Dugout Discussion

Fabinho starts at centre-half as injured Gomez and Matip miss Chelsea v Liverpool

The stand-out Premier League fixture of the weekend takes place at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

Liverpool are Chelsea’s visitors, with kick-off in west London at 16:30 BST.

Both managers have made one change to their starting XIs for this clash.

Joe Gomez (£5.5m) misses out with a knock and with Joel Matip (£5.5m) also unavailable because of a minor muscle injury, it’s Fabinho (£5.5m) who is given the nod to partner Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) at centre-half.

New signing Thiago Alcantara (£6.0m) is only among the substitutes, while the rest of the Liverpool side is as expected.

Mateo Kovacic (£5.5m) comes into the Chelsea midfield in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.0m) in Frank Lampard’s only alteration.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) is still only a substitute, so that means another start for Reece James (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.0m) at full-back – the latter going up against Mohamed Salah (£12.0m) down the Liverpool right.

Kai Havertz (£8.5m) gets another chance to impress after his quiet debut at Brighton, while Timo Werner (£9.5m) – still the most-owned forward in FPL by some margin – again leads the line.

Despite his overall popularity, Werner was the most-sold player of Gameweek 2, with over half a million Fantasy managers ditching him.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) wasn’t far behind him for transfers out and no defender was sold by as many FPL bosses as the Liverpool right-back following his Gameweek 1 blank.

The England international scored home and away against Chelsea last season, with the two league meetings between the two clubs returning 11 goals.

Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) was captained by more Fantasy managers than Salah this weekend, meanwhile.

The Egyptian, who hit a hat-trick against Leeds United last weekend, was handed the armband by over 560,000 of us ahead of Saturday’s deadline.


Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Zouma, Christensen, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Havertz, Werner.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Fabinho, Robertson, Henderson, Keita, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Salah.

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2,462 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pedram
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 day ago

    Overall average is higher than the Top 10k, surely an anomaly?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      Top 10K is last GWs dream team.

    2. how now brown cow
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      Top 10k is more volatile early in the season. A lot of teams might be built for 1 week.

    3. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      No, top 10k players are those who TC Salah last week so they are all capping Salah this week as well.

  2. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 day ago

    If a Wildcard saves you about 6-7 drops then is it worth doing?

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      Yep

    2. Drexl Spivey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      If it's players you want rid of, yeah.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      It's less about drops and more about what that reflects about the quality of your team.

      Son went down two days ago after all.

    4. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      Depends if your drops are Son-like or Alli-like.

  3. jimmy6363
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 day ago

    Bamford or Reece James to get more points over say the next 5 games? Thanks!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      How many games does James start?

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      Anybody's guess

  4. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 day ago

    Werner reverse OOP bargain

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Two decent runs already though, doesn't stop auba mane Salah scoring being wide

        1. Differentiator
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Werner new to the PL

      • Neves say Neves
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Not watching the game. How are Chelsea shaping up?

        1. Differentiator
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Havertz up top, mount and werner in behind

      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        He can score from where he's playing just as well.

    2. Neves say Neves
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      Is Hamez essential? After my intended transfers my midfield will look like this:

      Salah | KDB | Son | Pereira | Soucek

      There's no obvious spot for the Colombian unless I sell Son. Is that a problem?

    3. Flair
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 day ago

      What was that Timo? and why are you on the left?

      1. Party time
          4 years, 1 day ago

          You would need to ask him after the game

      2. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        A- VVD-J.Rodriguez-Kane
        B- TAA-Son-DCL

        1. Neves say Neves
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          B

        2. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Next week A

        3. Pep bites Kun
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          B all day, possibly all season

      3. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Captain
        A. Kane (NEW)
        B. Salah (ARS)

        Play
        1. Soucek (WOL)
        2. Taylor (SOT)

        1. CheesyZoot
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          A1

      4. CheesyZoot
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Best 5.5 to replace ASM?

        1. dshv
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          I am listen too..

        2. ivantys
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Neto or Podence based on fixtures

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            New signings so wait!

