I think most of think Zaha could do with resting for this one, given current form and his history with Southampton?

After Sunday's performance Ayew has to play but where are the goals going to come from? I wonder if this is the game to give the Benteke/Edouard partnership another run out?

In defence should we carry on with Tomkins or should Anderson come in? I would keep Tomkins in the side if he is fit enough for another game.

If everyone is fit I would keep the same team as Sunday with Edouard replacing Zaha as the only change. However we have four fitness worries I think: Guita, Mitchell, Tomkins and Hughes.

If all fit i would start with the same team after that performance on Sunday, can tinker with it as the game progresses.

Hope that little smarmy git Ward Prowse gets roundly booed and targeted.

Must play Wilf (up front main attacker) as he demands their defenders to cover him leaving gaps. Plus if he gets 1-on-1 on goal he's hard to beat. Not so great on the wings these days I feel - hope I'm wrong, but Eduard seemed more effective than him. No way can we leave Wilf out! Although nice to see that we don't rely on any one player these days. Imagine fans considering leaving him out 12 months ago!

Tough this one...because there's bound to be a drop in energy levels / effort from Sunday. Consciously or not. So I'd be tempted to freshen things up a bit.

Butland (if it's true that VG is injured).

Ward - Andersen - Guehi - Mitchell

Hughes - Gallagher - Jairo

Olise - Benteke - Schluppy

Bring Wilf on 70 mins against tired legs. He's just going to get wound up andwhinge otherwise.

Edited by sprites (13 Dec 2021 9.33pm)

I can let you in on a little secret Sprites.

Don’t won’t be our starting 11 nor will it be ever.

Totally appreciate it's not our strongest 11. But we simply cannot get the same 11 players to play this crazy Christmas period. Nor should we. At some point, fringe players like Schlupp/Jairo are going to have to play their part.