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West Ham v Chelsea team news: Palmer injured in warm-up

22 August 2025 1496 comments
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Gameweek 2 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) gets underway on Friday, with West Ham United and Chelsea both looking to secure their first wins of the 2025/26 season.

Kick-off at the London Stadium is at 20:00 BST.

Chelsea make three changes from their clash with Crystal Palace last Sunday.

Malo Gusto and the fit-again Tosin Adarabioyo come in for Reece James and Josh Acheampong at the back.

Further forward, Liam Delap starts alongside Joao Pedro, with Jamie Gittens dropping to the bench.

West Ham boss Graham Potter makes just one alteration from the side that lost 3-0 at Sunderland, as Tomas Soucek is preferred to Guido Rodriguez in midfield.

The main Fantasy interest is in the visitors.

Joao Pedro is in more than half of FPL squads, while Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella‘s ownership is over 20%.

*UPDATE: Cole Palmer is out of tonight’s match due to an injury suffered in the warm-up. Estevao comes in for the Chelsea midfielder.

LINE-UPS

West Ham United XI: Hermansen, Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd, Wan-Bissaka, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Diouf, Paqueta, Bowen, Fullkrug

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Scarles, Rodriguez, Potts, Irving, Wilson, Marshall

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Enzo, Caicedo, Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto, Delap

Subs: Jorgensen, Slonina, Acheampong, Fofana, Hato, James, Essugo, Santos, Gittens

1,496 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    Palmer & Watkins > Halland & ?

    A Andersen
    B Ndoye
    C Kudus

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    1. Lallana_
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      C

      I have to do A I feel due to limitation in $$$

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      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 23 hours ago

        Cheers, gave Palmer another chance this week but obviously he’s not 100%

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        1. Lallana_
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 23 hours ago

          I was going to do A for a hit this week and captain Haaland but wanted Chelsea attackers for that West Ham fixture

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  2. pjomara
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    Which Man City defender is most nailed on?
    Is Ait-Nouri competing with Gvardiol?

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    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      Lewis being overlooked?

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      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 23 hours ago

        If I was going to take a flyer on a City player it would e Bobb

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        1. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 23 hours ago

          Bobb’s a mid no?

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          1. Freshy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            1 year, 23 hours ago

            yep
            The Rico test failed Pep last season
            Dont trust him to settle on a back line past RAN

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    2. Lallana_
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      I got RAN and feel like he'll get benched every 4/5 games

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  3. gfcc20
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    Guiu + Fulkrug + Palmer to J.Pedro + Wood + Reijnders/Andersen (-4)?.

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      Yes

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  4. Kodap
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    Team was a mess.. WC activated, how’s it looking?

    Sanchez
    Cucu - Lacroix - RAN
    Gakpo - Kudus - Bruno - Semenyo
    Haaland - Wood - Joao Pedro

    Dubravka - Reijnders - Dorgu - Konsa

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    1. NZREDS
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      Decent team that

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    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      Decent, I’m holding mine just took out Palmer & Watkins

      Sels,
      Cucu, Hartman, Porro
      Salah, Semenyo, Kudus, Reijnders, I Sarr
      Pedro, Haaland

      Dubs, Gudmund, Diouf, Guiu,

      1m

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    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      Not for me.

      Too balanced (bench headaches) not enough captaincy options.

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    4. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Real benching headache with that front 8. If Reijnders keeps playing and scoring, who will you bench? I'd probably downgrade Gakpo or Kudus in order to upgrade the other one. That said, it's a decent squad if you're happy with the benching dilemmas!

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  5. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    FH Activated.

    Sanchez
    Milenkovic Murillo Cucurella
    Barnes Bruno Mbeumo Cunha
    Haaland JP Wood.

    Tem

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    1. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      ...

      Dubravka KDH Reinildo 4m

      Tempted to captain Wood, West Ham are so bad!

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  6. Lallana_
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    Got 2FT. Pull the trigger on this before the price rise?

    Palmer>Andersen
    Watkins>Haaland

    or I can wait for more information and take a hit later this week. Some possibilities include downgrading Wirtz for a -4 and bringing in:

    Andersen/Mbeumo
    Kudus/Rogers

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    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 23 hours ago

      Nah. Just wait.

