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. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mahrez literally can't buy a fkin game can he?

    HOW do I still own him? How???

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

      i made correction immediately

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boot out immediately

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

      How indeed. It was pretty obvious he was no longer first choice when he got benched against Southampton. Had to get rid even though I was building towards a GW18 team

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

    Shaw or Bailly?

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

      Probably shaw

    2. just a man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Neither. Utd can’t keep a clean sheet and both at risk of rotation.

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

    Steffen looks like he just smoked a doobie

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

    Gundo, Dias or Stones as the third City player?

    1. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias

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

      Dias

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

      I think Gundogan has the highest upside and is also safe in the XI. So him.

    5. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias or Stones

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

        Cheers lads

    6. just a man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Short term Gundo. Long term Dias.

  5. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    3 City in FH Team a must then vs Brighton

    Cancelo, KDB and Sterling?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Was always a must I’d of imagined?

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

      I've two of them and it includes Cancelo.

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

      Cancelo wont play both games surely?
      Dias, KDB and Sterling

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

      Cancelo Dias KDB imo

    5. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yup

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

    Chelsea very lucky it’s only 3.

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

    Repost: Wildcard, what do you think?

    Meslier - Steer
    Stones - Dias - Holding - Chilwell - Creswell
    Salah - De Bruyne - Bruno - Maddison - Smith-Rowe
    Kane - Bamford - Brewster

    GW18:

    /
    Stones - Dias - Holding - /
    De Bruyne - Bruno - Smith-Rowe - /
    Kane - Brewster

    / - / - / - /

    DGW19: Kane out / Vardy in

    Meslier
    Stones - Dias - Chilwell - Cresswell
    De Bruyne - Salah - Bruno - Maddison
    Vardy - Bamford

    Steer - Holding - Smith-Rowe - Brewster

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No KDB yesterday 😉

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

    Saiss or AWB for GW18 guys? Torn...

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

      AWB

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

    Salah captainers - we made a huge mistake.

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

      Wait until he has played 🙂

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

        Innit

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      We probably did I’ll take a return from him tomorrow

      We were too smart.

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

        My logic was he is due. I'm on a run of 5 captain blanks, not sure I can take another.

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

          He should return something, good luck!

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wait

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

    KDB Salah Bruno Son Raphinha
    Vardy Bamford

    DGW19 attack anyone?

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

      What’s the defence like?

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

        McCarthy
        Holding Mitchell Stones Coufal Alioski

        1. Rhodes your boat
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I have Kane salah son Bruno kdb
          Defence is
          Martinez
          Stones kwp holding balbuena strujik

      2. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Won’t be a defense left

        Over budget team

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

          See above.

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

      That but without Son

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That on FH?

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

        It’ll be wildcard!

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

      Soucekkkk

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

    Definitely need Jamie in 19

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

      Why?

  12. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is gundogan an option?

    For the next 3 GWs at least. I have stones would you go the following also -

    a) concelo + KDB
    B) Gund + KDB

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

      I am

      1. Old Gregg
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Gundogan?

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

          Yeah bro

          1. Old Gregg
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            May join you. Seems nailed as can be.

    2. Leonard hatred
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      was jsut looking at his minutes vs foden's, and he seems like the better option of the two.

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

    HT: Chelsea (0.31) 0-3 (2.68) Man City

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

      City playing to their xG. So not overperforming. Means they could still haul next GW. Compare to how Liverpool massively overperformed xG versus Palace and then undershot xG in their next two games to bring them back in line.

  14. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have to remember that Chelsea had a transfer ban this summer window, will probably help getting players in this January window.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What?! They literally signed their whole front line bar Pulisic in the summer.

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

        Sarcasm...

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

      Eh?

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

        Just making fun of Fat Frank and his awful managerial skills despite spending over 200mill or whatever it was.

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

    Although they are getting battered, I think Pulisic has looked really good. If only he wasn't so injury prone.

  16. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Chelsea fan
    Cup opponent has Foden
    ML rival has KDB
    Benched Stones
    Own Edouard Mendy

    How do I not feel depressed about this lol?

