Team News

The Gameweek Team News

Tammy Abraham is rated 50:50 for Swansea City’s home clash against Bournemouth. Eric Bailly and Phil Jones are both ruled out for Manchester United. West Ham pair Marko Arnautovic and Andre Ayew are in contention for the visit of Leicester, while Patrick van Aanholt is back in the frame for Palace’s Selhurst Park meeting with Stoke City.

Here’s our summary of the key team news so far, with an array of big press conferences still to come this afternoon.

Jose Mourinho has been the latest Premier League manager to reveal his hand this morning, confirming that both Phil Jones and Eric Bailly miss the Old Trafford encounter with Brighton. Chris Smalling therefore looks assured of his start, with Marcos Rojo perhaps deployed alongside him having impressed on his return to the starting XI on Wednesday. Mourinho also revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will again feature from the bench, while Paul Pogba will start but “cannot go more than 65 to 70 minutes” before being withdrawn.

Steve Sidwell remains the only absentee for the visitors.

Marko Arnautovic and Andre Ayew are both available for West Ham United’s home meeting with Leicester City tonight, but Michail Antonio and James Collins remain out of the picture, despite a return to training this week. Manager David Moyes is preserving that pair for a possible return at Everton in midweek.

Meanwhile, Foxes boss Claude Puel has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to the London Stadium, with Robert Huth and Matty James the only absentees.

Patrick van Aanholt has recovered from a hamstring injury, and is available for Crystal Palace’s home encounter against Stoke City. But Lee Chung-yong and Connor Wickham remain out.

Jack Butland and Geoff Cameron are still sidelined for the Potters, while Mark Hughes revealed Xherdan Shaqiri is “okay”, having only been substituted during Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion as a precaution due some tightness he felt before the match.

Rafa Benitez will be without the suspended Isaac Hayden for the visit of Watford to St James’ Park but could risk Mikel Merino as his replacement. The Spaniard is back in training after a back problem, though he could be protected for the trip to West Brom on Tuesday. Left-back Paul Dummett is another who is close to a return and could feature against the Hornets.

For Watford, Kiko Femenia has trained fully this week following the leg problem that forced him over during the 2-0 win over West Ham United, and is available. Troy Deeney serves outs his three-match ban at St James’ Park.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the home clash against West Bromwich Albion. Erik Lamela is close to a first-team return, and could feature among the substitutes.

Baggies interim boss Gary Megson has also escaped any added injuries ahead of the trip to Wembley, with James Morrison and Nacer Chadli his only absentees.

Swansea City head coach Paul Clement has revealed that Tammy Abraham has been unable to train prior to today due to a back injury, and is rated as “50/50” for the home fixture with Bournemouth. Wilfried Bony is set to earn a recall should the Chelsea loanee miss out.

Junior Stanislas and Jermain Defoe will both miss the trip to south Wales, while Simon Francis is suspended.

Southampton have their own suspension to contend with, as Oriol Romeu misses the home meeting against Everton. Mario Lemina is back in training and will face a late assessment with Mauricio Pellegrino hopeful that he can step in.

Meanwhile Toffees duo Tom Davies and Oumar Niasse miss Sunday’s trip to St Mary’s with their own bans. Niasse begins a two-match suspension having been charged with the “Successful Deception of a Match Official” following the penalty award at Palace in Gameweek 12.

Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner welcomes back Christopher Schindler for the visit of Manchester City to the John Smith’s Stadium, following the defender’s one-match ban. Jonathan Hogg is also available again after missing the 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth due to the birth of his son.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tonight’s 7.00pm deadline, which includes our predicted line-ups. Keep an eye on our official Twitter account for breaking news – as the day unfolds, we will issue updates from the remaining press conferences and refresh our Team News tab accordingly.

1,038 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Start Gross or McArthur?

    1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gross

    2. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Hey gooner play Gross(no Jones or Bailey) imo...

    3. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gross

    4. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gross!

