Team News

FPL Gameweek 22 team news and injury updates

After a hectic Christmas period in which we often had to make do without pre-match press conferences and up-to-date injury news, we are at least back to some semblance of normality ahead of Gameweek 22.

All 20 Premier League managers held media gatherings either on Thursday or Friday, with some well-owned players among the players discussed by their respective bosses.

There was positive news on James Maddison, who sustained a blow to the head against Aston Villa.

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers said today:

Just a knock, he had some tests after the game. He’s fine, he’s trained the last few days.

Kevin De Bruyne also took a whack to his upper body in the EFL Cup on Tuesday but when asked whether the Belgian has had any ill-effects since, Pep Guardiola said:

No, no, I think it is fine.

Jurgen Klopp brought us up to date on Liverpool’s injury situation, saying on Friday:

James [Milner] and Naby [Keita] are not available, both are muscle injuries. We’ll see how quick, we don’t have to put a timeframe on it. For sure not for this weekend, not for next week, but then we will see.

Joel [Matip] was not part of all parts of training, he was outside on the pitch which looked really good but then he had to do his own stuff again. Yesterday was part of the first part of training. Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri] trained completely normal since he was in.

Dejan [Lovren] and Fabinho we expect to be back next week in full training. If’s that then early enough for the United game I don’t know but we will see.

A start away at Tottenham Hotspur would seem a tall order for new signing Takumi Minamino but Klopp gave us an idea of where the versatile Japan international might feature in future, saying:

He played [as a striker v Everton] because we thought it was the most natural to him in the first place, especially defending-wise against the ball it was most natural to him.

He played the position the year before, not this season but the season before, when my former player was manager at Salzburg. I watched a couple of games and they played a lot in a diamond and he was the no.10 very often. He can play second striker, all that stuff, for Japan he plays as no.9, he can play on the wing. 

But we thought from a defending point of view it’s the most natural position for him that he knows because I don’t want to give him kind of a playbook: read it and now you know what you have to do. 

So he could defend naturally actually, but it’s not the only position he can play, no, no no. He played in a 4-4-2, both wings, second striker, for Japan the only striker – a lot he has to offer and I loved the game. 

For Spurs, Harry Kane (hamstring) and Moussa Sissoko (knee) will now be missing until April.

Ben Davies (ankle), Tanguy Ndombele (hip) and Hugo Lloris (shoulder) remain out but Danny Rose (calf) is back in training.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that Harry Maguire (hip) has “got a chance” of featuring against Norwich City tomorrow, despite previous media reports hinting at a long absence.

The United boss explained:

He’s got a chance for tomorrow. It was a minor thing, don’t know where the reports are coming from. He’s going to go through training today and see how he reacts for tomorrow. He was close to playing against City, just not fit enough.

Scott McTominay (knee) and Paul Pogba (ankle) remain sidelined, while Jesse Lingard was ruled out of Saturday’s match due to illness and Eric Bailly (knee) and Tim Fosu-Mensah (knee) will feature for the reserves on Friday night.

Daniel Farke ruled Teemu Pukki (hamstring) out of the trip to Old Trafford, so, with Josip Drmic (hamstring) also sidelined for the game at Old Trafford, teenage forward Adam Idah could potentially be handed a chance up front.

Christian Pulisic‘s stock is set to fall further in Fantasy Premier League, with Frank Lampard saying today:

Christian Pulisic is out, he’ll be out for a few weeks. He was injured in training last Saturday. It’s an injury in the adductor, so he’s got a tendon injury. It was quite a nasty injury, he was in pain when it happened.

On Chelsea’s other injury news, Lampard added:

Marcos Alonso is recovering, he’s trained today but he won’t be ready for tomorrow. Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is still out.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (hamstring) will miss the trip to Stamford Bridge while Sean Dyche said on Thursday that the Clarets will “almost definitely” be without Ashley Barnes, who is set to see a specialist on a recurring groin problem.

