Scout Notes

FPL notes: Haaland injury latest, Salah scores, Grealish stars

We begin our round-up of the big Gameweek 29 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points in our Scout Notes series.

The first match of Saturday, Manchester City v Liverpool, is the focus here.

Any numbers you see in this article are taken from our Premium Members Area, where you can access Opta player and team data from every single Premier League fixture.

PEP ON HAALAND’S FITNESS

Erling Haaland (£12.0m) failed to make the Manchester City squad for the lunchtime game, a groin injury that put paid to his involvement with Norway over the international break also depriving him of the chance to face Liverpool.

Attention now turns to the trip to Southampton, as a fit Haaland would likely be the go-to Gameweek 30 captaincy pick for those that own him.

A post-match press conference and interview with BT Sport failed to yield any update on the Norwegian’s fitness so we had to rely on good old Match of the Day for the latest from Pep Guardiola on his star striker.

“Yesterday, we spoke, the day before, and he didn’t feel fit. And of course, we wouldn’t take a risk – I know it was an important game, but we have Julian [Alvarez]. Now we have a long week to recover and hopefully the next games he can be involved.” – Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland, speaking after the Liverpool game

There’s plenty of uncertainty left in that statement, then, so we’ll have to twiddle our thumbs for another week before we get around to Guardiola’s next pre-match presser (and no doubt just-as-ambiguous update) on Friday.

A UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich looms on the Tuesday after the trip to St Mary’s so Haaland’s Gameweek 30 game-time prospects depend on your view of Guardiola: will he really risk his forward on the south coast 72 hours before the Bavarian giants visit the Etihad or will he want Haaland to establish some “rhythm” in advance of that match?

GREALISH’S BEST CITY DISPLAY?

City barely missed their free-scoring number nine, with stand-in striker Julian Alvarez (£6.0m) walking away from this game with one goal, an assist and a double-digit haul; what might have been for Haaland against this flimsy Liverpool backline.

Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m) top-scored with 13 points after also helping himself to two attacking returns but the star of the show was Jack Grealish (£6.8m), creator of City’s first goal and scorer of their last.

We’ve seen players before such as Bernardo Silva (£6.7m) and Luka Modric, whose talent and vital on-field contributions were not reflected in their FPL scores, and we’ve witnessed Marcos Alonso types who were generally a bit rubbish but somehow also Fantasy gold. Grealish fell into neither category in his first year-and-a-bit in Manchester, with just six attacking returns recorded in 2021/22 amid some unremarkable displays.

His performances have been excellent since the restart, however, culminating in perhaps his best-ever display in a City shirt on Saturday.

“All this season he has been playing really well. Now it’s the Jack we thought. Aston Villa fans know this Jack. Nothing changed, it’s just a question of believing ‘I am part of that, and I can be here.’

“Now he has more minutes. The way he behaved in the beginning when he was not playing was exceptional.

“We are so satisfied for his performance. Today was amazing, he was really good. I like the standing ovation from our fans. He really deserved it. Not just that, all season he has been playing well.”

“Football is more than stats, it’s many things. The way he gives us the tempo to play and to make extra passes. I could not imagine with the big name he is and the price the club paid to have this humility to run like a teenager. That means a lot to me and the team. At the same time, he has to score more goals at home. Definitely.” – Pep Guardiola on Jack Grealish

This was his 10th successive Premier League start, with mainstays Rodri (£5.6m) and Haaland the only City outfield players to have started more league fixtures than the former Villa man (12) since the World Cup.

Grealish has been helped, of course, by Phil Foden‘s (£8.0m) post-Qatar fitness issues, with appendix surgery currently sidelining him for 2-3 weeks.

The rush to acquire City assets for Double Gameweek 34 begins now (especially for Gameweek 32 Free Hitters) and Grealish is certainly throwing his hat into the ring as a differential, although it should be said that potential positional rival Foden ought to be recovered by the time that Gameweek 34 double comes around. Still, it was Riyad Mahrez (£7.4m) who made way in Gameweeks 24-27 when Foden and Grealish were both available and fighting fit.

What prospective City owners (Grealish or otherwise) really need next is for Bayern to dump them out of the Champions League, leaving the tilt at the Premier League title their primary focus.

Above: Grealish is third for non-penalty expected goal involvement (NPxGI) and indeed attacking returns (nine) among City players since the restart

MORE OF THE SAME FROM LIVERPOOL

In the international break, we studied Liverpool’s away form and concluded that their attack wasn’t as bad as the meagre goals scored total suggested but also that their defence was worse than the goals conceded column made out.

