Analysing the Champions League line-ups
The fourth round of Champions League group stage matches precede Gameweek 11 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), where all four English sides again avoided defeat. With both Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel being keen fans of rotation specifically to wind-up Fantasy managers, let’s try to guess what can be expected for their weekend action.
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
Alisson – Alexander-Arnold (N Phillips 90′), Matip, van Dijk, Tsimikas – Henderson, Fabinho (Thiago 59′), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Minamino 78′) – Salah, Jota, Mane (Firmino 46′ (Origi 78′))
Jurgen Klopp named a strong line-up as Liverpool continued their domination of a tough-looking Group B that includes AC Milan, Porto and latter stage specialists Atletico Madrid, although Andrew Robertson stayed benched for the whole game and sub-a-sub occurred when Roberto Firmino’s cameo was cut short by a hamstring injury. This seemingly rules him out of the West Ham trip and international duty with Brazil.
Diogo Jota will remain a starter on Sunday, with Klopp likely to play all his star men at such a difficult opponent. Expect Robertson back in for Konstantinos Tsimikas. However, beyond that, with four wins from four and a gap that already guarantees first place in the group, FPL managers will be pleased that Klopp has no reason to risk either Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Virgil van Dijk in their final pair of matches.
MANCHESTER CITY 4-1 CLUB BRUGGE
Ederson – Walker (Zinchenko 80′), Stones, Laporte, Cancelo – Bernardo (De Bruyne 75′), Rodri, Gundogan – Mahrez (Sterling 68′), Foden (Palmer 80′), Grealish (Jesus 68′)
Group A has new leaders in Man City, following another comfortable win over Belgian side Club Brugge. It gave Guardiola the chance to not use Ruben Dias ahead of the Manchester derby; any other opponent may have had Joao Cancelo owners concerned that Saturday would be his time to rotate. Here, he provided three assists from full-back, as Phil Foden continued his fantastic form when used up front.
Another reason for Cancelo to keep playing is the late knock suffered by Kyle Walker. Guardiola described it as “a big kick in his foot” with severity currently unknown. The trip to Old Trafford should see Dias and Kevin De Bruyne in the starting XI, with Riyad Mahrez likely to give way.
ATALANTA 2-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
De Gea – Bailly, Varane (Greenwood 38′), Maguire – Wan-Bissaka, McTominay (Sancho 87′), Pogba (Matic 69′), Shaw – Fernandes (van de Beek 87′) – Ronaldo, Rashford (Cavani 69′)
Another late Cristiano Ronaldo goal added to his earlier equaliser to gain Man United a point in Bergamo. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer picked his strongest available side, with Group F being so right, and continued with the formation change that brought a 3-0 win at Tottenham last Saturday.
However, the wing-back system with two men up front and a solid base of three centre backs was soon scuppered with Raphael Varane’s first half hamstring injury. The summer signing from Real Madrid had only just returned from a groin problem, yet will be now out for a month. Victor Lindelof’s injury is said to be minor, so he could easily take this spot but there’s no depth beyond that. After 38 minutes, Solskjaer had to replace Varane with Mason Greenwood.
Man United will stay strong for the Manchester derby – they have to. Whether that means Greenwood, Marcus Rashford or Edinson Cavani joins Ronaldo up front is anybody’s guess. All three played minutes here, although midfielder Fred didn’t get any.
MALMO 0-1 CHELSEA
Mendy – Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger – Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso – Ziyech (Barkley 74′), Hudson-Odoi (Pulisic 74′) – Havertz
Tuchel’s Tombola kept the rotation flowing for Chelsea’s successful trip to Malmo. Both full-backs were switched, as Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso played all 90 minutes instead of Reece James and Ben Chilwell. In fact, Tuchel only used two of his five available substitutions, using one on the returning Christian Pulisic.
Mason Mount remained absent with illness and it hasn’t been said whether he’ll be available for the upcoming Burnley match, with Mateo Kovacic sidelined with a hamstring problem and N’Golo Kante left home as a precaution following muscle tightness during the 3-0 win at Newcastle. Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner won’t be back for Saturday, so the frustrating Kai Havertz should get another start alongside James and Chilwell.
