Team News

The Gameweek Team News

Everton will be without Gylfi Sigurdsson for the trip to Stoke, but Theo Walcott and Idrissa Gueye are both available for the Toffees.

Wilfried Zaha is expected to return to the starting XI for Crystal Palace’s clash at Huddersfield, while Yohan Cabaye and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also back in contention.

Meanwhile, Josh King and Ryan Fraser will be assessed ahead of Bournemouth’s home encounter with West Brom.

Here’s our summary of the team news so far, with a couple of press conferences still to come later today ahead of the reduced Gameweek 31.

Gylfi Sigurdsson misses Everton’s trip to Stoke this weekend after being sidelined for six-to-eight weeks with a knee injury sustained in the 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Sam Allardyce could hand Wayne Rooney the No 10 role in the playmaker’s absence, with Idrissa Gueye fit to return following illness. Theo Walcott has been passed fit after suffering from cramp against the Seagulls.

Stoke City boss Paul Lambert surprisingly revealed that Mame Biram Diouf has an outside chance of being fit to for the home meeting with Everton following a shoulder injury. Diouf looks likely to earn a sub role at best, though, with Eric Choupo-Moting, Jese Rodriguez or Peter Crouch expected to lead the line.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has revealed that Josh King and Ryan Fraser will be checked following training later today ahead of the home meeting with West Brom. The latter has been nursing a back issue, while Howe has claimed that King “looks like he’s going to be okay.” after his recent neck injury. The Cherries could continue with Adam Smith on the right flank if Fraser misses out, while Lys Mousset could retain the berth behind striker Callum Wilson if King fails to make it.

Baggies head coach Alan Pardew will hope to have Jonny Evans available for the trip to the Vitality Stadium after the centre-back missed the 4-1 defeat to Leicester City due to illness. Gareth Barry has sat out the last two matches with a knock but he could be ready to return, with Grzegorz Krychowiak expected to make way.

Huddersfield Town have been dealt a blow with the news that Danny Williams will miss the rest of the season after suffering a fractured fibula in training on Wednesday. But Elias Kachunga may have an outside chance of returning for the home meeting with Crystal Palace.

The Eagles, however, have been boosted by the news that both Yohan Cabaye and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will both return to the squad for the trip to the John Smith’s Stadium. Meanwhile, Wilfried Zaha is expected to come back into the first XI after impressing on his comeback against Chelsea with an assist off the bench. Mamadou Sakho could also push for a recall after returning to the squad last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp may hand recalls to Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip for Liverpool’s home encounter against Watford. Should Henderson return, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to vie with James Milner for the other role alongside Emre Can, while Matip’s potential selection would see Dejan Lovren drop to the bench.

As for the Hornets, they welcome back Craig Cathcart ahead of the trip to Anfield. The likes of Will Hughes is pushing for a first-team return after stepping up his fitness with appearances off the bench in each of the last two Gameweeks.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. Keep an eye on our official Twitter account for breaking news – as the day unfolds, we will issue updates from Friday’s press conferences and refresh our Team News tab accordingly to keep you informed.

455 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Should be some good ucl games

  2. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    My GW31 team is currently:

    Robertson
    Shaq Walcott Salah
    Firm Mounie

    My rival halved the deficit last week to just 25 points behind me but only has 5 players after his transfer this week and no FH. Do I:

    a) Smell blood, play my FH and reestablish my lead
    b) Just FT and get up to 7, hold my FH
    c) Take a hit(s) to get out 8/9, hold my FH

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

      c for me - you’re only going to change the gap to 23 points then and be able to field more players so should outscore. then you’ll double to damage when you play FH

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

        just one hit though. he’d have to take 3 hits to match

  3. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Here's how I'm looking for GW31 with 2 hits taken. Playing WC next week.

    Lossl
    VVD, Tomkins (, Fernandez)
    Salah (C), Stanislas, Shaq, Mili
    Firmino, King, Mounie

    Clearly my defence is weak and unlikely to get me many points but the main fear I have is missing out on a Zaha explosion.

    Would you:

    A) Stick as is
    B) Siggy > Zaha and bench King
    C) Duffy > Baines

    Cheers!

    1. Winter_is_coming
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Too much overthinking. If Zaha means to bench King don`t do it and just stick.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Yep Made mistake in my post - meant I would bench Mili if I got Zaha ....

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Damn - wish there was an edit button

      If I got Zaha, I would bench Mili and put him 1st on the bench NOT bench King

      1. Winter_is_coming
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Anyway, no need to buy Zaha and bench for him player that don`t have blank. Even Quaner (in your case Mili) can score.

    3. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      you already have 7 attackers with a fixture so i think A

  4. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Sakho extremely likely to start right? Need someone cheap and nailed for 31/35

  5. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Thought of the day: Taking hits for players this week is more likely to result in a loss than a gain, but that doesn't mean it's not worth taking the risk.

    1. Mulla
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Very poignant !
      My thinking is that BOU, LIV & HUD have a decent fixture in GW32 so might just scrape by and hold out to WC for GW33 armed with more info for DGW etc..