Jay Rodriguez and Phil Bardsley have missed almost a full week of training due to illness so may also not feature, with their manager explaining that their ailment was “a deeper thing than just a bug”. 

Nuno Espirito Santo ruled Willy Boly (ankle) and Diogo Jota (dead leg) out of Saturday’s game against Newcastle but Morgan Gibbs-White (back) is back in contention.

The Wolves boss said of Jota:

He had a strong impact, he has some fluid and blood on the injury, he’s going to be scanned again next week. After this scan we can wait and determine better his return.

Jamaal Lascelles (leg), Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring), Fabian Schar (hamstring) and Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) are not quite ready to return despite making good progress in their respective rehabilitations but Paul Dummett (groin), Ciaran Clark (calf), Andy Carroll (groin), Miguel Almiron (groin), Dwight Gayle (hamstring) and Jetro Willems (groin) are all back in training and in contention to feature against Wolves.

Javier Manquillo (hamstring) is sidelined, however, while Steve Bruce seemed to imply on Friday that the Magpies had lost Yoshinori Muto and Ki Sung-yueng to knocks as well.

DeAndre Yedlin will also be assessed for a knee injury.

There’s not much change at Everton, with boss Carlo Ancelotti reporting:

The injured players are the same. Andre Gomes will come back next week and start to train individually here. [Jean-Philippe Gbamin], I don’t know precisely but is working alone in this moment. The same with [Alex] Iwobi. The others are fit.

Dan Burn (shoulder) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) are Brighton’s only two confirmed absentees for the trip to Everton but Aaron Mooy is a fresh doubt, with Graham Potter revealing that the in-form Australian had “not trained in the last couple of days” after picking up a knock.

Roy Hodgson confirmed that new loan signing Cenk Tosun is in contention to be in the Crystal Palace squad against Arsenal, adding that Max Meyer (knock), Jairo Riedewald (knock) and Wilfried Zaha (knock) were all fit.

The Gunners will be without Kieran Tierney (shoulder) and Calum Chambers (knee), while Hector Bellerin (hamstring) looks unlikely to feature, with Mikel Arteta saying on Thursday that the defender was “still not there” despite a partial return to training.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wasn’t included in the Arsenal medical round-up and has been pictured in training, so the assumption is that he has recovered from the illness that forced his no-show in the FA Cup.

Keinan Davis (hamstring), John McGinn (ankle), Jed Steer (Achilles), Tom Heaton (knee) and Wesley (knee) are all unavailable for Aston Villa, while Jonathan Kodjia (illness) hasn’t trained as of Friday.

There was no update on Matt Targett (hamstring) in Friday’s press conference but Dean Smith had previously expressed confidence of him returning for this weekend.

Eddie Howe said on Friday that the “long-term absentees won’t really change for this weekend” but, without naming names in the broadcast section of his press conference, added that a few of Bournemouth’s sidelined contingent are “getting very close now”.

News broke late on Friday that Chris Mepham would be out for a long period of time after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Danny Welbeck (hamstring), Tom Cleverley (heel), Sebastien Prodl (knee) and Daryl Janmaat (knee) remain unavailable for Watford’s match against the Cherries, although Welbeck has at least resumed training with the rest of the Watford squad.

Kiko Femenia (hamstring) has joined them on the sidelines for this one, while Nigel Pearson said on Thursday that the Hornets “don’t think” Will Hughes (hip) will recover for the trip to the Vitality Stadium.

The Watford boss added that a few of his players had “less-serious” injuries that will be monitored over the coming days.

Michael Verrips (concussion) will miss Sheffield United’s match against West Ham United tonight but Simon Moore (groin) is back in training and could be back among the substitutes after a month-long absence.

Michail Antonio (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (groin) and Andriy Yarmolenko (thigh) remain unavailable for the trip to Sheffield United, while Ryan Fredericks will join them on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury that will rule him out for four to six weeks.

Yan Valery (virus) is Southampton’s only confirmed absentee.


