Team News

FPL Gameweek 36+ team news and injury updates

The Fantasy Premier League deadline for Gameweek 36+ is only hours away, so our regular injury and team news round-up returns to summarise everything we know about the latest fitness situation at all 20 Premier League clubs.

We haven’t heard from every manager, however, as the games are spread out over the next four days and some head coaches won’t face the media until later in the week.

We’ll cover each team briefly below but, as ever, more detailed information can be found in our Team News tab.

Chelsea v Norwich City

The Complete Guide to FPL Gameweek 17

Billy Gilmour (knee) and N’Golo Kante (hamstring) remain out ahead of the visit of Norwich City, with Frank Lampard confirming on Monday that the fitness situation was “as we were” – which presumably means that Fikayo Tomori (muscle) is also still sidelined.

Andreas Christensen has been passed fit after being forced off at half-time on Saturday evening.

Asked about rotation, Lampard said:

Possibly. I don’t want to give my starting line-up away but what I have got is a group where there are people competing to try and get into the team.

There has to be a level of where, if we make mistakes or are if we are not reaching the levels we want, where the people who are working hard in training might can come in. I also have to think about the freshness of the squad.

As much as we would like a settled team… I would love to pick certain partnerships, certain units of the team and keep going and keep going, but, that hasn’t always been easy and we’re striving for that. We’ll see for tomorrow.

Moritz Leitner (hernia), Grant Hanley (hamstring), Christoph Zimmermann (back) and Sam Byram (hamstring) remain long-term absentees but Daniel Farke has no new injury concerns heading into Norwich City’s first match since their relegation to the Championship was confirmed.

The Canaries have lost a squad member since they were last in action, however, with loanee Ondrej Duda allowed to return to parent club Hertha Berlin.

Manchester City v Bournemouth

Pep Guardiola didn’t report any fresh injury concerns in his pre-match press conference – but he didn’t even have a chance to speak about them, with all of the questions directed at him concerning FFP and the decision to overturn City’s two-year ban from European competition.

We’re in the dark concerning the fitness situation at the Etihad, then, although we do know that Sergio Aguero remains sidelined with a knee problem

Adam Smith (head), Nathan Ake (groin), Simon Francis (knee) and Chris Mepham (knee) will all miss the trip to the Etihad, while Joshua King (hamstring) will be assessed after a minor injury led to his absence against Leicester.

Arsenal v Liverpool

Calum Chambers (knee), Pablo Mari (ankle), Gabriel Martinelli (knee) and Bernd Leno (knee) remain out for the Gunners, while Mesut Ozil (back) faces yet another late fitness check ahead of the clash with Liverpool.

Eddie Nketiah is still suspended, meanwhile.

Mikel Arteta said ahead of the game:

It’s very important to have momentum and energy going into important matches and in order to do that you have to go game by game. Today and tomorrow we will assess the players and how they are. A lot of them have played some crazy minutes up until now.

We’re going to have games every two and a half days. We will try to put the strongest team out as possible here and as well on Saturday. To do that we need to know how everyone recovers from the game.

Jordan Henderson (knee) and Joel Matip (toe) are sidelined for Wednesday’s match, while James Milner (muscle) isn’t expected to be available until next week’s clash with Chelsea.

Jurgen Klopp otherwise reported a clean bill of health.

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur

Steve Bruce said on Tuesday that he “doesn’t think” Jamaal Lascelles (knock), Isaac Hayden (hamstring) and Sean Longstaff (hamstring) will recover for the visit of Spurs, while Andy Carroll (groin) is also a major doubt and Florian Lejeune (thigh) and Ciaran Clark (ankle) remain unavailable.

Loanee Danny Rose is ineligible to face his parent club.

Tanguy Ndombele is a major doubt after suffering an unspecified injury in training, while Dele Alli (hamstring) looks unlikely to feature despite his expected return to the training ground on Tuesday afternoon.

Jose Mourinho also said that Serge Aurier was a “big question mark” following the death of his brother, with the Lilywhites leaving the decision on the Ivorian’s involvement up to him.

Leicester City v Sheffield United

James Maddison (hip) and Ben Chilwell (foot) remain doubts ahead of the visit of Sheffield United, while Marc Albrighton is also a concern after picking up a knock in the 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth.

