Dugout Discussion

Torres benched for Chelsea v City as much-captained Ronaldo leads United attack

We have the unusual situation of two Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously in the Saturday lunchtime slot.

Chelsea v Manchester City is a mouth-watering prospect at Stamford Bridge, while there is plenty of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) interest at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Aston Villa.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the chief attraction from an FPL perspective, having been captained by almost two-thirds of the top 10,000 Fantasy managers in Gameweek 6.

Above: Ownership/effective ownership stats for Gameweek 6, via LiveFPL

Ronaldo is part of an unchanged Manchester United side from the win at West Ham United last Sunday.

Edinson Cavani makes the bench after recovering from injury.

Aston Villa’s one starting XI change is enforced, with Axel Tuanzebe, who is on loan from the Red Devils, ineligible to face his parent club. Kortney Hause makes his first Premier League start of the season as Dean Smith sticks with a 3-5-2.

In west London, Thomas Tuchel makes four changes to the Chelsea team that beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in their last league outing.

Edouard Mendy returns in goal after recovering from a hip problem, while Reece James, N’Golo Kante and Timo Werner are all recalled.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz drop to the bench, while Mason Mount misses out through injury.

“Thiago [Silva] had some issues yesterday in training, otherwise he would have started.” – Thomas Tuchel

Tuchel has stuck with the same 3-5-2 system he used in the second half against Spurs, with Werner assuming Havertz’s role alongside Romelu Lukaku.

Pep Guardiola has also made four changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Southampton in Gameweek 5.

Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden both make their first league starts of the season, while Rodri and Aymeric Laporte have recovered from injury to also feature.

Nathan Ake, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho are among the substitutes, with the injured Ilkay Gundogan missing out entirely.

GAMEWEEK 6 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Kante, Werner, Lukaku

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Silva, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Saul, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Ziyech, Havertz

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Ruben Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Grealish

Subs: Steffen, Stones, Ake, Sterling, Torres, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Palmer, Lavia


Man Utd XI: De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Pogba, Ronaldo.

Subs: Lindelof, Martial, Lingard, Dalot, Cavani, Heaton, Sancho, Matic, Van de Beek.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Targett, Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Ings, Watkins.

Subs: Buendia, Steer, Traore, Young, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Archer, Bogarde.

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1,557 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Botman and Robben
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah cappers must already be smiling. Just another 45 to go.

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep. I changed to CR7 last minute. Foolish mistake

    2. tangtastic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      And Antonio cappers 😎

  2. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Getting rid of Shaw on WC was a wonderful move now 🙂

    1. jack88
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What happened to shaw?

      1. BrockLanders
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Injured and yellow

  3. SAUCY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can’t believe Greenwood didn’t square it to Bruno for the tap in

    1. SAUCY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I saw him look up and look to pass it before suddenly thinking

      “Wait up, Kaptain Kane has capped Bruno, sod it, I’ll shoot”

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He knows he's out of the team soon anyway so he went for it.

      1. SAUCY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Tried to save himself

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Could he saved himself doing the right thing and squaring it?

          1. SAUCY SALAH
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yup, you’d be an assist better off and I would have a goal from my captain and an assist too

    3. Thomas Magnum
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not only that but he completely under-hit an over the top ball to send Bruno through on goal a little before it as well

      1. SAUCY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It’s unbelievable really

    4. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      To be fair, it also was a very good opportunity to score for him. Hindsight is a 50/50.

      1. SAUCY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        On his weak foot though

  4. thegaffer82
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Very early rough & smooth:

    Smooth: Sold Shaw 🙂

    Rough: Replaced him with R. James 🙁

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      🙂

    2. SAUCY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Unfortunate that

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

      Moves turning like this could really ruin the GW.

    4. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Exactly my move. Hey, we made one point out of it.

      1. thegaffer82
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

  5. Stupendous
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    James, Semedo and Gray
    To
    Rudiger, Christensen and Odegaard for -4?

    1. thegaffer82
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is James definitely out?
      I’m watching Utd game so didn’t even see what happened?
      Didn’t he play on for a while?

