News

Unexpected Blank Gameweek for Man City and Everton in COVID-19 postponement

Manchester City and Everton have both been handed an unexpected Blank Gameweek as their Goodison Park clash was postponed on Monday afternoon.

The two sides were scheduled to meet at 20:00 GMT on Monday evening but an “an increase in cases of COVID-19 in the Manchester City squad” forced their hand.

As things stand, the identities of players who have tested positive remain undisclosed.

Meanwhile, with the compressed nature of the current schedule, Manchester City’s Gameweek 17 trip to Chelsea on Sunday is sure to be under threat already.

That is less than a week away and, with the self-isolation periods not specified, it is certainly possible that the number of players available for the Stamford Bridge visit to also be too high to field a full squad too – certainly something to monitor in the next few days.

Naturally, we wish those affected by the positive tests and their families our best wishes during this strange and unpredictable season.

The Fantasy Premier League fallout, of course, means Blank Gameweeks for popular assets such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.7m) – although with the announcement coming after Monday’s Gameweek 16 deadline, none of us had any chance to pre-empt it.

As a result, a large number of managers will be relying on their benches over the next few days – perhaps increasing the need for returns from Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m), Max Kilman (£4.2m), Rhian Brewster (£4.5m) and the more highly-owned £4.5m midfielders such as Yves Bissouma (£4.5m) or André-Franck Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m).

Moving forward, the silver lining to this development is that Everton and Manchester City are likely to have Double Gameweeks in the future.

Double Gameweek 19 is due to take place in January, with the two clubs currently only set for one fixture each – so they could meet during the midweek phase of that round.

664 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    CHELSEA : Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic, Giroud
    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Silva, Abraham, Werner, Tomori, Kovacic, Gilmour, Havertz, Emerson

    ASTON VILLA : Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Hause, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, Traore, El Ghazi, Watkins
    Subs: Heaton, Taylor, Hourihane, Nakamba, Engels, Guilbert, Elmohamady, Davis, Ramsey

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Lol Chilwell

    2. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Well I wanted to buy Chilwell. Crap

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

      Chilwell's ankle cursing Lampard right now

    4. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Zouma not even benched

    5. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Zouma and James 😆

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

      No Zouma

    7. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No Zoom

    8. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      zouma not even in squad? more punishment

    9. mookie
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks!

    10. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      James not in the squad .. why did I stick ..

  2. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    THATS ENOUGH OF MITCHELL, ROY. SUB HIM

  3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If Liverpool vs Newcastle is off I’ll be down to 6 players, please no!

    1. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wtf is this abt man. Don do me like this

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        City have many positive cases and played Newcastle two days ago, Newcastle play Liverpool tomorrow so may also have positive cases amongst the squad meaning the game could be in jeopardy

        1. Do I Not Like Orange
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          But Newcastle played Palace a few days before their outbreak, and Palace's game went ahead the next week.

        2. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          They play on Wednesday

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

      Same. it will be postponed for sure.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        No it wont definitely be postponed

  4. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No Zouma. Unreal

  5. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Got Mitchell 3rd on my bench. Hope he doesn’t jam a CS and I don’t get him on

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Poor management to have him last on the bench really

  6. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Coufal, Brewster and Douglas coming in for DCL, KDB and James. Nightmare

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

    Klopp doesn’t want Covid infections to spread from Newcastle players

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      They are negative if they play so won't spread

    2. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Can Newcastle players catch it enough to be infectious about 3 weeks after pretty much the while squad had it?

      1. Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        *whole

  8. Ejaaz11
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Riedewald 3pts banked

  9. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Proposal to add ‘Covid Pick’ to squads giving us an extra man in such cases.

    Winning fpl this season is only ever coming down to pure luck. Skill is out the window for me.

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Sounds like a good idea as it is not injury related.

    2. Bilbao Baggins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nah play the cards you're dealt I think . Cautious players (not me) who have strong subs for Covid are being rewarded potentially now. It's fair play. Everyone else is on the same playing field.

    3. Horlicks esq.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, a player picked that hopefully is never needed, using a fund pot equal to all fpl managers. Maybe variable depending on players missing. So if KDB is missing you can pick a player of equal or less value etc.

      Nobody’s fault this happens, more important things to it than fpl but it’s such a knock to plans

  10. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Zouma not in the squad... looks like I'll need my full bench haha

    1. Hawk Eye
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      My bench is already all-in...

  11. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No Dias, no James, hey there Mitchell!

  12. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Leicester must score mitc hell last on m benhc hell

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Quit

  13. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Burke injury serious? Really need a point off my bench this week

  14. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mendy and Chilwell check.

    Grealish Red would be tasty

  15. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    scenes

  16. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I have done had KDB and Sterling did early transfer now before covid news. Cancelo in.

    Before this gameweek did
    Zaha and Grealish OUT
    Son and Soucek IN

    I can only laugh. Was going to field 9 gw18 as it was!

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Was cursing myself for getting in Taylor over Stones this morning. Worked out.

  18. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell to Zouma went well. Dear me. All three on bench in play. Hooold Mitchell!!

  19. SteJ
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Getting plenty of use out of that sad KDB picture this year

  20. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No Cancelo, DCL for me and now Zouma is out. Lol

    It’s getting boring now.

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not for your rivals 😉

      1. Londongeezaa
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Lol, true. But in a funny way I only enjoy the games when I have a playing interest. Otherwise the GW just bores me.

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Well DCL would have been benched anyway and loads have at least 1 city. Zouma is a blow

  21. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Emi clean sheet and Grealish goal is all I ask for.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      who is Emi ?

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

        Emiliano Martínez

      2. OptimusBlack
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Martienz

      3. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Emi Martinez

  22. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Liverpool vs Newcastle will not be cancelled until the next round of testing. They have time to trace and test

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hope you’re correct!

  23. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    bench of dcl, James and Lamptey looking quite strong for this GW

  24. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bissouma time tomorrow

  25. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Very hard lines for city and Everton players owners

  26. Lilac Breasted Roller
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If no City game in BGW18, it may not be worth FH'ing I'm thinking.

  27. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mark has Salah C Mane VC, not saying it will be postponed but still not a good move to do that this season

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      The main Pukki account speaking sense

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Always do.

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Haha , schoolboy error. He would also have no defence. He would still come our of it with a triple digit score .

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

    If Mitchell owners get his points this week, it'll be some serious jam!

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I got him in this week as bench fodder lol

      Massive jam

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

        Unbelievable! Fair play though those slices of luck can live long in the memory!

  29. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    No KDB Dias DCL and Zouma now, I should have known 2 weeks was as long as a good period as I was ever going to get

  30. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I always say have playing bench due to Covid and rotation and not fodder

    People was saying u don’t need it