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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
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 4 days ago

    Palmer & Watkins > Halland & ?

    A Andersen
    B Ndoye
    C Kudus

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    1. Lallana_
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 4 days ago

      C

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

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      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

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

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        1. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 4 days 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
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 4 days ago

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

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    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 4 days ago

      Lewis being overlooked?

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      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

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

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        1. g40steve
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 4 days ago

          Bobb’s a mid no?

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          1. Freshy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            4 months, 4 days 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_
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 4 days ago

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

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  3. gfcc20
    • 2 Years
    4 months, 4 days ago

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

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    1. AAAFootball
        4 months, 4 days ago

        Yes

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    2. Kodap
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 4 days 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
        • 12 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

        Decent team that

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      2. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        4 months, 4 days 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
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

        Not for me.

        Too balanced (bench headaches) not enough captaincy options.

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      4. Tony Moon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        4 months, 3 days 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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    3. _Greg
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 4 days ago

      FH Activated.

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

      Tem

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      1. _Greg
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

        ...

        Dubravka KDH Reinildo 4m

        Tempted to captain Wood, West Ham are so bad!

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    4. Lallana_
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 4 days 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
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

        Nah. Just wait.

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        1. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 4 days 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_
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 4 days ago

            The -4 just before the deadline of course!

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          2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
            • 1 Year
            4 months, 3 days ago

            “he looks electric.”

            Tiny sample size

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    5. AAAFootball
        4 months, 4 days ago

        Sell ndaye before price falls?

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      • FortunesAlwaysHiding
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 months, 4 days 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
          • 10 Years
          4 months, 4 days ago

          Offer him for Palmer or Wirtz

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      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 months, 4 days 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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      • Emiliano Sala
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 4 days ago

        Are people already selling palmer?

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        1. Yank Revolution
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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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      • _Greg
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 4 days 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
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 4 days ago

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

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          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 months, 4 days ago

            Eyes-on that Arias drop. Very nice.

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        2. Emiliano Sala
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 4 days ago

          Palmer?

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          1. _Greg
            • 15 Years
            4 months, 4 days 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
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 4 days ago

              Flag causes more sells…

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              1. Hazz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                4 months, 4 days ago

                A flag also slows the rate of a fall.

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      • FantasyClub
        • 4 Years
        4 months, 4 days 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
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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
          4 months, 3 days 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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      • Lallana_
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 4 days 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
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 months, 3 days ago

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

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          1. Lallana_
            • 11 Years
            4 months, 3 days 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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      • The-Red-1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 months, 3 days ago

        Palmer to Kudus a no brainer?

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      • AAAFootball
          4 months, 3 days ago

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

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        • McGurn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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
            4 months, 3 days 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
            • 10 Years
            4 months, 3 days ago

            You're off Holly Shands Xmas card list.

            lol

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        • I Member
          • 10 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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
            • 14 Years
            4 months, 3 days ago

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

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          2. McGurn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            4 months, 3 days 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
              • 10 Years
              4 months, 3 days 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
                • 16 Years
                4 months, 3 days 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
                  • 16 Years
                  4 months, 3 days ago

                  Australasians to clarify. Sorry Knights and Fitzy x

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              2. Yank Revolution
                • 14 Years
                4 months, 3 days 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
            4 months, 3 days ago

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

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        • McGurn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 3 days ago

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

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        • FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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
            • 16 Years
            4 months, 3 days 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
            4 months, 3 days 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
            • 12 Years
            4 months, 3 days ago

            Can believe you Fullkrug for it!!!

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        • Stevie B
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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
            4 months, 3 days ago

            Yes, but not yet!

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            1. Stevie B
              • 15 Years
              4 months, 3 days ago

              Thank you!

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        • SalahFingers
          • 8 Years
          4 months, 3 days ago

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

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          1. More Tragic
            • 10 Years
            4 months, 3 days ago

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

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            1. SalahFingers
              • 8 Years
              4 months, 3 days ago

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

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              1. McGurn
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                4 months, 3 days 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
                  4 months, 3 days 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
                    • 16 Years
                    4 months, 3 days ago

                    Just 2! But yeah good luck for the season!

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                    1. SalahFingers
                      • 8 Years
                      4 months, 3 days 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
                        • 16 Years
                        4 months, 3 days 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
            4 months, 3 days ago

            Since end of last season..

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        • Bleh
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 3 days 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
            4 months, 3 days ago

            8.5/10

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