Dugout Discussion

Sane in for Mahrez while Hazard is named on the Chelsea bench

Two Premier League matches overlap one another this afternoon, with Manchester City and Chelsea enjoying enticing-looking home fixtures and carrying the hopes of legions of Fantasy managers after a somewhat underwhelming set of results for many FPL bosses on Saturday.

The action kicks off at 15:00 GMT, with Southampton – without a goal in five Premier League matches – the visitors to the Etihad.

Manchester City have won all five of their home league games this season, scoring at a rate of 3.6 goals per fixture at Eastlands in 2018/19.

Nine of Sergio Aguero‘s (£11.3m) ten attacking returns this season (five goals, four assists) have come at the Etihad. The Argentinean striker leads the line for City again this afternoon in his 11th straight league start of 2018/19.

Benjamin Mendy‘s (£6.4m) rate of 7.6 points per match is the best among FPL defenders this season and the French left-back hasn’t failed to record an assist, clean sheet and/or bonus in his seven Premier League appearances of this campaign.

Ederson (£5.8m) and Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m), meanwhile, come into this fixture off the back of recording six straight FPL clean sheets.

Pep Guardiola has made only one change from the side that beat Spurs last Monday, with Leroy Sane (£9.2m) replacing Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m). Raheem Sterling (£11.1m) will, presumably, move across to the right flank to accommodate Sane’s re-introduction.

Nicolas Otamendi (£6.1m) and Ilkay Gundogan (£5.4m) are not quite fit enough for a place on the bench, meanwhile.

Mark Hughes has made three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Newcastle United last weekend, with Shane Long (£4.8m), James Ward-Prowse (£5.1m) and the fit-again Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£4.5m) replacing Charlie Austin (£5.5m), Mohamed Elyounoussi (£6.2m) and Oriel Romeu (£4.3m).

In the 16:00 kick-off, Chelsea take on Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have dropped points in their last two home Premier League fixtures but are nevertheless still unbeaten in the top flight this season.

The 44% of FPL managers hoping for a start for Eden Hazard (£11.3m), whose minutes were in doubt ahead of the visit of Roy Hodgson’s side, were left disappointed when the Belgian was named only among the Chelsea substitutes for this encounter.

The Blues, indeed, are unchanged from the side that started the win over Burnley in Gameweek 11, with Ross Barkley (£5.9m) again lining up in the centre of midfield.

Roy Hodgson has made one change to his Crystal Palace side from the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, meanwhile: Max Meyer (£5.6m) replaces Jordan Ayew (£5.8m).

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Ings, Long, Redmond.

Chelsea XI: Kepa, Alonso, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Kante, Jorginho, Barkley, Pedro, Morata, Willian.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Van Aanholt, Tomkins, Sakho, Wan-Bissaka, Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur, Kouyate, Meyer, Zaha.

 

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5,272 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SirStevieG
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Bring Hazard on Sarri you idiot

    1. STONEROSES
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      I’ve Ings on the bench mate. Rather you stopped cajoling him, frankly!

  2. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Hold for 10 more minutes, Palace!

  3. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Haz 1 pointer please.

  4. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Azpi and Morata story finally finds a new chapter but it was offside.

  5. Niho992
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Alonso free kick goal incoming

  6. BON
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    I'm absolutely sick of this game, just end it now.

    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      😆

    2. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Karma

    3. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      😆

  7. Dr. Rog
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Captains points this season (all doubled of course).
    Cant think of a year where this has happened - 11 weeks without a fail.

    8, 20, 8, 6, 7, 8, 8, 14, 6, 15, 13

    1. Goat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      I’m similar. 0 fails

    2. Goat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Helps not owning Kane anyway

    3. BON
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      6 is a fail lol.

      1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        In what world. 6 is inadequate, but hardly failure

      2. LOL LINGARD SCORED
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        You’re a fail lol

    4. HurriKane
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      similar. only 1 fail with Kane against cardiff

      Kun Salah rotation workling like a treat

    5. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      exact same except that 14 is a 7 for me.

    6. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Snap, no captain fails it's just the rest of my team...

  8. Dacra
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    I'll happily take a Haz 1 pt, instead of a Bennett zero coming it 😀

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      In the same boat, lol

  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Morata lives offside. I genuinely hate him.

    1. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Hes awful

    2. Grounderz
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      You hate him only this moment.

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        No I've watched almost every Chelsea match he's played. I hate his whiny face.

    3. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Pffft. Inzaghi was born offside

  10. fedolefan
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    This past week I was only considering one transfer. TAA -> Maguire or Lascelles. Went for Maguire. Oddly, they play for the only two teams to keep a clean sheet and both went off injured with a 1 pointer.

  11. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    What is Sarri waiting for? 1-2?? Get Haz in right now!

  12. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Hazard setting up Alonso for winner would be very ironing is delicious.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Not sure about the last part but yes please

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        Obscure Simpsons reference.

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        Nice to see Alonso continues with the attacking returns 🙂

    2. Bartowski
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      I have some shirts that need doing if you're that impressed with it.

  13. HurriKane
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Yes or No ?

    Robertson Mendy Alonso ---> Chillwell Coleman Yedlin (-8)

    1. mdm
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      No

    2. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      yep. right away

    3. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Hmmm. Is there any way you could do it for a -12 instead?

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Only for -12

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        Definitely.

    5. HurriKane
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      cheers all seems like a no brainer 😉

    6. STONEROSES
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      *Satirical takedown of Sterling kneejerkers*

  14. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    It's time, Sarri!

  15. The Mighty Hippo
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    I've just got home and seen the City result....Sterling (c) - lovely stuff!!

    On a separate note, do you think that keeping all three of Alonso, Robertson and Mendy is providing sufficient value at the moment, or is it time to get rid of at least one of them?

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Got rid of Alonso a long time ago and have been happy with double figure hauls for Doherty

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Comeee oooonnn Hazard get in!!!!!

  17. diesel001
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Ball hasn't gone out of play for 5 mins meaning Hazard not able to get subbed on.

  18. how now brown cow
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Haz coming on

  19. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 days ago

    Haz incoming

  20. MTPockets
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Hazard's back must be quite bad then

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        That's what he gets for carrying Chelsea.

    • SirStevieG
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      WHAT IS SARRI WAITING FOR? CHRISTMAS?

    • camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Hazard peno incoming.

    • Rainer
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Here we go!

    • TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Here. We. Go. Hold on to your foooooking hats

    • La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Barkley bandwagon derailed

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        Did it even leave the station?

    • FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Hazard and Nova in

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        Kovacic

    • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Edennnnn

    • Ha.
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Westwood bench points denied

    • R.C.
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      Barkley off?

    • DAZZ
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 days ago

      All them Jiminez 12 pointers drifting into the wind

      1. tokara
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        lol!

      2. fiveyears
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 11 days ago

        You said it