Team News
10 December 2021 2159 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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We’ve got all the important Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team news information for Gameweek 16 in our Friday press conference summary.

You can catch the headline updates from Wednesday and Thursday’s pressers – featuring Brentford, Leeds United, Southampton and Watford via this link here.

For much more detailed information, check out our Predicted Line-ups page (which is being refreshed on Friday evening) and Injuries and Bans feed plus Az and Neale’s video here:

And for other help and advice, from our weekly Scout Picks to team reveals, head to our complete Gameweek 16 guide below:

LIVERPOOL

Adding to an already-depleted week for many FPL squads, rumours surfaced on Thursday evening that Diogo Jota would be a doubt to face Aston Villa. Jurgen Klopp has addressed this, saying that the decision on whether Jota plays could go either way.

“Diogo [Jota] felt something after the last Premier League game, didn’t train yet. We will see – maybe he can train today. Then he is an option. If not, then not.” – Jurgen Klopp

Divock Origi is fit, while Roberto Firmino (hamstring) returned to training this week and could feature. Joe Gomez and Naby Keita made appearances in Milan after calf and hamstring problems, meaning Nathaniel Phillips (cheekbone), Curtis Jones (eye) and Harvey Elliott (ankle) are the main absentees.

CHELSEA

Ben Chilwell (knee), Mateo Kovacic (Covid), N’Golo Kante (knee) and Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring) will miss out again but Jorginho (back) is expected to play through the pain barrier against Leeds.

Thomas Tuchel helpfully confirmed that Reece James and Edouard Mendy would start on Saturday.

“Trevoh Chalobah, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Ben Chilwell are out. [Jorginho] did the last two training sessions and I think he will do what he did the last games: play through pain and do what’s needed.

Reecey will start as a wing-back and we’ll find another [option in midfield].” – Thomas Tuchel

MANCHESTER CITY

Pep Guardiola unsurprisingly didn’t give us anything clear cut on Phil Foden (knock) and Nathan Ake (back), while Gabriel Jesus (knock) wasn’t even mentioned in Friday’s presser.

“We will assess [Foden and Ake] this afternoon, we have training in a few hours.

“He still has these niggles but every time he’s better and better. He will dictate and say how he feels after games. But in December, with this amount of games and knowing Phil, he will want to fight to be there. We will see how feels.” – Pep Guardiola on Phil Foden

MANCHESTER UNITED

After naming a fully-changed side for their midweek clash with Young Boys, many of Ralf Rangnick’s star men are fresh to face Norwich City. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was stretchered off after full time against the Swiss, having collided with an advertising board.

“We have Aaron [Wan-Bissaka], who received one or two knocks [in midweek]. Nemanja Matic has a bit of a cold. I wouldn’t call it ‘flu, he is negative, tested for COVID, and I am still hoping he can be available but we have to wait.” – Ralf Rangnick

Paul Pogba (thigh) and Raphael Varane (hamstring) are still sidelined for the Red Devils, with the availability of Edinson Cavani (tendon) and Anthony Martial (knee) uncertain.

ARSENAL

Sead Kolasinac (ankle) will miss the visit of Southampton, while Arsenal’s medical team said on Friday that Emile Smith Rowe and Bernd Leno would have to be assessed for groin injuries ahead of Saturday’s game.

“He’s trained today and he’s feeling much better after we lost him for the last game. Hopefully, he will be available to play. The rest is OK.” – Mikel Arteta on Emile Smith Rowe

Gabriel Martinelli has been passed fit.

LEICESTER CITY

The advertised pre-match press conference from Brendan Rodgers hasn’t materialised yet, so we’re in the dark as to the latest fitness news from the Foxes camp.

James Justin (knee/match fitness), Wesley Fofana (leg) and Ricardo Pereira (thigh) are thought to still be out, while seven players – including Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman – didn’t make the trip to Napoli amid fears of Covid infections.

“We’ve had some positive (COVID-19) cases, some are generally not well, so we haven’t taken the risk. We will have seven (players) unavailable. (Who they are is) something you’ll see in time… It’s been (over the) last few days really. In general, you’re starting to see a few more cases and, for us, it’s always about the health of our players.” – Brendan Rodgers

WEST HAM UNITED

Angelo Ogbonna (knee) has been joined on the sidelines by Ben Johnson and Kurt Zouma, both of whom picked up hamstring injuries in the win over Chelsea last weekend.

David Moyes’s press conference was low on injury news so we’re still unsure over the availability of Aaron Cresswell and Ryan Fredericks, neither of whom was sighted in training in midweek after missing out in recent weeks.

EVERTON

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh/toe), Tom Davies (knee) and Yerry Mina (calf) remain out, while Allan is a fresh concern after minimal involvement in training this week.

“Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] is getting closer. Yerry [Mina] is not available. Rondon is available, has been training. Allan has done today half a training session. Davies, maybe next week he will start with the team.”

ASTON VILLA

Danny Ings (thigh) and Matt Targett (head) have been pictured back in training for Villa, although Bertrand Traore (thigh) and Leon Bailey (muscle) are still out. Trezeguet played and scored on Monday for the under-23s after recovering from a knee injury.

“We have a couple of kicks from yesterday, but we think they’re all going to pull through. Morgan Sanson wasn’t feeling too well but we’ve had good news and he’ll be back in to train. Obviously, Bertrand and Leon (Bailey) will be missing.” – Steven Gerrard

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Eddie Howe is managing “couple of knocks and niggles” ahead of Sunday’s game at Leicester. Fabian Schar (rib) and Ryan Fraser (hamstring) are expected to recover from minor issues, whilst Ciaran Clark will be back from his suspension for the red card against Norwich City. Paul Dummett (calf) is the only ongoing injury.

“We’re looking OK within the squad in the sense of Covid, we have testing today but a clean bill of health at the moment. A couple of knocks and niggles, Schar had a rib problem earlier in the week, he missed a bit of training, but hopefully will be OK.” – Eddie Howe

CRYSTAL PALACE

Patrick Vieira confirmed that Joachim Andersen (hamstring) has been back in training ahead of the Everton game. James McArthur (hamstring) isn’t quite ready yet despite his own return to the grass, while Nathan Ferguson (match fitness) will need more training and under-23s game-time before being considered.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Bruno Lage confirmed that Marcal, Conor Coady, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Willy Boly are all fit for the trip to Manchester City, leaving only long-term absentees Jonny (knee), Yerson Mosquera (muscle) and Pedro Neto (knee) on the sidelines.

BURNLEY

Sean Dyche says that Maxwel Cornet (thigh) only has an “outside chance” of facing West Ham, while Ben Mee’s shoulder is “settling down” but the defender will face a late check.

Connor Roberts (illness) is also a doubt.

NORWICH CITY

Dean Smith has reported that two of his players have tested for Covid-19 after feeling unwell during the week, with neither names nor results given. Another couple are carrying injuries, meanwhile.

Smith also confirmed that Mathias Normann has had pelvic injections but is more likely to face Aston Villa in midweek than make the weekend. Additionally, Milot Rashica (groin) is likely to miss the festive period but Todd Cantwell is available. Christoph Zimmermann (ankle) and Brandon Williams (ineligible to face parent club) will not be part of the squad this weekend.

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

  1. smash
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who scores more this week...

    Broja or Gallagher

    Any input much appreciated!
    Cheers

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gallagher by a clean sheet point

      1. smash
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you! really couldn't decide? fine margins, I'll go with Gallagher

        Cheers

  2. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best Son replacement for the next three weeks? Still have my WC.

    A - Rashford
    B - Bowen
    C - Mount

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C, B, A

  3. bruuuno
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who should I bench?

    A. Mount
    B. Odegaard
    C. Dalot

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B, but dont trust a united CS either

    2. Cheeky Onion
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough, Obviously not Mount so I'd lead Odegaard

  4. winchester
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which option lads? cheers.

    ramsdale
    taa - cancelo - james - livra
    salah(C) - bernardo - jota - son
    antonio - dennis

    (foster - gilmour - reguilon - hwang)

    A) gtg
    B) Son -> bowen
    C) Son -> mount

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. winchester
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Would be for a hit worth? (-4)

    2. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. winchester
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Would be for a hit worth? (-4)

  5. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    First sub to cover Jota...
    A) Gallagher
    B) Coufal

    Captain...
    A) Ronaldo
    B) Salah

    Cheers

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        For both?

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      AB

  6. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one

    A) Gallagher (EVE H)
    B) King (Bre A)
    C) Rudiger (LEE H) - Already got James

    Which of the following

    1) go no keeper
    2) -12pts bring in keeper up to 4.6m

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A1

    2. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A1

  7. Lord of Ings
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Start pukki or gilmour? Any news on who got covid at Norwich?

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pukki and no idea

  8. Return of the FF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Should I be prioritising

    A. Semedo to TAA
    B. Raph/ESR to Bilva

    B would effectively net me 0.2 squad value

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A
      hold ESR

  9. Ibralicious
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Currently have no bench and ESR, Livramento, and Raphinha starting.

