We were braced for rotation but never, never in our wildest nightmares did we expect it on this scale.
Rafa Benitez’s decision to drop Rob Elliot last night was merely a tease, that setback for thousands of Fantasy managers now pales into insignificance next to the implications of tonight’s teamsheets.
Leroy Sane is perhaps the major casualty. He’s strangely omitted from the Manchester City squad, despite the fact that he could now go into the weekend clash with West Ham having to avoid a booking to prevent a one-match suspension for the trip to rivals United. Pep Guardiola’s decision to omit a player who has been devastating in home matches and who is owned by over 1.5 million managers is puzzling. We await clarity.
Sane’s absence allows Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero to start together, with Raheem Sterling also retained against visiting Southampton.
Elsewhere, there are a string of prime Fantasy assets on the bench. These include Eden Hazard who is captained by 185,000 managers and Mohamed Salah who has the backing of 472,000.
They are joined by Cesar Azpilicueta, David Silva and Philippe Coutinho as Fantasy managers are left scouring their own bench for autosub solutions.
Plans and Gameweek scores are likely to be devastated, but surely very few of us will have escaped unscathed. Tonight’s teamsheets will go down in Fantasy folklore.
