Dramatic EFL Cup final may have repercussions for FPL Gameweek 28

Having clashed with Gameweek 27 and caused the postponement of two Premier League fixtures, the EFL Cup final may well have further ramifications for many Fantasy managers.

Injuries to Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) and Fernandinho (£5.3m) not only put their short-term availability in doubt but perhaps have an indirect effect on other Manchester City assets, given how the league champions struggled without their influential Brazilian midfielder during his brief absence in December.

Laporte has been the bedrock of the City defence this season, meanwhile, and has only failed to start one league match in 2018/19.

Fatigue-led rotation may also be a concern for City and Chelsea assets in Gameweek 28, with Sunday’s final going to extra-time and penalties just 72 hours before the two clubs are back in Premier League action.

The minutes played by the two clubs’ Fantasy assets were as follows:

120 – Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Aguero, Sterling, Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, David Luiz, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Hazard
95 – Willian
90 – Fernandinho
89 – Barkley
86 – De Bruyne
79 – Pedro, David Silva
75 – Kompany
45 – Laporte
41 – Gundogan, Hudson-Odoi
34 – Sane
31 – Loftus-Cheek
30 – Danilo
25 – Higuain
0 – Mahrez, Alonso, Kovacic, Giroud

Owners of Raheem Sterling (£11.3m), Sergio Aguero (£11.6m) and Eden Hazard (£10.8m) – plus the others listed above – will be particularly concerned about their assets’ two-hour run-outs but any FPL bosses who have retained the services of Leroy Sane and/or Gonzalo Higuain (both £9.5m) through Blank Gameweek 27 will perhaps be more optimistic of their chances of a start on Wednesday evening.

Given that Spurs are the visitors to Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 28 and that Hazard was handed a rest against Malmo on Thursday, the Belgian will still likely be expected to start in what could be a pivotal clash for Chelsea’s top four prospects.

City’s front three of Aguero, Sterling and Bernardo Silva (£7.5m) also started against Schalke last Wednesday though so a breather in Gameweek 28 or 29 remains a possibility for one or more of the above.

The availability of Gabriel Jesus (£10.0m), who was again missing on Sunday with a hamstring problem, could very well determine Aguero’s minutes – we should have an update on the Brazilian striker from Pep Guardiola in Tuesday’s press conference.

Speaking of Laporte and Fernandinho’s injuries after full-time at Wembley, the City boss said:

The last action of the first half, the run with Hazard, Laporte felt something. ‘Dinho felt something too, muscular. So I think it will be weeks out.

Our recap of the EFL Cup final itself is the focus of our Scout Notes below:

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City (after extra-time, 3-4 penalties)

Having succumbed to a 6-0 defeat at the Etihad just a fortnight earlier, Chelsea produced a much-improved performance against the reigning Premier League champions at Wembley on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s side were pushed all the way to a penalty shoot-out in a match of few clear-cut chances but no shortage of incident – more of which in a moment.

Maurizio Sarri tweaked the 4-3-3 formation that has attracted criticism over the past few months into a 4-5-1, a five-man midfield helping to suffocate many of the City players that ran riot in Manchester two weeks ago.

There was also a reversion to the system played before the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain, with the Argentinean striker benched and Eden Hazard leading the line as a central striker.

Chelsea fans, Fantasy managers and even Hazard himself have long-championed the Belgian’s ability on the left flank but the talismanic midfielder was excellent in the false nine position, a role Sarri had previously said helps bring the Blues defensive stability.

The Belgium international was menacing when in possession and running at the City defence, producing a brilliant slaloming run just before half-time (after a quiet opening 45 minutes) and then superbly setting up N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) and Pedro (£6.3m) after the break for two spurned opportunities.

With Spurs next to come in the Premier League, it will be interesting to see if Sarri sticks with Hazard as the spearhead of a 4-5-1 given how well Chelsea nullified City – albeit without registering a shot on target themselves.

Kante and the Chelsea back four were similarly impressive, with Emerson Palmieri (£5.2m) perhaps hammering another nail into the coffin of Marcos Alonso (£6.4m) as a Fantasy asset with a commendable performance at left-back.

Sarri spoke positively about his side’s tactics on Sunday:

Today we decided not to press very high in situations in which the goalkeeper, the opponent goalkeeper, was involved because they are able to use the goalkeeper and come out our pressing. We decided in every goal kick to wait 20 metres lower. I think that we conceded nothing to the best team in Europe.

The Chelsea manager’s press conference was, understandably, dominated by talk of the incident involving Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) shortly before the penalty shoot-out.

Apparently struggling with an injury, the Chelsea goalkeeper was set to be replaced by Willy Caballero (£4.7m) as the clocked ticked down in extra-time – only for a stand-off to occur as Kepa refused to leave the pitch.

Player power won out and Kepa stayed on, the Spanish custodian going on to concede four of the five penalties he faced in the shoot-out.

Sarri downplayed the farcical situation after full-time:

It was a big misunderstanding. I understood that he had cramp, so I didn’t want the goalkeeper to go to the penalties in that physical condition. I realised the situation only three or four minutes after when the doctor arrived and came to the bench.

In the meantime, I wanted Caballero on the pitch. The goalkeeper only wanted to let me know that he was in condition to go to the penalties, so it was only a big misunderstanding.

Kepa was right, but in the wrong way I think as the way he perhaps conducted himself was wrong. Mentally he was right as he was able to go to the penalties. I realised everything at the end of the match when the doctor arrived at the bench, not before.

City enjoyed the bulk of the possession and edged the shot count but, a bit like in their defeat to Chelsea in the league earlier this season, failed to carve out too many clear-cut chances.

Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m) and David Silva (£8.5m) once more fell below their usual sky-high standards on a frustrating afternoon for the City midfield, while even the in-form and tireless Bernardo had limited influence in an attacking sense as Emerson excelled on the Chelsea left.

Sterling looked a threat whenever in possession and was perhaps the pick of City’s attack-minded assets without registering a shot himself (aside from the winning penalty in the shoot-out), with his dancing run down the City right in extra-time helping fashion a rare sight of goal for Aguero.

The Argentinean striker topped the individual shot count table again, though perhaps should have released Sterling when forcing Kepa into a diving stop late in the match.

Aguero did actually have the ball in the net earlier in the tie, only for a marginal offside call to curtail his celebrations.

Guardiola reflected on the game, Chelsea’s battling display and City’s injury problems:

I’m happy. It went to penalties, so compliment to Chelsea it was an incredible performance. The important thing with penalties is personality, and they did it. 

You realise the team Chelsea have, they have champions. After the result two weeks ago, we knew it would be more difficult.

The only bad thing is that we will miss players in the next weeks. We had extra-time, lost two important players who will be out for a while and now those guys can help us and they will help us.

In other countries, they have less games, fewer competitions but now we have to face Schalke with important players missing.

But I trust our squad and the guys who maybe didn’t play too much are going to step forward and help us.

Chelsea XI (4-5-1): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rüdiger, David Luiz, Emerson; Pedro (Hudson-Odoi 79′) Kanté, Jorginho, Barkley (Loftus-Cheek 88′); Willian (Higuain 95′); Hazard.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Zinchenko, Laporte (Kompany 45′), Otamendi, Walker; Fernandinho (Danilo 90′), Silva (Gundogan 78′), De Bruyne (Sane 85′); Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.