Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne ‘not fully fit’ to face Chelsea side without Mount or Chilwell

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) misses out on Manchester City’s meeting with Chelsea because he is “not fully fit”.

That is according to a club press release issued on Saturday afternoon as Pep Guardiola names a rather unconventional side at the Etihad Stadium.

With John Stones (£5.1m) serving the last of his three-match ban, the Manchester City manager has chosen three centre-backs in Nathan Aké (£5.4m), Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) and Ruben Dias (£6.0m).

Two wing-backs appear in the team, namely João Cancelo (£5.8m) and Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) but Rodrigo (£5.3m) is the only recognised central midfielder.

Wingers Ferran Torres (£6.9m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.0m) also start as well as two centre-forwards in Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.1m).

Chelsea’s line-up is more straight forward as Thomas Tuchel goes with his usual 3-4-3 although there are key absences there too.

Mason Mount (£7.3m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.9m) miss out on the matchday squad entirely while Kai Havertz (£8.3m) and Kurt Zouma (£5.3m) drop to the bench.

César Azpilicueta (£5.9m) is in the back-three with Andreas Christensen (£4.7m) and Antonio Rüdiger (£4.7m) while Reece James (£5.1m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) are in the wing-back roles. The latter makes only his second start since Gameweek 31.

Billy Gilmour (£4.3m) earns back-to-back league starts and features alongside N’Golo Kanté (£4.9m).

Christian Pulisic (£8.3m) and Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) start either side of Timo Werner (£9.2m) in the front-three.

Triple Gameweek 35 Line-ups

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Ake, Mendy, Rodrigo, Torres, Sterling, Aguero, Jesus.

Chelsea XI: E Mendy; Rüdiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Alonso, Kanté, Gilmour, R James; Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech.

Triple Gameweek 35 so far…

Christian Benteke (£5.5m) opened the scoring as Crystal Palace beat Sheffield United 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

It was his third goal in his last five away matches and he could have walked away from Bramall Lane with more to his name.

The former Liverpool man had one fine effort blocked before the woodwork denied him in the second half.

However, Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) proved to be the star of the show, registering an assist and scoring in the second half to claim maximum bonus points.

By contrast, Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) was relatively peripheral, stationed on the left-hand side of attacking midfield rather than in in his usual out-of-position centre-forward berth.

Meanwhile, there was a clean sheet for Crystal Palace’s defenders, Gary Cahill (£4.5m) benefitting the most thanks to his assist for Eze’s goal while Joel Ward (£4.3m) picked up a first-half yellow card.

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Eberechi Eze
  • 2 – Christian Benteke, Gary Cahill

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707 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling playing box to box

  2. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Based on recent incidents, that should be a red card

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Agreed

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sterling plays fit England.

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Way too many England caps to get a red card there.

    3. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not even any VAR check for it since he's english

    4. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      My exact thoughts. Vestergaard got a joke red for something way less worse

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling been crap this season

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      as anyone who owned him or like me captained him for even a short period knows too well

  4. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A big blow for City as Sterling isn’t sent off.

    1. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This one didn't age well

  5. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Surely that was a red card challenge by Sterling? Raised studs. Lucky boy

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah awful challenge, luckily Werner’s foot wasn’t planted.

  6. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling RC would havw benefited FHers next GW as one less fish in the pond for Pep.

    Good ref.

    1. BackcountryDave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?

      You make a good point!

  7. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    any non City player, that's a RC

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      non *established English international

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'll get the tinfoil

  8. Guba
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    If it wasn't for the recent overturned reds I think that's given against Sterling

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That's what I was thinking. Can't imagine another ref wants his decisions overturned.

  9. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Will ederson play all 3 remaining games?

    Thanks

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'd say almost definitely

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Cool. Thanks

  10. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Alexis Sanchez 35 minute brace. Gone but never forgets to shine during a DGW.

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

      75 points TC

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        While nursing a foot injury.

        They don’t make them like him anymore... or DGWs!

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        81

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

    What times the Saunders fight on?

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      4am UK

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

        Not staying up for that 🙂

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Heard it’s on DAZN, can I watch in uk?

  12. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bummer that Aguero won't get a deserving goodbye from the fans...

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      neither did David Silva. Such a shame.

    2. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Should bring both of them back for a proper send off, when better days permit.

  13. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why is Rudiger so bad for BAPS but Azpi rules them?

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Guessing that Azpi's balls forward get classed as crosses, whereas Rudiger's tend to be classed as long passes, and hence he gets deducted points if the other side intercepts

  14. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Shaping up to be another absolute turd of a week.

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Consistent with the whole season

  15. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ziyech is so bad

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah one of the most disapointing buys this season.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      van Den Beek -esque

    3. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He's lost all his confidence. On top of that, Tuchel's system doesn't suit him. He's better when played as an RW in a 433 or CAM in 4231.

  16. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why mount not in squad!! Need him to play!):

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

      He was watching Derby stay up.

  17. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Timo goal offside

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Good finish as well lol

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

    Werner Offside

  19. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pep getting the 3 back experiment out of the way before the UCL final...

  20. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Werner *facepalm

  21. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Didnt watch the game but how was Zaha?? Bummer. Wish hr got the goal assist

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Didn't do much, playing out wide, seemed fairly disinterested

    2. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Very lazy. Eze was what I expected Zaha to be. He did have a very good chance of an assist that Ayew fluffed though.

    3. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Did set up a big chance for Ayew at the end, was quite anonymous throughout

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Awful like he has been in almost every game this season

  22. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Holy f... Sterling has been bad this season.

  23. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Kante post Lampard has been sensational

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Seems to have rediscovered his form from under Conte

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        say it quietly, but Gilmour ( and Kante ) looking very assured

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Good balance between them. Kante’s energy and defending ability with Gilmour’s ability on the ball

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lampard played him as an AM, he's not good at running with the ball at all.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Great DM though

        1. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah still one of the best DMs around. Better paired with Kovacic than Jorginho though since Kova will go forward

  24. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sold Son and Azpi to Rashford and Digne. I’m going to regret that aren’t I

    1. Rudi Van Disarzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I benched Son and Dallas and sold Bamford, I hate DGW's

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not really Rashford appearance in 3 games could already equal Son's points

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looong gw. Let's wait & see

    4. big_cliff
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If you do, consider yourself unlucky

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

    This game is crying out for Foden & Mahrez!

  26. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I’m confident city will score and justify my Azpi to Digne transfer, but Chelsea looking good

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      There you go, same here btw.

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

    Zorro over the bar

  28. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    This game has 0-0 written all over it......going to watch something else....

    1. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Timing

    2. Phlajo
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This aged well

    3. Dennis System
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Fuxsake

  29. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling g

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Sterling G
    Kun A