Dugout Discussion

Chelsea v Liverpool team news: Lukaku, Alisson, Matip + Firmino absent

Sunday’s Premier League action continues at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Liverpool.

Kick-off is at 16:30 GMT.

The big team news is that Romelu Lukaku is not in Thomas Tuchel’s matchday squad.

The 28-year-old has scored in his last two Premier League appearances but found himself at the centre of a controversy this week after an interview was broadcast in which he said he was unhappy with his role at Stamford Bridge.

As a result, the Belgian forward has been dropped, with Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic lining up in the attacking positions.

At the back, Andreas Christensen and Reece James are out, while Jorginho and Callum Hudson-Odoi are substitutes, with N’Golo Kante and Kai Havertz amongst those coming in.

For Liverpool, they make three changes from Gameweek 20, as Alisson, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino miss out after suspected positive Covid tests, in addition to manager Jurgen Klopp who won’t be at today’s game.

That means Caoimhin Kelleher starts in goal, with Ibrahima Konate and James Milner also featuring in the starting XI.

GAMEWEEK 21 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Pulisic

Subs: Kepa, Jorginho, Saul, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Sarr, Vale, Hall

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Mane, Jota

Subs: Adrian, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Beck, Williams, Morton, Pitaluga

1,173 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    No assists given to Jota. Not the second coming of Maradona yet.

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Has to be fixed

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

        Assist given. Second coming of Diego confirmed

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      What's up with everyone here reading the Daily Mail lately

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

    Mane was intended target should be A no?

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

    Opta don't give them type of assists so it can take time for FPL to add it.

  4. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    They are taking their time to check if was Manes goal, clear Jota assist though

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Intended target...clear assist FPL terms

  5. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    That has to be an FPL assist!?

  6. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Probably will be given as an assist, deservedly

  7. The White Pele
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Laca assist

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

    No Raphinha involvement after 3 goals? Wow surprised by that

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      The brave picked maddison

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Very brave considering he'll have no strikers in front of him.

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Even better

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

      Missed a sitter.

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

      I thought he played pretty well other than the miss.

  9. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Jota has 80% EO in top 10k. basically only a point gain for owners

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

      Punish Free Hitters more...

    2. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      All here in top 10k?

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        are we not all aiming to reach the top10k?

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Every point counts

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      A point feels like a lot as a DCL owner

  10. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Liverpool can't hold onto the ball. Chelsea pushing right up and pressing intensely. Alonso camped in the Liverpool half leaving Rudiger's pace to deal with Salah

  11. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso enjoying left wing duty

  12. ClaudesMackerelelé
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    So that's not an assist for Jota, Dalot's deflected cross for Cavani vs Newcastle isn't either, yet Bowen heading it to no one, Milivojevic handballing it then Lanzini scoring the penalty is an assist for Bowen?

    I'm sure there's a rule/ definition somewhere but am I the only one bemused here?

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

    Is that really a Jota assist?

    As a non-owner, please say no. My rank gets hurt for every breath he takes on the pitch.

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      It's not a clearcut one but I think it's clear Mame was the intended target so should be an assist as I understand it

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

        Given. Disgusted.

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

    Pulisic should be off.

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

    @OfficialFPL
    After a review, Jota was judged to intend to pass to Sadio Mane and has high ownership in FPL. We therefore award the assist to Jota.

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Haha.

    2. Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I love this game

    3. Thanos
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      😆

    4. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I need them to review and apply the same logic to a Sané assist from 2017 and retrospectively improve my rank.

      Think that was the same year I was screwed by a Kolasinac OG which was later rescinded by the dubious goals panel but not FPL.

  16. fplgaruda
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Wtf puli

  17. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Wasn’t that pass from Jota?
    Just asking, not involved.

    1. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I’ve just saw number 20 passing the ball, that’s all.

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

        Bowen, let's go!

    2. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      It was and will be given

  18. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    McCauley assist?

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

      Choupo-Moting

  19. Roy Hudd
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    People begging for that assist is unreal. How can you say it's an assist. Christ almighty. Unbelievable.

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

      Because of the rules.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      because they have rules in this game

    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Try reading the rules

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

        I know you think not everyone has time to do so, but they do

      2. Roy Hudd
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Just glad I'm in a mini league where we have an agreement that those assists don't count and we compensate all other players who don't have the "so called assister". So no points lost. Just funny to watch.

    4. Steve McCroskey
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      U ok hun?

    5. GREEN JUMPERS
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Please be an assist..

  20. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso row Z

  21. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Assist given

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

      Horror

    2. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Im an owner but thats a joke!

  22. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Assist given

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

    Jota assist now given.

  24. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso into row z

  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso is awful

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      lol that wasnt exactly a sitter.... executing that volley is so hard

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Great hair though.

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        doesn't Cucurella have the best hair?

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

    Jota assist confirmed

  27. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Kante is awesome

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Best player in the PL over the last 6 years ago imo

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

    Intended target rule. At least they're becoming a bit more consistent with it.

  29. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    It feels so strange to own Salah and not have him captain. Hoping for Jota assist.

    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Assist given. nvm