Caglar Soyuncu will be out until the end of the season after being sent off for violent conduct at the Vitality Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers said on Tuesday:

We’re obviously still assessing Ben [Chilwell] and James [Maddison] game by game so we’ll leave it to the last moment to see how they go but [there are] questions marks. We’re seeing how they respond on a daily basis. It’s safe to say they’ll be doubts for Thursday, but before every game we like to give them every chance possible.

Marc [Albrighton] picked up a knock so we’ll see how he is tomorrow and obviously we’re without Çağlar [Söyüncü], which is a big blow for us.

Chris Wilder said that he was “hopeful” John Fleck (groin) would recover for the visit of Leicester on Thursday, saying that the midfielder would have a “couple of clearance sessions” before a final decision was made on his involvement.

Wilder added that the Blades had a “couple of bangs and bruises” following the win over Chelsea but believed that his squad were “all fit to go” for the trip to the King Power Stadium, which could mean that Chris Basham (head) has recovered.

Burnley v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Jack Cork (ankle), Ben Mee (thigh), Matthew Lowton (foot) and Ashley Barnes (hernia) remain unavailable for Burnley, with Sean Dyche saying that the returning Chris Wood had suffered no adverse reaction to his 65-minute run-out at Anfield. 

Nuno Espirito Santo says that Wolves have “some issues” that require assessment ahead of the trip to Turf Moor, with Pedro Neto a concern after suffering from “strong cramp” in the win over Everton.

Crystal Palace v Manchester United

We won’t hear from Roy Hodgson ahead of the Gameweek 36+ deadline but we do know that Christian Benteke will miss the visit of Manchester United, having been sent off for violent conduct in Sunday’s defeat at Aston Villa.

Gary Cahill (hamstring) remains out.

Similarly, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pre-match press conference will likely take place on Wednesday.

Speaking after the 2-2 draw with Southampton, the Norwegian said of Luke Shaw (ankle) and Brandon Williams (head):

Luke twisted his ankle. Hopefully, we can have some good news on him after we’ve done a scan.

I can’t say [really], I’ve not seen Brandon because he was with the medical staff and I think he was getting some stitches with a gash over his eye. So let’s see how he is.

Solskjaer also said yesterday before kick-off:

We’ve had a decent amount of recovery days in between, which we won’t have the rest of the season now. We picked the short straw in that respect, but we picked the long straw at the start of this period.

Everton v Aston Villa

As above, both of these managers won’t face the media until after the FPL deadline has passed on Tuesday evening.

We await updates on the condition of medium-term absentee Bjorn Engels (Achilles) for the Villans, as well as two players who were injured on Sunday: Kortney Hause pulled out of the starting XI against Crystal Palace in the warm-up after suffering a groin issue, while Neil Taylor‘s afternoon lasted all of 36 minutes before he too succumbed to a muscle problem.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Achilles) and Fabian Delph (muscle) are expected to remain out for the Toffees, while Yerry Mina picked up a thigh problem in the defeat at Wolves and will surely be a sizeable concern given the four-day turnaround.

Mason Holgate (shin) and Andre Gomes (knock) are expected to be in contention, however, with their head coach saying on Sunday that he “thinks” the pair will recover in time. 

Southampton v Brighton and Hove Albion

Jose Izquierdo (knee) and Steven Alzate (groin) remain out but Graham Potter otherwise reported a clean bill of health heading into Thursday’s match against Southampton, with no injuries picked up from the weekend.

Having only been in action last night, we won’t hear from Ralph Hasenhuttl until later in the week.

The Saints were previously missing Moussa Djenepo (calf), Sofiane Boufal (thigh), Nathan Tella (unspecified) and Yan Valery (muscle).

West Ham United v Watford

Nigel Pearson or David Moyes won’t address the media until Wednesday or even Thursday, with the two clubs not in action until Friday night.

Gerard Deulofeu (knee), Isaac Success (Achilles) and Daryl Janmaat (knee) are Watford’s only known absentees at the time of writing, while we await news on whether Felipe Anderson (hamstring) and Robert Snodgrass (back) are ready for a comeback after a return to training. 


More detailed information and predicted line-ups can be found in the Team News tab.

Keep an eye on our Twitter feed, too, for any late-breaking updates.

