Dugout Discussion

Injury crisis eases for Everton as Ancelotti appointed new manager

With the strange situation of both Everton and Arsenal being under caretaker managers for one last match, the early Gameweek 18 kick-off is more so about the players impressing real-life bosses rather than Fantasy ones.

Carlo Ancelotti – announced as Everton’s new boss just before the 11.30am team news – and Mikel Arteta will both assess their soon-to-be squads at Goodison Park this afternoon.

The Toffees welcome back Lucas Digne (£5.7m), Djibril Sidibe (£5.3m), Fabian Delph (£5.3m) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) from a range of injuries and illness.

Richarlison (£7.9m), brought in by nearly 150,000 managers for GW18, is named to start for a wide-left attacking position. If the Brazilian does remain in that berth for 90 minutes, it could be a clue as to how Ancelotti plans to use Everton’s top scorer.

Digne is actually the most-selected FPL asset in Everton’s squad at 11.4%. Owners and potential investors will be looking for the Frenchman to return to the creative ways that saw him become an extremely popular asset last season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) again leads the line for Arsenal, with Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) benched for the third league game in a row.

Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) is set to miss the Christmas period with an ankle problem, while Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) is out until March with a shoulder injury. FPL midfielder Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) looks set to operate at left-back, which will pit him against ex-Arsenal man Alex Iwobi (£5.6m).

More young Gunners in the shape of Reiss Nelson (£5.3m) and Emile Smith-Rowe (unlisted) also start in attacking midfield for Freddie Ljungberg, while budget forward Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) could be one to monitor for FPL bosses using a 3-5-2 formation.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Mina, Holgate, Sidibe; Delph, Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Saka, David Luiz, Chambers, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Torreira; Martinelli, Smith-Rowe, Nelson; Aubameyang.

814 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cup opponent made one transfer this week. Salah(c) & Firmino(vc). Reckon he still beats me.

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mine has played his free hit.. so yeah you've had a break there!!

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Damn, Good luck.

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If you lose you haven’t no nowhere to hide 😛

  2. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Worth doing Mane to Salah for next week?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope
      I'd give Mane 2/3 more GW's

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yay

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    New features of the livefpl.net are. Excellent !!
    Brilliant tool .....

  4. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A rare away clean sheet = pre-Christmas miracle 😀

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You're the boss now that's why

  5. Random Name
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    That game was so bad i actually don't wanna watch the rest of the footie

    i'm gonna see what the christmas TV is like instead

  6. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Richarlison punt fail, makes it easy to move to salah at least!

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      How's his stats today? Give him another week next week good fixture?

  7. jg7u
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Should I wildcard GW19 or just use 1 FT and do it GW20?

    Ryan
    Aurier - Lundstram - TAA
    Son - Alli - Maddison -KDB
    Rashford - Vardy - Jimenez
    (Button - Dendoncker - Soyuncu - Rico)

    A) Wildcard GW19
    B) Jimenez > Abraham
    C) Dendoncker > Grealish, bench Jimenez and play 3-5-2

  8. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Well, at least Rich didn't get booked I guess.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      😀

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You got Rich?

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Put him in this week unfortunately.

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Decent run ahead!

        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          He will pay you off next week

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish against Cedric Soares. Me like it. Carnage upcoming

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ah Grealish the so overhyped FPL asset in FFS

      1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I hope you are wrong..............Grealish haul

      2. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Well it was Grealish or Richarlison so how badly can it really go now?

    2. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      4-1 saints

    3. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Had Grealish since first draft and he's done me well for the price.

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes please

  10. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    According to the experts on here, I thought we were going to get battered? Hmmm.. The reality is, our youth are better than Everton's XI..

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Top result.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Excellent away point for you guys

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You act like Man United are any better. January 1st I hope to see you on this site bud so I can have a word with ya

        1. manu4life99
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          We are pretty awful too, but Arsenal are worse for sure. Squad is horrific in quality

          1. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Pepe, Bellerin, Tierney, Saliba, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil is horrific in quality is it? Take your Man U glasses off, you've finished above us once since Ferguson left and you have DDG and Rashford, that's literally it. Your best player Pog wants to leave.

            1. Random Name
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Saliba XD

              1. Qaiss
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                hehe he's our Van Dijk

            2. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              You know we’ve won the title like 20 times right?

              1. Qaiss
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                What does that have to do with anything? We've won it 13 times, that doesn't mean we're better than Man City who have won it I think 6 times??!

