Team News

FPL Gameweek 21 team news and injury updates

There were only six stand-alone Premier League press conferences held in the run-up to Gameweek 21, leaving us in the dark for many clubs ahead of the New Year’s Day deadline.

Pep Guardiola was one of the three managers to hold a media gathering today, with the City boss confirming that David Silva (knock) and John Stones (hamstring) are “back” for the visit of Everton.

Asked about Aymeric Laporte (knee), Guardiola added:

He’s getting better, he’s training alone but already on the pitch. It’s the last part, I think in one week, maybe ten days, he can start to train with us.

The City head coach also had his say on the risk of picking injuries up over the festive period, saying:

We think about that, we have five games in 12 days. Quite similar for the other teams but in this period, to have one or two more days to recover, it is a lot.

We play 80 minutes with ten against 11, a difficult test against Wolves. After less than two days, we come back and play again. It’s a risk but you have to take it.

Carlo Ancelotti brought us up to speed on the Toffees’ fitness situation, saying today:

The injured players are the same, they are almost close to recovery. Schneiderlin has started to train with the team today, I think he will be available for the game on Saturday.

The others we didn’t have problems in these two days, that was good. Andre Gomes and Gbamin need time to recover but everything is going well for them.

Elsewhere, Chris Wilder confirmed that John Lundstram (ankle) will take part in a full training session on Tuesday and will be assessed after it.

The Sheffield United boss said ahead of the trip to Anfield:

Everybody has come through [the Man City game] well, health-wise, so we’ve got a full quota to pick and choose from.

Sitting in for Nigel Pearson yesterday, Craig Shakspeare said of Watford’s walking wounded:

We’re still waiting on five or six players, either with illness or knocks. We’ll have a clearer idea tomorrow but we’re hoping that all of them make it.

[Hughes and Cathcart] are part of that five or six so they’ll be assessed again tomorrow. As players they’ll want to be fit for the Wolves game so we’re going to give them every opportunity to try and make it.

Graham Potter confirmed that Brighton have no new injury problems in his press conference on Monday.

Solly March (groin) has trained but the match against Chelsea will come too soon, while Jose Izquierdo (knee) remains unavailable despite making good progress.

David Moyes’ first West Ham press conference (in his second stint, anyway) was predictably thin on injury updates, with all the talk about his reappointment.

Asked about if he could have much impact in the Bournemouth game:

I have to say it is not easy. I have taken training this morning. But really, I cannot have a massive influence on what I have got [for GW21]. For me, it was about trying to pick up as much as I can from the people around.

I am coming here initially to try and get us wins and away from the wrong end of the table but the bigger picture is to have a strong team, a really good footballing team, attacking team and all those things I have to bring to the table.

As for the other 14 teams in the division, we will have to make do with any late-arriving quotes from embargoed sections of press conferences held after the weekend’s games.

The problem with that, of course, is that the information can quickly become outdated.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, for instance, was positive about Paul Pogba‘s chances of featuring against Arsenal when asked after the Burnley game but the Frenchman reportedly hasn’t travelled to London with the rest of the Manchester United squad.

There were some heartening comments from Brendan Rodgers after the win over West Ham, with the Leicester City boss saying of Jamie Vardy:

His wife went into hospital on Friday and gave birth on Saturday morning. He wouldn’t have played on Saturday anyway, he’d have been on the bench, but we let him stay at home to look after his wife and kids and he’ll be back for Newcastle.

Asked about Ricardo Pereira (hamstring), Rodgers replied:

He should be fine for Newcastle. He just felt it a bit tight, so I didn’t bother taking him [to West Ham]. I gave him a rest at home. He’ll be back in [on Monday] and fine.

The other issue with two or three-day-old comments is that there hasn’t been much thought put into the next game, with managers interviewed soon after full-time – the embargoed section of Nuno Espirito Santo and Roy Hodgson’s pressers, which were masquerading as Gameweek 21 previews, offered precious little in the way of useful information to Fantasy managers.

Injuries need time to settle and be assessed, too, so even if Eddie Howe was the type of manager to offer us clear-cut fitness updates (he isn’t), then the hamstring strains picked up by Josh King and Jack Stacey can’t have been properly appraised.

