Dugout Discussion

Aguero, De Bruyne start for Man City as Sterling, Cancelo on bench for Double Gameweek 26 opener

Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) both start for Manchester City in their first Double Gameweek 26 fixture at home to West Ham.

Aguero makes his first appearance in a City starting XI since Gameweek 6 – in the reverse fixture against the Hammers – while De Bruyne made his full injury return by starting in the 1-0 win at Arsenal in Gameweek 25.

Ferran Torres (£6.9m) is another longer-term absentee making an injury comeback, which means a host of FPL assets find themselves on Pep Guardiola’s bench.

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m), Phil Foden (£6.1m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) are all out of the XI, as is Joao Cancelo (£6.1m).

Rodri (£5.3m) is also on benchwarming duty as Fernandinho (£5.4m) earns a second consecutive league start, anchoring a midfield three also featuring De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan (£6.2m).

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) drops out of the starting line-up after beginning in the Champions League, as FPL managers’ favoured duo of Ruben Dias (£6.1m) and John Stones (£5.2m) are flanked in defence by Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) and Kyle Walker (£6.1m).

On his rotated side, Guardiola told BT Sport ahead of kick off:

Many games, we have two days recovery. We have a fantastic squad. Everyone deserves to play, all doing incredibly well, fresh legs and a very good mentality.

On West Ham, the Man City boss added:

Looks like they will play five at the back, previous seasons they did it as well, we knew it. They can do normal shape but they’ve done five at back at Old Trafford. The ideas are the same, good runners up front, two incredible holding midfielders. We try to impose our game.

Fabianski is absent for the Irons

Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) is the big name missing from West Ham’s starting line-up, with the Poland keeper ruled out due to a training-ground injury.

“Unfortunately one of the players just stood on Lukasz’s arm yesterday (in training). It’s swollen up, he’s just not been able to extend his arm. It’s a real blow, he’s been in really good form.” – David Moyes

Ireland international Darren Randolph (£4.3m) is between the sticks for the Hammers, behind a back five of Ben Johnson (£3.9m), Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m), Craig Dawson (£4.5m), Issa Diop (£4.3m) and Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m).

Declan Rice (£4.7m) and Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) will hope to add to the spoiling effect of Moyes’ five-man defence, behind a front three of Jesse Lingard (£5.9m), Pablo Fornals (£5.9m) and Michail Antonio (£6.5m).

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Walker; Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Torres, Aguero, Mahrez.

West Ham United XI (5-2-2-1): Randolph; Johnson, Cresswell, Dawson, Diop, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Fornals, Lingard; Antonio.

1,312 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo captain fail.

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why?

      Is he on the bench?

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No ... just waiting for the usual people moaning about captain fails when their ouch hasn’t scored a hat trick after 5 mins ...

        1. Tabasco
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          But you said it? Strange way to make a point

          1. Captain_Shirokov
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            i like tabasco

            1. Eh, just one more thing ...
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Good on toast and cheese.

            2. GinjaWhinja
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              You’ll also like Cholula hot sauce, if you are a Tabasco fan.

              Great on almost anything!

              1. Eh, just one more thing ...
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Googling that now!

          2. Eh, just one more thing ...
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Sigh. Never mind.

  2. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling Cancelo Foden owners unite and form VOLTRON

  3. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Diagne EO?

  4. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Always nice to have a rank rise after a minus 4 🙂

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was thinking the same ha

  5. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    When Stones goal?

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Coming soon

  6. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just noticed Fabio Borges copied my moves of Ings to DCL and TC Salah. We’re both in the know

  7. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DGW fail. See you all next season

  8. Ian J
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    With Man City’s 2 doubles, 4 games - Being realistic I am hoping for each of my players to play 3 of the 4
    (Unless injured I won’t be transferring any next game week)
    So far 1 from my 3, Gündogan, Canceló & Sterling.
    Sensibly I didn’t captain any
    How’s everyone else doing?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have Stones and Gundo with money itb to do Bruno to KDB/Sterling(C) next week dependant on who is rested against Wolves Sold Cancelo last week on WC because he was due a rest but might get back if KDB and Sterling both play against Wolves

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hoping for 4 from 4 from Ederson 🙂

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just got the two player - Cancelo and Gundo. Was tempted to bring in Ederson but wanted to keep a slot free and think about Aguero or KDB next week

    4. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same as you and actually this is probably the hardest game.

