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

    Chilwellto get 12 goals this season ffs

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

    Alonso owners 😆

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

      Chilwell (c) Alonso (vc).

      I'm ok with it

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

      Selling for Chilwell next week, so fully expecting Alonso to start and to haul

    3. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yep my only player from this game haha

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

    How many years do you think FPL takes off your life?

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

      Per GW?

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

        Per season.
        But we can extrapolate

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      only around 10-15

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

      Probably akin to the stress levels of a stock market floor trader.

      You will be on borrowed time when you are in your 50s.

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

      "Me being completely bald and having all these wrinkles aren't due to FPL" says Ben, 21

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

    Hahaha Chilwell (C) here

    That's 8/9 Captain success rate

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

      Well done. Lay off slagging off other people's picks though.

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

      Reckon my Alonso (C) Salah (VC) scores more 😉

  5. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I am not blowing my horn but would like the world to know that I have Chillwell

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

    Chilwell is done. Havertz, just need you to score one, that is all! At this rate, I'll take an assist as well.

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

    4 goals in his last 4 PL starts.
    Vardy record in danger?

  8. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Battle for the bps will kick in now

  9. artvandelay316
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    So, Alonso to Chilwell immediately then

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

    Azpi > Chilwell?

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

      Yes

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

    AND I F*CKING ASKED BETWEEN CHILWELL AND RUDIGER AND SOMEONE SAID RUDIGER.

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      and someone listened

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

      LOOOOL

    3. Goat
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Haha idiot going Rudiger

    4. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You can't make your own decisions? If you think other people are smarter than you and you have to ask, that's what you get

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

      AND DID THEY LOG IN AND CHOOSE YOUR TEAM FOR YOU?

    6. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You should have gone for the cheaper option dude. 😀

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

      You’ll have to speak up I’m wearing a towel

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

    I didn't think it was possible but Norwich are actually worse than I thought. No shape, no desire, nothing.

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

    I know for a fact that the Championship isn't this bad, so how the fck did Norwich win so easily? Cause they are just awful.

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

      By playing a football style befit of league leaders, which they still play

  14. Goat
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    The sheep must be livid with Havertz

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

      No

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

        Yes

  15. mcginnntonic
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    cmon kai

  16. Squib
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Never in doubt? Good old Chilly. Benched next week then

  17. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell!!

    Vice captain get in there!

  18. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ok, guys, next goal is Rudiger's.

  19. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Kepa's brining on RLC

  20. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Kovacic 2nd assist, 5th of the year. Might have to give him some serious consideration

  21. Squib
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz please do something before I remove you immediately

  22. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Oh yes Chilwell.

    Late to the party but better late than never! 🙂

  23. BlzE_94
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Captained Chilwell! 🙂

    1. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Well done!

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

    Congratulations Chelsea def owners for the locked clean sheet

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

    Havertz on pens...

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

    Havertz coming off.

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

      Jorginho

  27. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell 3 goals in 3 games!!!

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

      Insanity that I don’t own him

    2. Pedersen
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Time to get him i guess. This years oop player

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

      4 goals with champions league too

      1. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Oh yes. I forgot the CL goal.
        His form is incredible!

    4. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I’ll sell Alonso to him for his benching next week

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

    Havertz the only Chelsea player without a return, ffs!

  29. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Imagine not capping Chilwell. Lol

  30. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Was going to take a punt on everyone but Havertz to score but the odds were only 1:1