Team News

FPL Team News and Injury Round-up – Gameweek 36

Friday was a busy day on the team news and injury update front as 14 Premier League managers delivered their pre-match press conferences.

The head coaches of Brighton, Everton, Fulham, Huddersfield, Liverpool and Southampton all held their pressers yesterday and the stand-out quotes from those six managers – including Jurgen Klopp’s comments on Mohamed Salah and rotation – can be viewed here.

Pep Guardiola gave us more than he usually does in his own press conference on Friday, first starting with the latest on Manchester City’s injured contingent.

On Kevin De Bruyne (muscle), Guardiola said:

Still he is not fit. He’s getting better, but is not fit.

Asked about Fernandinho (knee), the City boss replied:

We will see tomorrow. Little bit of a problem in the knee but we will see tomorrow.

Guardiola also explained why John Stones was omitted from the match-day squad on Wednesday, saying:

We need for one typical game, more specific qualities for one central defender. I thought between Vinny and Nico, Vinny going back is a little bit quicker, the personality to play in Old Trafford. When it’s long balls, I prefer Nico and Vinny because they are so strong.

That above quote could be particularly relevant given that City are at Turf Moor on Sunday.

Guardiola also said:

When teams play so high, I need maybe Leroy, when they play deep, David Silva in the pockets is an incredible player.

The Clarets could welcome Phil Bardsley (gashed leg) back for Sunday’s match against City, meanwhile.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Ander Herrera to be available for the visit of Chelsea this weekend and will hand a late fitness test to Scott McTominay, while the United boss also said he had no plans to take David de Gea out of the firing line, saying:

No, not at all. I trust David and for me, he’s been the best player United have had the last six/seven years. Going through tough patches is just part of a footballer’s career.

Maurizio Sarri didn’t provide any update on Marcos Alonso (gluteal injury) but said Callum Hudson-Odoi (Achilles) will be out for around three months.

The Chelsea boss also provided news on two of his other injured players:

Rudiger is OK, at the moment. We are trying to recover Kante but I am not sure at the moment.

Eden Hazard has occasionally been used as a false nine in matches against the “big six” this season, with Sarri having previously explained that he likes the Belgian’s defensive qualities in that role.

This fresh quote on Friday might be a hint that he will proceed with caution at Old Trafford:

We will try to win, of course. But we need not to lose.

Nuno Espirito Santo and Brendan Rodgers both reported no fresh injury concerns in their respective pressers.

Leicester are up against Arsenal, who welcomed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to training on Friday after his “small procedure” on a sinus.

Emery said on Friday:

He trained today and, if tomorrow he can train, I think we can think he’s ready for Sunday. If he can train normally tomorrow, it’s a possibility [he could start].

Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Denis Suarez (groin) remain sidelined.

Mauricio Pochettino may secretly have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Ajax but his ability to rotate may be hindered by Spurs’ lengthy injury list: Serge Aurier (hamstring), Erik Lamela (hamstring), Moussa Sissoko (groin), Harry Kane (ankle) and Harry Winks (groin) remain unavailable for Saturday’s game against West Ham.

When asked about the possible distraction of Tuesday’s match, Pochettino said:

I think it’s a little bit unlucky we can’t recover players for the game tomorrow. Then we need to still assess some players this afternoon, we’ll see if some players can be available or not.

We come from a very busy period and of course, there’s a lot of fatigue in the team. But all our decisions are going to be focused on trying to win the game tomorrow. It’s the most important game. We cannot think of Tuesday.

All the decisions we are going to take for tomorrow’s game is because we need to provide the team with energy, the capacity to fight from the first moment. It is so important to provide the team with the best tools and fresh legs, fresh minds to win.

Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini revealed that Aaron Cresswell (unspecified), Manuel Lanzini (groin) and Javier Hernandez (ear) have returned to training this week but Samir Nasri (calf) remains out, with a comeback pencilled in for next week.

Rafael Benitez confirmed that Jamaal Lascelles (stomach illness) will miss out against Brighton, while Miguel Almiron (hamstring) is ruled out for the season.