    A) Scarlett -> Antonio (-4)
    B) McArthur -> Bowen (-4)
    C) Avoid hit and hope to field 11

    Cheers and good luck all

  10. bigdip
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Priority of bench okay:
    Livra, Jimenez, Brownhill

  11. Pukki Party
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Did my transfers on tuesday, juat here for the last minute chaos.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What were your transfers? I love when people make early transfers and get burnt.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kane, Saka & Armstrong to Ronaldo, Gundogan, Broja

      2. Josh.E
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        dennis and silva in early knew I'd have to take hits for ronaldo once kane and reguilon blanked horribly regret it but looking at this -8 in the long run, btw contemplating a -12 to bring in ddg long term too have no playing keeper lol

  12. DycheDycheBaby
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one:
    a) Alonso
    b) Dennis

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alonso assuming you have James or another Che def

  13. Cheeky Onion
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On 5 consecutive green arrows, surely this team with no hits will make it a comfortable 6:

    DDG
    TAA - James - Cancelo - Dalot
    Salah - Silva - Mount - Bowen
    CR7 - Dennis

    Gunnarsson - White - Gray - Locaida

    1. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      id be pretty sure with that yea.

    2. Silva’s Left Nut
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Surely yes. Is this a WC? If not that’s either very impressive or very lucky, or perhaps both. Either way congrats

  14. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Benching Jota and playing Mbeumo, feels so wrong

    1. Avery
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jota for 20 mins over Mbeumo

  15. FCSB
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Final dilemma, please help

    1. Raphinha >> Mount (get Bowen GW17/18)
    2. Raphinha >> Bowen
    3. Jimenez >> King (play over Raphinha)

    Thanks

  16. PL Ball
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Already on a -4..

    Still NO playing keeper (Sanchez | Foster)

    Would you take another hit?

    1. Avery
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope

    2. Supernintendo Chalmers
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      same here. have the ITB to do sanchez to ramsdale but dont think its worth it

  17. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Replacement for Raphina:

    A). Gundo
    B) Bowen

    1. Avery
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  18. Footieboot
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who scores more from below:
    A) Raphinha
    B) White
    C) Gundo/Bernardo - 4

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

    2. TopBinFc
        4 years, 3 months ago

        A

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Which transfers better for this team? Please help!

      A) Son/Toney/Foster --> Bissuma/Ronaldo/Bachmann (-4)
      or
      B) Son/Toney/ESR --> Mendy*/Fornals/Ronaldo (-4) (no keeper)

      (2FTs & 0itb)

      Sanchez*
      Alonso - TAA - Cancelo - James
      ESR* - Son* - Foden* - Salah - Jota
      Antonio

      (Foster* - Toney* - Manquillo - Davis*)

      1. Well you know, Triffic
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        A

    4. The Alli Way
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Start Broja or take a -4 and get Antonio in?

      1. Well you know, Triffic
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Start Broja

    5. Well you know, Triffic
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Is starting Mbuemo over King the right move? Cheers!

      Ramsdale

      TAA Cancelo James Alonso

      Salah Jota Bilva Mbuemo

      Vardy Antonio

      Sub: King etc

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'd probably punt for King over Mbeumo. Seems like his ceiling is higher

        1. Well you know, Triffic
          • 15 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Argh lol

      2. TopBinFc
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Jota wont play so King will come in anyway

      3. Miguel Sanchez
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Play Livra or Sissoko?

        1. Well you know, Triffic
          • 15 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Tough. Both will probably get 2 points.

      4. cmorris22
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Do we think Jota will be out long ? Should we hold or replace ?

        1. TopBinFc
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Hold, be back midweek

        2. The Count of Monte Cristo
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Start Raphinha or White?

          1. Esalman
            • 16 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Raphinha

          2. Miro
            • 15 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            White

            1. The Count of Monte Cristo
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Thanks both - good luck!

        3. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Is it best to play Jota and hope or bench?

          1. Eightball
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I'm going to play him. I think it's either he starts or he isn't in the squad because he is injured but there is still that risk he comes on for 5 minutes. Even though I think it's a small risk.

          2. Bishopool
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            if owned then yes

        4. Abra Dubravka
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Buy one:

          1) Mount
          2) Bowen
          3) ESR?

          1. Esalman
            • 16 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            2

          2. Konstaapeli
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            2

        5. Esalman
          • 16 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          If you didn't (C) Salah one time this season, sure it has to be Ronaldo (C) against Norwich?

          1. Supernintendo Chalmers
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            so tempting. if you're chasing its the right call

        6. jdwhalley
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Who to start and who to first sub? Is Jota likely all or nothing?

          Jota
          Alonso

        7. Mane Mane Mane
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Salah or Ronaldo as captain?

          1. Duke Silver ☑
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            This is the question. Will probably go for Salah.

        8. Botman and Robben
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Help guys. Start Gallagher/ESR over Jota?