We got more of the same from the Reds at the Etihad, with their backline torn to shreds by the reigning champions; even the return to fitness of Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Ibrahima Konate (£4.8m) can’t paper over the cracks. For fans of expected goals (xG), Jurgen Klopp’s side were walloped 2.96-0.33.

It wasn’t a vintage display going in the other direction either, with just four shots registered, but there was at least a real threat early on that resulted in Mohamed Salah‘s (£12.8m) 17th-minute goal. But for Grealish’s vital interception shortly after, Liverpool would have probably been 2-0 up.

“You have to defend City in the moments where you have the opportunity to do so. If you are too deep, too passive or whatever, then they use that immediately. That was for 2-1… 3-1 [was] super-quick after, how I remember it, and I have to watch it back obviously, we have a three or four versus one situation against Grealish, but in the end nobody has a challenge and the ball arrives in the box again. They can finish by taking the rebound. Then you saw what happened.

“We were not there anymore; we were completely open, we were too passive, too deep, too far away from everything. If you look at the game, I think we had around about four performances which were OK: the two midfielders with Hendo and Fab worked a lot, tried to close gaps, Cody especially in possession and Ali, of course, and then that’s obviously very difficult. If you want to get something from here, then you have to play 11 players, 14, 15 players have to be on the top of their game and that was not the case again.” – Jurgen Klopp

The good news is that, after Gameweek 29 is over, six of Liverpool’s remaining 10 fixtures are at home. And after Gameweek 30, only one of their matches is against a top-seven side.

On the subject of team selection, Darwin Nunez (£8.8m) was only among the substitutes – perhaps that should have come as no surprise given that a cut to his ankle affected his ability to train during the international break. He would, you’d think, now come into the reckoning on Tuesday night.

The early substitution of Salah also hinted at the Egyptian being spared for the trip to Chelsea.

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

239 Comments Post a Comment
  1. boc610
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Lol maddisons name not mentioned one single time in commentary on MOTD highlghts last night.

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      He’s been a complete waste of a spot since bringing him in on WC. Shifting him for a Brighton mid ASAP.

  2. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Who is most important for rest of season?

    A) salah
    B) Bruno
    C) Jesus
    D) Kane
    E) KDB

    1. nolard
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Haaland

    2. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      I have him already 🙂

      1. nolard
        • 9 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        I think KDB can be, or Salah if Liverpool hit some form again.

    3. Øgaard it's Haa…
      • 1 Year
      12 months, 1 day ago

      E

    4. thepancakeman123
      • 5 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      If he starts every game then KDB. I don't think he will though so I'd say Bruno with the doubles

      1. Øgaard it's Haa…
        • 1 Year
        12 months, 1 day ago

        KDB got 13 yesterday. I doubt Bruno will outscore him this GW.

        1. thepancakeman123
          • 5 Years
          12 months, 1 day ago

          Maybe not, but KDB isn't getting 13 points every week

    5. Bluetiger1
      • 1 Year
      12 months, 1 day ago

      D or E

      D plays in GW32 E does not
      E however will have from GW33 a good finish with at least one DGW, depends on league
      if still in the hunt & champions league status

  3. FPL deadlines vs ITK chaos
    Admiral Benson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Out of interest, who would be in favour of FPL allowing changes up to kick-off of each game (like some other fantasy games like World Cup etc).

    This would eliminate all this ITK benefit around early team news and risk of server crashes etc.

    Or would you miss the chaos and is the likes of the Saka situation yesterday all part of the fun?

    1. boc610
      • 12 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      early team news is not something that FPL should ever have to factor in or adapt to. i actually think deadlines should be every friday evening after all the pressers .that would mean its not an issue.

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Nah. Not fair on those who have a life outside of FPL who actually have things to do on Saturday morning than sit there waiting for lineups and what about folk abroad. Awful idea really when you think about it . They should close it off the night before the first game

    3. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Wouldn't mind it personally but for the sake of those in different timezones maybe earlier deadline is better (night before). I certainly don't find the pre-deadline chaos fun - a lot of misinformation out there as well as ITK stuff, and its a very specialist skill/knowledge to know who is trustworthy (let alone on April Fools)

    4. faux_C
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      I don't want to have to pay attention right up to the minute before the first kick off, and I suspect the vast majority of people also don't want to be at a disadvantge just because they have other things to be doing.

