John Terry limps off during Chelsea’s 5-1 home rout over Newcastle. Arsenal centre-halves Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny are both injury concerns, whilst Man United and Stoke’s problems in defence intensify.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has concerns in central defence after Laurent Koscielny was replaced at the break against Leicester City because of a dead leg. Gabriel Paulista missed out on a third straight start alongside the Frenchman after sustaining a “slight hamstring injury” he picked up during training.
Gabriel’s influence alongside Koscielny had earned the Gunners back-to-back clean sheets prior to yesterday’s 2-1 win over Leicester. Priced at a mere 4.3 in FPL, the Brazilian had arrived on our Fantasy radars as a cut-price route into Wenger’s defence, given that Nacho Monreal, at 5.9, is the cheapest of Arsenal’s other starters. Arsenal are braced for a superb run of home fixtures from this point onwards that could well see many jump aboard the Gabriel bandwagon, providing he recovers in time to force Mertesacker down the pecking order once again.
Aston Villa
Remi Garde confirmed that Gabriel Agbonlahor was replaced at the 58-minute mark at Villa Park after suffering from vertigo:
“I don’t know the extent exactly. I have been told he is suffering with vertigo. He didn’t feel well. He had a headache.”
Chelsea
Blues skipper John Terry was withdrawn early on during a 5-1 home hammering of Newcastle on Saturday evening. With a Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow night and FA Cup encounter with Man City next weekend, Guus Hiddink went on to say:
“We are coming up to two big games, we’ll see what is the damage tomorrow after such an intense game. Two days [of rest] isn’t enough we’d like to have three games, but it’s good we won. Tomorrow will be an examination of John Terry, who has a small muscular problem. It was in his hamstring but tomorrow there will be a scan and then we’ll know more. We can say more tomorrow but it’s difficult because we have a big game next week. We must take a wise decision in terms of Tuesday and next weekend.
Similarly, Oscar is expected to recover from the calf complaint that prevented him from featuring against the Magpies.
Indeed, reports earlier today reports indicate that both Terry and Oscar have trained ahead of the trip to France. Chelsea have since confirmed, though, that Terry has failed to make the squad to face PSG, though Oscar has been passed fit and included.
Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew revealed that Yannick Bolasie and Bakary Sako will join the Crystal Palace squad on a trip to Spain this week, priming them for a return to action against Spurs in next weekend’s FA Cup action:
“I think he [Bolasie] will be in and around the team next week and Sako. They’re both important players for us.”
Bolasie’s return could well spark the Eagles attack back into life after some dire displays in the final third. Pardew shifted Connor Wickham onto the flank at home to Watford last weekend but with Bolasie and Sako closing in on returns, the former Sunderland man looks likely to drop back down to the bench. This would allow Adebayor – who notched the hosts’ only goal in a 2-1 defeat – continue as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 set-up once again.
Liverpool
Speaking on Daniel Sturridge’s first start since Gameweek 8, Jurgen Klopp said that the former Chelsea frontman was replaced after an hour as a precautionary measure and not because of a niggle:
“You saw he was not too happy when we took him off! Everything was okay but it was not like he gave a sign or something like this, but I think it made sense to take him out after 60 minutes. It was perfect for him and hopefully he’s available for the next game too.”
Pitched at 9.9, Sturridge certainly piques our interest by way of his clinical nature and capacity for explosive returns. Looking beyond the Reds’ blank next Gameweek, they play host to Manchester City in Gameweek 28 and potentially face a blank in Gameweek 30 (in the event that Chelsea overcome the Sky Blues in the FA Cup), which tempers Sturridge’s immediate appeal. Assuming Liverpool’s home clash against Chelsea isn’t rescheduled, many Fantasy managers will be tempted to source coverage for attack that chalked up 13 goals in their past four match-ups.
Elsewhere in the Merseysiders’ camp, Adam Lallana (calf) and Lucas Leiva (hamstring) were both omitted from the squad with minor complaints.
Manchester United
Louis van Gaal expressed frustration at the fact that Matteo Darmian faces several weeks on the sidelines following a heavy fall that dislocated his shoulder at the Stadium of Light:
“It is unbelievable; it is a dislocation so he will be out for several weeks. We do not have many more full-backs, not even in the [youth] system. Donald Love has played today at right-back and he did it well.”
Stoke City
Stoke City’s defensive concerns intensified on the weekend, with Marc Muniesa (hamstring) and Glen Johnson (knee) both leaving the field of play. Although Mark Hughes believes the former could feature against Aston Villa next Gameweek, he’s less optimistic about Johnson’s chances:
“Marc felt his hamstring but we’re hoping it’s nothing too serious. We’ve obviously got a break now and hopefully it will only be a 10 to 14 day lay-off. Glen is a little bit more of a concern. Philipp Wollscheid fell on him – he thought he might be ok to continue but that wasn’t the case.”
On the attacking front, Marko Arnautovic missed out through illness. The Austrian winger has shed owners in light of a five-match goalless streak, but could invite investment prior to Stoke’s upcoming pair of favourable home encounters against Villa and Newcastle. Further bolstering his allure, the Potters are guaranteed a fixture in Gameweek 30 (at home to Southampton) and face just one road trip (away to Chelsea) across the next four Gameweeks.
Sunderland
Sam Allardyce is hopeful that Jan Kirchhoff – who lasted just 15 minutes against Manchester United before succumbing to a hamstring complaint – will heal up during Sunderland’s fortnight off:
“The break has come at a good time because of the injuries. Lens has just had a hernia op. There’s Kaboul, Watmore and obviously Kirchhoff, who came off injured. Two weeks gives us a great opportunity to get people fit. Seb Larsson is making his way back.”
At the other end of the pitch, Jermain Defoe was substituted at the 70-minute mark to avoid a recurrence of a hamstring injury:
“He’ll be alright because we protected him by making sure we brought him off. Fatigue kicks in in the last 10 or 15 minutes and if you’ve had a fitness test on a hamstring, the last thing we wanted was him pulling up and being out for three or four weeks.”
Watford
Jurado was absent for Watford’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace because of a calf injury.
West Ham
Enner Valencia was withdrawn just after the hour-mark during West Ham’s 2-2 draw at Norwich due to injury, according to match reports.