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      That's deep bro - thanks

      I feel like this week is the time for punts when I'm WC next week - what's 4 points between friends, eh?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I agree it's time for *some* punts, but not for the sake of it, unless you are happy to pay 1 or 2 points for the fun of it 😀

    3. Mulla
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Plus having more players will liven up the GWeek surely !!

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Oh of course. Stepping back from the stats, an increase in entropy is an increase in fun!*

        Until the point we are playing the game with squads of 100 players instead of 15!

    4. Ghost Gooner
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I'd take a risk on players that have decent fixtures after the bgw as well (especially if not WC in gw32). Just be aware that the majority of players available aren't prolific scorers and quite a few are selection risks

    5. Prøfeßör …
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Nice.

      Well, surely that somewhat defeats the purpose. After all, are we after excitement or points?

      Calculated risks/ hits? Agreed.

      Tekkers in for a hit is a no brainer (he won't be under the radar by tomorrow afternoon). 😉

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Well I'd argue that you can be likely to score more points from taking a hit (vs not taking a hit) at the same time as being more likely to lose points than gain points on the 4 points you have spent. This is because you are more likely to score less than 4 than more than 4, yet in some instances, the risk is worth it for the higher potential gains. In other words, the mean expected value is higher than 4, even though the median expected value is below 4.

        Long story short, a hit can be worth it for points as well as excitement, even if it's more likely to fail than succeed. Like betting £1 on the roll of a die returning the number 6 for a £10 return. You will lose more often than you win, but it's still worth the risk (or 'investment') 😀

        Sorry for yet another lengthy reply haha. I'm glad your pushing the Tekkerwagon. The more people who fall for it the better 😆

        1. Prøfeßör …
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Haha, not to worry, keep them coming - lengthy replies are the ones! I'm at work so I'll have to keep this short.

          True, I think taking hits for this GW is perfectly fine but it's important that it's on the 'right' player/ s. I wouldn't go around taking hits willy-nilly with limited research.

          Benteke will keep up with the best of them. We'll see. 😀

  6. Mulla
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Any good for a -8 ?? Anything you'd change ??
    Incomers are Lossl, PVA, Stanislas, Wilson..

    Lossl
    VVD - PVA - Mariappa
    Salah (C) - Walcott - Stanislas - Shaqiri
    Firmino (VC) - Wilson - DCL

    $8.6m itb

    Cheers lads

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

      no i’d stick looks good

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

    for a hit:

    a - Baines
    b - zaha (but lose Sv on mahrez)
    c - king

    currently thinking baines

    1. Mulla
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Depends if your using WC next week id say.
      If no WC then id keep Mahrez, otherwise get Baines/PVA

    2. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      You can rule out King here.

      I'd say Zaha just. (I've asked the same Q below)

  8. Naboo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    King or Mounie for Kane?

    1. Mulla
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      King potentially carrying a niggle according to Howe, not a cert. Maybe Wilson or Mounie

  9. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Baines or Zaha for 31 only?

    1. Naboo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Zaha

  10. Master Kane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    If you are still deciding on whether to go for King or Wilson, which way are you swinging?
    Today's news that King should be ok - is it enough ?

    For me, it's for a hit so makes me a little more nervous still looking at King.

    1. FPL Ultras
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Wilson for sure!

  11. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    the scenes when king is benched (myself included) and comes on at 62 minutes and bags a brace... ooooosh

  12. Lightbody
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    What are the chances of any matches being called off due to the 'Mini Beast from the East', please, gang? ie does Huddersfield have under-soil heating, or is it at risk?

  13. LegendFrankie
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I'm done. Going to play with 10 players;

    Pikford
    [Azpi] - VVD - Mariappa
    Walcott - Stalinslas - Salah - Shaqiri
    Mounie - Niasse - Firmino

    Elliot - Starling - Ogbonna - Gamez

    Good luck, mates!

  14. Siggen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    A) Butland
    B) Lossl

    Have Shaqiri and Schindler.

  15. alifzuhdi
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Please choose one

    A. Shaqiri
    B. Baines
    C. Zaha

    Thanks

    1. Soapy
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Zaha

      Rumours of Shaq calf strain

      1. alifzuhdi
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. Thinking on getting shaq for stoke cover. None at the moment

  16. sentagoda
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Is anyone playing free hit? I only have 6 players, max 7 with RLC. Or should I wait? What are holders waiting for anyway?

    1. Shappy
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I’d really like an answer to this question also. Planned on using FH this week but am seriously jet lagged and finding it hard to understand the various alternative options floating around here today.

      1. FPL Ultras
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Free hit would only provide you with a max of 10 points extra than otherwise. Would be better if different teams were playing.

  17. Soapy
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Hey folks

    Want to bring in a striker
    A) Tosun
    B) Benteke
    C) Wilson

    Have Theo and Mili if that makes any difference. No Bournemouth

    1. barton fc
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      c

  18. FPL Ultras
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Choose CAPTAIN please:

    A) Mane
    B) Firmino
    C) Wilson

    Only 4 of my starting XI are playing this week, so I must pick the correct captaincy option. Free hit already used.

    Thanks guys!

  19. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one:

    A. Stanislas
    B. Zaha
    C. Walcott

    1. barton fc
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      a

  20. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    so far i have taken a hit to bring in stan butland and firminio giving me 9 starting players
    do i take another hit for baines ?

  21. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    A) Shaqiri / Tosun (first sub)

    or

    B) Walcott / Benteke (first sub)