Team News

The Gameweek 17 Team News

Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata will miss tonight’s trip to Huddersfield Town, while Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out of their match at West Ham United.

Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho faces a lengthy spell out following a calf injury, while a late decision will be made on Ben Mee ahead of Burnley’s home clash against 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.

Matt Lowton looks unlikely to be fit for Burnley’s home encounter against Stoke City, with Phil Bardsley in line for another start. Meanwhile, a late call will be made on fellow defender Ben Mee.

The Potters, however, will again be without injured pair Bruno Martins Indi and Glen Johnson, with Jese Rodriguez still unavailable due to personal reasons.

Crystal Palace have been dealt a blow with the news that Mamadou Sakho faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to a calf injury, with Scott Dann is line to cement a starting berth. Joel Ward remains out but Yohan Cabaye has recovered from a bang to the knee and is fit to face Watford.

Marvin Zeegelaar will miss the trip to Selhurst Park after his appeal following the red card in the 1-0 defeat to Burnley was rejected, with Jose Holebas set for a first-team return. Elsewhere in defence, Kiko Femenia and Miguel Britos are remain doubts.

Huddersfield Town welcome back Rajiv van La Parra from suspension for the home clash against Chelsea, but on-loan midfielder Kasey Palmer is ineligible to face his parent club.

As for the Blues, they’ll be without Alvaro Morata, who is fatigued and nursing a back injury. Antonio Conte rolled out a striker-less formation the last time the Spaniard failed to start, with Eden Hazard backed by Pedro and Willian.

Danny Drinkwater returns to the squad following illness, while Victor Moses and Antonio Rudiger are among those pushing for recalls.

After being introduced from the bench in the 3-2 defeat to Leicester City following a thigh injury, Christian Atsu looks poised for a return to the teamsheet when Newcastle United host Everton. Jamaal Lascelles was an unused substitute at the weekend and may also return to the starting XI.

Aaron Lennon will be pushing for a recall for the Toffees at St James’ Park after coming on as a half-time substitute in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Cedric Soares returned to training on Monday ahead of the home encounter against Leicester City, with a late decision to be made as to whether he’ll come straight back into the starting XI following a hamstring injury.

Shinji Okazaki is available for the Foxes after suffering a cut to the face against Newcastle last weekend.

Swansea City head coach Paul Clement revealed that Wayne Routledge is a doubt for the home meeting with Manchester City due to some muscle tightness, but Federico Fernandez is expected to return in central defence.

Following the Manchester derby, and with a home fixture with Tottenham Hotspur to come on Saturday, Pep Guardiola could rotate for the trip to the Liberty Stadium. Eliaquim Mangala is set to replace Vincent Kompany, who was forced off with a muscle injury on Sunday, while after being an unused substitute at the weekend, Sergio Aguero is expected to be handed a recall. Danilo, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are others who may come into contention for starts.

After only appearing as substitutes in the Merseyside derby, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are expected to return to the starting XI for the home encounter against West Bromwich Albion. Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) remains a doubt.

For the Baggies, Matt Phillips remains a doubt ans Gareth Barry is still out.

Jose Mourinho will again be without the suspended Paul Pogba for the home clash against Bournemouth, while Marcos Rojo is a doubt after being forced off with a head injury in the Manchester derby. Phil Jones could be in line for a recall.

Adam Smith is available again for the Cherries after serving a one-match ban, while Harry Arter could push for a recall.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Man City, Mauricio Pochettino may hand starts to Serge Aurier and Danny Rose in the full-back positions for the home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion. Moussa Sissoko is another who could return to the side, but Davinson Sanchez serves the second of his three-match ban.

The Seagulls have no fresh injury concerns, though Anthony Knockaert may be handed a recall after being left out for Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Huddersfield due to tactical reasons.

Following the 1-0 win over Chelsea, David Moyes could consider naming an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Arsenal to the London Stadium, though both Andy Carroll and Chicharito will push for starts having been named on the bench for the victory over Chelsea.

