Team News
23 April 2021 1136 comments
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We’ve got injury updates on the 16 Premier League teams who are in Gameweek 33 action in our weekly press conference summary below.

There are also a couple of notable quotes from Ryan Mason and Pep Guardiola to bring you ahead of Sunday’s EFL Cup final.

For more team news information, check out our Predicted Line-ups page and Injuries and Bans feed.

A video recap with Neale and Andy can be viewed below.


LIVERPOOL V NEWCASTLE UNITED

The rumours surrounding an injury to Diogo Jota turned out to be a false alarm, with Jurgen Klopp keeping it short and sweet on Friday:

Diogo is fine, Diogo is fine.

Nat Phillips (hamstring) is out but Curtis Jones (muscle) returns.

Jamaal Lascelles (foot), Isaac Hayden (knee), Karl Darlow (knee) and Ryan Fraser (groin) are sidelined for the Magpies, while the game may come too soon for Fabian Schar (knee) despite his recent return to training following a two-month lay-off.

There was better news elsewhere on the fitness front, however, with Callum Wilson confirmed as available despite not being seen in training ground photos and Allan Saint-Maximin passed fit following his ankle knock in Gameweek 32. 

EFL CUP FINAL: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V MANCHESTER CITY

We had an update on Harry Kane (ankle) in Ryan Mason’s pre-EFL Cup final presser but uncertainty still surrounds the striker’s availability for this weekend and beyond.

Mason said:

We’re not sure yet. He didn’t train with the team today but we’ll have more of an idea tomorrow to see if we can get him back on the pitch.

As for City, they have a clean bill of health after Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero returned to training on Friday.

WEST HAM UNITED V CHELSEA

Jesse Lingard is “fine” according to his manager, with David Moyes confirming that it was only cramp that forced him off last weekend:

Jesse had a bit of cramp at Newcastle, which at the time we didn’t see as being too big a problem and he’s fine.

I’m hoping that somewhere along the line we can get Micky, Declan, Aaron Cresswell and Arthur back in amongst it because they’ve been important players for us throughout the year. We’re aware that if we can get them back it would help us.

Aaron is getting closer, we’ll monitor it, see how he feels tomorrow and see how we think.

Mateo Kovacic (hamstring) is Chelsea’s only absentee, with Thomas Tuchel confirming that Edouard Mendy would start between the posts following his Gameweek 32 benching:

Mendy is in goal. The change was made for Kepa for the FA Cup game and even before then, the goalkeeper coach and me decided that Kepa would stay one more game after Man City to have it as a reward and feel a bit the rhythm of playing every three days. 

We wanted to reward what he is doing in training and in the dressing room which is simply outstanding in terms of quality and personality so I’m very happy he could show it on the pitch.

He had two clean sheets in two difficult matches for us so it’s a very good feeling that we can absolutely can rely on two goalkeepers and they can produce clean sheets. They earn our trust but the situation in general has not changed so Edou will be in goal tomorrow.

LEEDS UNITED V MANCHESTER UNITED

Liam Cooper (suspended) and Rodrigo (muscle) will miss out on the visit of Manchester United, while Raphinha is a major concern.

Marcelo Bielsa said ahead of the game:

With Raphinha, we’re controlling his evolution on a daily basis. Up until now, he’s not recovered sufficiently to be able to train again. Rodrigo is in the last stages of his recovery but not well enough to feature this weekend.

The ongoing saga of Marcus Rashford‘s (foot) fitness rolls on, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying:

Marcus [Rashford] hasn’t trained but I hope that he will join us tomorrow. Eric [Bailly] is back and has been training this week.

ARSENAL V EVERTON

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was among five players who were all passed fit by Carlo Ancelotti on Thursday, leaving just Jean-Philippe Gbamin (knee) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot) on the treatment table.

Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes, Bernard and Fabian Delph have all been given the all-clear too.

As for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (illness) and Alexandre Lacazette (hamstring) will join Kieran Tierney (knee) and David Luiz (knee) in sitting out Friday’s match.

Martin Odegaard (ankle) remains a doubt as he has only engaged in “light training” as of Wednesday.

LEICESTER CITY V CRYSTAL PALACE

With Leicester City only in action on Thursday evening, we won’t hear much new on the team news front from Brendan Rodgers ahead of their Gameweek 33 clash with Crystal Palace.