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      I think the Saka saga like a double gw Dennis is just part of the rough and the smooth of following football.

      It's a dynamic game and who starts is a crucial part of it. It adds to the tension.

      You don't want a sterile or controlled environment.

    6. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      I thought the reason for moving the deadline back 30 mins was to eliminate the benefit of leaked lineups.

      Whenever the deadline is, I don’t understand people going onto the twitter cesspool on Saturday morning seeking ways to gain an edge. Sheer masochism.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        that was to eliminate actual leaked team sheets from the media pool and premier league portal.

        So it's reset it to the earlier leak on who's not starting etc. in a given match.

        Tbf they are on Instagram, YouTube and Reddit so I'm not sure the social media platform is the cause, that's just the vehicle for the messenger.

    7. 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Not for me.

      I'd get rid of the chips n'all!

    8. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Bad idea I think. Should be an option to choose whether your player plays or gets benched if they don't start for their team. So for the likes of Haaland you might still want him to be on your team if he gets a cameo but for most players, if they don't start then you'd rather someone from your bench comes on for them. Doesn't make the leaked lineups as valuable

    9. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Would rather they made the deadline hours earlier.

      Would minimise the leaks but can’t prevent them all. Making it basically compulsory to be online in an hour before KO is a step backwards imo.

    10. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Anything that makes Andy et al less relevant gets a thumbs up from me.

    11. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Thanks to Andy I took a RISK and swapped out Saka for Maddison.

      I am guessing some of those supporting changes to times still have the taste of sour grapes in their mouths.

      The point is it's still a RISK and if he had played 90 minutes and scored big than the sour grapes would be coming from the Saka sellers like me.

      It's a game, players should stop complaining every time they miss out.

      1. Riverside Red
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        12 months, 22 hours ago

        Absolute rubbish...information available to a few players because they have contacts should be minimised by introducing earlier deadlines.

    12. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      No if anything think it would be better if they moved deadline to night before.

      This benefits people who can be online constantly & in a good time zone

  4. space mercenary
    • 4 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Shaw, Rash, Bruno, Trippier, Botman, Isak.
    Wanted to attack this GW so cleared out Arsenal and Kane for a full house of doublers on BB. Currently sitting on 53 (-12) with 21 to play.

    1. space mercenary
      • 4 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Reply fail to P.O.P. post!

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Ballsy moves paying off. Congrats and good luck

  5. thepancakeman123
    • 5 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Not sure who I'd start next week with these keepers and defenders;

    Kepa, Raya
    Trippier, Shaw, Estupinan, Botman, Pinnock

    Would you just hedge your bets and start one from each team except Brighton?
    Something like;

    Kepa
    Trippier, Shaw, Pinnock

  6. notlob legin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Just trying to put together a free hit 32 team - not as easy as I thought:-

    Arsenal - Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard
    Liverpool - TAA, Salah, Darwin
    Leicester - Maddison
    Newcastle - Trippier

    Then possibly:-
    West Ham - Bowen, Zouma
    Spurs - Kane, Son
    Brentord - ??
    A Villa ??

    Anyone else played around with this yet?

    1. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Had a tinker with a FH32 last night and agree it is trickier than I thought.

      Adding Gabriel Jesus in the mix now and budgets will be tight. All adds to the chaos I guess which is a good thing

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        True that and Martinelli and Trossard - I'll probably go with the 3 above as they appear nailed

    2. AARON-1
      • 2 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      I will only need one transfer to get 11 for gw32. Jota over Darwin for me

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        What about Diaz who should be back by then?

    3. thepancakeman123
      • 5 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      I've played around with FH32 and generally found my last 3 slots being Raya, Toney and Bowen

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        Bowen I think will be in mine and possibly Raya

    4. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Ramsdale
      Trent Robbo Trippier
      Salah Saka Martinelli Bowen
      Toney Watkins

      I dunno about 11th player. Maybe Solanke, Ings, or Maddison

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        Not sure on double Liverpool defence - not something I'd even considered

    5. Bluetiger1
      • 1 Year
      12 months, 1 day ago

      If a Free hit team I would wait until after GW31 & any mid-week games

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        Obviously - just playing around with it at the moment

        1. Bluetiger1
          • 1 Year
          12 months, 1 day ago

          I think your first draft looks ok

      2. Bluetiger1
        • 1 Year
        12 months, 1 day ago

        I currently have 9 available but uncertain in final team as one is Toney - gut says sell but at least got pass first of the DGW & keeping him got 9 points todate a big plus might look to RFT & watch.