A video round-up with Andy and Neale can be viewed below.


1,200 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ray In Bruges.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope (McCarthy)
    TAA Doherty Stevens (Kiko, Lascelles**)
    KDB Martial Pulisic Fernandes (Dendoncker)
    Vardy Jimenez Abraham

    2FT, 0.1 ITB

    Any suggestions here? All feedback appreciated.

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      vardy to jesus

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Abraham and dendo to greenwood and antonio, bench jimi

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

      Start McCarthy?

    4. Ray In Bruges.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers all!

  2. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy (c) crazy?

    1. Pinturicchio10
        3 years, 8 months ago

        It's not the word I would use but yeah lets go with crazy for now.

      • V-2 Schneiderlin
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        not crazy - definite start, on golden boot, Leicester need to win...

    2. snowman
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      azpi or walker for next 3 GW?

    3. Manani
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      likelihood of Holgate starting?

    4. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is Laporte about to go unnoticed and be the top scoring City option with a 15 pt haul???

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Of all players, surely Laporte wont be risked this GW.

        1. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          We just dont know any of this

    5. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Which GK for more save points?

      A) Krul (che)
      B) Martinez (LIV)

    6. Champions united
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What to do with aurier or soy
      Any trnsfer is for a hit
      Playing BB

      1. timmmuh
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        If you are playing BB, you must move them both out. Maybe a Chelsea defender or 2? They might repay the hits and then some, but the fixtures in 37/38 are not good for them.

        1. Champions united
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          That's the only dilemma

      2. Pinturicchio10
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Dont play BB.

      3. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bench one
        A. Kane
        B. Mahrez
        C. Jimenez

        1. Gooner97
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          C

      4. Pique and De Bruyne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hey all, thoughts please on my F/H team. Gone full differential from my mini league leader (as far as i know).

        De Gea
        AWB / Azpilicueta / Digne
        Sterling / Son / Pulisic(c) / Silva(vc) / Martial
        Jesus / Giroud

        Pickford / Ings / Alderweireld / Fredericks

        Picked a strong ish bench in case of rotation but can be thinned down if needs be and got 3.3m itb so can pretty much change anything. Any thoughts/comments appreciated.

        1. Silva’s Left Nut
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Bruno over martial based on away form I think

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            and yea thats a good shout

          2. Pique and De Bruyne
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Want Bruno but he’s got him and chasing nearly 100 pts so went for Martial as 2nd best option.

        2. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Son>Salah imo

          1. Pique and De Bruyne
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Worried it’s Salah’s turn for the bench this week.

        3. Martial Matas
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Similar dilemma for me, and similar FH team! Money doesn't seem to be an object as looking for diffs.

          Maybe double up utd so Bruno instead of Son?

          1. Pique and De Bruyne
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Agree all the value in midfield and not expensive either, maybe i don’t have to go total differential thanks.

          2. Pique and De Bruyne
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            How’s your f/h looking?

        4. Pique and De Bruyne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks all for the advice.

      5. checkit_j
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Vardy to Giroud? Or jesus?

        1. Runaway
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          on FH Giroud, for the rest of the season Jesus

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

            Saving my fh for 38

        2. MidTableFantasy
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Jesus seems like a better set and forget option to me

      6. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        TAA (ars) or Taylor (WOL) on FH?

        1. GOTHAM City F.C.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Taylor

        2. Manani
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          taa

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

          Taylor

      7. fplking14
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        TC Pulisic?

        1. Silva’s Left Nut
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          If chasing someone yes

          1. Art Vandelay
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            If that someone is Usain Bolt 😆

            To be fair I TC'ed Andy Carroll a few years ago.

      8. Silva’s Left Nut
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bottomed. Hate having to choose between Giroud and Ings, so I’m considering having both, which would mean removing a mid and going to a 3-4-3. Which (if any) of these mids would you remove?

        A) Martial
        B) Dilva
        C) Pulisic
        D) Sterling
        E) Bruno
        F) Remove nobody, stay with 3-5-2

        1. beric
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          B

        2. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          b

      9. Brimble82
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Foden (C)
        Who’s with me???

        1. Threat Level Midnight
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          *Raises hand from behind sofa*

          1. Brimble82
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Mine’s a double story sofa!

        2. timmmuh
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Me too ... over Sterling, Bruno, KDB, Pulisic

          1. Brimble82
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Similar here. Seems crazy right?
            But it also feels like the ultimate ‘High risk, high reward’!