There was no obvious cause for concern in that comfortable victory over the Baggies, with Rodgers confirming that Wesley Fofana‘s early substitution was due to his fasting for Ramadan.

On Ricardo Pereira‘s benching, Rodgers said:

I’m very conscious Ricardo is coming back from a long-term injury and I always felt between when he came back and the end of the season we’re just getting him some minutes. I don’t think he’s ready to play three games in a week.

Harvey Barnes (knee) and James Justin (knee) remain out.

A 16-day gap between league matches has allowed Crystal Palace the chance to recover some of their sidelined players, with Jeffrey Schlupp (unspecified), James Tomkins (eye) and Mamadou Sakho (thigh) all back in training.

James McArthur (calf) is the only confirmed injury-related absentee, although Nathan Ferguson and Connor Wickham have not yet rejoined their teammates despite returns to the training ground and also look poised to miss out on Monday.

Gary Cahill is a fresh doubt with what his manager described as a “minor problem”, although Roy Hodgson was optimistic of his recovery when facing the media on Thursday.

ASTON VILLA V WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Trezeguet (knee), Morgan Sanson (knee) and Jack Grealish (shin) will miss the visit of West Bromwich Albion, while Matthew Cash is also unavailable as he serves a one-game ban for his dismissal in the midweek defeat against Manchester City.

Wesley (match fitness) could be back in the first-team squad after a lengthy absence.

Albion were only in Gameweek 32 action on Thursday, so we’ve yet to hear much on the team news front from Sam Allardyce.

Uncertainty surrounds the availability of Robert Snodgrass, who underwent an epidural a fortnight ago in a bid to address a long-standing issue.

SHEFFIELD UNITED V BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Graham Potter said that his Brighton players had come through their goalless draw at Chelsea unscathed, although the Albion boss will be forced into at least one change after Ben White was dismissed in that stalemate at Stamford Bridge.

While Potter gave the all-clear on the fitness front, he did say that Albion would “need to be careful of” Adam Webster and Dan Burn following their recent returns from injury:

Everybody came through the game ok, we’re still in the recovery process. There’s a couple of lads that we need to be careful of, Adam Webster and Dan Burn haven’t played for a while, to a certain extent Danny Welbeck, so we just need to keep monitoring them.

Tariq Lamptey (hamstring) and Solly March (match fitness) are out for the season and Florin Andone has had a setback in his recovery from a long-term knee problem but Percy Tau could be back in contention after hamstring tightness forced his non-involvement at Chelsea.

Oli McBurnie (foot), Billy Sharp (thigh) and Jack O’Connell (knee) remain out for the Blades, while Sander Berge (hamstring) and Jack Robinson (knee) are still some distance from a playing comeback despite their recent returns to training.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS V BURNLEY

Robbie Brady (Achilles), Kevin Long (calf) and Ashley Barnes (thigh) will all miss the trip to Molineux, with the first two still some distance from a playing comeback and Barnes working on his fitness in first-team training.

Nick Pope (shoulder) should be back involved, however, with Sean Dyche saying:

Popey has been good. I suggested last week that we felt he was over the biggest hurdle of it and he has come through training this week. He’s trained fully with us today – if there’s no reaction, then he’s back into consideration.

Ruben Neves isn’t ready to return for Wolves, despite serving a 10-day self-isolation period after testing positive for COVID-19.

His manager said ahead on Friday:

Unfortunately, he’s still in isolation, he’s been tested, and he’s not allowed yet to join the group. We try to provide training sessions in their own homes. Some of them have space and the weather is also helping, but it’s not the same.


  1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    PLAY UP!

  2. Pegboy
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    On WC and I've got BB left (with a pretty poor squad value, so funds are spread thinly)

    Martinez (Meslier)
    TAA Fofana Veltman Coufal (Dallas)
    Jota Bruno Lingard Greenwood (Son)
    Nacho Watkins (Kane)

    £0.1m

    a) Bruno & Jota
    b) Salah & Pereira (WBA normally benched)

    1. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  3. Stupendous
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Mo or Vardy capt?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Vardy if you have balls like me

      1. Stupendous
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        It's on Vardy currently!

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Parteeeeeeyyyyyy

  4. Quan MisTaka
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who would you have on a FH

    A) Cavani + Fofana
    B) Maupay + Shaw

    1. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  5. Nespinha
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy, Forster
    Rudiger, Fofana, Phillips, Holding, Coady
    Son, Salah, Bruno, Mount, Jota
    Kane, Iheanacho, Davis

    Suggestions for 1FT? or...

