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
    2 years, 11 months ago

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

  2. fusen
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months 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
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mmmm, gas contraction.

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Ha, concentration

  3. Spg76
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Yes!!!!

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

    Bonus Points

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

    Pulisic (28)
    Hudson-Odoi (27)

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

    Atleast most serious players have Chelsea defense over Dallas.

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

      Ha, why?

  7. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months 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
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I hope this is a parody.

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

    Damn it that CS lost was painful

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Reece coming on more likely than Alonso

  10. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months 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
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You can't be serious

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

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

  11. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months 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
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

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

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

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

  13. djman102
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

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

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Zouma says hi

  14. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WC wasted

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

      Yes :((((((

  15. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Nooooo

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

    Martinez outscores Mendy

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

      Again

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

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

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

    Oh F off Rudiger...

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

    Suddenly no one in the prem can keep a clean sheet

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

      Wolves say hi

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

    Please Werner don't cameo for 2 minutes FFS

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

      He will

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

        I know:(

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I want that one point!

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

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

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

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

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

      I can’t imagine there would be.

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

    xG is overrated

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Indeed

  23. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Of course - 1 shot 1 goal

    Delete FPL

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

    Assist for Teke goal?

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

      Ha

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Schlupp

  25. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Well, at least I didn't double up.

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

      Mood even

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

      It definitely is.

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

      Wait till end of season

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

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

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

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

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

      Why him of all people?

  28. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane -> Benteke -4

  29. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Brought in Rudiger for Dallas (nervous manic laugh)

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sensible decisions don’t help in FPL

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

    Please get a damn goal, Rudiger