Dugout Discussion

Walcott fit to start for Everton while Pellegrini rings the changes

Everton take on rock-bottom West Ham United in the penultimate match of Gameweek 5, with kick-off at Goodison Park at 16:00 BST.

Theo Walcott (£6.7m) was the second-most-sold Fantasy Premier League player of this round, with over a third of his owners ditching the Everton winger after he picked up an injury in the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town a fortnight ago.

Walcott, however, has won his race to be fit for this afternoon’s match, along with defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye (£4.9m).

Richarlison (£6.6m), still the most-owned Everton outfield player in FPL despite his recent ban, sits out the last match of his suspension, while the injured Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) joins the lengthy list of players unavailable to Marco Silva for this afternoon’s encounter.

Jonjoe Kenny (£4.3m) – who recorded a clean sheet and an assist in this fixture last season – comes into the Everton starting XI in place of Coleman, with Tom Davies (£5.4m) making way for Gueye in the double-pivot.

Everton have yet to keep a clean sheet this season, but Jordan Pickford (£5.4m) remains the fourth-most-popular goalkeeper in FPL in spite of this.

Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) is the most-owned player on show on either side at Goodison, with the Austrian having scored both of West Ham’s Premier League goals this season.

The Hammers’ poor defensive record of ten goals conceded and no clean sheets has influenced over half a million FPL managers’ selections between the sticks: 70.8% of Lukasz Fabianski‘s (£4.5m) owners have benched the Polish shot-stopper this week.

Manuel Pellegrini has made six changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers two weeks ago, including the recall of Pablo Zabaleta (£4.3m) and Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) at full-back.

Pellegrini has seemingly switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, with Mark Noble (£4.9m), Declan Rice (£4.4m) and Pedro Obiang (£4.4m) the all-new central midfield three. The injured Jack Wilshere (£4.9m) is among those to make way.

Andriy Yarmolenko (£6.8m) gets his first Premier League start in a front three alongside Felipe Anderson (£6.9m) and Arnautovic.

Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Digne, Zouma, Holgate, Kenny; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Tosun.

West Ham United XI (4-3-3): Fabianski; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku; Noble, Rice, Obiang; Yarmolenko, Arnautovic, Felipe Anderson

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

3,573 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Pedro to Fraser or save?

    1. United10
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      save

  2. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    87 from 11, all out
    27 from 2 on the bench

    **Raging

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Phew!!

  3. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Ask Arnie about his bloomin' injury!

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      The crutch is a giveaway

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Just kidding Slouchy

  4. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I’m giving Wally one more game lmao

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Oh dear

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah, away to Arsenal screams of a goalfest tbh

    3. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      You need to let go.

  5. Jaok
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Patricio foster
    Mendy* alonso robertson shaw* awb
    Salah mane maddison bsilva høybjerg
    Kun tosun* kamara

    Time to wildcard? Or just take some hits?

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Wait for news about Kun and Mendy

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Pull the trigger

    3. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Save the WC. Wait for news.

    4. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Keep Mendy unless it's a long term injury.

  6. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hi, who is better?
    A. Rich (352)
    B. King (343)
    Ta.

    1. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      A

  7. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Arnie; "I don't know, we need to check, it's not my calf, it's behind my knee"...

    DIRECT QUOTE.

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Oh dear

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      And he's just said it hurts a bit. Not good

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        "I don't know, we need to check now, it's not my calf, I think it's behind my knee, I don't know it's hurting a little bit, so we check this week how it is going and we will see later"

        FULL QUOTE.

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          No good is it

          1. Zenith UK
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            He likes to troll, he'll be alright. Got a week to recover.

    3. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Dnt worry too much about it. Hes fine. Wait for more info.

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Donald your my hero

  8. A19
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Already on 95 with Ings still to play but next week is full of concern... Ings ineligible, Aguero, Mendy, Arnie injury doubt. It's gonna be a long week to wait for update on those players

    1. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      ban

    2. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Sounds rough mate, keep your chin up.

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      The 95 points bit was important for the injury news

      1. A19
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah sorry. It was more to say that even tough it's been a good week there are a lot of concerns for next week and so different emotions but that was not well said.

        1. Regin
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Kun should play. Mendy no idea. Ings anyways should be benched.

    4. Kolarov Fpl Legend
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I feel for you mate.

  9. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Doherty and Jimenez returns always welcome.

    Not a bad day at the office today.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Well done Norman

      1. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        That’s Mr Bates to you.

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          :mrgreen:

    2. Regin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I was very close getting Doherty on a WC. Got Patricio. Wasn't confident doubling up on wolves defense.

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Arnie "its my knee, checking this week how its going, we will see"

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      It's behind his knee, not his knee.

    2. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Arnie says Argh Knee!

  11. Regin
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Just found out that the 4th president of USA was James Madison.

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      His campaign was probably as Jammy as present day Madison

    2. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      First with the news again.

  12. Oven Glover
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Arnie unsure if he’s going to be fit for next game.

    1. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Seriously.....?
      Did you not see my post earlier?

  13. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    12 points from doherty might take me inside top 1k

  14. Fantastisk
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    With Arnie looking fine, Aguero -> Arnie for a -4?

