Dugout Discussion

Alonso and Werner benched as injured Cavani misses out

Two more teams get their Gameweek 26 double-headers underway this afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

Kick-off in the clash between Chelsea and Manchester United is at 16:30 GMT.

All eyes are on Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) from a Fantasy perspective, with his ownership in excess of 60% overall and sitting at 96.8% in the top 10k.

Over 14% of the leading 10,000 managers have made Fernandes their captain in Double Gameweek 26.

Thomas Tuchel continues to tinker with his starting XI, making five alterations from Gameweek 25.

Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) replace Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) and Reece James (£5.0m) at wing-back, with Andreas Christensen (£4.7m) in for Kurt Zouma (£5.4m) at centre-half.

There are changes further forward, too, with Timo Werner (£9.2m) benched and Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) starting his first match since Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Barnsley in the FA Cup.

Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) is also preferred over Tammy Abraham (£7.1m) as the spearhead of the hosts’ attack.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer make two changes to the Manchester United side that beat Newcastle United last weekend.

Scott McTominay (£4.9m) and Mason Greenwood are recalled, with Nemanja Matic (£4.7m) and Anthony Martial (£8.7m) benched.

McTominay and Donny van de Beek (£6.6m) had been injury doubts for this weekend, with the Dutchman also recovering to make the bench.

Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) isn’t fit to feature, however.


Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell, Ziyech, Mount, Giroud.

Man Utd XI: de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Greenwood, Fernandes, James, Rashford.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 26 SO FAR…

The game-changing impact that Gareth Bale (£9.3m) exhibited in a 45-minute showing at West Ham last weekend carried over into Tottenham Hotspur’s first Double Gameweek 26 fixture.

Bale conjured up memories of his Spurs heyday in the early-2010s, producing a performance that was brimming with confidence in the Lilywhites’ 4-0 win over Burnley: his 50-yard ball for Harry Kane‘s (£11.1m) 14th-minute goal evidence of that.

The Welshman scored two of his own, twice latching onto Son Heung-min (£9.5m) passes to beat Nick Pope (£5.6m). His second strike, in particular, could have been taken straight from his 2012/13 highlights reel.

Bale was actually the least-popular asset in the Spurs starting XI on Sunday, with just 0.4% of FPL managers owning the on-loan Madridista.

He would appear poised to feature in his side’s second Double Gameweek 26 fixture, with Jose Mourinho sparing the Wales international for the final 20 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Bale, Son and Sergio Reguilon (£5.5m) all banked double-digit hauls against the Clarets, with the Spurs left-back teeing up Lucas Moura (£6.6m) for the hosts’ third goal.

Owners of Kane, by some distance the most-captained player in the top 10k in the current Gameweek, may have been feeling short-changed with their six points, however.

Kane wasted a stoppage-time ‘big chance’ that would have doubled his Gameweek 26 score after bonus.

That was one of of a remarkable seven chances that Son created throughout.

As for Burnley, a rare day to forget defensively and the first time that Pope has shipped more than two goals in a single match since Gameweek 7.

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1,034 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    What time is Liverpool kickoff?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      In 1hr

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Sorry, this didn’t deserve to be a top post?

    3. Mika-eel
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      9:15pm in Cape Town.

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Beautiful sunset in Camps bay earlier

        1. Mika-eel
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Family went to Piketberg for the weekend. First time family holiday. Nice resort between the mountains, beautiful place but the weather was brutal, 41 degrees C today, But saw the most amazing sunset yesterday.

    4. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      20:15 in Copenhagen.

  2. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    OMG

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      I thought someone dared to score a GOAL in the Chelsea v Man Utd fixture.

      1. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Haha, yes me too- a rare Werner goal maybe

  3. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    SALAH STARTS 😉

    1. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Phew!!!!

  4. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    SHEFF UTD : Ramsdale, Ampadu, Jagielka, Bryan, Baldock, Norwood, Lundstram, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick.
    Subs: Foderingham, Sharp, Mousset, Lowe, Burke, Osborn, Brewster, Ndiaye, Maguire.

    LIVERPOOL : Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Phillips, Robertson, Jones, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
    Subs: Ojrzynski, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Origi, R Williams, N Williams, Hughes.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Jota must be disappointed.

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Oh you know, not quite ready.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          I was just making a joke about his supposed FPL transfer.

      2. tambourineman
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        What must the lesser spotted Ben Davies be thinking?

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Robertson fail!!

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Brewster to come on and get his first goal?

    4. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Thiago starts - SHU have a chance...

  5. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    That Pool team lol...

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Look at Pool's bench and at City's bench yesterday. They are miles apart

  6. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    What is Maguire playing at

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      He’s not playing

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Usual

  7. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    As Shaw and Roudiger owner (Bruno is there too ofc) this is great!

  8. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Jagielka master class let’s go big phil juhuuuuu

  9. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Salah on pen 😉

  10. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    What happened to Alisson?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      His father passed away.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Oh. Very sad.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Father passed a few days ago.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Damn. Very sad.

  11. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Liverpool sporting the sky blue kit today. Hoping to emulate a Man City performance?

  12. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Good defence from both teams to be fair.

    Another ‘big’ game that’s not been a very good spectacle. Is it me, or have there been more poor games this season?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Ole’s way in them.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      They’re all knackered. Season has been very poorly handled from the start ; not having five subs was idiocy

  13. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Play Utd def in their tough games

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      it won't be 0-0 next week

      1. Gizzachance
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Lije I said the bigger games !

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      we're getting smashed by City sadly

  14. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    What a fail by Tommy.....

  15. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    McTominay the pass was all it needed!!! Ffs!

  16. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Chelsea FK for James running into Shaw. Yikes again from the ref

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Those glasses!

  17. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Chelsea and Man Utd should be banned from playing eachother. This has been absolute dreck.

  18. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    What was that. Dreadful attack

  19. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Absolutely nowhere to hide for Bruno captainers. At least Kane scored.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      *yawn*

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      LOVE to see it

      1. Parsnips
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Haha had to do it. So many people saying Kane failed

    3. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Bruno will haul vs palace Kane will Blank

      Kane capper herev

  20. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Cmon ddg just one more save

    Attack chelseaa

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Don't tempt fate. They will attack and score.

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      There it is

  21. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Oleout

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      If you’ve stuck with this thus far ...

  22. Athletico Underachieving
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Using FH in 29, so to replace Barnes I ideally want a player with decent fixtures now and after 30 with GW29 no issue. Worryingly, that looks like Mount or a Soton mid...

  23. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Come on Shaw!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      he's already hauled

  24. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    United have scored once against the ‘Big 6’ this season in a 1-6 defeat to Spurs (a Bruno penalty)

  25. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    United stink in big matches.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Last season it was against the smaller teams, if they put the two together they will win the league.

  26. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Liverpool will need to score at least 4 to win today with Adrian in goal. Good news for Salah captainers

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Adrian actually played very well when he came in ... at first ..

  27. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    3 - Christensen (31)
    2 - de Gea (29)
    1 - Azpilicueta (28)
    Rüdiger (27)
    Shaw (26)

    1. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Darn it

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Excellent

    3. Sean
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Check again!

  28. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Please Salah, I don't ask for much. Just bag a hat trick and I'll be happy

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    Dave saves!

    The DGW of keepers.

  30. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 28 days ago

    ML leader at 10k OR forgot to do his team. Didn’t do a transfer and has McGoldrick Captain and will obviously now out score my Bruno TC and 2nd places Gundo captain. Fuming ha