Dugout Discussion

Alonso benched again as Havertz leads the line in injured Lukaku’s absence

Chelsea v Norwich City is the first of six Premier League matches to take place on Saturday, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 12:30 BST.

As was inevitable, there are a handful of notable benchings to report from Thomas Tuchel’s latest teamsheet.

Marcos Alonso (£5.9m) is only a substitute for the third Gameweek in a row, while Andreas Christensen (£5.1m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.2m) make way from the side that defeated Brentford 1-0 last week.

The non-inclusion of Alonso in the Chelsea XI means that the in-form Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), the most-bought Fantasy Premier League (FPL) defender of Gameweek 9, is given another start at left wing-back.

Antonio Rudiger (£5.8m) and Thiago Silva (£5.5m) are back in the side after missing out last weekend, while Reece James (£5.5m) gets a run-out at right wing-back for only the second time in six Gameweeks.

Kai Havertz (£8.1m) looks poised to lead the line in the absence of the injured Timo Werner (£8.6m) and Romelu Lukaku (£11.6m), with the ‘out of position’ German joined by Mason Mount (£7.4m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.3m) in the hosts’ attack.

Alonso, Lukaku and Azpilicueta are three of the five most-owned Chelsea assets in FPL, with Edouard Mendy (£6.1m) and Rudiger the only others with double-digit ownerships.

Chilwell and Havertz are the most-backed within the top 10k, however – and Havertz has been handed the armband by over 11% of these leading managers, with only Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) captained by more:

As for Norwich, who are without the ineligible loanee Billy Gilmour (£4.4m) today, they are unchanged yet again following a recent upturn in performances in Daniel Farke’s new 3-5-2 set-up.

GAMEWEEK 9 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovacic,Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Christensen, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Azpilicueta, Sarr.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Kabak, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Lees-Melou, Normann, McLean, Sargent, Pukki.

Substitutes: Gunn, Rupp, Dowell, Rashica, Tzolis, Sorensen, Williams, Idah, Omobamidele.

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1,872 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell playing CF..

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      (at times)

  2. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Azpilicueta owner here with Livramento first sub. Does anyone else In the same situation have that sinking feeling he is going to be subbed on and block Livramento?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If they’re coasting like this. I don’t see a reason why he’ll be subbed on.

    2. fantasist
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Same. Hopefully others like Ziyech, Barkley, Alonso, Loftus-Cheek are the 3 subs they put on

      1. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Hopefully that is the case.

        1. fantasist
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Exactly what happened - let's hope Livramento does well.

          1. FPLMACKEM
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            And he did! Get in!

      2. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Phew. Excellent prediction. 2/3.

  3. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Raphinha vs Norwich GW10 says hello captain?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Salah vs Brighton

    2. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Im on Salah set and forget

    3. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If Leeds have some major bodies back, maybe he'll be my VC over Son

      Not touching Salah C for a while

  4. jackruet
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Haverdinho is amazing

  5. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    rudiger making me smile.....

  6. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    When to expect Azpis one point cameo?

    1. jackruet
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Soon please

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

      next week

  7. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Kabak satellite launching service

  8. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Where's Cantwell these days?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      At hair dresser

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Brushing his golden locks in front of a mirror somewhere

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      At home in his bedroom managing his online hair comb business. I’m a CEO he tries to convince himself.

  9. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz sot

  10. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz fail

  11. R.C
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Hahahahavertz

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hahah your life

  12. JariL
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz gets a good chance, decides to pass it to Krul.

  13. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz with back pass to Krul

  14. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz close

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Limp

  15. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Weak shot Havertz. Looks like a boy amongst men out there

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ok

  16. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    CHO keeps losing the ball, could be 1st sub off

  17. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Remember Cantwell to Pukki a few years back what’s happened to him?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Keeps missinng out due to personal reason, i think he wanted to leave but they didnt allow

    2. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cantwell played in U23s yesterday. I think hes recovering from injury

    3. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Played for u23's last night. Getting back to fitness after being out with personal issues.

  18. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    HaHavertz

  19. Hutchiniho
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Really stuck on
    KDB, Mane, Son, Vardy or Kane ?
    (Telegraph so still can swap out Lukaku)

    Mbeumo, Raphina or Broja?

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Raph

  20. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bloody hell Alonso would have had a field day here

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just like Havertz is…

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Typical luck as per

  21. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Reece James G
    Mount A

  22. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    G James

  23. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Zzzzzzzz

  24. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Why didn’t James square it to Havertz wtf?

  25. OLEgend
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Jamesssssss you herooo

  26. Ron_Swanson
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell is the only one who won’t get something today as I captained him!

  27. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Should have went mount

  28. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    3 nil

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

    Woo-wee, baby! x

  30. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Where the f**k is Havertz?!