Team News

FPL Gameweek 1 team news: Injury updates on Pulisic, Ziyech, Holgate and more

The first half-dozen pre-Gameweek 1 press conferences took place on Thursday, with a number of key injury updates being delivered by the head coaches in question.

Ten more virtual media gatherings will follow on Friday, with Aston Villa, Burnley and the two Manchester clubs not in action, of course, on the opening weekend.

We’ll run through the headline injury news and stand-out manager quotes from the conference calls so far, with a more detailed discussion to follow in our Team News tab.

Chelsea

Pulisic benched as Lampard switches to a 3-4-3 against unchanged Spurs

Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta are in contention to feature against Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday evening, with the pair rejoining training after their recovery from hamstring injuries sustained in the FA Cup final.

To what extent they will be involved remains to be seen, with boss Frank Lampard saying:

I am very happy to welcome them both back. Yesterday was their first day fully training with the team, so they’re in contention for Monday.

I have to be careful and I have a squad to pick from, but the way they’re training and the attitude they’ve come back with, it looks like they’re over those injuries. I just have to make sure I manage them both back in in their own ways.

New signings Hakim Ziyech (knee) and Ben Chilwell (heel) have joined Billy Gilmour (knee) on the treatment table, while Thiago Silva is also unlikely to feature.

Lampard said:

Hakim Ziyech took an injury to his knee against Brighton, in the friendly game, so he won’t be fit [this weekend]. We’re working with him. We hope it’s a matter of weeks, hopefully a couple of weeks, but we will have to see on that one.

Ben Chilwell is working towards fitness, he won’t be fit for Brighton. He has developed and improved this week and going in the right direction, which is good news for us.

Thiago Silva is now in London but not training with us until the weekend, so I doubt very much he will be in contention for the Brighton game.

Billy Gilmour is obviously a longer-term injury, he will be out for a couple of months more. Other than that, we are in decent shape.

Leeds United

A taciturn Marcelo Bielsa gave his first pre-match press conference as a Premier League manager on Thursday.

The Argentinean revealed that Rodrigo and Robin Koch could be in contention to make their Leeds United debuts at Anfield, saying:

They are in very good physical condition ahead of the game.

Koch may even have a chance of starting on Merseyside despite a lack of preparation time with his new teammates, with Bielsa adding:

The spot on the right of the defence in the back four does not require a lot of adapting.

The Whites almost have a clean bill of health going into Gameweek 1, with Bielsa saying:

All the players are available to play. Adam Forshaw is out. He’s a separate case.

Everton

Mason Holgate (toe) looks set to be missing when Everton take on Spurs this weekend but Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes appear to have shaken off minor fitness concerns.

Carlo Ancelotti told the media:

I think that Holgate is out. Mina I think is available to play, Gomes is available. We are going to check tomorrow Delph, he will start training with the team tomorrow. For the others, I think the physical condition of the team is quite good.

Southampton

One of the more popular sub-£6.0m midfielders looks set to be missing in Gameweek 1, with Ralph Hasenhuttl revealing that Stuart Armstrong has come back from international duty with Scotland with an injury.

The Saints boss also confirmed that Alex McCarthy is his number one goalkeeper at the start of the new season, with one of Angus Gunn or Fraser Forster likely to depart the club and the other playing understudy.

Sheffield United

Chris Wilder told reporters that a couple of his players are “touch and go” for the weekend, although didn’t name any names.

Sander Berge came back from international duty with Norway with a knee problem, so may be amongst that number.

Wilder had said last Friday that Jack O’Connell would be “100% fit” for the visit of Wolves despite not featuring in pre-season and added that Lys Mousset “will be fine” after a knock to his toe.

Fulham

Scott Parker said ahead of Gameweek 1 that Jean-Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who spent last season out on loan, will be given a chance to work their way back into the first-team fold but have “only just returned to the building”.

Parker also said that new acquisition Alphonse Areola and Marek Rodak “can push each other” for the goalkeeper’s jersey in west London.

The Fulham boss didn’t report any fitness concerns in the broadcast section of his presser.

Best players by position:

1,215 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any Palace fans or someone who knows

    Batshuayi to start GW1?

    Will he share minutes with Ayew or they both play?

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      They've been playing with 2 up top in pre-season, so would assume they'll both play.
      Wanted Zaha OOP but sounds like he might be pushed back to the wing.

      1. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers,want to get him hope he starts

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Doubt it

      He'll likely go up top from week 2 with Ayew wide right and Zaha more central and Schlupp left. Alternative is Zaha is wider left and Eze is the more central.

      Ayew is tied on right now I think - well ahead of Townsend on the right

  2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Lost on last. Starting to move towards the template, but that actually may not be a bad thing.