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

        Played on 10 min or so then hobbled off

        1. thegaffer82
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Defo wait for news on James before making those moves

    2. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Christensen not nailed

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

        True but 5m

  6. wulfrunian
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    James and Shaw in my team.F**k this game.

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

      Same here.

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes mate.. Awful game
      Try to enjoy the games, avoid chelsea anti-football against big teams

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I am thinking about WC to get rid. Yet only to see James to recover fast and haul soon.

  7. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Didn't see The game. Shaw injury, how bad it seemed?

  8. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How has the United game been? Been watching the other game to distract myself (Own 0 United)

    1. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      United had alot but villa had some rrally good chances aswell

  9. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Goodbye forever Shaw

  10. ZeBestee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    xG numbers for Chelsea at half time - 0.01 😀

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why are people surprised, Chelsea are very very defensive side, without midfield practically. Now with James out too.

      1. ZeBestee
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No one calls them out for being so negative, but had it been another top team everyone would have been shouting.

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It's probably because how Tuchel turned the things around after Lampard and he won the CL.

      2. El Presidente
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        But no one calling it out though. If this was under Mourinho or even Conte...

    2. El Presidente
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Holy Sh....

    3. Thomas Magnum
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Starting to consider whether KDB instead of Lukaku is the way to go

      1. Nanoelektronicar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lukaku had just one good game so far, and it was shaky Arsenal. Villa, he got lucky, two shots, two goals.

        1. Thomas Magnum
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          City fixtures not all that bad either coming up, granted KDB is more of a rotation risk but honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Lukaku gets rested the odd game as well. One to look for

  11. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just an assist will do CR7, going to be a low scoring week

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

      Doubt it with all the Chelsea and city defence owners

  12. Cruicky
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    We might all as well do Shaw -> Rudiger now. Regardless of 2nd half and Champions/Europa League games midweek. Just hasn't worked as a FPL hold.

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Alonso seems a much better option

    2. popey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Everton could be starting the game with Rondon up front next week, deep breathe.

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

    Well Kane to Ronaldo this week is going well so far. Come on united! Feck fpl, just get the 3 points

    1. Maeki2
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      15 shots so far

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      3 pts? How? Only mids get that one cs pt.

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

        3 points for the win my man

  14. TSN
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I knew i should've start duffy. Why did i choose Shaw

  15. Sharkytect
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    1 point from 3 players so far....

  16. jack88
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If reece if out for long term this is a good news. One less competion

    1. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wonder if it will make Christiansen a viable option

  17. FOO FIGHTER
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I need a Lukaku brace and Mendy cleanie please. Did not cap Ronaldo so do not mind him blanking due to ownership 🙂

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You were spamming antonio comments, if he blanked try to hide this week.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Antonio seems the right cap pick this week 🙂

  18. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Villa have looked class, just feel shouldn’t have taken one of those chances, got Chelsea vibes about it.

    1. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Should’ve

  19. merin
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WC now, or wait a week?

    Sanchez Steele
    TAA Shaw White Livramento Williams
    Salah Jota Greenwood Raphinha Benrahma
    Ronaldo Antonio Obafemi

    1 FT, 1.1 ITB

  20. TSN
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Greenwood should've pass the ball tu Bruno

  21. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pep dozing off, can't blame him.

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

    Good start of this gw, 2 players injured within 30 minutes. Luckily I started Semedo over James.

  23. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pep shaking in temper or fear?

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Forgot to pee during HT

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

    Shaw may well fall in price tonight. Rush is on 😉

  25. Phlajo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Shaw+Auba (dont ask) to White+Lukaku for -4?

    Have to do it tonight as I have exact cash.

    Still got WC if it backfires

  26. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What minute will Torres come on for his 1 point cameo?

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

      74

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

    Shaw -> White

  28. Bubz
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Could really do with Grealish actually scoring some points for once. Been so frustrating to own

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Poor from the £100m man

    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Has he beaten Christensen yet?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Don’t think he has

        1. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Should be more confident to get around him. Has time yet.

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

      Cash?

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

    Can Kante and Rodri score with no assists and the game end 1-1 please

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Interception then 40 yard screamer or lob

    2. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would be a dream. And then 1-1 Man Utd Villa … Bruno goal and McGuire own goal pls.