Keep checking in with our Twitter timeline and the Team News tab throughout the evening as we bring you up to speed on anything else we’ve heard, as some quotes won’t be released until later tonight.


371 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Took a punt and got Deeney in... good luck all

  2. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How many drunken moves will be made tonight!

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      7

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      One already above you

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Bookmarked

      2. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Oh beat me to it

    3. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      There is one right above you

  3. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play 1:

    Richarlison - MCI (A)
    Cantwell - CRY (H)

    1. flipmode_1
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Cantwell for me

  4. flipmode_1
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    G2G? Save FT?

    Pope
    TAA Soy Fredericks
    Mane KDB Grealish Mount Cantwell
    Rashford Vardy(c)

    Maupay/Lundstrum/Holebas

    1. palace ash
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maups over Cantwell?

      1. flipmode_1
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah could do that, he was in the first 11 earlier before I was messing. Think the fact Brighton never beaten Chelsea put me off but Brighton been playing well and he’s a threat

  5. palace ash
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ramsdale (whu)
    TAA (SHU), Söyüncü (new), Aurier (sou)
    Mane (SHU), KdB (EVE), Maddison (new), Alli (sou), Zaha (nor)
    Vardy (new), Abraham (bha)

    McGovern, Ings (TOT), Kelly (nor), Lundstram (liv)
    2FT, 0.0 ITB

    Where to use 1FT? Or burn one?

    1. flipmode_1
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Team looks solid I would leave it as it is

  6. Cadenza
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I got 2FTs burning a hole in my pocket, but not really sure how to spend them. 4.2m in the bank as well.
    Wanna get rid of Grealish, Otamendi and Pope(after NEW). I've had a couple good gameweeks, and haven't owned Vardy all season. OR is around 85k. Do I have to get him in now? No chance I can have him, Mané, KdB and Salah going forward.

    Pope Button
    Otamendi TAA Lundstram Baldock Kelly
    Mané KdB Maddison Grealish Cantwell
    Ings Jimenez Rashford

    1. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      One of Grealish and Otamendi out. Maybe Liverpool defender in?

      1. Cadenza
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Really thinking about it, but that means no Salah who's underlying stats are impossible to ignore.

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ota or Pope out

    3. yosim
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy is a must have

      1. Cadenza
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I know, but fancy Ings' and Jimi's fixtures going forward. Lose Rash for Vardy, and get Martial?

  7. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Guys 2ft and 0.7itb

    A)grealish to traore free
    B) grealish and rash to Jimenez and martial for free
    C) keep grealish and start
    D) keep grealish and bench and start cantwell

    Pope
    Taa soyu rico
    Kdb Mane alli grealish
    Vardy ings rash

    Button cantwell lund holgate

    Thanks.

  8. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is Carlo Ancelloti good at setting teams up for the counter?

  9. Burger_and_Chips
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rich to Martial?

    Already have Rashford or just save as Rich fixtures after City look promising

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Would hold if you have Rashy, United are very up and down

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hold

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hold with Rash

  10. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed... 2 FTs, any suggestions otherwise may just burn a transfer this week... 0.2 itb

    Guaita Button
    TAA Soy Lundy Rico Kelly
    Mane KDB Alli Martial Hayden
    Vardy Tammy Jimi

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Depends what your gw24 plan is??

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Tad early to load up on more Liverpool isn't it?

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          You could release funds Alli to Traore?

  11. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Zaha to Traoré for a free..
    Given that Palace have Norwich tomorrow, I do it now, or next week?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Next week

    2. yosim
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I did it

  12. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play Grealish of Cantwell?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hmm I’m on Grealish. But it is close...

      1. Eastman
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        My thoughts too atm

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yep. And am I good to roll ft? Could do Grealish to traore

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            See below

            1. Eastman
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Defo

  13. zotter
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Good to roll the FT?

    2.3 itb...

    Gazza
    Trent. Rico. Soy
    Grealish. Martial. Salah. Kdb
    Vardy c. Jiminez. Tammy

    Button. Cantwell. Targett. Lundstrum

  14. Rashers
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Evening all.

    Pogba out for a -4 or save? Traore comes off the bench for him

    1. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Save

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Save

    3. mojoindojo
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Save

  15. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Yay or nay lads please, cheers!

