not enough

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

      How much did Chelsea waste this season?

      There I fixed it 🙂

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

    Lampard really doesn’t have a clue

  14. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB to Rashford is going swimmingly

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

    Mendy is panicking after those Donaruma rumors

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

      Mendy is the best keeper in EPL easy

      If a garbage man like De Gea can hold a job or even a Pickford- he can

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Mendy really isn't anything special..

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

    Foden Bandwagon

  17. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDBBBBBB

  18. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Kev, get your pen and thunderbastard already.

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

    Salah to KDB previous GW might have been a good upside chasing

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

      We will see

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

    Owned Foden weeks 3-12. Do I get any points for that?

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

      Yes bench points

  21. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can Lampard sub in himself?

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

      Drogba too

  22. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Gundo on fire

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

      Best player on the pitch so far

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

    Why people are so against Lampard? He is good imo

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

      The usual anti English brigade.Their comments are somehow allowed in this site

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hahaha 😆

    2. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not as a manager

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

      19 teams wants him not to be sacked.

    4. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      he's terrible, doesn't know how to structure his team. Their points total is worse this season than it was at the same time last season.

    5. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      In what world is 8th place good after spunking £250m

    6. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Great player clearly doesn't make you a great manager...

  24. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thank You Mendy and goodbye. Out you go !!!

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

    Foden deserves to start more in all honesty

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

    Bring Drogba in

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

      Bring Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen in

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

    And this is the Foden pep refuses to start over the useless mahrez

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

    Might get rid of Chilwell for another City defender next week..... what you think?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      quite literally 60 mins left in this game

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

        I know that. Chelsea look vulnerable defensively

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

    Chelsea have really fallen to pieces Over the last couple of weeks

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Crap manager

  30. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Casual FH teams going to be like:

    Tierney, Holding, Alderweireld
    Son, Foden, Gundogan, Bruno
    Lacazette, Kane

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      *takes screenshot*

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

      And will probably end up scoring 90 points...

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

      Looks good. 😎

    4. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Please stop this idiotic casual thing