      So not too sad at limited minutes assuming they start v wolves and both next gw

  9. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it too early?....

  10. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL TC and I already feel sick ffs. Just know it’s gonna be a fail

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Then why did you do it?

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        My gut told me so

    2. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same here, I'm confident.

      Kane... not sure, Spurs ain't humming on all cilinders tbf.

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Don’t even know Kane so the decision was already made for me lol.

        Agreed about Spurs

      2. Jindaljain
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Be afraid of Kane

  11. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Think Antonio could have some joy vs Stones. Physical mismatch

  12. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Johnson having a mare so far

  13. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    It’s bloody brilliant seeing Aguero back. One of the PL GOATs. When do you think he leaves City?

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This Summer

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      In a matter of months

  14. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    safety score : -2 😮

  15. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I would be delighted with a City CS here. West Ham are a very decent side.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes I think they score

  16. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please be Kevin De Boom rather than Kevin De Blanke!

  17. Rash
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any fellow Son cappers?

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Me....he is always nailed in my team... even if he dies i ll think about transfer him out

    2. Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hello buddy. Son(C)

    3. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This place is so special.... a number of people that cry here is priceless

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Just wait for Fudgy to log on..

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Schools out

      3. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You're special

    4. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hope City lose the CS(only stones owner)

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        you will lose point than

        majority of us are now with single Man City defender

      2. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cancelo benching means most are single city defence owners so no point really.

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Would much rather the cleanie as would mean Antonio Soucek etc have blanked.

    5. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How's cancelo playing?

      1. Hooky
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He'll be on at half time at this rate

      2. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I’ll let you know next game ...

    6. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is my KDB captain doing anything good??

      Unable to watch the game so appreciate any insights

    7. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KDB looks bad

    8. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KdB looking rusty

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Has looked that way all season, like he's got no energy

          1. Hooky
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Maybe he has yuppie flu?

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What did Pep say, even if there was a game a day after the champions League game Cancelo could play it because he's that fit of an athlete

          When I heard that I knew Pep was gonna Pep

          1. OverTinker
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            'could'

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Yeah?

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

              Although he said it the other way round, he basically said "he's fit enough to play tomorrow" [but] we need to protect [his] position.

              Was almost a nailed on benching after reading that.

          2. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Shoot that Kev! Great run 🙂

          3. Fer Fuch's Ake
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            DeBruyne owners should feel salty Aguero starts, just like Gundo owners should feel salty KDB starts. And it's not just about PKs

          4. Jindaljain
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Kane TC are the real winners remember me in future

          5. F_Ivanovic
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            City missing Cancelo here... get him on Pep

          6. seewhyaxe
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Raz owners here? 🙁

            1. Jindaljain
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              He will be in after 65 mins if city keeps 0-0

              1. seewhyaxe
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                I wish, 1 point is better than nothing this game.

            2. fedolefan
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Yep in the mud here with nowhere to hide. Feel he comes on in the second half today.

              1. seewhyaxe
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                comes on and haul?!

          7. dark91
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Early 'rough with the smooth' input from me. Made 7 transfers and forgot to hit my wildcard so currently sitting on a nice (-20)

            1. Vazza
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              You’re kidding, right?

              1. dark91
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Oh I wish. My team is linked under my profile 🙁

                1. Vazza
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Don’t worry mate. At least you still have your WC for the future. It will be useful from GW31 onwards when the fixtures turn.

                  1. dark91
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Thanks for trying to make it less worse

                    1. Vazza
                      • 3 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      People often take an 8 to 12 point hit so you’re not really that much worse off. The wildcard be handy in the future. Mark my words.

                      1. dark91
                        • 8 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        You are 100% right. I will just have to live with the temporary drop in rank until the saved wildcard pays off

            2. thegaffer82
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              You were trying to be clever and have your transfers count towards price rises and falls weren't you?

              1. dark91
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Not even that made. I waited for all Europe games to be done and made all of my transfers 12 hours ago

            3. The Mighty Hippo
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              And what's your rough?

              1. dark91
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Cancelo didn't start today. That ruined my -20 plan 😀