                Silly

              2. Random Name
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                yeah it's collecting dust somewhere in the wikipedia archives im sure

            3. manu4life99
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Haha calm down...

              Pepe has done nothing and looks like a bad buy.

              Ozil is shocking

              Laca Auba dont want to be there and they'll be gone in summer

              Tierney was supposed to be the new Robertson but has yet to do anything

              Bellerin was booed by his own fans so can't be that good (then again the AFC fans are the worst in the league for supporting their team)

              Roll on the next edition of Arsenal Fan TV (popcorn at the ready)

              1. Random Name
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                oh sorry Pereira, Lingard and Jones

              2. Qaiss
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Says the account 'Manu4life99' - l o l

                Your fans are the worst by far. Everyone hates Liverpool, but yours are definitely worse.

                1. Random Name
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Mate they've got McTominay

                2. manu4life99
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Relax guy it is banter jeez!

                  Utd are also a shambles, I just find it amusing that Arsenal are even worse right now....merry xmas 🙂

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Relax champ
          It's a banter.
          Only way for both of our clubs is UP !
          🙂

        3. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          twat

          1. Random Name
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            awww struck a nerve?

          2. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Is that how you talk to your parents as well?

          3. Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            that's it sunshine, on your bike ya little rat

    3. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      relegation battles are always gonna be more competitive than you think...

  11. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Punt 1 of 2 failure.

    Richarlson

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who was the other?

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish nxt

        Pulisic and Tieleman to get a brace each to rub it in.

  12. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Daley Blind diagnosed with heart condition. Get well soon lad 🙁

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nice player
      Hopefully nothing serious

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Might have to retire early.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Sad

  13. JammySprat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone know why Willems not involved?

    1. shiregeriatric
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Muscular injury

      1. JammySprat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Do you know if this was known before team release? i didn't hear anything of it.

        1. shiregeriatric
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          No info before team announced as far as I know.

  14. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bring on the points

  15. SB8
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Scouts on fire once again?
    Richarlison blank and Willems absence...

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ouch

  16. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyoney Captained Richarlison ?

    1. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me

    2. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I know someone that did

  17. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    All present and correct so far - Rico Kelly Lundstram.

  18. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimmy (C) time

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m hoping he’ll fix it for me

  19. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    My goodness these 3pm games are so unappealing... I'll be back later to watch the City-Lei game.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed. Only Grealish explosion is the interesting one

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      These are the players that make you go up the ranks they are just as important as the rest don’t discriminate x

  20. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Not crowing by any stretch, but any game at all where Aubergine and RichTeaBiscuits blank when 19 & 9% own them is a good game. I think Digne likely the only real winner with a probable 9.

    Ings, Pope, Lordstram and Kelly the only afternoon interest for me, knowing that benching Traoré might be a costly decision (but Andy FPL echoed my concerns yesterday so it's not like I was taking a shot in the dark).

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aubergine and RichTeaBiscuits 🙂

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why bench Traore? The shoulder?

      1. CroatianHammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        My concern was that as he'd done the shoulder during the match that it was adrenaline that carried him through. I competed at a high level and any time I was injured in combat I'd only feel it the next day... if he was in pain and heavily bruised, then maybe he doesn't start, or perhaps he starts and pulls up as the pace of the game puts strain on the shoulder. Plus he was carrying a niggling muscle injury prior.

        Pukki being declared fit to start was a factor too. In part. It was tough.

        1. CroatianHammer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Vindicated. Wolves won in the end but not sure I was ever at risk of my benching choice backfiring. Gtd 3 bps, with a shot at 1 & 1 in other games.

  21. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you WC this team now or gw20? 1FT & 0itb

    Gazza-Button
    TAA-Soy-Kelly-Lunds-Rico
    Sterling-Kdb-Alli-Son-Nakamba
    Vardy-Tammy-Jiménez

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      20 probably. That team looks quite decent.

  22. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hourihan Luiz and McGinn.
    +Grealish

    Looks great on paper. Hope villa get the win today. Badly needed.

  23. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mousset has been such a trap. Reckon he hauls next week and trolls, everyone, after mass exodus.

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, I chose Ings over him. Those who saved a million and went with Mousset must be happy 😉

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Got both.

  24. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Go jimmyy...

  25. FirMinaMiMo
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who's with me!!!! Using WC #gw20 !! Cheers 🙂

  26. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish Goal gave me a cup match win this week