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. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Captain choice so difficult this week, it’s going to have to be ip dip dog:)

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

    Cheers for all the help I appreciate it massively. Last question before I lock my team in.
    Substitute order -

    A Alli
    B Gomez
    C Digne

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      that bench is ridiculous, good luck

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        C first

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

          Thanks! Seems ridiculous but dont worry it's a draft league team. Martinelli gets a shot with Allis fixture and I already have Sidibe. Change your mind on it?

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

      There’s something wrong if Digne is back of your bench!

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

        Haha got Sidders holding the fort

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

    Best Otamendi replacement? 5.0m available.

    A) Sokratis (4.9)
    B) Holgate (4.4)
    C) Rico (4.4)
    D) Someone else
    E) None, keep Otamendi

    Ryan
    TAA, Soyuncu, Aurier, xxx, Kiko

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

      G

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

        Hehe whoops that is meant to be B 🙂

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

      Dunk or holgate? Sokratis is interesting.

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

      B

    4. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gomez

      1. It's his Job.
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Sorry 5.2

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

    Help with deiscions

    Start ryan or ramsdale
    Start Soy or sidibe
    Bench 1 of maupay dcl madds traore
    Captain vardy or kdb or martial

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ramsdale although Watford are on form, Bournemouth is at home while Ryan is away against an unpredictable Everton.

      Sidibe since Ings always scores.

      Bench Maupay.

      Captain Vardy.

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ryan
      Sidibe
      DCL
      Probably KDB

  5. Henning
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this Wild card team.

    Need to free up about 0.3 m to do Sterling to Salah gw 24. Should i downgrade a defender?

    Ryan

    TAA Sidibe Lundstram

    Mane Sterling KDB Traore Perez

    Jimenez Vardy

    Button Calvert-Lewin Dunk Soyuncu

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

      Downgrade Dunk. Looks noice

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

      Selling Soy before everyone else does is smart move but i would keep the other ones. Dunk got a very decent run

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

    Bench one:

    A) Alli (LIV)
    B) Traore (NEW)

    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

      A

  7. tim
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Don´t really understand why so many people would not captain Vardy.

    It's his birthday, he just had a kid and seems to be firing on all cylinders if you ask me.

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

      Tough fixture, no Ndidi

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Don’t know where the connection lies between goals and a new kid/birthday

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

        New kid for me means I was exhausted

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Haha indeed, hence his measly assist against Villa of all teams 🙂

  8. Weerman
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    One week punt.
    a) Martial
    b) Richarlison
    c) someone else

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

      Martinelli.....dont shoot the chancer

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

      A

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

      B

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

      A

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

      ozil

    6. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  9. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which option looks best:

    A Double up on Pickford & Holgate (v BRI)
    B Bench Holgate and play Rico (v WAT)

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

      I’d spread the risk. Can see Brighton grabbing a win there actually

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

    Captain Martial, De Bruyne, or Vardy and why?

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy bc Vardy.

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

      Same dilema

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

    Folks, Who’s a better captain this week?

    Sterling or Martial ?

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

      Sterling

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

      I dont trust United so Sterling for me.

    3. FIRMINOLOOKGOAL
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial

  12. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Guys, I've got a bit of dilemma with my transfer. I've used 1 of my 2FT's.

    I've got currently got Maupay (eve) starting

    1. Start Maupay & save FT
    2. Maupay to Jimi using 2FT
    3. Switch formation (352) and get Grealish and put Maupay on the bench using 2FT

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

      1

  13. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to play: (Already have Pickford in goal)

    A Holgate
    B Cantwell
    C Rico

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Holgate.

  14. New Article Posted
  15. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which one is better?

    A)
    TAA- Aurier- Martial

    Or

    B)
    TAA - Robo - Traore

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B for me

  16. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    WC this lot?

    Ryan, Pope
    Soyuncu, Lundstram, Aurier, Rico, Kelly
    Mané, KdB, Richarlison, Fleck, Alli
    Vardy, Aguero, DCL

    to WC

    Ryan, Pope
    Soyuncu, Lundstram, Sidibe, TAA, Stevens
    Mané, KdB, Fleck, Salah, Traore
    Vardy, DCL, Ings
    (6 changes, -20 pts)

    or -8 pts

    Aguero, Alli, Aurier > Ings, Salah, Stevens

    ???

