FA Cup fourth round action changes Blank and Double Gameweeks picture

The FA Cup fourth round has already had quite an impact on Fantasy Premier League.

The results so far have affected the schedules for Gameweeks 25, 31 and 33.

The first of those now looks less likely to absorb Chelsea’s rearranged match with Brighton, while we now have three confirmed matches in each of Gameweeks 31 and 33.

The ramifications of the latest results, as well as the line-ups and injury updates of the teams involved, are the focus of this latest Scout Notes article.

The implications of Everton’s trip to Millwall and West Ham’s to Wimbledon will follow in a later article.

Blank/Double Gameweek ramifications

As expected, Burnley vs Leicester has now been confirmed as going ahead in Gameweek 31. The Foxes had already been eliminated from the FA Cup by Newport County in the third round, and with the Clarets now dispatched by Manchester City, the two sides are clear to play their Premier League match when the quarter-finals are taking place.

Sean Dyche’s men will also now have a fixture in Blank Gameweek 33, when they face a trip to Bournemouth, who were knocked out in the third round by Brighton.

The Cherries will also play in Blank Gameweek 31 after Newcastle were knocked out by Watford on Saturday afternoon. Their fixture at the Vitality Stadium is now clear to go ahead without the need for rearrangement.

Brighton’s draw with West Bromwich Albion currently has more of an effect on Gameweek 25 than any other round of fixtures. There was a possibility that their re-arranged trip to Chelsea, pushed out of Gameweek 27 by the League Cup final, could have been brought forward to Gameweek 25. However, the fact that the Seagulls now need a fourth-round replay that week makes that midweek slot unavailable to travel to Stamford Bridge. That fixture is now likely to fall in either Gameweek 32 or 35 at this point.

Meanwhile, Wolves’ Gameweek 31 meeting with Arsenal and Gameweek 33 hosting of Manchester United hang in the balance as they still require a replay to make it to the fourth round. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men drew 2-2 at Shrewsbury Town in dramatic fashion.

Confirmed Gameweek 31 fixtures:

• Bournemouth v Newcastle
• Burnley v Leicester
• Fulham v Liverpool
• West Ham v Huddersfield

Confirmed Gameweek 33 fixtures:

• Bournemouth v Burnley
• Everton v Arsenal
• Southampton v Liverpool
• Huddersfield v Leicester

Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United

A man of the match performance from Romelu Lukaku (£10.7m) against Arsenal might be of some mild concern to Marcus Rashford (£7.7m) owners, but a new tactic uncovered by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could see the two operate in the same team.

The Belgian striker was played on the right of a front three, with Jesse Lingard (£6.8m) on the left of Alexis Sánchez (£10.0m). Lukaku was incredibly effective in that role, not so much as a goal threat but as a creative option. He provided the assist for the first two Manchester United goals.

Solskjaer explained that he tried Lukaku as a right-winger having seen him play there for Belgium and hinted that he could fulfil the role in the Premier League too. That is good news for Rashford owners as it suggests a wider role will be Lukaku’s route back into the side rather than the centre-forward position.

“Rom has played there for Belgium, played there for Everton – at Arsenal, actually, a few years back – and he played in the World Cup against Brazil. So it’s a tactic we can use. We know how strong he is, obviously coming in back-stick if we get crosses – we never really got too many crosses in today. But he held the ball up, ran the channel, brought other players in and a fantastic pass for Alexis’s goal, but then again it was not just like it was an open goal! It was a great finish by Alexis.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

“I think it was the manager’s idea to play me there after seeing me play for Belgium there a couple of times. I have to take my chances and I take them every day at a time and I’m ready whenever the manager wants me.” – Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku’s performance seemed to get the best out of Sánchez, who felt practically destined to score on his return to Arsenal. His goal-scoring display will give Solskjaer a selection headache when it comes to choosing his line-up for the Gameweek 24 visit of Burnley.

“I told him yesterday in training listen ‘you will score tomorrow I will give you the ball just run and I will find you’. I think he could see I was looking at him and he made the right run and it was a brilliant finish from him.” – Romelu Lukaku

Of great encouragement to Solskjaer and United was the fact that they were able to record victory over Arsenal while rested three key players. David de Gea (£5.7m) was replaced in goal by Sergio Romero (£5.0m), who made some excellent saves, while Rashford and Anthony Martial (£7.3m) featured only as second-half substitutes.

The fact that the Red Devils are now finding success against higher quality opposition continues to dispel any suggestions that Solskjaer’s new-look United side have only done well because they have played so-called smaller teams. Clearly, his liberating attacking style is helping them win important games.

“Of course, football you want to play with freedom and play with that smile on your face. He’s let us do that. Attacking football, just playing the ball forward as soon as you can. Scoring as many goals as you can. He knows that if they score one, we’ll score two and he’s always had that mindset.” – Jesse Lingard

Things were the opposite for Arsenal, as just about everything went wrong for them. Unai Emery named a very strong starting XI, with just two changes made to the side that beat Chelsea. One of those was enforced, Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.4m) in for the injured Hector Bellerín (£5.4m), while Alex Iwobi (£5.4m) replaced Matteo Guendouzi (£4.4m).

