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. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The dizzying lows and crushing lows of Fantasy Football, I love it

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

    Chelsea going 3-0 up so early was always a bit of a gamble for their defence as they would naturally take their foot off the gas contraction wise.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mmmm, gas contraction.

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

        Ha, concentration

  3. Spg76
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yes!!!!

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

    Mendy is dire, no movement whatsoever, he even looked to move out the way?

  5. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bonus Points

    3 - Havertz (36)
    2 - Benteke (32)
    1 - Mount (30)

    Pulisic (28)
    Hudson-Odoi (27)

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No way Teke had a better game compared to Mount, no way.Not smart system in this case

  6. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Atleast most serious players have Chelsea defense over Dallas.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ha, why?

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

    This game is a joke,1 shot from Crystal Palace in 60 minutes and they scored. Omg how unlucky i am

    1. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I hope this is a parody.

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Damn it that CS lost was painful

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Reece coming on more likely than Alonso

  10. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mendy is such a pu$$¥

    Chillwell is soft but keeper should be claiming/clearing anything out in to the 6 yard at that pace

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

      You can't be serious

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Looked worse live. Only saw the replays now and I agree no fault of his.

  11. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez gone on wildcard, double the score of Mendy, and not to mention double up on Rudiger with Coady left on the bench. Sick now.

    1. Reece’s Pieces
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sympathise. I studied all week and Jota Captain made me feel like a chump

  12. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    cancelo to rudiger now waiting for veltman crazy week ffs!!!!

  13. djman102
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hah-no points lost to Alonso owners on that goal. Knew he was the defender to have!

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

      Zouma says hi

  14. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WC wasted

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

      Yes :((((((

  15. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Nooooo

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez outscores Mendy

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

      Again

  17. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    clear out your Chelsea defenders, they don't do cleanies in Prem anymore

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

    Oh F off Rudiger...

  19. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Suddenly no one in the prem can keep a clean sheet

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

      Wolves say hi

  20. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Please Werner don't cameo for 2 minutes FFS

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He will

      1. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I know:(

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I want that one point!

      1. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Haha I have Rudiger sub so it doesn't really matter

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

      I need a full set of 1 and 2 pointers with Neto, Gundo, Azpi, Jota... A big score would upset the balance

  21. Custard Gannet
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone worse than 9 from 5 (-4) and dropped 80K?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I can’t imagine there would be.

  22. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    xG is overrated

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Indeed

  23. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Of course - 1 shot 1 goal

    Delete FPL

  24. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Assist for Teke goal?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ha

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Schlupp

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

    Well, at least I didn't double up.

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

    I was in a good move until the football started now im miserable

    Probably means it’s time to delete fpl

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

      Mood even

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

      It definitely is.

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wait till end of season

  27. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    alonso to come on to tighten up at the back?!

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Like FPL, managers don't play Alonso for clean sheets.

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

      Why him of all people?

  28. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Kane -> Benteke -4

  29. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Brought in Rudiger for Dallas (nervous manic laugh)

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

      Sensible decisions don’t help in FPL

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What you need to do is target the teams playing City, Liverpool, Chelsea and load up on their players

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

    Please get a damn goal, Rudiger