    Zaha+Mousset-->Traore+Deeney?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Free?

  16. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any Guaita owners looking to sell him net GW?

    ARS, City, Saints, SU, Everton next 5 and all of the are looking like they cud score...move to Ryan or Pickford next week?

    1. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Might do it for value reasons

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        To Ryan?

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Think Ryan is a smart call

      The Palace defence is so second choice right now and there’s a gaping hole on the left. Think this counteracts the Palace record and Brighton fixtures are prime.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Think the main reason not to go Ryan is Dunk - he looks the smart alternative to Aurier imo.

        By the same token Kelly (with the switch to Ward) is the value way into Palace defence - they’re not a terrible call after all.

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Think I may just stick, fixtures not that bad medium term

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

    Nice informative article !

  18. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pope
    TAA - Soyuncu - Aurier
    KDB - Mane - Maddison - Traore
    Vardy - Rashford - Abraham
    (McGovern, Grealish, Rico, Kelly)

    A) Abraham to Jimenez
    B) Grealish & Abraham to Martial & Ings for -4
    C) Start Grealish, bench Tammy and save the FT

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D. Leave as is

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Why urge to get rid Tammy?

      1. sthelenslad92
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm not desperate to get rid, but it does look like I am from the list. My main thinking is that Jimmy is in really good form with a nice run of fixtures.

  19. AdamJ91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any suggestions on what to do here? Nothing ITB but 2 FTs.

    Gazzaniga - Button
    TAA - Soyuncu - Gomez - Rico - Reid
    Mane - KDB - Alli - Maddison - Hayden
    Vardy - Rashford - Jimenez

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Only thing I can think of is if you want to switch mane to salah

  20. shearer9
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would really appreciate some tips on what to do with this lot? Got nothing in the bank and 2 FTs.

    http://www.snipboard.io/NL9Zel.jpg

    1. Sasquatch Slayer
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good but guessing you are apprehensive about burning a transfer ? Moura out?

      1. shearer9
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. Yeah don't want to waste one. Could swallow my pride and reverse my Traore to Moura transfer, but he could do well vs Sotn...

  21. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A- grealish and richalison
    or
    B- ings and maddy

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I have A. Probably prefer B haha

  22. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    A) Ryan + Sidibe
    B) Pickford + Dunk

    A or B please??

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A by miles

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        agreed

      2. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        This

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thank guyz

  23. LordEllison
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    1 FT and 0.4 ITB, abit stuck on what to do, any ideas? thanks.

    Henderson Button
    TAA Kelly Soyuncu Rico Lundstram
    Salah Maddison KDB Richarlison Dendoncker
    Vardy Rashford Ings

  24. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best move guys? Thanks 🙂

    A. Rich >> Martial
    B. Grealish >> Traore
    C. Save & reassess with 2FTs

    Pope
    TAA • Soy • Aurier
    Salah • Mané • Richarli • KDB • Grealish
    Vardy • Maupay
    (McGov. Greeny. Rico. Lundy)

    1. Cadenza
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C I think. Might wanna reassess ahead of Everton's nice run of fixtures.

  25. Legohair
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Gazzaniga
    TAA-Soy-Aurier
    Salah-KDB-Maddy-Moura
    Vardy-Jimmy-Tammy

    Cantwell, Lundy, Chambers

    1 FT left, now the news coming that Chambers will miss rest of the season, is Chambers to Creswell good move?

  26. King Henrik
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anybody doing Grealish to Traore ??

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Plenty

    2. Viper
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I did, so I'd strongly advise not to

  27. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Please can you all carry on selling maddison for me?

    Happy new year.

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Did Dean Smith say anything about Matt Targett??

  29. jaguar shark
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I take it that there’s no Liverpool press conference today?

  30. Viper
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Haven't had a sub 2 million rank since GW12. I'm on course for me worst ever finish. Can this side salvage things?

    Henderson

    Robertson Soyuncu Kelly (Lundstram Guilbert)

    Alli Mané KDB Traore (Cantwell)

    Vardy Rashford Maupay

    No Fts. 2.2 in the bank

    1. jaguar shark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, looks good.

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Team looks decent. Nothing worth a hit there. Captain Vardy?

      Have a look at my rank if you want to feel better!