The Fantasy Premier League managers who swapped Richarlison (£6.7m) with Everton team-mate Theo Walcott (£6.7m) earlier this week will be pleased to hear his involvement in the EFL Cup was minimal.
However, several Toffees expected to play in Gameweek 4 were used in a 3-1 win over Rotherham United.
Everton’s cup action headlines the latest round up of the midweek action.
EVERTON 3-1 ROTHERHAM UNITED
Just three players involved in Everton’s last league fixture started for the Toffees in their EFL Cup second round win over Rotherham United. That number included Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) who, presumably, was included in the line-up because new signing Bernard (£6.0m) was ruled out of the match with a muscle strain. The Icelandic international scored the first goal of the EFL tie and was substituted in the 66th minute. Bernard’s muscle problem and lack of minutes so far this season should mean Sigurdsson remains a sure starter for Everton in Gameweek 4.
The other two to retain their starting places from Gameweek 3 were Tom Davies (£5.4m), who captained the side, and Mason Holgate (£4.5m). The pair should both be in line to start Gameweek 4 following injuries to Idrissa Gueye (£4.9m) and Phil Jagielka (£4.4m). Central midfielder Gueye was ruled out of the Cup tie with a strained knee while Jagielka has picked up a knee cartilage injury and will be out for three weeks. Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) looks likely to feature too with Yerry Mina (£5.5m) still recovering from a foot injury and Michael Keane (£5.0m) instructed to avoid any head contact for three to four weeks.
Marco Silva was largely happy with those that came into the side, especially given the number of injuries and suspensions. Included in the stand-out performers were Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.4m), who scored twice, Lucas Digne (£4.9m), who was on set-pieces and put up one assist, and Sandro Ramirez (£5.4m), although it looks like he’s set to leave the club.
“Of course when I made the changes, and I did eight, it is not easy to make changes from one game to another and we have some problems with injuries and we have Richarlison suspended as well. And I have to take the decision, even with what might happen in the next days with Sandro. I believe in him, he is a fantastic professional so his performance is not a surprise.” – Marco Silva
Likely Gameweek 4 starters Theo Walcott (£6.7m) and Cenk Tosun (£7.0m) featured from the bench and it would appear neither player picked up any kind of knock. That will be good news for the 545,000+ managers who have made Walcott the most transferred-in player ahead of Saturday’s match against Huddersfield.
Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.5m) made his comeback from injury with a four minute cameo appearance while manager Marco Silva revealed Ademola Lookman (£5.3m) has a groin problem.
“Our medical staff made a statement before the match. He has a small problem in his groin and we will see if he can start to work with the team tomorrow.” – Marco Silva
EVERTON XI (4-4-2): Stekelenburg; Digne, Zouma, Holgate, Kenny; Sigurdsson (Walcott 66’), Davies, Dowell, Sandro (Schneiderlin 86’); Niasse (Tosun 73’), Calvert-Lewin.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED
Newcastle United’s already fairly poor Fantasy appeal took another hit on Wednesday night as they were dumped out of the EFL Cup by Championship side Nottingham Forest. Both ends of the Magpies squad seems to be having serious problems.
Three of the four players to keep their places from Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea were members of the first-team defence including Fabian Schär (£4.9m), Federico Fernandez (£4.5m) and Ciaran Clark (£4.5m), although the latter played at left-back instead of in a back-three. Despite their presence, Newcastle were still breached three times. If you listen carefully you can hear the Sergio Aguero (£11.3m) captaincy trend intensifying worldwide.
Up front the Magpies’ goalscoring woes also continued. New signing Yoshinori Muto (£5.9m) was reportedly poor alongside Joselu (£5.0m) and returning to the starting line-up after ineligibility forced him out of Sunday’s match with Chelsea, Kenedy (£5.0m) was also ineffectual. Salomon Rondon (£5.9m) came on for a late cameo to find a consolation goal, assisted by fellow substitute Ayoze Pérez (£6.4m), but Manchester City defensive options already look very appealing for Gameweek 4.
“(The lack of goals) is a concern. We had the chances with the header in the first half and the final delivery or pass has to be better. The positive today? Rondon scored a goal so you have to have your strikers scoring goals. We did not create many chances so we need to improve in attack and keep working hard. It’s a long season, we knew it was going to be hard but we have confidence in ourselves.” – Rafa Benitez
Ki Sung-yeung (£4.9m) was the final member of Sunday’s starting line-up to feature from the beginning at the City Ground. He should keep his place at the Etihad Stadium in Gameweek 4 given that Jonjo Shelvey (£5.5m) has now been ruled out of the encounter. Jamaal Lascelles (£5.0m), Matt Ritchie (£6.0m) and Javier Manquillo (£4.4m) remain doubts.