The Magpies’ boss expects Isaac Hayden and Fabian Schar (knocks) to recover, however.

Crystal Palace will once again be without James Tomkins (groin), Mamadou Sakho (knee) and Jeffrey Schlupp (ankle) for their match against Everton, while Neil Warnock said Joe Ralls (hamstring) will miss the rest of the season and that Harry Arter (calf) remains a doubt for the trip to Fulham.

Eddie Howe confirmed that he has two new additions to an already lengthy injury list, saying:

The long-term injuries are still the same, we can now add to that list, Junior [Stanislas].

Adam [Smith] will definitely be missing tomorrow, we will have to wait and see whether he’ll play again before the end of this season. We hope he’s avoided a long-term injury.

Watford’s team news was the last to be revealed, with Javi Gracia’s press conference again embargoed until 5pm.

Sebastian Prodl (knee) and Domingos Quina (shoulder) remain sidelined but Gracia said he has everyone else available.

1,222 Comments Post a Comment
  1. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    All these Eriksen transfers OUT is really making me want to put the (c) on him..... 😉

    1. 2hotty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I know its all i thought about since transfering him in he has a good steady flow of points as well not sure whats wrong with me

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      These rumors also makes you want to VC Firmino?

      1. OldBenKenobi
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        HA! no

    3. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'd go safe with Liverpool (C)

  2. 2hotty
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any thoughts on Eriksen and Duffy to Van Dyk and Siggy for the remainder of the season

    1. @FPLDIARYFPL
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Think erkisen is a good for the remainder of the season...

  3. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who should be first on bench? (Very likely to play)

    A) Ward-Prowse
    B) Duffy
    C) Valery

    * Already have Ryan as keeper

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Duff

    2. 2hotty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Duffy

  4. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    So have BB activated and C on firmino he'll either play or not so I dont mind leaving C on him but should I unactivate BB ?

  5. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Apologies RP:

    Afternoon peeps! No idea what to do at all this week, transfers or who to start!

    How it currently looks:

    Ryan
    TAA | Doherty | Bednarek
    Salah | Mane | Hazard | Lucas | Fraser
    Aguero | Jimenez

    Boruc | King | Dunk | Peltier

    1FT, 0ITB

    Happy to take a few punts and risks and just have a bit of laugh now til the season close.

    Thanks!

    1. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Fraser > Babel
      or
      Ryan > Guaita

    2. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      King > Mitro also looks decent and bench Fraser?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks mate

  6. jorgenoj
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Dunk --> Matip?

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I don't like it. Gomez being back is a concern.

  7. MMN
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    1 FT, 0.2m ITB. Any thoughts on which Pool defender to go for and where to raise the cash? TC remaining ...

    Lloris
    Duffy / Doh / Bednarek
    Son / Sterling / Eriksen / Mane
    Kun / Jimi / Wilson

    Foster / Jota / Valery / Kiko

    Thoughts appreciated!

  8. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Would you Triple Captain this GW (Mane, Deulofeu, Sterling, Aguero, Eriksen, Robertson) or GW37 on City players?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Mane

  9. palace ash
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    If Firmino is out and if you owned both, who would you Captain?

    A) Salah
    B) Mane

    1. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I own both, captaining salah

    3. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    4. Party time
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Both, Captain Mané for me

      • DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I think I will be wearing my phone out till 7pm swapping it around. If for any reason Milner does not look like starting its Mo for pens.

    5. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Bench two

      Jiminez
      Jota
      Doherty
      Ward Prowse

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        doh and jwp

    6. FPLGeezer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Who to start?

      1. Foster (WOL)
      2. Ryan (NEW)

      A. Doherty (wat)
      B) Duffy (NEW)
      C) Valery (BOU)

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I'm doing 2B

        1. FPLGeezer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          That sounds good. I have a good lead in my ML and want to push up rankings so double up could be gold.

    7. mash
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      So my last choices is to start:
      A) Yoshida (rival doesn't own him, better bonus points if Saints keep a CS)
      B) Valery (rival has him, better attacking prospects, but less nailed to start)

      Good luck everyone!

