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

    Top 10k average up to 58.8 points 🙂

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Professionals really kicking on over Xmas!

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Pros hahaha

  2. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Carbohydrate replaces Ziyech

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

    Will have him on FH next week, but no idea how to get Cancelo for the double in this team. 1.7 ITB is what I believe I had. Was gonna still try to bench boost.

    Martinez Areola
    Robbo Coufal Dallas Pieters Mitchell
    Salah Bruno KDB Son Soucek
    Bamford Watkins Davis

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

    take dias off Pep, save his cs

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    2 City mids or 2 City DEF for next GW?

    Sterling(C), KdB and Dias for me

    1. andres
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      why pay so much for sterling?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Its free hit. Dont care tbf

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

      Attackers definitely worth the gamble, for me.

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yup. I think Brighton will score

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

    is this ok for BGW18 without FH?

    Martinez
    Dias Mitchell
    KDB Son Bruno
    DCL Kane

    main worry is no second United players and no Grealish

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

      Think you will be fine

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

      Should be fine

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      That is a good team with no FH. I am planning to save my FH and I have one player less.

    4. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Good team, save the FH

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

    Desperately need a Cancelo OG

    1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You will need it more now that I have him and Dias

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

    Another goal kdb

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

      Oh yes please

  9. TOLV TUMS
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hey all! Hope everyone's had a safe and happy new year. What's the latest thinking on next GW - FH, or save??

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you have 6 or less players, 100% FH. 7 or more and it depends on which players you own imo

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

      Depends on how you're fixed without FH.

    3. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks gents!

  10. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Looks like no Chelsea players will be in the FH19 draft

  11. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    So Chelsea are crap or what?

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

      Very

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

    A Dias goal would be delightful.

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

      Will take 1 BP

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Oh please, yes.

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

    Cancelo and Dias still with >10% ownership respectively. Insanity

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

      KdB only around 20%
      City assets a big differential at the moment!

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

      Over the last 6 games:

      Dias 33, Cancelo 34, Stones 34
      Stones matching them nicely at a 0.8m lower price

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    City defenders know Steffen is crap so they are doing what they can to stop Chelsea shooting.

  15. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How is Werner still on the pitch?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Need a goal, Frank can’t take off his superstar.

    2. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      The guy is a fraud

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        It's clearly Frank's fault. Werner is short of confidence coming up against Dias/Stones. Woeful.

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

    Bayern getting beat 2-0 at home, wow

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

    Havertz biggest flop in 10 years?

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

      Chelsea fans said he was a once in a generation talent. Lol

    2. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nope that would be Shevchenko

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Drogba!

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

      Werner close

    4. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Played in a useless german league tbf

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

    Labour leader calling for a nation lockdown within 24 hours.

    Hold onto to your chips. Chaos to ensue.

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

      Stopped reading at labour

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

        Can’t be any worse then Boris and his nasty party.

        1. CheesyZoot
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Wouldn't be any better by any means

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

        Politics aside, the covid issue is escalating rapidly. Can’t see us making it to through without another lockdown.

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

          I don’t mind another lockdown, pretty much in one now but I want football to continue

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

            Not good if you have kids and have to work.

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

          I agree. Just a matter of when not if.

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

        That might be part of the problem.

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

      Lockdown with elite football continuing hopefully. Can be done. NBA do it.

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

      Won’t happen. Boris already said as much.

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

    Raheem Sterling has no end product.

    Pass it on.

    1. Mr. Funny Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cuz he can’t?

  20. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    At the moment I’m going to FH18

    So just in case I don’t, and decide to navigate BGW18 with the 2FTs I have, how about:

    DCL + Justin > Wood/Wilson + Cancelo

    Wood has DGW19 but Wilson has the better BGW18 fixture. I’d probably then do Holding to Alioski or Dallas for 19, depending on Wood/Wilson.

    Would give me:
    Martinez
    Holding Cancelo
    KDB Bruno Son
    Wood/Wilson Watkins

  21. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    on FH who would you rather have?

    A: Dias
    B: Cancelo

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cancelo.

      Constant attacking threat over set piece hope.

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I agree. Only reason Dias is in the equation for me is naildness. Do we know how long Walker is out for?

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

      Dias

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cancelo

  22. Bounce
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mark has 23 points LMAO.

    1. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      And

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

      How?

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

      Wow.

    4. TyroneGAA
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Still ahead of you no doubt

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

        Lol

    5. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Woof

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

      what a bum

    7. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      36 points, pool could haul for him.

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

        Why does every team I look at seem to have Soucek coming off their bench! 😀

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

        no spurs, three leeds lol

    8. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He's got bench points incoming

    9. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      36 actually. With Salah (C), Mane and TAA to go. So still time for a good score.

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

      😀

      He played a terrible WC

    11. umerlfc
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I guess made a mistake going without both Kane and Son on WC

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

      You are a knob mate.

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

    Couldn’t of just passed it could ya Sterling to KDB, nah too he’d that, god he’s dreadful

    1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He doesn't even look like a football player

  24. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Liverpool performance vs Palace was still the best in the PL this season, IMO.

    That was an exhibition of accurate, incisive passing, and clinical finishing. Don't think it is surprising that Liverpool have dropped off from that high as that type of clinical finishing comes round so rarely.

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

    Kevin hacked

  26. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Lampard's stubbornness to play out of form players over in form one will ultimately cost him the job. Had an absolutely mare tactically too.

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Shocking that he left Alonso to rot

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Agreed, though my cup opponent has Alonso and Rudiger so I'm not complaining. Miss Alonso as an fpl player.

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

      Werner has been rubbish ever since he came but kept starting.

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

      Lampard is very very stubborn, it will be his downfall.. I have a feeling he has also lost the dressing room, too many good players not knowing how to do the basics.. not playing for him at all..

  27. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea is miserable

  28. SM001
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    The 1 week I don't have KDB and all of a sudden he starts playing like KDB.

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

    Would you guys take a punt on DDG for a few weeks?

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

      Nope

  30. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Looking like Man City are getting back to where they left off last season. Might have to wildcard instead of FH to get some of these Man City players in.

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

      I’m doing this, if I don’t I’ll have 1 city player at best for next 2 gw

      1. Parsnips
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yes seems the best idea!