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      stick - I'd just change Aurier, maybe Alli

    2. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Alli to Madds/Richarlison

  17. SH1M1
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford or Vardy (C), essentially who's better to face, Norwich or Saints

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Norwich looks the better fixture to me.

    2. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Norwich tired and depleted Southampton looking for revenge?

      1. SH1M1
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah Rashford looks more appealing & Saints are on form

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

      spurs is worse than both

      1. SH1M1
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        That wasn't the question but thanks your input 😉

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

          i know, i just try to sway you in that direction if you got any liv mids-) because they have the best fixture if you combine how good pool are vs leicester and united with their opponents form/quality. Both Leicester and United are also hampered by injuries to important players in their team, Pool have no such injuries that will affect Salah/Mane.

          1. SH1M1
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            True, id just rather go with a Home player, & Salah tends to do a lot better then Mane vs Spurs & i don't own Salah

  18. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to Captain :

    A) Rashford (NOR)
    B) Tammy (BUR)
    C) Vardy (SOU)
    D) KdB (avl)
    E) Mane (tot)

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A

  19. Union_Jacks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bring Sarr in for Zaha or save FT?

    Bringing Sarr in would mean benching Ings.

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

      then i rather save the tranny to be fair

      1. Union_Jacks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah as awesome as Sarr is.

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

    Start Cantwell over Soy?

    And Salah/mane (C)?

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

    This is going the wrong way, now my guts tell me to captain Ings over Salah, KdB, Aguero, Martial and Vardy. HELP

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

      Thought you were going Agueroooooo

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

        If I captain Aguero he wont start. If I dont captain he will probably start and haul. The later is best.

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

      you will get 9 points or 8 if Vardy also scores-)

  22. Nemanja Vidic
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    HELP
    Gazza Pope
    Van Diyk Soyuncu Lund Rico Kelly
    Mane Moura Martial Traore Greal
    Vardy DCL Ings
    1FT 6.4 ITB
    A) Moura -> KDB
    B) Traore -> KDB
    C) Sometnih else

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Stick with it.

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

      Moura za Salaha

    3. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah

  23. fridge
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    1FT, 3m ITB

    Ramsdale
    TAA. Soyuncu. Lundstram
    Salah. KDB. Maddison. Martial. Traore
    Ings. Vardy
    Button. Greenwood. Kelly. Aurier

    GTG to save the FT ahead of getting 3rd pool next week?

    1. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      no point playing ings and soyu together,as they are playing each other,play greenwood(if he comes on,he might score.)/aurier(proly an attacking return,pool will score for sure)

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

        if greenwood is the alternative i would play both as chances are that one gets return, and if you bench one you can be benching the wrong one.

  24. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play Rico or Greenwood? Hmm

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

      Rico

  25. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What's worth more?

    A) Rico (WAT)
    B) Kolasinac (cpl) -4

    No doubt what's more fun, but that's a different story

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

      if you want Kola for some games i would say go for it. Rico is in danger of minus points, Bou concedes a lot and he is a card magnet. Kola is a bit injury prone, so rarely gets a string of matches together, but decent fixtures.

  26. Saro0808
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Looks good for the week?
    Ryan
    Lund Holgate Baldock
    Salah Mane Kbd Maddi
    Vardy(C) Ings Rashboy

    Bench:Button,Cantwell Soyu Rico
    1ft. bench:0.2m

  27. jamie1972
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Toughest (C) pick in ages this one, how to choose between:

    Madds
    Martial
    Rash
    Vardy
    KDB
    Even Mane could bang if Tottenham fold....

    1. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy(as the majority will be going for it,u wont drop/claim much)
      Rashboy/martial (could be good differntial)

      1. jamie1972
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ahead in ML by a solitary point, pretty sure the bloke in second will cap Vardy so guess it's the safest/most boring bet.

    2. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford

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

      Rash

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

      Aurier says hi, that´s the clue

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

    Gomez or Kolasinac for this week only?

    1. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      kola

  29. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you have as the first defender on the bench?

    A. Williams (NOR)
    B. Rico (WAT)

  30. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Commence Operation "Vardy Perma (c) Plus Liverpool Triple Defence"

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Oooo bonus points and clean sheets maybe but missing the chance of multiple goals by either of Salamane

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Banking Vardy to continue outshining them both... And banking Liverpool 's defence to be much better in their next 17 games than they were in GW1-17 🙂

        1. It's his Job.
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          \o/

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

      Abort.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Believe