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. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    So.. everyone in Chelsea 11 gets points except havertz?

  2. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    At least CHO softens Kai (c) failure 🙁

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

    Jorginho off!!

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

    If Norwich forfeit games, the score would go down as 3-0 right?

    Might be a genuinely good tactic when they play the good teams.

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

    Gibson Red

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

    10 men now, could be more goals here!

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

    Surely he gives Havertz the 90 to let him find his shooting boots

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ziyech on the bench dunno

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

    Gibson sent off...my word Norwich!

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

    10 is on!

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

      Possibly

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

    Even Mendy will score, just no havertz

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

      The whole Norwich team is more likely to score an own goal than Havertz scoring

  11. Original Sin
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    A goal every 15 minutes on average. So, 2 more goals to come still. Hoping for havertz and rudiger to get them

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

    Gotta feel for Havertz owners and especially cappers. 5 goals and nothing from him.

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

      Tbh there's probably more chance of him getting a hat-trick than this happening.

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

      Captained him, so frustrating 🙁

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

    Red

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

    Havertz on pens

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

    Implosion!

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

    Norwich down to 10 men. Surely Havertz!!

  17. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz surely has to get something now

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      he rarely plays 90mins. doomed we are

  18. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What a waste of a Premier League spot. Somehow even worse than Fulham and West Brom last year

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

      Spot on. Always disappointed to see them promoted.

  19. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz standing like a statue. Wow awful player.

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

    The only surprise is that Hanley didn't score the og

  21. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Surely Havertz party vs 10 man norwich

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

    One more goal and Norwich are mathematically relegated….

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

    It’s gonna be double digits

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

      Yet no Havertz involvement

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

    This could end up 10-0 now.

  25. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    oof. That's a krul blow

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

    Would be pretty Krul now if Azpi comes on for a cameo

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

    Quick, sub Harvertz

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

    Half an hour for you to do your thang, Kai, you'd better get something.

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

    Now time for Kai to get his hattrick 😎

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      do a Daka

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

    We want 10!