    McCarthy (Steer)
    TAA - Doherty - Justin (Pieters, Mitchell)
    Salah - Auba - Son - ASM (Riedewald)
    Werner - Wilson - Mitro

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pieters to Taylor and yeah, that's the template

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Eh, Pieters gets the odd assist. Gotta be contrarian in some ways at least 😀

    2. hogree
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Literally have tinkered for bare time and now at exactly this bar Taylor and Bissouma. Feel like I should have just copied

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Templates go'n template 🙂

    3. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Somehow landing on

      Davies - Bruno - Kai over
      Doherty - Salah - ASM

      and trying hard to convince myself to pick Nketiah over Wilson

    4. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It's a good team but i worry about double Newcastle

  3. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Help is needed please

    In your opinion who is the best 5m GK to have for the first 4 - 6 GWs for this back 7

    Ryan xxxxxxxx

    TAA Justin Davies Egan KWP

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. polis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      9.5m on keepers is a new one.

      Would go Ramsdale but don't know how he rotates with Ryan?

  4. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which pair:

    A) Vardy & Alli
    B) Mané & Nketiah

    1. polis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  5. brixtonBob
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What's everyone's strategy, wildcard GW2 or take a hit ?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      WC GW2

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Use transfer, WC hopefully after GW5

    3. polis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Neither

    4. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Neither at mo but may change after GW1.

    5. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Depends on first week for me

    6. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not wc. Transfers and a hit if needed

    7. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Save transfer, mini-WC (-4) in GW3.

      1. polis
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Solid if you can hold.

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          That's the hope.

      2. ritzyd
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        That's my plan too

    8. onceuponatyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Neither, just dumping out Son for Rashford.

    9. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1 FT

    10. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Plan on bringing in Martial or Rashford for GW2. Will WC when I think I need it, which may end up being GW2!

    11. Indpush
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Neither

    12. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hopefully WC in GW8 or 9. If the team can hold up that long

    13. boozybaz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If you plan for 3 GWs you don't need to Wold Card that's just wasting it & you don't need to take hits.
      Im not transferring until GW 3.
      Gives you 2 transfers plus you get 2 weeks to see who's playing & whos performing.

      1. boozybaz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Oh just keep .5 mill in the bank for player price rises.

    14. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Take a hit - I'm assuming 1? 😉 Save wc for more that 4+ transfers

  6. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you rather own?

    A) Werner + Foden + 1.0mil
    B) Ings + Havertz

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B. Foden won’t be playing every match

    2. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C) Werner + Havetrz if you can find 1M

      otherwise B

    3. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

  7. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Havertz likely to start in gw 1?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Should do

    2. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Likely

    3. polis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He's in my team so can we all just say yes so I don't have to think about it anymore.

    4. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers! Will he likely be an earlier sub?

      1. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Will play 79minutes and light up the PL

  8. Geordie19
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Kane and ASM
    Or
    Wilson and Son
    Or
    Drop Werner and have Kane and Wilson and Son!

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

      1. Geordie19
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks

  9. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mccarthy (nyland)
    Taa davies justin (taylor mitchell)
    Sala son auba soucek asm
    Werner callum (davis)

    Son to bruno
    Auba to kdb

    Have 0.5 itb tell me what to switch ?

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Probably keep it in the bank - you never know who you're going to want, and team looks great.

      1. dshv
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thank you

  10. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on these 3 options?

    1. Doherty, ASM, Mitro (/Bats)
    2. Davies, Pereira, Wilson
    3. Doherty, Ceballos, Wilson

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm on 1 now.

    2. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      3 I’d say.

    3. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1 easy

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Not convinced on Doherty so 2 for me

  11. Lav
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Locked in, peace of mind now. GL all for this upcoming opening weekend 🙂

    McCarthy
    TAA Egan Lewis Mitchell
    Auba(c) Salah(vc) Son ASM
    Werner Ings

    Steer Brewster Gordon Taylor

  12. L S P
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can't remember: was the first GW of the restart 29 or 30 or something else?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      30

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      DGW29

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      30

  13. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Here it goes...

    A) ASM and Werner
    B) Pulisic/Havertz and Wilson

    1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm on A but both good options really

    2. polis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      This is a classic pick one and the other two will 100% score better in week 1.

      If I had to choose, A.

      1. b91jh
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I hate to count ownership as a factor but I don't really feel good to own Werner at 47%. Pulisic/Havertz looks like reasonable mavericks that could match Werner's return possibly.

  14. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    If Soucek is cleared to start I think my team is finally done.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Is he?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        He is meant to be available

      2. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        The big question...

