Dugout Discussion

Hazard starts and is boosted by Giroud’s inclusion in line-up

The west London derby is the first of three matches on a busy Sunday of Premier League football, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 12:00 GMT.

Chelsea are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and are up against a Fulham side who won last weekend for the first time since Gameweek 3.

The big team news concerns the inclusion of Eden Hazard (£11.0m) in Chelsea’s starting XI, with the Belgian having shaken off the ankle knock that forced him to miss the Europa League win over PAOK on Thursday.

A potentially positive omen for Hazard’s owners is that Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) has been chosen to lead the line over Alvaro Morata (£8.8m): the significance there being that all seven of Hazard’s Premier League goals this season have come while the French striker has also been on the pitch.

Hazard was the most-transferred out player of Gameweek 14, having suffered over twice as many sales as any other FPL asset ahead of Friday’s deadline.

Pedro (£6.3m) gets the nod over Willian (£7.4m) on the right flank and the last time the Spanish winger lined up alongside Giroud and Hazard in a front three, Hazard racked up 20 FPL points (in Gameweek 5 versus Cardiff City).

Chelsea are otherwise unchanged from the side that lost to Spurs last weekend, with Ross Barkley (£5.8m) not in the matchday squad after picking up a knock in the win over PAOK.

Fulham are also unexpectedly missing a player through injury, with Andre Schurrle (£5.9m) having “felt a twinge” in the lead-up to this match and rested as a precaution.

Stefan Johansen (£5.1m) comes in to take the German’s place in midfield, though Claudio Ranieri hasn’t otherwise tinkered with Fulham’s starting XI after the 3-2 win over Southampton last Saturday.

Such is the fickle world of FPL, Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.6m) was the most-bought forward of this round after his brace in that Gameweek 13 victory.

Chelsea XI to face Fulham: Kepa, Alonso, Rudiger, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Giroud.

Fulham XI to face Chelsea: Rico, Le Marchand, Odoi, Mawson, Christie, Sessegnon, Chambers, Seri, Johansen, Cairney, Mitrovic.

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1,331 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata screws up Haz assist

  2. Hawk Eye
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata in for Girud, there goes my Hazard goal...

  3. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I hate Morata.

  4. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata still the same old donkey. Wow!

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Hazard assist denied 😆

  6. SPorting
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Mora-hahahaha

  7. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata doing what he does usually!

  8. how now brown cow
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata still looking for barn door.

  9. Twisted Saltergater
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Hazard assist wasted by Morata.

  10. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Classic Alvaro

  11. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Fking Morata ... Runied hazard assist

  12. The Train Driver
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata needs to quit football, seriously...

  13. KGFC
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Thank you Morata for wasting Haz assist!!

  14. MGD
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata ruin Hazard assist...

  15. Fantastisk
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    It is true that Hazard has not played that well but it is also true that he will not come up against Callum Chambers every week. #InHisPocket

  16. Waynoo
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    anyone keeping Kun?

  17. Piggs Boson
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Oh dear. I prefer Lukaku to Morata...

  18. Limbo
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Took a hoof to that.

  19. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Interesting that Sarri has made Hazard play centrally. Must be properly annoyed with Giroud and Morata.

    1. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I still stand by what i've said in preseason, he should try with Hudson Odoi on the left and hazard in centre

  20. How Mina You
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Chambers has been bossing it in the middle of the park. Emery might want to consider playing him there.

  21. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    😆

  22. Meinhoff
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata is a disgrace. This is getting ridiculous

  23. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata denies Haz assist
    LOL

  24. Brosstan
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Lmaorata

  25. Postman Ty
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata has to be the worst striker in the league.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Rondon

      1. Postman Ty
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Give Rondon the 9000 1v1s and open goals Morata has been presented with and guaranteed he has more goals.

  26. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Morata has wasted at least 5 Hazard assists this season ...

  27. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I am even more convinced to keep hazard now.. haul waiting to happen.

  28. Royal5
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    70 mill finish that.

  29. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I have never seen worse striker playing at top level then Morata. No wonder Real sold him. How on the earth you miss that for my captain Hazard god damn it!!!

  30. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    omg Morata...