Predicted line-ups and more detailed information are found in the Team News tab.

Our regular YouTube/podcast round-up can be viewed here or listened to below.

631 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Aladdin Sané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best Alli replacement (up to £9.5m)?

    1. huwwilliams_
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mharez

    2. northernmuppet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial

    3. NotsoSpursy
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez risky
      Martial ?

    4. Cruz88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I went for Sarr with a plan to spread the extra cost elsewhere (already own Maddy and Martial)

    5. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      M&M&M

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

    Start
    A) ramsdale or ryan
    B) soy or sidibe
    C) 2 of maupay dcl madds traore

    Captain
    Vardy martial kdb

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

      Ramsdale, Sidibe, Dominic, Maddison, Martial

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

        Start another one too mauapy or tarore

  3. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Abraham a differential captain option?
    But none talks about him...

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

      Yep sure

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      good captain choice. He is not mentioned as most people sold him

    3. northernmuppet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes..

    4. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez

    5. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      indeed, he is in my thoughts too

  4. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2FT
    Have Robertson already thinking of

    1)
    Aurier-> TAA Dgw in mind
    Alli -> Traore

    Or

    2)
    Aurier -> cheap option
    Alli -> Martial

    1. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      TAA is a must

  5. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How does the line up/subs look? Been struggling a bit with it....

    Fab
    TAA/ Soy/ Rico
    KDB/ Mane/ Maddy/ Traore
    Vardy (c)/ DCL/ Firmino

    Lund/ Alli/ Targett

  6. Public user
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed

    Play Rico Kelly or Aurier ??

    1. shady4revr
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      lOl same question.

      1. Public user
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        High chance I will play Rico

      2. B Sharp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Rico

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rico

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      rico for goal threat but realistically I don't expect any of those to do well

      1. toerag
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        this

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Kelly

  7. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG?

    Ramsdale
    Lund TAA Robertson
    KDB(vc) Maddison Grealish Mane
    Jimenez Vardy(C) Ings

    McCarthy Cantwell Kelly Kiko
    £0.2itb 1FT.

  8. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Worth bringing in DCL/Ings for Maupay... or stick?

    1. FantaCity
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      same situation, holding this week

  9. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    G2G? Not sure who for C so will go with the most popular choice :/

    Hendo
    Taa Soy Holgate
    Salah Mane KDB Grealish
    Vardy(C) Ings DCL

    Button Cantwell Webster Simpson

  10. STORZ
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one
    A) Alli (Liv)
    B) Grealish (City)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. B Sharp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'm struggling with Alli. Hes due a good game

    3. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Alli

    4. toerag
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      a

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    anyone going lundstram c?

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

      Better than Vardy C atleast

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I have seen comments on vardy, people think he is off form now?

        I was tempted to c

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

          Wont say off form but Saints have been performing pretty well defensively, feels like it will be 1-1 kind of game

        2. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Worn out from new kid and being ordered around by Rebekah.

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

      Nah.
      See WH scoring.

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

      Good a week as any, there isnt really a standout Capt pick, lots of nice options to choose.

  12. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling (C) locked in. Let's go.

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gl!

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        thx !

    2. Quality St
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I would too if I owned him

  13. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench Ings if you had double Leicester def.?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      i'd play ings instead of one of the leicester def. Although it's entirely your choice

    2. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'd bench one lei defender..

    3. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      All or nothing

      1. Dr.Oftaw
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Bench him and let’s hope they stuff em again

    4. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I don't get this train of thought, I see it often.
      Pick ings ahead of your other options if you think he scores more than them.
      If you think leicester keep cs, then drop him.
      Having 2 defenders doesnt mean he cant score.

  14. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Save FT?

    Foster
    Lundstram, Soyuncu, TAA
    Grealish, KDB, Mane, Salah
    Ings, Vardy (C), Rashford

    (Cantwell, Dunk, Kelly)

    1. Connor's Calling
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes for sure

  15. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Last call before i log off and pray:

    Vardy or KDB for (C)?