The Gunners will be without Aaron Ramsey, who picked up a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with Southampton. Shkodran Mustafi also remains out.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section, together with predicted line-ups ahead of this tonight’s 6.45pm deadline. Keep an eye on our official Twitter account for breaking news as the day unfolds.

2,037 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jam
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Need to replace Ramsey for a hit (up to 8.3) but I can't see anyone really worth it ATM. Silva, Sterling, Son all possible rotations.
    Or I can replace Sahko for a hit but none of the cheaper teams have decent match ups this week.
    Might end up playing 10 🙁

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Get sterlong

      1. jam
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Think he'll play?
        It's my most likely move, just because it's a perfect price...

    2. gwitbrock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Son by a mile imo. You're in crazytown if you think he wont start. As will the other two. You must get by now that everyone is a rotation risk over this new period of fixture congestion, deal with it and confidently step into the fray, not whimper away into a corner and accept that you'll 'only play 10 :('. Btw needless to say your hit will only be a 2 point hit if you only have 10 starters.

  2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Morata our for Lukaku

    Yay or nay

  3. nikolasmav
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Elliiot Mbemba Ramsey Morata

    Courtois
    Jones Kenny Azpilicueta Trippier
    Sané Groß Shaqiri Salah (VC)
    Kane(C) Murray

    God knows how I was top 25k a few weeks ago but pls help with this mess
    0.1itb 0FT

  4. Blens
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    I cannot believe my luck 🙁 - look at this lot

    Elliott Speroni
    Ota Alex-Arnold Zeeg(sus) Mee(doubt) Sakho (injured)
    Salah Hazard Ramsey(injured) Loftus-C Cork
    Cal-W Kane Morata(injured)

    What the hell am I gonna do? Contemplating a free hit but wanted to save.
    Before Morata news I was going to sub out CW for Austin but have too many issues to worry abot

    Suggestions pls...

    1. Blens
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      PS 1.2 ITB and 1FT

      1. Nails on chalkboard
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Oh dear!

        1. Blens
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          LoL..Oh dear indeed...

    2. Nails on chalkboard
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Minus eight, mate.
      Firmino, Coutinho, Kenny in?

      1. Blens
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks mate...instead on Morata I assume?

  5. Stephen Carty
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    1) Gros & Morata > Coutinho & Rooney or Firmino (-4)

    2) Sane & Morata > Coutinho & Aguero (-4)

    Thoughts?

  6. Nails on chalkboard
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    According to the team news section Chris Wood may be rested today? Should I trust this, and play RLC instead?
    Is RLC nevertheless a better choice? Or should I even bench Shaqiri?
    What say the experts?

  7. Jelder
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Already used my free transfer but should I get rid of Morata for tonight for someone else?

    He's only out for tonight and has a good run of fixtures coming up - but looking like he'll drop in price tonight?

  8. drfc_matty
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Should I stick or twist used my FT before the morata news

    Speroni *hennersy*
    Otamendi, Christianson, Maguire *Mee* *Duffy*
    Sane, salah, sterling , zaha *surman
    Kane , morata , DCL

    0.8 ITB could do morata to lukaku for exact money

    Or upgrade to a 5 man midfield?

    Any recommendations? Cheers

  9. birdnose
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Decided to ditch morata for now, will consider getting back for gw 20, best transfer?

    A) Morata, sterling > firmino, coutinho
    B) Morata, RLC > Austin, Coutinho
    C) Morata, sterling, Alonso > Christensen, coutinho, lukaku (-4)

    Cheers all

    1. birdnose
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Got 2ft so all moves for free

  10. Relias
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Lingard or Shaqiri for the next few weeks? Very similar schedules. Worried with all the injuries I will bring in Lingard and not get minutes...

    Thoughts?

  11. spell08
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    does anyone know the latest on Phil Jones? Likely to play?