    8. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Duffy or Dunk to Taa?

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Dunk easy

      2. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Dump Dunk

    9. LordEllison
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hey All, not sure what to do with my team
      0.0 ITB & 1 FT. Abit stuck Thanks!..

      Lloris - Foster
      Dunk - Robertson - Doherty - Bednarek - Valery
      KDB - Mane - Eriksen - Son - Jota
      Jimenez - Wilson - Aguero

    10. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Anyone know of any infor on Bertrand?

      1. Tony Moon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thoroughly nice chap. Likes fish pie and watching repeats of The Bill.

    11. Champione
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Aguero > Salah (C) worth -4?

    12. Stevie B
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Who is more nailed Alexander-Arnold or Matip?

      Thank you!

      1. 2hotty
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        This week prob matip going forward trent

    13. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Please pick one Firmino replacement:
      Zaha
      Rashford
      Mitrovic

      I'm annoyed witg Bobby Injury

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Rashford

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Thank you karan

      2. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I like Zaha pick

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Thank you

      3. HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Can you take a -4 and get a Liverpool mid (Mane or Salah)?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Yes
          Getting mane for kdb

          1. HollywoodXI
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I would seriously consider doing that. Not having a Liverpool attacker in this game could really hurt.

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Thank you !!

      4. Party time
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Benteke

        • The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Zaha for me

        • VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          As below, Zaha.

      5. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Benching 3 Soton players (Ings, Bednarek, Valery) with a home game against BOU.

        Starting Jota & Doherty over them.

        Would you make any changes?

      6. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Firmino owners, who is with me just holding and hoping, and who is selling?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Please help me above

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I would go Zaha then mitro then rash at this stage but wanted this week to assess rashford. This is so irritating if true.

        2. DAZZ
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Holding, hoping. Just moved TC to Son though

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            So much misinformation around he could definitely start. I'd rather hold and have a sub than sell and watch him haul.

      7. Oscar Slater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Just to repeat, the last time Firmino didn't play Mane was in the middle, scored twice and all Salah got was white paint on the outside of his right boot.

        1. Bobby_Baggio
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Repeat would be nice from my perspective

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          How many points for white paint?

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Bonus

      8. Weilong7
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        best striker for 7.3?

        1. RomeluAndJuliet
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Jimmy

          1. Nightf0x
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Forgot him

        2. Nightf0x
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Wilson zaha perez rondon ings lorente

      9. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Loris (foster)
        Dunk taa doc (valery bednarek)
        Son delboy sterling mane(c) (eriksen)
        Jimmy kun wilson

        A) bench 1? Wilson - eriksen - delboy
        B) transfer:
        1-- eriksen aguero -4 to salah rash
        2-- eriksen dunk/valery/bednarek -4 to redmond/jota - vvd/robbo/laporte
        3-- roll FT

      10. RomeluAndJuliet
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Duffy to TAA?

        1. Champione
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Yes

      11. Hands Guber
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Shaqiri IN (C). This is not a drill. My season was well over weeks ago anyway.

        Remember me.

        1. RomeluAndJuliet
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Good luck!

      12. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        ‘Nothing in it’ according to David Lynch regarding Bobby

        1. Party time
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Anfield Express does not lie

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Sweet summer child...

          • Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            His films are weird.

          • VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I choose to believe the person saying what I want to hear 🙂

        2. Dosh
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Do we think Mario starts today? Kola --> Matip FT?

          1. Dosh
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Matip*

        3. Shark Team
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Which do you prefer guys?
          A) Van Dijk + Jota
          B)Dunk + Wilson + 4pts

          1. 2hotty
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            A

        4. JammySprat
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Who scores more?

          1) Auba and Erikson
          2) Salah and Mitro (-4)

        5. Garfield1001
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          A) Play Doherty
          B) Do Kola to VVD for -4 and bench Doherty

          Opinions appreciated!

          1. Dosh
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Thinking the same, will get VVD