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      also, held KDB for his blanks before selling 2 weeks ago...

  17. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have exact cash to do Podence > Foden this gw. Gives me -

    Martinez
    Dias - Dier - Holding
    KDB - Bruno - Son - Grealish - Foden
    Kane - Wilson

    No hits. FH in DGW 19.

    Thoughts? 🙂

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

      Looks good.

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

    That’s all City needed. After today’s performance I can see them kicking on and winning 10 on the bounce easy. More than capable of doing it.

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

      It's the FPL points. No one likes City winning leagues except some plastic trash

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

        That's a matter of opinion. City have loyal fans

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

          I count the ones who supported City before 2010

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

            That's what I meant. Just because they haven't had success all along doesn't mean they didn't have a fanbase

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

              Do the exist on FFS?

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

        No not at all. I’m a united fan so concerned onviously but from an fpl perspective, their defence is extremely solid and now their attack oh clicking again.

  19. Avo24
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Some people who actively giving a “smart” advice in here dont even reach 1m rank. But there are some good players too, so hope you can recognize them

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

      Are you saying you don't have to have a good rank to give good advice? If so, I agree 🙂

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Here here. I myself will of moved from 3.1m to under a million in 4 GW’s, kinda proud of that

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

      Its luck. More this year than ever. Opinions are opinions.

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

      Yeah always do the opposite of what people advice

  20. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Close with my cup opponent. Who wins?

    A) McCarthy + Salah + 13pts
    B) TAA + Stones + Cancelo + KDB

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

        Yayyyyyy

        But I think he has the edge personally.

  21. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Well KDB couldn’t do the decent thing and stay under the radar before next week, so now his price is going to shoot up. Question is: bring him in for Salah now and face potential misery if he gets injured or the game gets called off because of COVID, or absorb the price rise?

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

      He was always going to haul against Chelsea

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

      I’m on a FH and want kdb for Salah for the dgw. Expecting to miss out on atleast 0.6m

  22. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If City can do this to Chelsea imagine what they will do to their next 6 opponents...Goal fest incoming!!

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pls dont jinx it bro -patient kdb owner here-

      Prior to this gw he got be 1 assist in 6 gws i owned him

      1. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Maybe this is his and City's way of starting 2021 with a bang!

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

      If only FPL really worked this way in real life......

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

      Chelsea always concede

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

    110k or liverank. Still bad but climbing slow and steady

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      HOW is that bad?! You serious?

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

        It´s kr@p buddy

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Its definitely not, especially at this stage of the season.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Fishing most likely

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

              No, check my or last 5 seasons

              1. Van der Faart
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                So you'll know well that nothing is decided at this stage of the season and theres plenty of time to get up the ranks then. I'm currently at 300k and still looking at top 10k as my aim. Chill out.

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

                  10k, aim higher homie

        2. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          No it is not, like at all

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

        Okayish this season but pretty bad in normal season.

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

      shocking, I don't know why you even bother. Just delete team already and go find a hobby you're actually good at.

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

    Need that City cleanie wiped out though.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It staying

  25. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling doing anything?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Got an assist

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

      Running. Down dead ends.

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

    So many City options. Think only KDB is a cert given likely ownership.

    Dias is safe, but would you pick Ederson for a DGW if they had a shred of attacking form?

    Gundo getting forward a lot - someone shared the article earlier about him playing as an 8 not a 6.

    Cancelo great but could easily miss one in the double.

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

    Dgw moves... Salah, Lowton to Kdb, Stones (-4) looks lovely

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

    Can City hold and keep a clean sheet?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hope so. I'm 16 away from 100 and could do with 6 from Dias with Salah and Adams tomorrow

  29. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Dusan Tadic hauling against Sunderland. Michail Antonio putting 4 past Norwich. All those moments will be lost, like tears in rain

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nice Bladerunner quote there

  30. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane, Salah, KDB, Bruno, Son, Soucek working well!

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep 🙂