        3. NABIL - FPL otai
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Soucek

        4. Feed tha Sheep
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Podence

      5. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Looks like Havertz at CF and Werner on the left... Mount on the right.

      6. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Worth a WC?

        Want City. And a better backline. Unsure on what to do with the Strikers. Got 1.5itb. Starred players would leave for sure.

        McCarthy*
        TAA, Justin, Egan*, Davies*
        Salah, Auba*, Rodríguez, ASM*
        Werner, Ings
        (Nyland, Mitchell, Bissouma*, Davis*)

        1. Differentiator
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          No

        2. _Gunner
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          I think am doing Auba + ASM > KDB + Townsend

          1. _Gunner
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            You can get Zaha though

            1. RAFA THE GAFFA
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 1 day ago

              Yeah I can mate. Was my plan to do ASM > Zaha. Then probably Auba >> Kev/Sterling

              1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 1 day ago

                Or foden

          2. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            Yeah. Man U flopping yesterday makes a WC decision more tricky as they are more of a wait and see. Do like my squad with the WC played though.

      7. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        G2g without wildcard?

        Mccarthy
        Trent Davies Ayling
        Son Salah ASM Jrod
        Mitro Werner Jimi

        Steer Justin Bissouma Ferguson
        3.5ITB 0FT

        Obviously a lot of issues but I feel like I could get away with just ASM -> Podence

      8. el polako
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        My brother not o nly owns both Kane and Son but he also captained the latter one.
        Its going to be very hard to beat gis bragging rights for the rest of the season, might have to stop talking to him all togheter and not invite for xmas.

      9. Horlicks esq.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Ah. The sweet sweet sounds of WC chaos.

        1. el polako
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Let freedom ring with the wild card blast....

      10. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Even though Havertz looks more central, Werner is higher up the pitch.

        1. puhd
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Werner a striker, Havertz playing almost central midfield

      11. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Havertz CF hmm

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Pulisic will be back soon.

      12. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        Well, hanging on to Son certainly paid off. 🙂

        1. Horlicks esq.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Sadly so many will pop him in for the 8.9m bargain he is.

      13. Stupendous
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        How did Son Heung-min get on today???

        Should probably sell right?

        Lose .1 and that

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Scored 4 G

          1. Stupendous
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            Did he????

      14. Pedram
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 day ago

        This game is 90% luck, 10% skill. agree/disagree?

        1. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          agree

          1. Brosstan
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            But only between people who dont knee jerk. Knee jerkers are 100% unskilled

        2. how now brown cow
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Patience is underrated

        3. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Pretty much all luck

        4. Party time
            4 years, 1 day ago

            50% imo

          • el polako
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            70 - 30

          • Bubz
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            Disagree

          • SteJ
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            70% Luck
            20% Having the time to watch all the matches
            10% Skill

          • Third Eye Vision
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            Similar to any game that involves an element of luck. If you play (skilfully) in a way that optimises your chances of winning, then over time, you’ll usually do well. It’s just less mathematically predictable than games that involve cards, dice etc.

        5. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Trent garbage. Lamptey much better

        6. ivantys
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Add saints to list of whipping boys?

          1. Andy_Social
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            Ralf has been known to restructure following a heavy defeat.

        7. seewhyaxe
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          what was that from TAA

        8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Salah with a dive

        9. ivantys
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Nice dive by Salah!

        10. Third Eye Vision
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Anyone got any predicted line-ups for Man City. Interested in getting a defender.

          1. Andy_Social
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            Guardian are saying Ake and Garcia.
            They are never right.

            1. Third Eye Vision
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 1 day ago

              Thanks.

        11. Begbie.
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          TAA high up the pitch. He's hungry for a goal today 🙂

          1. Wild Card this!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            2 minimum

        12. Stupendous
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Sorry I forgot.

          How did Daniel Ings get on as well?

          Should probably sell him also right?

          1. Andy_Social
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 day ago

            just the brace

            1. Stupendous
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 1 day ago

              Awful

              Definitely should have sold with Son

              Shucks

        13. Begbie.
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Kepa lmao

        14. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          Kepa!!!

        15. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 day ago

          KEPA