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

    Crud.

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

    KDB with proof that you should NEVER listen to the idiots who shout loudest in here.

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He’s missed about 10 of those the last 3 games tbf

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

        Whatever that means!

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          He’s missed about 10 of those big chances the last 3 games so the “idiots” as you call them had some substance to their comments

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

      LOUD NOISES!!!

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

      Three double digit hauls from a 11.6m player is not enough

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

        This

    4. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just one game lad, could be a different story next game

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

        He does it every season ffs

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

          Not this season I'm afraid

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

            It's January I'm afraid. Next.

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

          Didn't do it the season before last. Go and look.

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

            Due to injury. Next.

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

            Exactly, I think Leif is getting a little overexcited

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

    Huge kdb wagon Incoming

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

      That’s was happening anyway.

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

    I always believed in you KdB! 😉

  5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB’s obviously just realised he was only on 68 points

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

    No City, big rank drop today...

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

    Time to welcome KDB back

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

    Expected points table in tatters.

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

    HAHAHA Sterling cannot finish.

    But go on KEVIN!!! Finally!!!

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

    Lampard out.

  11. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I never doubted u Kevin

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

    KDBBBBBBBBBBB

  13. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I need kdb for the dgw. Goodbye Salah

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

    KDB haul

  15. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sack Lampard at HT before Chelsea defs end up with negative points.

  16. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Oh Christ

  17. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This is a massacre. Chelsea are dreadful

  18. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wow azpi is all over the place!

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

    Don't you just love it when a player repays your patience and faith?

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

      Foden sitter. Embarrassed himself

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

      You’ve missed points on the process

  20. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Scenes.

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

    An open play goal! Inevitable

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

    Lampard is a fraud. But the media will protect him.

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

      Awful manager

  23. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need one more City goal to destroy the Chelsea defence owners

  24. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Of course they have done this before the upcoming fixtures

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

    Mendy owner here how’s he looking ?

  26. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Zouma muppet score pls

  27. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB you legend

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

    Sack Fat Frank...

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

    Lampard In!!!!!

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

    Damn, there goes KDB as a differential for the next few GWs!