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

    2. shady4revr
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I have gone for Rashford
      The answer to you is KDB

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

      Vards

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

      I’ve been contemplating that for the past 2 days !!
      Currently on KDB just because they play against a tired AVL and could easily score 4 against them.
      If KDB plays then he’ll surely be on the scoresheet one way or other. Just hope he does not play deep or come off the bench !

    5. Quality St
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Every time a player gets a knock on the head I expect the manager to be wary even though not showing symptoms of a concussion. Goes for Maddy as well. Got a bad gut feeling.
      But then again KDB is a beast

    6. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      kdb

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

    Start
    A) ramsdale or ryan
    B) soy or sidibe

    Bench 1
    maupay dcl madds traore

    Captain
    Vardy martial kdb

  17. CarelessGenius©
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play Haller or Cantwell?

    1. FISSH
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Haller

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I would play Haller .....No Pukki for Norwich will hamper ........however do I play AWB over Haller for the same reason ????

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Play Haller

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

    Which should I do?

    1) Alli to Sarr?
    2) Rashford to DCL?
    3) Alli to Mahrez?
    4) Save?

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

      Alli to Mahrez

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford out when he faces Norwich at home?

  19. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:

    Grealish (MCI)
    Holgate (BRI)

    Thanks

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

      Grealish

    2. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Holgate

    3. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Holgate

  20. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bringing in Mahrez this week will turn my season around

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

      Not worried about rotation ?
      I’m looking at Martial

    2. clodhopper
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Or destroy it no only kidding good punt good luck

  21. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA/Soy/Lund
    Salah/KDB/Martial(c)/Richarlison
    Vardy(vc)/Jimenez/Ings

    (Button/Grealish/Rico/Kelly)

  22. B Sharp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2 birds one stone. Who starts ?

    A Gomez or B Kolasinac
    &
    A Fornals or B Alli?

    Struggling here

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

      BA

      1. B Sharp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        You've nailed my saved team. Had my heart set on benching Gomez and Alli all week.

  23. shady4revr
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I am done.

    Ramsdale
    TAA Rico Soyuncu
    Grealish KDB Mane Richarlison
    Vardy(vc) Rashford(c) Greenwood/Cantwell
    Button Cantwell Aurier Kelly

    Any changes?

  24. Ronny Sandstone
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Aubamayang a good pick if I'm chasing, taking Kane out -4

    Cheers

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

      Probably

    2. shady4revr
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Illness.

      1. Ronny Sandstone
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Hmmm yes punting on him overcoming his illness? Don't these clubs have super flu jabs! etc

        Cheers

  25. Paulo
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi ladies and gentleman,

    Plays Ings or Grealish?

    Help appreciated

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Both

  26. PMz
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Straight swap Kane > Vardy? I've got 2FT's and 0.9 ITB

    Fabianski

    Soyuncu TAA Saiss Lundstram

    Mane Maddison KdB

    Kane Ings Rashford

    Subs: Holgate Grealish Nakamba

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yupp yupp do it

  27. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    points on the bench for sure this gw

    pickford

    trent / lundy / robbo

    ozil / mane / zaha / traore

    ings /vardy /(k)un

    martin / mount / soyuncu / rico

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

      Mount over Ozil

      1. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        was more between mount and zaha ,i fancy ozil ,hes played jolly well lately

        1. Quality St
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Mount over Zaha imo

  28. alanwa
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just went from Salah (c), De Bruyne (vc) to Sterling (c), Vardy (vc)! Genuinely got no clue this week..

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

      Sterling C, Salah VC

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

        Locked in 😉

    2. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling C for me, Vardy VC

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      if your set on it your set on it

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

    Bench 1
    maupay dcl madds traore

  30. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    On wildcard, best 4.4m or below midfielder to be on the bench???

    1. Wonderful Wizard Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Douglas Luiz?