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

    BPS so close. Come on Mount...

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

    West Brom memories for Chelsea to return shortly....

  3. Lets Talk About 19 Baby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thank u Benteke for wiping out all those wildcard triple Chelsea clean sheets.

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

      Who on earth would have triple Chelsea defence? Doubt many even have 2.

      1. Reece’s Pieces
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        One is quite enough and already flopping for me

  4. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy can F off.

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

      Ofc he can

  5. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How's this for free next week?

    Bamford > Vardy and Martinez > Schmiechel

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

      Martinez 10 pointer + Bamford haul incoming

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

        Only if I make the transfers.

        Martinez and Bam 2 pointers if I hold no doubt

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

    Cahil you beauty

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

    should I continue watching the game? I had rudiger only but the cs is gone.

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

      What an odd question

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

        Yep

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

    Reece coming on?

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

      yup, so annoying if you had him.

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

    30 points with 4 players to go on wildcard - hold me

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

      17 from 6 🙂

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Same. Inc captain. What an absolute waste of time.

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

          I mean, it's so bad I'm now completely devoid of emotion.

    2. Reece’s Pieces
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      FPL matters more during these crap times. The double gameweek will fix all ...

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

    Manunited 2- 1 Spurs
    Fernandez goal and assist
    Kane Goal
    No?

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

      Almost. United 2-0, Fernandes goal and assist, Shaw assist, Rashford goal.

  11. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Am I supposed to accept the fact that they've had one miserable shot and its gone in and ruined my double defender clean sheet?

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

      As opposed to what? Maybe you could organise a protest on Clapham Common.

    2. Reece’s Pieces
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lol

  12. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    GOOOAAALLLL!!!

    Top of the league!

  13. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WCing out Martinez Bamford Dallas Watkins for Sterling (c) Jota Alonso Mendy feeling really good right now. Glad I don’t own Salah too. All very positive.

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

      Oh dear!

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Oh. That’s rough.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dallas haul is pure jam and he was likely to be on your bench, more regrets. not missing much on others...

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

      hang on there my brother.

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

    Lost my double Chelsea clean sheet but picked the winner in the National. Not a bad day.

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

      Good job

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

      Lovely. Who won?

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not you.

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

          Lol

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

        Minella Times. First time a female jockey has won. I won £120

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

          A good. About time really given that it’s a sport that doesn’t require a huge amount of muscle.

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

    Puli x2

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

    No 8pm kick off today? Urghhh...

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thank God. Too much football these days and not a lot of it enjoyable.

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

        Totally this. So boring I stopped playing FPL

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

      El Classico.

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

        Oooohhhhh thank you!! Saved me from family time

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

        Oooooo

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

      Real vs Barca at 8pm should suffice instead 😀

    4. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Its so there's no clash with El Classico. Everything TV orientated.

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

    Puli

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

    Pulisic G
    James A

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

    Pop quiz

    Who has returned better since GW25?

    A Salah
    B Benteke

    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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

    Who is going to fall into the Pulisic trap? 😉

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

    Mount is having an amazing game, totally didn't deserve to end with 5 pts

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

    Wish 1 and 3 granted, just wish 2 remaining

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

      You're gonna need a new magic lamp & genie

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mendy RC?

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

    Rudiger was an awful pick

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

      he did deliver for my team on the bench though

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea defense is always going to be awful pick...

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

    I asked earlier can Kai and Pulisic break the template, everyone said no.

    What about now? Can they? They both have the goal and assist threat are proven asset and can explode

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

      Not nailed

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Still no

      Unpredictable team

  25. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hang on, James was looking for Havertz wasn’t he. How is that an assist?

  26. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Quick question, who you think will score first tomo

    Spurs
    Man Utd

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

    Does anyone know how to watch the El Classico?

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yea but can’t comment on such things here

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

        Ah k . Cheers dude

        1. Evasivo
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Would suggest searching Twitter

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

      How bizarre. Fully expected it to be in SKY

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

        Those were the good days pal. La Liga on Sky!

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

    Target Palace from now?
    *Checks Palace fixtures

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

    James miss kicks cross and it’s diverted straight to an open goal how lovely

  30. DMP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Divine Justice for James owners.