Dugout Discussion

Tuchel benches Alonso and James for Chelsea’s trip to Crystal Palace

Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) has fallen foul of Thomas Tuchel’s rotation policy for the second time in three Premier League matches.

Fresh from a 90-minute outing in the 5-2 defeat against West Bromwich Albion, the Spaniard finds himself among the substitutes at Crystal Palace today.

Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) steps into the left wing-back role he has vacated while Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) staffs the right-hand side in place of a benched Reece James (£5.0m).

Edouard Mendy (£5.2m) remains an ever-present in goal for Chelsea while Antonio Rüdiger (£4.7m), Kurt Zouma (£5.3m) and César Azpilicueta (£5.9m) form the three-man defence in front of him.

Other benched assets include Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) and Timo Werner (£9.2m) with Christian Pulisic (£8.2m), Kai Havertz (£8.2m) and Mason Mount (£7.2m) selected as the front-three at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace are in the usual 4-4-2 formation with Wilfried Zaha (£7.1m) up-front alongside Christian Benteke (£5.5m).

Budget enabler Tyrick Mitchell (£3.8m) comes back into the matchday squad but cannot dislodge Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) from the left-back berth.

Gameweek 31 Line-ups

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; van Aanholt, Kouyaté, Cahill, J Ward; Eze, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Ayew; Zaha, Benteke.

Chelsea XI (3-4-3): E Mendy; Rüdiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Chilwell, Kovacic, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi; Pulisic, Havertz, Mount.

Gameweek 31 so far…

Ollie Watkins (£6.5m) struck again as Aston Villa caused problems for Liverpool at Anfield in Gameweek 31.

The gifted former Brentford and Exeter City man added his third attacking return in four matches, his 12th Premier League goal of the season and a fourth against Liverpool this campaign.

In doing so, he became the first player to score that many against the Reds in a single season since Andrey Arshavin in 2008/09.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) continued his revival with a second goal in as many league matches, a solid return for those who captained him in Gameweek 31.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) is also back on the radar in a big way after he added his second goal of the season in stoppage time.

He has now produced eight points or more in four of his last six Premier League appearances.

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
  • 2 – Ollie Watkins
  • 1 – Nathaniel Phillips

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752 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kai and Pulisic to break the template\'?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lol no

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nah

  2. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    2G and no Mount involvement.

  3. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mount why have you not been involved in any of these!?

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    We are flying, top 4 dream is live

  5. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gonna be a rout. Go on Rudiger grab one!

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he will, he is due

    2. ZAMUNDA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A CS would be enough. Not greedy

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not enough, no. He's blocking Dallas from bench.

  6. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    i once had Kai

    1. Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      me too, GW1

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      me too. started the season with him

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        last gameweek LOL

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

      I kept Havertz until GW7. He wasn't the worst player I've owned this season. Got 3 attacking returns.

  7. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    ffs sold Havertz on gw3 wildcard absolutely no luck at all

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      LOL

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I sold Havertz in wk 2

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I sold him Friday at 550pm.

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

      I kept him on mine

      Great foresight slightly undermined by selling him in week 8. Classic lack of patience.

  8. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Havertz ... hmm

  9. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Now I'm worried Chelsea will just switch off and relax pre CL QF and end up letting one in.

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      There is no scenario where you wouldn't have been worried then

      1. moment
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Double defense brings anxiety

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          On the evidence of the 1st 25 minutes, you can expect 12 pts minimum

  10. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lateriser sells Kai for Jota 😀

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That is rough, when it’s not your season...

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He is having fun. Thats what Fpl is all about. The youngsters will still realize that.
      One day.

  11. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Maybe i really should press WC button this week

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same feeling, but perhaps it can wait, the way this season is going everyone I would get would blank and everyone I would sell would haul.

      (Alonso owner)

  12. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    If Alonso Bale stays on the bench,
    I will get Dallas' 17pts!!!

    Arghhh

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fighting chance I reckon

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You actually could get lucky you know ...

  13. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hopefully Werner is taking notes on the bench of the 2 marvelous Chelsea strikes

  14. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Need a Palace goal

    1. ZAMUNDA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nope

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Your rhetoric and foul language, and particularly your obscene requests are becoming too much sir! Be gone with you.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha

  15. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pulisic two in two - tantalising

    Still see this one ending 3-2 🙂

  16. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Points for everyone. Except we Mount owners:-(

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sigh.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      our time will come. have faith

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

      He'll be subbed for Porto.

  17. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Havertz sellers punished

  18. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rudiger blocked from corner. He is due

  19. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’ve heard of Havertz. I think.

  20. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Palace on the beach?
    A blank next, followed by Leicester and Man City.

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd be targeting them

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I quite fancy us in the blank

  21. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rudiger SiB blocked

  22. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Never owned Havertz. But if I'd bought him this week and Captained him i'd have loads of points.

    So unlucky.

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

      Hugely unlucky Ninja, feel for you. Just can't get a break these days

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

      This game is 110% luck

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I have that problem every week

  23. tim
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any chance Mitchell stays on bench?

    Cheers

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

      Nailed to it

  24. The White Pele
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale to Salah for free or keep for DGW?

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sell

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

    Remember when there were penalties? Seems like a distant memory.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wait for Bruno this gw

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dinosaurs were alive back then. Yet Bruno will get hat trick from them.

  26. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why did I cap Bruno instead of Salah this week? I swear I capped Mo.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      7 points... Bruno will get BAP/s if he’s to score, not the worst.

  27. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shocking dive by Havertz

  28. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son to Havertz might have to be done tonight.

  29. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kai Havertz looks alright

  30. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That first touch by Havertz. Wow.