    1. Kolarov Fpl Legend
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      No brainier.

  15. United10
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhitaryan to
    a)Frazer
    b) Maddison

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      a.

      Leicester are gash

  16. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhi won't start vs Everton will he?

    1. United10
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      unlikely

  17. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    WC team
    0.7 to spend
    Bank it or change something?

    Hennessey Fabianski
    Alonso Mendy Robbo AWB Bennett
    Hazard Mane Richarlison Maddison Fraser
    Kun Zaha Mitro

    1. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Like it apart from the two cheaper strikers. Both card magnets imo. You are going to need more than one goal for BAPS, lots of weeks.

  18. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Walcott's trolling is next level.

    you have to hand it to the fella.

  19. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Walcott trolled me yet again. Wallie & Tosun > Fraser & Mitro

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

    2. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      They don't call him a troll for nothing Steve

  20. Dannyb
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    91 all out, double wolves defence doing me proud at the moment.

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Link your team

    2. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      How?

      1. squ1rrel
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Go to points and then paste the url here, or give us the number that follows "team/"

  21. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Only Salah has more PL goal involvements in 2018 than Arnie

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Get them both 😉

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Aguero, Hazard and Kane joint with Arnie, if only we could have them all!

    2. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Arnie's a beast, I sold him as part of a minus 8 last week however
      😆

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I had both Arnie and Mitro and the idiot in me dropped Arnie in GW for Aguero (c). Aguero blanked. Arnie scores. Then dropped Mitro for Arnie, Mitro scored and Arnie blanked. Luckily Aguero scored that week too.

        Should've stuck to my guns from day one.

        I'm gonna be gutted when someone comes knocking for Arnie in Jan

  22. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    To WC or not to WC. 0 ITB and 2 FTs

    *Pickford *Stekelenberg

    Robertson Mendy *Bellerin AWB *Peltier

    Salah *bsilva *Walcott Fraser Billing

    Aguero *Aubameyang Mitro

    *= players I wanna ditch

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Hell no. Take a hit and your problem areas are sorted

      1. Kanga roo
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        There are multiple problem areas though.

        1. Kanga roo
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Just noticed 2ft. Carry on

      2. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Which players are the priority you think? Currently looking at Aubameyang and bsilva to Lacazette and DSilva. Thoughts?

    2. Rash
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      With 2ft don't wild card

  23. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Interesting, Mendy here with pogba today. No sign of injury but they did say it's not serious.

    https://twitter.com/utdreport/status/1041372268901945344?s=19

    Still feel there might be more to it, possible discipline problem

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Late night ahead for the lads!

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      #lads

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        #mercenaries

    3. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      off the field, pep thinks mendy is as daft as a brush. listen to any recent quotes about him. wouldnt take much from him to pi ss him off

  24. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone concerned by Alonso's off day ystrdy??

    One of the reasons I wc'd was to get him in also.

    1. Sweetboi
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      This comment is maybe the most fickle I've seen all season. One blank haha

    2. The Real Big Vern
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      he was denied an assist he should have have been awarded so no

    3. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      no. can't expect hauls every week

    4. Tev
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Nah, unlucky not to get an assist and Chelsea’s defence should be decent long term

    5. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Nope. He's not going to attacking returns in more than half the games

    6. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Nope. On another day FPL give him the assist and they keep the CS too.

      No CL this season so he's nailed in the opposition box with Emerson being used for midweek.

    7. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      That second sentence sounds so wrong

  25. Tev
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Feel as if CL will have a real effect and next week will be a disappointing one. Mane, Aguero, Mendy, even Kane I think are at risk of benching against weaker opposition, especially given injury/ fatigue concerns in some of those cases.

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      There's some risk, but it's pretty limited. It's the first week of CL. Maybe further down the line, but there's little to worry about this week imo

    2. Naboo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Aguero and Mendy depends on if they play (and how much) mid week

  26. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Re-typed full Arnie quote for those looking;

    "I don't know, we need to check now, it's not my calf, I think it's behind my knee, I don't know it's hurting a little bit, so we check this week how it is going and we will see later"

    This comes directly from post match interview. His own words.

  27. Our Man Charlie
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    was thinking of taking Auba out ..... after that game definitely re thinking that plan

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I wouldn’t back him to score with a twenty dollar hooker

      1. Our Man Charlie
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        😆 think get him out then Podge

  28. squ1rrel
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Knee-jerked a -4, how does this look for next week? 2.5 ITB

    Ederson
    Mendy - Alonso - PvA - Robbo - Steve Cook
    Mane - Hazard - Ozil - Fraser
    Aguero

    Hamer - Ings - Guendouzi - Kamara

    1. BIGREDDOG
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Love Ozil punt

    2. *sigh*
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Pretty poor in all honesty.You want to hope Kun isn’t rotated.

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Jesus plays CL.
        Aguero back for PL.

  29. BIGREDDOG
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone fancy Giroud? I think he has ousted Morata tbh

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah, he's gorgeous!

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Could be a good punt. Seems like an unnecessary one at his price point though - midfielders (and arguably strikers) at the same price or less are better options

    3. Where has all the rum gone?
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Like him but he needs too many chances, besides at 7.8 there are better and cheaper options.

  30. hogree
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Maddison or Richarlison? Who would you rather?