    A) Kane --- Vardy

    B) Son + Davis --- Smith Rowe + Vardy (-4)

    C) Phillips + Son --- TAA + Greenwood (-4)

    1. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  6. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    2FT 0.6m itb

    Martinez (Forster)
    Shaw Rudiger TAA (Saiss Holding)
    Salah (C) Jota Bruno Maddison Lingard
    Wood Nacho (Kane)

    A Holding to Veltman
    B Jota to Greenwood
    C Wood to Welbeck
    D Wood to Watkins
    E Forster to Johnstone
    F roll 2ft

  7. Big Col
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Play Rudiger or Shaw?

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Shaw

    2. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Shaw

  8. Drogba Legend
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Neto needs to go obviously for me to field 11, but do I take a hit and drop Dias or Jota with him? Neto can only go to a 5.6 mid is the problem.

    Mendy
    Holding - Coufal - Rudiger - TAA
    Salah - Bruno - Jota
    Davis - Nacho - Kane**

    Forster - - Son - Dias - Neto**

  9. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any moves here?

    Nacho (c) over Salah?

    0.1ITB

    Mendy
    TAA/Castagne/Shaw/Rudiger/Holding
    Salah/Bruno/Jota/Lingard
    Nacho

    Forster/Davis/Son/Kane

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Could do KAne to Vardy but would have to be long term

  10. MidTableFantasy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is Struijk the only 4.0M and under defender playing this week?

  11. Flynny
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who is best option for someone with no chips?

    A....konsa...double in 35 and plays 36. Fixtures mixed

    B....veltman....no double. But decent fixtures

    Thanks

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

  12. tibollom
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    who to captain out of this lot guys?

    Johnstone
    AWB Saiss Veltman Castagne
    Salah Bruno Lingard Greenwood
    Ihenacho Watkins

    Ederson Struijk Raph Kane

  13. Ohh1454
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Raph > traore or siggy?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Siggy

    2. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Traore

  14. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Afternoon all!! Who to captain???...

    A- Salah
    Or
    B- Nacho

    Many thanks!!!

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  15. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Sanchez, Forster
    TAA, Rudiger, Shaw, Holding, Coady
    Salah, Jota, Fernandes, Son, Lingard
    Vardy Nacho, Watkins

    13 players for GW33 and bringing back Kane next week.

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Your team is a lot better than your rank. I think you'll fly up standings between now and the end of the season

    2. #Swish41
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Great team, few benching headaches to come. I reckon you can still make the top 500,000

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks guys

  16. Pukkipartyy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Kane to Vardy and reverse if Kane fit GW34? (Have funds).

    Thx!

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      That’s my likely transfer too as hsve money ITB

    2. #Swish41
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Tricky. Feels a bit yo yo to me as I’ll probably have other concerns by then.

      I think I would if chasing, but not if leading

    3. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah just done that move

    4. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Check to make sure you can get him back. I sold him for 11.4 million and will need 11.8 million at the moment to get him back.

  17. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Raphinha transfer to

    a) ASM
    b) Saka
    c) Pereira

  18. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    2FTs, 0itb
    1) Son > Greenwood & save (bring back Son in 34)
    2) Son, Amartey > Greenwood, Saiss
    3) Son, Forster > Greenwood, Martinez

  19. Pukki Party
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts here? 2ft 0.0itb

    Martinez
    TAA Alonso Shaw Rudiger Phillips*
    Bruno Jota Raphina
    Iheanacho Cavani

    Forster Kane* Son Gundogan

    A) Kane, Gundo, Phillips to Watkins, ASM, Castagne -4 (enough itb to do Cavani to Kane next week)

    B) Kane, Gundogan to Vardy, Lingard (hit next week if Kane fit)

    Other suggestions?

  20. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Updated WC. Any thoughts or changes?