        Also, have Maddison who is out of sorts so might need to look at things later currently this will allow 3 FT in next 3 Gws (GW30/GW31/GW32) to cover & ensure 11 starters in GW32 BGW.

        Once completed looking playing final push in GW33 for GW34/GW37 to gain points for the rest of season

    6. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Have 8-9 GW 32 players and considering just getting ik a couple of LIV and save BB for Dgw 34:

      DDG/Raya
      Chillwell, Estu, Pinnock, Schär, Trippier
      Mitoma, MacAllister, Rashford, Maddison, Saka
      Toney, Watkins, Kane

      4.9 in the bank to get Haaland in for free

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        *save FH

        1. notlob legin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          12 months, 1 day ago

          Are you targeting any Liverpool players if you go down that route, plus only one Arsenal? Could be a massive rank changer if Liverpool and Arsenal haul

          1. notlob legin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            12 months, 1 day ago

            Sorry - which Liverpool players would you be targeting?

            1. RamaJama
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              12 months, 1 day ago

              Maby only Salah. And maby add a def or Darwin if he proves he can set his chances finally. Other mids seems difficult to predict.

          2. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            12 months, 1 day ago

            Thinking 1-2 Pool players an another Ars. Liverpool don’t do cs, defenders hardly gets attacking returns this season and will be many mids/fwds sharing the points for the rest of the season

            1. notlob legin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              12 months, 1 day ago

              Agree but they are playing Forest (no disrespect meant there) so odds should be quite high for a clean sheet

              1. RamaJama
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                12 months, 1 day ago

                It should be

            2. Fitzy.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              12 months, 1 day ago

              Liverpool had 5 clean sheets in a row, and 6 out of 7 games before conceding against Bournemouth last time out.

              1. RamaJama
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                12 months, 1 day ago

                You’re right. Just feels difficult to trust other Pool players than Salah this year, so up and down. Pro FH is absolutely that you don’t have to keep them

    7. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Defence isnt easy. Front 7 for me probably Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, Salah, Darwin, Gakpo/Jota, Bowen/Toney/Maddison. Maybe Neto, Trippier, Robinson, Ricardo Pereira.

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        Love the triple Arsenal and Liverpool attack - could pay off massively. I think I'd be worried about rotation though.

        Interesting that Son or Kane not mentioned anywhere yet - if they improve post Conte. Son especially could be a great differential for one week only.

        Defence is difficult which is why I'm steering towards, Gabriel, Trippier and TAA

        1. The Mentaculus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 2 Years
          12 months, 1 day ago

          Don't mind taking a punt on a rotation risk like Jota on FH. In fact, I like doing so to have a few differentials. Just have to pay close attention to mins/pressers/form/predicted lineups & then hope for a bit of luck

          1. notlob legin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            12 months, 1 day ago

            Taking a punt on FH is great - I have Son, Jota and Diaz in that category currently but as you stated we will have way more information before then

          2. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            12 months, 1 day ago

            you'll probably get Liverpool team news if it's the early game!

    8. Øgaard it's Haa…
      • 1 Year
      12 months, 1 day ago

      3-5-2. Might find a couple of places for CRY & FUL. Kane with Jota or Solanke assuming Toney is out of the picture.

      1. notlob legin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        I have a feeling Toney will be out by then - Solanke would be a cheap bench player on my FH and I'm so 50/50 on Kane - hopefully the next few weeks will give us some idea

        1. Øgaard it's Haa…
          • 1 Year
          12 months, 1 day ago

          True about Kane. He's already out of my team. If he perks up it would be a last hurrah for him this season, for me. Otherwise, Jesus, with no ARS defs.

    9. snow pea in repose
      • 3 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      Considering Gakpo, Jesus, Porro among others

  7. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 1 day ago

    Would this be my best lineup for GW30?

    Kepa
    Trippier - Chilwell - Shaw
    Saka - Rashford - Harrison - Mitoma
    Kane - Watkins - Toney (Haaland if fit)

    Subs: Raya - March - Henry - Botman

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      12 months, 1 day ago

      It's quite tough to decide. Similar for me and how the rest of the GW goes will probably influence my final line up. That is, whether I bench Mitoma or March or Keep or Raya in particular

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        12 months, 1 day ago

        *Kepa or Raya

  8. Øgaard it's Haa…
    • 1 Year
    12 months, 1 day ago

    With CL looming for City anyone considering Alvarez instead of Hauland until GW33?