“Jamaal was training outside today, I don’t know if Ritchie was outside, Manquillo was outside. We have certain players who are injured. That happens. For Saturday there are doubts on Ritchie, Jamaal (Lascelles) and Manquillo. There’s no chance for Jonjo (Shelvey). Each one is different.” – Rafa Benitez
NEWCASTLE UNITED XI (4-4-1-1): Darlow; Clark, Fernandez (Pérez 69’), Schär, Sterry; Kenedy, Ki, Longstaff, Atsu; Muto (Murphy 77’); Joselu (Rondon 82’).
READING 0-2 WATFORD
The Watford team to face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon should be largely unaffected by the Hornets 2-0 win over Reading on Wednesday night. Manager Javi Gracia made 11 changes to the line-up that beat Crystal Palace in Gameweek 3 and still oversaw a comfortable victory.
The most important line to come out of the match was that Nathaniel Chalobah (£4.5m) made his first start in 11 months following his serious knee injury last season. According to reports he looked sharp, was accurate in his passing, drove forward with power. While the former Chelsea midfielder is unlikely to come into the line-up for Gameweek 4, knowing that he is available for selection again is worth noting, considering his £4.5m price-tag. Stefano Okaka (£5.0m) also made a comeback, featuring as a second-half substitute.
“Tonight we have good news, not only a good result and to continue in this competition. We showed players after a long period injured like Chalobah and Stefano Okaka. Today we have good news. We have enjoyed with players that don’t usually play in the Premier League and today they had the chance to enjoy minutes and I’m very happy for all of them. I think he deserves this game, Okaka as well, because our players after a long period of being injured is good for them, good for the rest of the players, good for me, good for the club and good for the supporters. I think today we have good news.” – Javi Gracia
According to local press, there are unlikely to be any changes to the side that beat Palace but the most likely to break into the starting line-up are Chalobah, Adam Masina (£4.4m) and goal-scorers Isaac Success (£4.5m) and Domingos Quina (£4.5m).
“It’s a difficult situation for me (asked if EFL Cup tie performances had changed team selection for Gameweek 4). As I usually do I try to choose the players that are the best option for the next game. I know that my decisions are not fair with some players – I can only take 18 and in this moment if I could I’d like to take more players but I know it’s not possible. I know my decisions will not be fair but it’s my job.” – Javi Gracia
WATFORD XI (4-4-1-1): Gomes; Masina, Prödl, Mariappa, Navarro; Sema (Okaka 65’), Chalobah (Hughes 86’), Wilmot, Femenía; Quina (Doucouré 82’); Success.
FULHAM 2-0 EXETER CITY
With rotation risk already hanging over several Fulham assets ahead of their Gameweek 4 trip to Brighton, the selection picture was further muddied by their EFL Cup win over Fulham. In the post-match press conference manager Slavisa Jokanovic admitted he did not know what his best team was, or what XI he was going for at the Amex Stadium, suggesting that some of those who helped eliminate the League Two Grecians could be involved.
“This is first team plan too. Some players from today can be perfectly participate in Saturday’s game with Brighton and I will repeat, we are still trying to build up our team. Now the only important thing after this game is the one immediately ahead of us and we are going to take some conclusion after tonight’s game and work to prepare the game and I will try to find the sense and the best starting XI for this game.” – Slavisa Jokanovic
One of those who could be involved is Aboubakar Kamara (£4.5m), who was involved in the first two matches of the campaign. He goes into Gameweek 4 having scored a brace against Exeter. With Fantasy managers looking for bargain options up front to facilitate a more expensive defensive line, Kamara may prove effective if he can hold down his place on the wing from options such as Ryan Sessegnon (£6.4m), who was benched for the win over Burnley and played at left-back against Exeter. It’s also worth noting that there was another start at centre-forward for FPL midfielder Rui Fonte (£4.4m).
“With two goals I am always happy. Kamara is Kamara, we know him and he can make different things and at the end he’s a different player and really fast and strong and for Kamara like for another part of the team, to cover this gap and we need to improve, be better and show ambition for improve ourselves. After two goals, what is important for Kamara is still harder and better to try score three next time. All of us, myself, my team, team from tonight and Sunday, we must improve.” – Slavisa Jokanovic
Alfie Mawson (£5.0m) is another of Tuesday’s performers making a case for inclusion on Saturday. He played well in his first competitive match for Fulham and appears fit and ready to make his league bow.