    5. Gooner97
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks!

  2. The Chief
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Start one:

    A. Mariappa (new)
    B. Mee (ARS)
    C. Gomez (CHE)

    DDG
    Ota, Daniels XXX
    Sane Salah Richarlison Gross
    Kane (c) Morata Wilson
    (Elliot, TCarroll)

    1. Mr Q
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gomez

    2. Hedge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Mee

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Mee

  3. Yozzer
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Can never see the captain poll on my android phone just a blank space under " polls"

    Can anyone tell me what the top 3 are please?

    1. El_Shaw
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Kane 43.76% (2,551 votes)


      Lukaku 15.59% (909 votes)


      Sane 7.44% (434 votes)

      1. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Really appreciate it. Thank you mate

  4. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    What are the chances of Niasse regaining his place after his suspension?

    1. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Good question, they got other options and if they score when he is gone he could lose his place. I would say replace with Wilson if you have him.

    2. Ronnie Hotdog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      The one positive for Everton in last night's game was that Sandro scored a good goal, so he might be back in contention.

      1. BoleynWin
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        He also missed a sitter & looked extremely tired, I would bank on Niasse getting most game time

    3. Herc
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I think it's probable. Can't see either Calvert-Lewin or Sandro being able to do enough in the next two games to cement their place, although Niasse may be a short term option as I think Everton have to buy a forward in January.

    4. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I wouldn't mind even if he became an impact sub. He's the only forward with any pace about him who can be a nuisance so I think he'll at least get pitch time.

  5. jacktaylor
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Gomez (and Jones) owner

    1 FT.

    Transfer Gomez to Daniels or stick with him?

    1. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Stick with Gomez, he's stronger than TAA and was playing every weekend before the internationals.

  6. balint84
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    now I stand with the
    Daniels-Clark-Mee defense line - buy Walker for -4?

  7. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Who to play?

    A) Fabianski (BOU)

    B) Elliot (WAT)

    1. M00N
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Whos gonna get the most saves probably. I'd go Fab

    2. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I have the same quandary.

      Going with Fabianski as he will probably get 3 pts vs Elliot getting 2!

    3. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Haha cheers! Although Newcastle slightly higher chance according to the bookies to keep a clean sheet (36%) compared to Swansea (31%).

      1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Agreed, not much in it but I think Fab for the save points.

  8. M00N
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Agueroo to Sane? Worth switching this week?

    1. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Aguero unlikely to play as he started mid week.

      1. M00N
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        I think I'm 100% on Sane over Aguero, its just picking the striker to replace him thats the difficult part.

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Elliot
    VVD Otamendi(VC) Alonso
    Hazard Sterling Sane Richarlison Choupo
    Kane(C) Firmino

    Krul....... Fernandez Tarkowski

    Any of the benched ones deserve to start?

    Anything worth a hit? G2G?

    Cheers lads!

  10. FantasyFan
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Captain?
    A) Kane
    B) Aguero
    C) Sane

    1. Mr Q
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. FPLord
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      C

    3. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Sane for the differential

    4. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A

    5. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Go Kane, more explosive and on pens. Dont trust Pep, he might take Sane off at 65 mins.

    6. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      In isolation I'd probably go A. But my ML rival doesn't have Kane so will almost certainly be captaining Sane. He's destroyed me on captain choices this year (which is why he's still in touch!) so will be going C myself

  11. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Bench who?

    A) Ward (ARS)
    B) Wimmer (cry)

    Starting Pope over Elliot.

    1. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Start wimm Wimmer

  12. Bambi
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    play Mee (ARS) or Fernandez (BOU)?

    1. Mr Q
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Fernandez

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Mee

    3. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Fernandez

  13. Thiga
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb2hA4yn3Y3/

    For my fellow Tammy owners. Surely he wouldn't get a haircut this fresh if he wasn't playing 😆

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      You’re onto something x

    2. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      🙂

  14. Mr Q
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Play 2 from (at least one from a-c)
    A) Mee (ARS)
    B) Ward (ARS)
    C) moreno (CHE)
    D) dcl (sou)
    E) Groß (mun)

  15. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    has anyone got odds for who is the likest to score 2 or more goals this GW?