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yep. Or just to keep things same, I may replace him with Ceballos

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Sure he starts? Any attacking threat?

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Which GK's are you going for?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        McCarthy and...?

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Leno and McCarthy (I’m a big Beatles fan)

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Haha. How confident are you in Leno?

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            For clean sheets or starts? Fairly is the answer to both

            1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Start in GW1*

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1 night or so before the deadline and Ziyech still starts for Chelsea in the team news tab. Disappointing little bit

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It is updated after all press is done, so Saturday is the day.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Too late. I am at the lake house then will ruin the weekend

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I'm sure you don't need team news to finalize the team

  16. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Think I'm finally close, but not sure about the 442 setup. Any thoughts?

    Ryan
    TAA Egan Justin KWP
    Auba Salah Son ASM
    Werner Ings

    Button Mitchell Bissouma Davis

    0.5itb to maybe do Ings to Martial gw2 or jump on any bandwagons

  17. Dhanesh Prabhu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Tinkering continues

    Already have TAA in defence. So am stuck with 2 options

    Option A
    Robertson
    Soucek(if available or any other 5 mid upgraded to Rashford by gw2) Ings/Jiminez

    Option B
    Saiss/Dier/Davies
    Barnes (upgraded to Rashford by GW 2)
    Aguero/Kane/Jesus (Kane for GW1 and then switching to Aguero/Jesus or staying with Kane as the case may be)

    Projections favor Option A, but flexibility favors Option B.

    Suggestions please

  18. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Latest on Soucek?

    1. Thescaff
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Same as this morning

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Which was?

        1. WVA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Tested negative again, fine to start I think

          1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Cool. Yeah, reading the comments here, match fitness is his main question mark. Might plop down for him anyways and upgrade elsewhere...

  19. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    How it looks?
    Is Havertz and Werner too risk have both?

    McCarthy (Button)
    TAA - Davies - Justin - Egan (Taylor)
    Salah - Auba - Havertz - ASM (Bissouma)
    Werner - Ings (4.5)

    Plan would be:

    GW2 Salah and Ings > Bruno and Martial for a hit -4
    GW3 Auba > Sterling or KdB

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'd have Steer for Button (or Ryan for McCarthy). Other than that fairly template, so not much to say.

      1. Strchld
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks.

  20. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    When is fpl Blackbox live?

  21. Lovren an elevator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who will score the most goals this season?

    A. Armstrong
    B. Redmond
    C. JWP

    1. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  22. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    James Rodriguez to start or not?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Prob off bench then brace GW2 vs the Baggies

  23. Penzardlife
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I think I know the answer but wisdom of the crowd and all that

    A) Doherty+ 4.5 fodder
    B) Adams + Taylor

    A leaves me with a back 4 with 3 week-in week-out starters, plus 2 4.5s rotating. B leaves me with a back 3 with 2 week-in week-outers, and of course three up top.

    Cheers.

  24. Pointless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Barry Douglas a regular starter in Leeds defence?

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No

  25. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    TAA, Ayling, Justin, Mitchell

    Best 5.0 defender to complete defence?

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Lindelof?

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Egan

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Dier.

      1. polis
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Or Davies

    3. Dhanesh Prabhu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saiss, Dier, Davies

    4. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Dier or Saiss

      Ayling to cover him in gw2

    5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saiss of he is nailed

  26. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ASM + Justin (have Wilson)

    or

    Soucek (gamble to start) + Egan

    ?

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Latter

  27. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    For those of you going with Wilson, are you also going for ASM? Double Newcastle doesn’t sound right

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I have both but re-thinking it as per comment above. Might be overkill.

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      One or the other

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Agreed, but I'm going on their individual merits in their price ranges. Can easily swapped them out if they fail. Plus I'm a Newcastle fan.

      1. ZAWAd25
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        That’s a way of looking at it

    4. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wilson for me.

  28. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    No Southampton.
    No Wolves.
    No Chelsea.
    No Mun on bench.

    No worries 🙂

    Wish me luck guys

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Way to go... 😉

  29. Edalock
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1) Werner/ASM
    or
    2) Puli/Wilson?

    Tempted by (2)
    Team
    Mccarthy (Peacock)
    TAA, Egan, Davies (Justin, KWP)
    (S)alah, Auba, Son, Soucek, Xxx
    Xx, Mitro, Adams

    1. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pulisic will be 9n the bench gw1

  30. Ludde
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    No response on last page. I try again now
    Option A or B?
    A. Adams, Mitrovic, Doherty, Egan, McCarthy. 3-4-3
    B. Ings, Brewster, KWP, Dier, Ramsdale. 4-4-2