“After three months and a half or something like this, this was first time he played the game and with new team mates. Alfie showed the quality, the power and was strong in the air, he showed some experience and leadership too. It was a positive sensation for me and for Alfie.” – Slavisa Jokanovic
There were further complications in the Fulham goalkeeper situation as Sergio Rico (£4.5m) made his debut, and played well even if he was called upon sparingly. The Cottagers have now used three different goalkeepers in the first four matches of the 2018/19 season, with Fabri (£4.5m) and David Bettinelli (£4.5m) both getting minutes. It remains unclear who the number one shot stopper is, and Jokanovic could shed no more light on that situation.
“In my hands I have three quality keepers and it’s fantastic news for us. I have less chances to make mistake and first chance for Sergio too, to play with new team mates and he showed the personality and made a few interesting saves and actions from his position. I must be satisfied like I try explain, I am satisfied with the ambition from my side. Gap is interesting thing ahead of us and we will cover this gap to our best level.” – Slavisa Jokanovic
There was an injury to Neeskens Kebano (£4.4m), who was withdrawn in the 74th minute to be replaced by Luca de la Torre.
QUOTE: “He switched the ankle and we must still assess him, I cannot give you more information. It could be some ligament damage but I don’t know, we must assess him.” – Slavisa Jokanovic
FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Rico; R Sessegnon, Mawson (S Sessegnon 75’), Chambers, Christie; Johansen, Cissé, Zambo Anguissa; Kebano (de la Torre 74’), Fonte, Kamara.
STOKE CITY 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD
A defeat to Championship opposition and becoming the first team to concede a Saido Berahino goal in 913 days are not good omens for Huddersfield ahead of a Gameweek 4 trip to Everton’s Goodison Park. Captain Christopher Schindler (£4.5m) was the only member of the side that drew 0-0 with Cardiff to keep his place, and also hurt himself on the night but managed to see the game out.
New signing Erik Durm (£4.5m) made his first appearance for the club while Danny Williams (£4.5m) featured for the first time in five months following a long-term injury lay-off.
“We made the changes because we wanted to have fresh legs, to have energy and to take the opportunity to give some players who were out for a very long period, like Erik Durm who made his first game after 13 months today or Danny Williams who made his first game after five months, the opportunity to play in a competitive game against a very good opponent. We have known that everybody who is able to compete against Stoke City in the cup is able to compete in the Premier League. As often in these games, we have seen some good individual performances today and some less good individual performances.” – David Wagner
Jonas Lössl (£4.5m) started in goal following Ben Hamer’s (£4.0m) injury on Saturday and there is currently no update on which of the two shot stoppers would be between the sticks in Gameweek 4. These next quotes came before Tuesday night’s defeat to Stoke.
“It is for sure the case that Jonas will play, but this would be the case even if Ben Hamer was able to finish the game today – that Jonas will start on Tuesday. Now with Ben’s injury, he got a knock and it looks like the ligaments are fine but this is what we have to find out after further investigations. I can’t really answer how serious his injury is but it looks like, at the minute, it’s not an injury to the ligaments which is important.” – David Wagner
Now with just one goal in four competitive matches in 2018/19, Wagner has admitted that something needs to improve for the Terriers. For now, it seems sensible to give their attacking players a wide berth in FPL.
“The quality in the final third today wasn’t there and this means we were never able to create clear cut chances because the last pass or the pass before the last pass was not good enough. The goalkeeper only has to use his hands once and our goalkeeper had the best chance in stoppage time. I think this speaks for itself. I have no complaints and I will always back my group as long as they work and fight like they have done today, if the effort and attitude is there, but we have to be honest that the quality, at the minute, in the final third is not there. This is what we have to improve. We have known this and we made clear beforehand that we go for talent and for potential in our recruitment which we, without a shadow of a doubt have, but we have to improve this quality and talent as quick as we can.” – David Wagner
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI (4-2-3-1): Lössl; Durm (Löwe 77’), Stankovic, Schindler, Smith; Bacuna, Williams (Mooy 69’); Sabiri (Pritchard 45’), Mbenza, Kachunga; Depoitre.
LEICESTER CITY 4-0 FLEETWOOD TOWN
Leicester look set to turn to Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.0m) when Liverpool come to the King Power Stadium on Saturday after he scored his first goal of the season in an EFL Cup win over Fleetwood Town. He was then withdrawn in the 50th minute presumably with a mind to rest him before Gameweek 4, the final week of Jamie Vardy’s (£8.9m) three-match suspension.