    Martinez | Forster
    TAA | Castagne | Rudiger | Veltman | Dallas
    Salah | Greenwood | Maddison | Pulisic | Lingard
    Iheanacho | Kane | Cavani

    Rep

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Really like it! Benching headaches is the only problem

      1. MoSalalalalalalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thank you! Guess that's a good thing haha!

  21. Mr_Barbs
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on what move? A+C would mean playing struijk this week.

    A) Gundo, Bruno, Cancelo > Mane, Greenwood, Dunk/Veltman (-4)
    B) Gundo, Dias, Struijk > Greenwood/Maddison Saiss, Veltman (-4)
    C) Gundo, Cancelo > Greenwood/Maddion, Saiss

    Martinez
    TAA, Azpi, Struijk, Cancelo**
    Bruno, Jota, Lingard, Gundo**
    Bamford, Iheanacho

    Fabri, Dias*, Son*, Kane*

    1. Mr_Barbs
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Alternatively :
      D) Gundo, Dias > Greenwood, Castagne

  22. Plagued by indecision
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I am 0.1 away from doing Davis > Watkins. Aaargh! Save the other FT? All else in order?

    Mendy
    TAA / Coady / Lowton / Rudiger
    Salah(c) / Jota / Lingard / Fernandes / Greenwood
    Iheanacho

    I am 89k overall rank, and comfortable in my minileague (120 points clear). Tempted by Iheanacho or Greenwood(c). Thoughts?

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Liking the C choices

  23. iL PiStOlErO
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Unfortunatelly have much more problems then expected. Will bench Lacca and Kane but dont know about the rest. Any help would do...

    Would you do Dias Gundo to Coufal Greenwood for -4?

    Mendy* 3.9*
    Robbo Castagne Coady Dias* 3.8*
    Bruno Jota Gundo* Lingard Raphinha
    Kane* Vardy Lacca*

    1ft, 0.2itb

  24. VaVaVoom14
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Would you wildcard this team this week? Got 10 playing no goalkeeper.

    Areola
    Trent Dallas Digne Veltman
    Jota Greenwood Bruno(c) Soucek
    Ieanacho Bamford

    (McCarthy Kane Son Cancelo

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. Tango74
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Leaving it late

  25. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Options?

    A -8 Sterling & Son > Greenwood Maddison or Siggy

    B -12 Sterling Son Phillips > Salah, GW, Mad, Sig & defender 5.5

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C Sterling & Kane > Greenwood Maddison or Siggy & Vardy

    2. Positive vibes
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      How about a -4?

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        That won’t give me any bench cover?
        Could just do Sterling to anyone apart from pool?

        1. Positive vibes
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Yes. You will need Son next gw.

          1. g40steve
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Yes suppose no bench is do able, which mid for sterling you reckon?

            1. Positive vibes
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Greenwood imo

              1. g40steve
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Ta

  26. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Am I good to save FT here fellas?

    Sanchez (Lloris*)
    TAA Digne Dallas Dunk Targett
    Salah Lingard Jota (ESR Son*)
    Vardy Nacho (Kane*)

    1. Tango74
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Captain?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Vardy

        1. Tango74
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Also what msg the gag with your 1st comment on new articles !?

  27. NULL-X-VOID
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Start??

    1) Mendy (WHU)
    2) Emi (WBA)

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Emi. Even if Mendy keeps a cs he’s only likely to get 6 points while Emi could haul. Also west brom really struggle to score goals

  28. FCSB
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Play:

    1. Vydra (wol)
    2. Holding (EVE)

    Thanks

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      1

  29. Bad Kompany
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on Son to Maddison? Not sure if it makes sense with Son having Sheffield and Leeds right after, which are two games he could easily haul in. Also thought Maddison looked a little rusty yesterday

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Madds would have his mins limited tbh

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        That’s true as well although he’ll still play more then son

    2. Positive vibes
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Keep Son

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers! Do you know anything about how Ryan Mason will set them up? Surely he can’t be any less attacking then Mou. I’m glad to see he’s still involved in football. I still remember his horrific head injury

        1. Positive vibes
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I believe he will attack and attack.

  30. Drogo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I am on my WC now. Help me fill in the blanks:

    - -
    Dunk - TAA - Dallas - -
    Salah Jota Lingard - -
    Inhenacho Kane Watkins

    33 million in bank.

    1. Drogo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Saiss is also there