While Arsenal looked good in possession, their decision making in the final third let them down and truthfully they caused Manchester United few real problems after a first-half Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) goal.

Where the Gunners really struggled was being picked off on the counter-attack, exacerbated by their defensive injury crisis going from bad to worse. Sokratis Papastathopoulos (£5.1m) was forced off with an ankle problem in the 21st minute, to be replaced by Shkodran Mustafi (£5.4m). After that change was made, Arsenal lost a great deal of defensive organisation, the former Valencia centre-back coming in for a great deal of criticism.

Laurent Koscielny (£5.4m) was taken off with a possible jaw injury after catching a Lukaku boot to the face. With limited options available on the bench, Guendouzi had to come on for him, with Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) dropping into centre-back alongside Mustafi. That particular pairing will not inspire confidence in Arsenal’s defence if they line up against Cardiff on Tuesday night.

“I think it’s not big injuries for Sokratis, it’s his ankle. Maybe Laurent Koscielny is going to the hospital to do analysis on what injury he has. Maybe he broke. I hope not. We are waiting.” – Unai Emery

While he came on in the second half, there was still a big deal made of the fact that Mesut Özil (£8.0m) did not start the game. When asked about that in the post-match press conference, Emery was particularly cagey.

Asked ‘Why did you not start Mesut Ozil tonight?’: “He played.”
Asked ‘Why did you not start him?’: “Because also I think I can play other players.”

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Cech; Kolasinac, Koscielny (Guendouzi 64′), Sokratis (Mustafi 21′), Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Torreira; Iwobi (Özil 64′), Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

Manchester United (4-3-3): Romero; Shaw, Lindelöf, Bailly, Young; Pogba, Matić, Herrera; Lingard (Jones 88′), Sánchez (Martial 72′), Lukaku (Rashford 72′).

Manchester City 5-0 Burnley

A rotated Manchester City side eased past Burnley in the fourth round of FA Cup.

Those hoping to second-guess Pep Guardiola’s selection policy were encouraged to see Leroy Sané (£9.7m), Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.3m) all on the bench, with only the latter coming on for any minutes against the Clarets. The Argentinian converted a late penalty to boost his confidence ahead of Gameweek 24.

One would expect all three to start against Newcastle on Tuesday night, which could alter the Gameweek 24 captaincy debate somewhat. The main reason that had been putting Fantasy managers off skippering a player at St James’ Park was uncertainty over team selection, but that looks like less of an issue following Saturday afternoon’s team. Benjamin Mendy (£6.1m) was not in the matchday squad against Burnley as a result of some swelling, according to Guardiola.

“He has a little bit of swelling in the knee, and that’s all. It’s a danger you can have sometimes when you come back. He needs time. It is a problem, but it’s OK. We move forward and hopefully he can come back soon.” – Pep Guardiola

A 75-minute spell for Gabriel Jesus (£10.1m), meaning just fifteen for Aguero, indicates the Brazilian might have to settle for a place on the bench at Newcastle. That would be of great frustration to him, as his goal against Burnley was the eighth in his last five games.

Also impressing on Saturday afternoon was Kevin de Bruyne (£9.7m) who scored and earned himself two assists. One was from setting up Bernardo Silva‘s (£7.6m) effort, the other forcing a Kevin Long (£4.2m) own-goal. He played 75 minutes before being replaced by Phil Foden (£4.5m) so it’s hard to predict if he’ll start against Newcastle, but he is definitely continuing his rehabilitation to a full return for Fantasy managers.

“It’s not easy when players have long injuries. That’s why we tried to handle De Bruyne’s minutes and of course today, we need him because he’s so clever and so aggressive in his game. He helps a lot.” – Pep Guardiola

Sean Dyche opted for an experimental 3-5-1-1 formation, although it did not stop his side getting comfortably beaten.

Nick Pope (£4.8m) made his first start since the FA Cup third round, indicating his role as the ‘Cup goalkeeper’. With the Clarets now out of all competitions bar the Premier League, he will have to get back above Tom Heaton (£4.8m) in the pecking order.

The back-three featured the ever-present James Tarkowski (£4.7m) as well as back-up options Ben Gibson (£4.8m) and Long, who scored an own-goal and conceded a penalty.

The midfield five included Stephen Ward (£4.7m) on the left flank with defender Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) tucked inside. Robbie Brady (£5.4m) got a 45-minute spell while recently emerging budget midfielder Dwight McNeil (£4.4m) played just off striker Matej Vydra (£5.7m).

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Danilo, Otamendi, Stones, Walker; Gündogan, Fernandinho (D Silva 66′), De Bruyne (Foden 75′); Mahrez, Jesus (Aguero 75′), B Silva.

Burnley XI (3-5-1-1): Pope; Gibson, Tarkowski, Long; Ward, Taylor, Defour (Westwood 77′), Hendrick, Brady (Cork 45′); McNeil; Vydra (Wood 62′).

Newcastle United 0-2 Watford

A swathe of changes at St James’ Park underpinned a scrappy encounter that ended in a Watford win.