    1. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      *player not a team

      1. ramunas
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Had a look earlier and average odds seemed to place in this order:
        Kane
        Jesus/Aguero
        Lukaku
        Lacazette
        Sane/Alli
        Morata/Salah

    2. Ronnie Hotdog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Thes are the odds on Betfair:

      Kane 23/10
      Aguero 16/5
      Jesus 16/5
      Lukaku 9/2
      Zlatan 11/2
      Vardy 13/2
      Lacazette 13/2
      Morata 7/1
      Salah 10/1

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        clearly someone at betfair doesn’t know pep

        1. Ronnie Hotdog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 5 months ago

          It's a bit deceptive regarding the ManC players. If you backed both you'd get 16/5 on the one who plays, and you'd get your money back on the one who doesn't (so long as he doesn't come on for a cameo).

      2. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        cheers mate!

        1. Ronnie Hotdog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 5 months ago

          you're welcome

  16. klavan
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Play one:
    A) RLC
    B)Abraham

    1. Paris Ganja Man
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

  17. Paris Ganja Man
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero out for:
    A.) Lukaku
    B.) Wilson
    C.) Save

    1. klavan
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I think I'll go Lukaku. I'm always scarry that I do'n own him

    3. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A, but enjoyable gameweek for you

  18. No Salah
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Best replacement for Bailly? Budget is exactly 6.1

    Currently looking at Mustafi for 5.3

    Already have Mee, Daniels and Moreno

    1. Baz
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Otamendi

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      If you need funds then Mustafi

    3. Mooster©️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Agüero to Jesus this GW, and then Jesus to Agüero next GW? Yes or No?

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        So every week waste that FT for this? lol

        1. Mooster©️
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 5 months ago

          some have both. that's even more waste;) but i agree;))

  19. Baz
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling to Sane (-4) ? Been putting off for a while..

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling could easily come off the bench and score though.

      I would pick one and stick with it (I've had Silva for yonks)

  20. Jabba12
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Start Gross or Brady? (I know - it's an awful choice)

    1. Baz
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gross

    2. GaGa Over Gazzaniga!!
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gross(manu missing Jones & Bailey)

    3. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gross

  21. osullg26
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Who to bench?

    A) Mee against Arsenal

    B) Gross against Man United

    1. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Mee

      Gross could pop up with something?

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Wont matter in the end 😉

  22. balint84
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Daniels
    Clark
    Mee
    my starting defs. hopeless?

  23. Meltens
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Do you think it is worth removing Jones for a -4?
    Alternative is playing Ward against Arsenal. Not even sure who I'd bring in.
    Defence is Davies - Monreal - Jones - Ward - Duffy.

  24. twoplustwo
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Everton forum worth a skim if you're feeling voyeuristic

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Link?

  25. Big_Bear
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero to Morato or save FT?

    1. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      do it

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Do it

    3. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I would.

      I was fed up of the constant Aguero/Jesus rotation so just have Silva and sticking with it.

    4. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Get Morata

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

        Thanks all seems pretty conclusive. My only concern is that Aguero will start mid week v Soton (and would be my captain). Then again Morata v Swansea is a good captain option.

        Hmmmm

  26. balint84
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    why is on with Otamendi and not happy with Walker. What wrong with Walker?

  27. Whits
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling to Sane for -4?

    A) YES!!
    B) NO!!

    1. Jay Arell
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      If you don't have good bench options, yes. Sterling probably won't start

  28. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    A little bit off topic, again for a different (danish) fantasy game.. who do you reckon will score most points this gw (basically same point system)

    A) Smalling
    B) Hazard

    1. Scotters333
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

  29. #Swish41
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Last choice on a WC:

    1. Morata
    2. Jesus (and free to Morata next week)

    A. Davies (and free to Azpi next week)
    B. Azpi

    Cheers all!!

    1. Scotters333
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      1B all the way!

    2. Jay Arell
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Morata Azpi, don't want to waste transfers like that. If you do I'd go Morata Davies though!

    3. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      1B by miles

      2 and A subject to rotation

    4. #Swish41
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Cheers both - think I am set on Morata (Pool defence is pourus). Davies is probs going to the last minute!!

    5. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      1B sounds sexy, can you get Alonso instead maybe?

    6. rokonto
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      1B