Wes Morgan (£4.5m) may well lose his place to Jonny Evans (£5.0m) again following two consecutive 90 minute displays now, and Daniel Amartey (£4.5m) also kept his place from the side that beat Southampton.
“I made some rotation from the last game (against Southampton). “We are at the beginning of the season, it’s important to give game-time for the players, because all the players will be important for the team. I was impressed with the mentality. When I make some rotation, it’s not a lack of consideration about this competition, it’s because I know the quality of my squad. We can get a good response with different players. I don’t want just 11 starting players, I want a squad of good players, with good feeling, good mentality and good competition, because with good competition between themselves, they can continue to progress.” – Claude Puel
Despite scoring a wonderful goal and playing very well, Christian Fuchs (£4.4m) may remain an option used only in the cup matches. Puel praised his performance against Fleetwood but explained that Ben Chilwell’s (£5.0m) current form makes it difficult for the Austrian to get into the first-team.
“Christian plays also with the desire and conviction and keeps a fantastic mentality like all the experienced players. It’s difficult because we have Chilly (Ben Chilwell) who plays very well also. We need competition, we always need players to keep a good consistency in our game in different competitions. It’s important to perform all the time.” – Claude Puel
A goal and a impressive display for Rachid Ghezzal (£5.4m) on his full debut for Leicester has put him in the frame to get his first Premier League start of the season in Gameweek 4. Team-mate Fuchs believes he’s got a lot to offer, admitting there are some similarities between him and the departed Riyad Mahrez (£8.8m).
“There are a couple of similarities (between Ghezzal and Mahrez). The first training session we were like: ‘Hold on, he looks familiar.’ Also the way he played and the way he scored his goal looks very familiar but I don’t want to compare him with Riyad. He is a great player, Rachid, that can benefit from time. He can be a great addition for the future for Leicester. He has played pretty well given his feedback as he feels the Premier League is a lot more physical and faster than what he is used to. He has the same challenge in training and he can adapt well. It is fun to mark him in training. He just showed against a very physical team (Fleetwood) that he performed very well. He should grow a couple of muscles but after that he will be a great player!” – Christian Fuchs
LEICESTER CITY XI (4-2-3-1): Ward; Fuchs, Evans, Morgan (Benković 62’), Amartey; Silva, Iborra; Albrighton, Okazaki, Ghezzal (Diabaté 76’); Iheanacho (Gray 50’).
SHEFFIELD WENDESDAY 0-2 WOLVES
Leo Bonatini (£4.9m) was the biggest winner of Wolves’ passage to the next round of the EFL Cup. He scored his first goal since December in the 2-0 victory at Sheffield Wendesday. The striker has only been used as a substitute in the league so far since Raul Jiménez (£5.5m) arrived but was an impressive performer at Hillsborough.
“It’s very good. A goal is always a goal, it gives confidence to the player, but he has my confidence – that is more important. You know me…goal, important yes, he did a good job but it goes much further than that. It’s about the team.” – Nuno
Matt Doherty (£4.4m) and Conor Coady (£4.5m) were the only players to retain their starting berths from Saturday’s win over Manchester City. As key individuals they should be back in the side for Gameweek 4. The biggest piece of team news from the night was the fact that club captain Danny Batth (£4.0m) was not in the match day squad again and still hasn’t been named in the 18 at all this season.
“That’s a decision. Danny is the captain of the club, I already spoke with him. He didn’t come today…options. We have to make decisions. Sometimes they are not so happy to take (them) but we have to make them. Leander had his first game, Kortney played, Coady, Bennett on the bench, Boly at home. Decisions. Every player of Wolves including the under-23s and under-18s are inside my plans.” – Nuno
Also of interest was the fact that FPL midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.5m) was deployed on the flanks of the front line, a much more advanced position than he was used in during pre-season.
Finally, Nuno suggested that he will be hoping to progress in the EFL Cup this year. If he does give the competition, and the FA Cup some focus that may prove a factor later in the season.
“We’re all satisfied – there are a lot of positives; a starting XI with youth, players playing for the first time, good answers. The main thing is the team competed well and went through…the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, they’re all important to us because they’re games and we take positives and negatives from every game we play.” – Nuno
WOLVES XI (3-4-3): Ruddy; Hause, Coady, Dendoncker; Vinagre, Watt (Goncalves 62’), Saïss, Doherty; Gibbs-White (Costa 72’), Bonatini (Ashley-Seal 80’), Traoré.
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