There were 18 changes between the two sides as they struggled to put together any rhythm on the afternoon.

Rafa Benitez stuck with the 5-4-1 formation he has been using of late, with key men Fabian Schär (£4.6m), Martin Dubravka (£5.0m), Salomón Rondón (£5.7m), Ayoze Pérez (£6.1m), Florian Lejeune (£4.4m), DeAndre Yedlin (£4.5m) and Christian Atsu (£5.1m) all dropping to the bench.

Schär, Atsu and Pérez all featured as second-half substitutes, the former operating largely in central midfield with Newcastle limited for options there. That may be worth keeping note of if the Swiss international is forced to start matches there regularly with Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) and Ki Sung-yeung (£4.7m) still in the physio room.

Javi Gracia experimented with a 4-3-3 for Watford, going for something different to their usual 4-4-2 layout, with an entire rotation of all 11 players.

Domingos Quina (£4.4m), Ben Wilmot (£4.0m) and Nathaniel Chalobah (£4.4m) played in the central midfield trio, with Isaac Success (£4.6m) and Will Hughes (£4.9m) flanking Andre Gray (£5.9m) up front.

Key players such as Roberto Pereyra (£6.3m), Gerard Deulofeu (£5.5m) and Troy Deeney (£6.0m) were all given the afternoon off, while Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) returned from injury.

Newcastle XI (5-4-1): Woodman; Ritchie (Atsu 73′), Clark, Lascelles, Fernandez (Schär 81′), Manquillo; Kenedy, Longstaff, Hayden, Murphy (A Pérez 72′); Joselu.

Watford XI (4-3-3): Gomes; Masina, Britos, Cathcart, Janmaat; Quina, Wilmot, Chalobah (Capoue 81′); Success, A Gray (Peñaranda 68′), Hughes.

Brighton 0-0 West Brom

It was a similar story for Brighton at the Amex Stadium as six changes made to the side impacted their ability to string much together.

Gaetan Bong (£4.4m), Lewis Dunk (£4.5m), Davy Pröpper (£4.8m), Pascal Groß (£6.7m), Solly March (£5.0m) and Glenn Murray (£6.3m) all made way, with only two of them featuring as second-half substitutes.

Pröpper replaced Dale Stephens (£4.4m), who had hit the post, while Murray came on for the last seven minutes forcing West Brom goalkeeper Jonathan bond into a decent save.

Yves Bissouma (£4.6m) returned from injury to play in central midfield alongside Beram Kayal (£4.4m), while Florin Andone (£5.0m) was left to rue an air-shot which allowed the Baggies to stay in the tie.

Brighton XI (4-5-1): Button; Montoya, Burn, Duffy, Bruno; Locadia (Gyökeres 72′), Kayal, Stephens (Pröpper 63′), Bissouma, Knockaert; Andone (Murray 83′).

Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Wolves

Wolves booked themselves a fourth-round replay by the skin of their teeth as they salvaged a 2-2 draw at League One outfit Shrewsbury Town.

They were arguably fortunate to put themselves into Monday’s fifth round-draw having trailed 2-0 to a Salop side that absorbed pressure early on, grew into the contest and took their chances when it mattered.

It was a match that represented another indictment of Wolves’ defence, as their run of matches without a clean sheet extended to eight. The only change to their back-four was John Ruddy (£4.3m) coming in for Rui Patrício (£4.5m), with the first-choice trio of available central defenders Conor Coady (£4.5m), Ryan Bennett (£4.1m) and Romain Saïss (£4.2m) all started behind midfield maestro Ruben Neves (£4.9m).

Despite scoring the crucial late equaliser, there might be some concern among Matt Doherty (£5.2m) owners as he also started at the New Meadow. While his involvement in isolation is not necessarily too worrying, especially with other regular first-teamers all starting, it was those on the bench that have some fearing the worst.

Full-backs Jonny (£4.3m) and Ruben Vinagre (£4.3m), who started when Doherty was benched against Leicester, were named among the substitutes at the New Meadow, indicating they could be the preferred pair against West Ham on Tuesday. Alternatively, Doherty’s minutes at Shrewsbury could be a way of getting him back up to scratch after featuring only late on in Gameweek 23.

Those who had recently signed Diogo Jota (£5.9m), or had him in their transfer sights, were happy to see that the FPL midfielder had no involvement in the FA Cup game. Raúl Jiménez (£6.5m) also had his minutes managed, coming on just short of the hour-mark before starting Wolves’ comeback with a 75th-minute goal.

Judging by the wasteful displays of Helder Costa (£4.8m) and Adama Traoré (£5.2m) up front, it certainly looks as if Jota and Jiménez are safe from any rotation in Premier League matches for now. However, it must be said that Traoré was the man who provided the assist for Doherty’s equaliser.

Wolves XI (3-4-1-2): Ruddy; Saïss, Coady, Bennett; Giles (Cavaleiro 72′), Neves, Dendoncker (Jiménez 59′), Doherty; Gibbs-White (Moutinho 79′); Costa, Traoré.