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. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mendy is a beast

  2. Punty McPuntface
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    How's Kabak looking?

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

      Turkish

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

    Chilwell Goal

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

    Chilwell goal

  5. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilli on Fire

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

    Chilwell GOAAAL

  7. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Scores when he wants.

  8. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    YYAAAAASSS suck my rank

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

    😎

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

    Chilwell looks essential

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

      Looks like

  11. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilly Reece double up lets gooooooo

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Magic

    2. tokara
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Envy

    3. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Wow

  12. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    BEN CHILWELLLLLLLL

  13. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Still no Havertz involvement, this is grim.

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

    Chilwell you beauty. Like removing a sexy silky pair of panties.

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Sick

  15. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ah get in Chilly

  16. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Selling Kai for sure

  17. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Was scared of Alonso.. sigh

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

    Playing it “safe” with Azpi really hasn’t paid off 😀

  19. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Well, guess I’ll take the Chilly points since Kai seems to damm clueless out there.

  20. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Oh FFS…

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

      Chill man

  21. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Petition to permanently demote Norwich, absolutely useless lame duck team.

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

      Can you change your grav, disgrace to the logo

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Nah, need them for my differential to haul against them.

  22. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I didn’t take a bit to get in Chillwell cause I was sportier Alonso would start

    1. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Same. 🙁 Alonso hasn't played since I got him in and Chilwell keeps rubbing my face in it.

  23. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell and Reece double defence

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

    So it’s time to do Alonso to Chilwell then? Just in time for Alonso to get a game no doubt.

  25. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Well that’s annoying!

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

    Yes get in Alonso!

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

      *as in that would and should have been Alonso 🙂

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

    Why didn’t Chilwell cross it to Havertz?

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Why didn’t James cross to Havertz either?

      1. 1984 TC
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        James and Chilly rivals must have Havertz (C) , imo.

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

    Chilwell gets his points after almost gifting Norwich a goal.

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

    I'll say it again: put Havertz in for Kov. Brilliant.

  30. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Az questioning Mark when he said a nailed James and Chilwell would match Trent. Lmao.

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Cmon it’s Norwich and both of them won’t play near as many mins as Trent.