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

    Tuchel should bench CHO for 5 games in a row. 3 times he is selfish when he shouldn't be and should pass to Mount. James would have passed in those situations

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

      he plays like `Townsend. if he wants that kind of career let him be my guest and to continue like that

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

    Bottomed - pick one to start next GW:
    A. Raphinha (LIV)
    B. DCL (TOT)
    C. Dallas (LIV

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

      Close call but Raph imo

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

    Chelsea subs, Kante, Werner, ??

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Substitutes: Marcos Alonso, Timo Werner, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Emerson, N'Golo Kanté, Hakim Ziyech, Reece James

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

    Commentator is blind

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

      How many more times can he mix up Zouma and Ruediger?

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

        Exactly

  5. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bonus Points

    3 - Havertz (35)
    2 - Zouma (34)
    1 - Mount (30)

    Hudson-Odoi (27)
    Azpilicueta (26)
    Pulisic (23)
    Rüdiger (22)
    Jorginho (21)
    Chilwell (19)
    Mendy (18)
    Kovacic (18)
    Cahill (17)
    Guaita (12)

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Timing.

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

      Havertz is on course for 14pts, here we go

  6. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pls Alonso stay on that bench so I get Trent(VC)

    And Bale pls stay out the team so I get Dallas' points.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Anything else?

  7. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Palace goal

  8. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Yaaaas the maaaan Big Ben

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

    CS lost 🙁 Mount CS pt too 🙁

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

      Mount BPS would supass Zouma?

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

    Tekker G

    Mendy is shite

  11. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Benteke

  12. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    And there it is.

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      *nods*

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

    Top 10K Chelsea EO% anyone?

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

      the defense only

  14. R.C
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    34 from 4, any good? (C) left to play

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Looks like it. 8.5 points per player. I’m on 9.33 ppp

  15. mr messi
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Damn!

  16. nolard
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    ah....that's 12 points out the window

  17. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Benteke you BEAUTY

  18. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    You’ve got to be joking...

  19. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    rudiger azpi cs wiped beautiful

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

    My sources tell me it’s not long until Palace score

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

      Any minute now

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

        A curse on your soul.

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gimme the lotto numbers 😆

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

        Haha

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

          Actually haven’t played in years!

  21. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Worst week again

  22. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Aah for **** sake benteke

  23. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Oh you beautiful man Benteke

  24. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    'sake

  25. Says
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Goddam Benjamin Tete

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

    8 from 5

    Sorry for the brag

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

    Wish 1 granted, now for 2 and maybe 3

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

    Oh lord ...

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

    Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

    Wish number 2 fulfilled.

    Tekkers now has as many goals from open play as Vardy this season - far fewer minutes played.

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

      High five bro

  30. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Triple Chelsea defence on WC
    Neto
    Sterling Captain

    Where is my coat?

    1. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Genuinely sorry for you. This game is a bitch sometimes.

    2. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You are in the middle of the ocean

    3. REDMOND IN SANDALS
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      unlucky.. no sympathy for sterling punt though