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      1. Lallana_
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 23 hours ago

        Worst case scenario, just free hit?

        Think I may take the -4 just to do Mbeumo(C), he looks electric.

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        1. Lallana_
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 23 hours ago

          The -4 just before the deadline of course!

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        2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 19 hours ago

          “he looks electric.”

          Tiny sample size

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  7. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    Sell ndaye before price falls?

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  8. FortunesAlwaysHiding
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 23 hours ago

    I have Foden, Bobb and Reijnders in a draft league. Would you offer Reijnders for Mitoma? Seems like a solid sell high, buy low.

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    1. noquarternt
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Offer him for Palmer or Wirtz

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  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Sort of bottomed so asking again.

    Sanchez
    Milenkovic Murillo Porro
    Salah Palmer* Bruno Reijnders Anderson
    Watkins Pedro
    Dubravka // Richards Guiu Esteve

    Watkins/Palmer > Haaland/5.5m (2 FTs)

    Not worth it tonight, right?
    If I didn't have Anderson I'd be tempted.

    Three 5.5m mids seems a lot. Especially when I could also upgrade Guiu to a playable FWD and a decent mid-priced MID.

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  10. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Are people already selling palmer?

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    1. Yank Revolution
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 19 hours ago

      Think he'll be out for me soon, downgrade to a Kudus level player, will help fund getting in Haaland up front.

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  11. _Greg
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Model updated, we will have a massacre tonight! livefpl.net/prices

    Predicted ⬆️(9 players): Aït-Nouri, Cucurella, Gabriel, Haaland, Saliba, Calafiori, Reijnders, Kudus, Cash
    Predicted ⬇️(42 players

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    1. _Greg
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Predicted ⬇️(42 players) Frimpong, Welbeck, Hall, Füllkrug, Iwobi, Havertz, Sancho, J.Arias, ....

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      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 22 hours ago

        Eyes-on that Arias drop. Very nice.

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    2. Emiliano Sala
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Palmer?

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      1. _Greg
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 22 hours ago

        You can check the widget but no, not Palmer, nor would I expect a drop this week. His journey mirrors Wirtz plus he might be flagged soon.

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        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 22 hours ago

          Flag causes more sells…

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          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 22 hours ago

            A flag also slows the rate of a fall.

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  12. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Who’s happy with the Cucurella pick?
    Couldn’t watch the game how did he look?

    I’m quite sour about that clean sheet loss!

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    1. McGurn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      I think Chelsea will score loads but wouldnt bank on clean sheets. Cucurella looked great going forward tonight. Potential buy for me

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    2. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Not as forward by his usual standards as Gusto started but still a great pick, chuffed I stuck with him

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  13. Lallana_
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    All eyes on Haaland but if Palmer is injured a simple move to Mbeumo or Cunha (C) could be huge next week.

    Let's see what happens. A move I may consider is:

    Georginio>Mbeumo (C) and Palmer>Cunha

    Long-term I feel Rogers and Kudus better value though so probably will just go Mbeumo (C) and bank the other transfer.

    -

    If Haaland performs really well this week I'll have to take a -4 after the price rises and do:

    Watkins>Haaland and downgrade Palmer & Wirtz to either:

    -Kudus/Rogers or
    -Mbeumo/Andersen

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    1. Herger
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      That would certainly be bold. I’d fancy Burnley to beat Man Utd

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      1. Lallana_
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 22 hours ago

        Maybe they do but Mbeumo and Cunha are quality players and Man Utd are projected to score the most next week (2.1 goals) vs. Liverpool (1.5 goals) and City (2.0 goals).

        Haaland would be a great captain choice for many but it will require a hit so a Man Utd midfielder is better than Salah IMO

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  14. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Palmer to Kudus a no brainer?

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  15. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    What is live fpl doing with ndaiye
    2 times they said it would fall and then cancelled

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  16. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    My favourite week of the season. When people knee jerk for Britain. I dont mean the casual player, that i fully understand, but when the experienced player transfers out last weeks blank and brings in last weeks scorer! Priceless x

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    1. ted mcnure
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      I am agree! I´m travelling for a while, so team is set to roll some transfers, change capt/subs if I can..keeping it casual!

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    2. More Tragic
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      You're off Holly Shands Xmas card list.

      lol

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  17. I Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    What would you do with this lot?