        3. Goro Majima
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Possibly...

        4. AC Yew
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          So far on him!

      10. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Reece James and Mason Holgate good picks ?

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          no
          holgates leg fell off

        2. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Nah

      11. PartyPooper
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Please help

        1. Threat Level Midnight
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Hahahahahahaha

          1. PartyPooper
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Lol comment fail

            1. PartyPooper
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Who to bench. TAA, Vardy or Greenwood???

              1. Threat Level Midnight
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Greenwood

        2. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          911 here, whats your emergency?

      12. Joyce1998
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Captain?

        A- sterling
        Or
        B- pulisic

        1. Shark Team
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          A if you want to risk

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

          A

        3. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Between those 2 and just canr decide. You tell me!?

      13. Hitmonlee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A) KDB > Sterling (c)
        B) Vardy > Jesus (Pulisic (c))

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          B

      14. JenkoJunko
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Some one? Anyone? Please?
        2FT 1.0ITB FH remaining
        Patricio Button
        TAA Doherty Lascelles Kiko Holgate
        KDB Salah Bruno Martial Mahrez
        Nketiah Greenwood Jimmy

        A. Lascelles / Mahrez / Jimmy to Stevens / Foden / Jesus -4 (worried about not having any subs if don't bring in a defender)
        B. Mahrez / Jimmy to Foden / Jesus

        1. Hitmonlee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          B

        2. Silva’s Left Nut
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Free hit that

          1. JenkoJunko
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Out of curiosity.... would you free hit it to cover chelsea?

      15. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Given the fears or being benched:

        Sterling, DSilva & Jesus -> Antonio, Willian & Ings -12?

        1. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Spits tea out. Signs off. Throws computer at wall. Walks off pier.

        2. Netley Lucas
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          The ones you sell can get 30+

        3. Silva’s Left Nut
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Lmaooooooooooo

        4. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I see what you did there.

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Shameless copycat

      16. Martial Matas
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Gone from 30 point lead at top of my ML at start of gwk 30+ to 4th and chasing 81points now...
        3 weeks left going on the attack with FH this week.
        Which moves do you agree / disagree with?

        A) Robbo vs their TAA
        B) Dilva & Jesus vs their KDB & Sterling
        C) Martial vs their Greenwood
        D) Antonio & Giroud vs their Mane & Ings

      17. SpagBol
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Benching KDB over Mahrez and Greenwood...

        I feel like Mahrez can come on and return, Greenwood should return against crystal palace...

        Leaving KDB to be rested for FA cup and may come on for 1 pointer...

        Thoughts?

      18. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Why none sell TAA?

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Arsenal awful on set pieces.

        2. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Cause he will haul agaimst ars

        3. Pinturicchio10
            3 years, 8 months ago

            You would need to be a high IQ manager to understand.

            1. Shark Team
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Burn with cold water mate

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

          Barkley (C)?

          1. Hitmonlee
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Definitely

          2. TheDragon
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Considering CHO for old times sake - he averaged a solid 1 point a game for me earlier in the season

          3. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Definitely wrong site...

          4. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            A maverick pick for sure. Im capping Redmond myself

        5. MartialMatas
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ritchie and Jimenez to Azpi and Ings?

          Alisson
          VVD Doherty Ritchie
          KDB Mahrez Foden Fernandes Martial
          Rashford Jimenez

          Martinez DCL Holgate Taylor

          2FT £0.7m

        6. Pringle
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          What do you prefer?

          A. Ings + Holgate
          B. Jimenez + Alonso.

        7. Gooner97
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          A) 352 with Son & Giroud
          B) 343 with Ings & Giroud

          1. screamer73
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            B

        8. Netters2018
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Best GK on a FH?

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

            Pope or McCarthy

            1. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              this

        9. Irish Villan 1985
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Hi Guys, I hear slot about leaked Chelsea squads, am I missing something, will we learn who starts before the deadline?

          1. PompeyUpNorth!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yes a few minutes before Fpl Rockstar on Twitter

        10. juho
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Pick one please:

          A) TAA
          B) Digne

          Thanks