    Sels
    Pedro Porro, Murillo, Van de Ven
    Palmer, Saka, B.Fernandes, Wirtz, Reijnders
    Watkins, Joao Pedro

    Verbruggen; Fullkrug, Diouf, De Cuyper.

    2 FTs

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    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Nothing glaring at all. If Palmer is ok I would roll the transfer

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    2. McGurn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Hi mate. We only engaged last week but i like your vibe and lets be honest noone else is here, so we are stuck with each other for the rest of the season, lol! I genuinely love your team, so wouldnt do anything. When you have a quality team you can bank transfers and do a mini wildcard in GW4. Cheers pal

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      1. I Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 22 hours ago

        Thanks mate appreciate that. Was considering Palmer + Watkins -> Anderson + Haaland but seems a bit silly to sell Watkins with the fixtures he has.

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        1. McGurn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          1 year, 22 hours ago

          This site is not what it was so i need a pal, lol! (from this Hemispehere, the Australians here are great guys!) The Palmer injury is key here, so not sure yet

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          1. McGurn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 17 Years
            1 year, 21 hours ago

            Australasians to clarify. Sorry Knights and Fitzy x

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        2. Yank Revolution
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 19 hours ago

          If Watkins can't put up a good score vs. Brentford, he's gone for Haaland, fixtures or not.

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    3. ted mcnure
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Palmer to Semenyo asap, then down the sweet shop with the change.

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  18. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Echo..Echo..Ech..Ec..E..

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  19. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    "Fullkrug, I think, could have a really good 13/14-goal season if he stays fit – he’s got that swagger about him where he doesn’t care if he misses a chance and is determined to score the next one."

    Thank you for the useless advice.

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    1. McGurn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Hi FPL Virgin. I have missed you half pint empty vibe these last 4 months! Ever considered positivity, lol. Cheers pal, looking forward to the season x

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    2. Stevie B
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 21 hours ago

      In my opinion, he is too injury-prone - or rather - he is been sidelined frequently due to injuries. See: https://www.transfermarkt.de/niclas-fullkrug/verletzungen/spieler/75489

      I do not quite understand this preference for Germans. For example I could not understand why Florian Wirtz was or is on so many teams. Sadly I am also German.

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    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 21 hours ago

      Can believe you Fullkrug for it!!!

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  20. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Is this worth a - 8?

    Frimpong, Palmer and Guiu -> Cucurella, Semenyo and Wood

    Thank you!

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    1. ted mcnure
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 22 hours ago

      Yes, but not yet!

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      1. Stevie B
        • 15 Years
        1 year, 21 hours ago

        Thank you!

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  21. SalahFingers
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 22 hours ago

    Any news on Palmer? How long is he likely to be out?

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    1. More Tragic
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 21 hours ago

      sounds like a Tosin type situation but I'm sure we'll find out soon

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      1. SalahFingers
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 21 hours ago

        Might sell anyway, but there's nobody I really want in midfield (yet)

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        1. McGurn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          1 year, 21 hours ago

          Do you have Haaland? This season the value is the cheap. In six weeks all non Salah owners will have the same team. Bargains galore!!

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          1. SalahFingers
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 21 hours ago

            not yet but I don't really want him yet.

            Besides, Palmer is a mid and Haaland is a striker so it would take multiple transfers to get him. I'd prefer wood at the moment tbh

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            1. McGurn
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 17 Years
              1 year, 21 hours ago

              Just 2! But yeah good luck for the season!

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              1. SalahFingers
                • 8 Years
                1 year, 21 hours ago

                2 assuming the money is right, but I can't buy a midfielder for 2.9mil so 3 transfers at least.

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                1. McGurn
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 17 Years
                  1 year, 21 hours ago

                  Good luck pal. There is no right answer, but the key is take your time! All the best x

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    2. ted mcnure
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 21 hours ago

      Since end of last season..

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  22. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 21 hours ago

    Toying with this WC. Thoughts?

    Sels
    Cucu, Lacroix, Dorgu
    Salah, Rogers, Kudus, Reijnders
    Haaland, Wood, Pedro

    (Dubravka, Rodon, Esteve, King)

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    1. Yank Revolution
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 19 hours ago

      8.5/10

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