Team News

Klopp’s update on Liverpool centre-back situation and other FPL team news

Fantasy Premier League managers may be considering late transfers in their Double Gameweek 19 teams after Pep Guardiola talked about the competition for places in his Manchester City squad

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp also said one of his centre-halves could make a timely return for their key match with Manchester United.

Find out the latest injury and team news news in this Double Gameweek 19 round-up.

Manchester City

Pep first confirmed Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m), Nathan Aké (£5.4m) and Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) are all ruled out for Man City ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Etihad.

“Today is (a day) off, tomorrow is training session. I’d love to update you. Eric (Garcia) will be back, the guys from the academy will be back. Aymeric (Laporte) and Nathan (Aké) won’t be fit. Sergio Aguero won’t be either.”

Pep Guardiola

Eric Garcia (£4.7m) returns to offer Guardiola another option at centre-half, though the Spaniard will likely have to settle for a place on the bench.

The City manager also had some words of warning for Joao Cancelo (£5.8m) owners.

Signing Cancelo a week before fixture swing can give FPL owners the edge

“Every player has competition with his team-mates. Even the manager, if we’re not playing good I have competition. To get the best out of ourselves, we have to feel our seat is not safe. Even Joao Cancelo.”

Pep Guardiola

And on Raheem Sterling (£11.4m), the City chief added:

“He’s an incredibly important player for us. Without him what we have done in the past wouldn’t be possible. In all departments he can help us. I’m more than delighted he is with us.”

Pep Guardiola

Liverpool

Joel Matip (£5.4m) could return for the top-of-the-table clash with Man United, Jurgen Klopp confirmed.

“Joel Matip is close. Does it make sense now to throw him in after one or two sessions he’s not done yet? I don’t know. We have to see how he looks in training.”

Jurgen Klopp

Asked if Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) could deputise once more at centre-half should Matip not return, Klopp responded:

“We have still different solutions. Hendo is, for us, very important in midfield, as well. We just have to see. It’s not decided yet. Why should I?”

Jurgen Klopp

One player that will definitely not feature at Anfield is Naby Keita (£5.2m).

“Naby is not ready for involvement. Not a big thing. But it’s a bit like when other players have come back from injuries they have to play and little injury again. Now we have to put on the brakes and settle it properly.”

Jurgen Klopp

Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was coy as ever in his pre-Liverpool briefing, with Anthony Martial (£8.8m) owners set to sweat ahead of Sunday’s kick-off.

“I will give everyone tomorrow to prove their fitness. There are a couple of knocks we got at Burnley that I’m not sure about. I am going to give everyone a chance. Anthony Martial is not out of it. Only ones certainly out are Brandon Williams and Phil Jones. They are the two who definitely can’t make the game. Others, maybe doubts, but fingers crossed.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Tottenham Hotspur

Steven Bergwijn (£7.0m) should be available for Spurs after illness, while Giovanni Lo Celso (£6.9m) remains out.

“Gio [Lo Celso] is not [available]. We still have two training sessions before the game but I believe no more problems in principle.”

Jose Mourinho

Jose also provided this update on Gareth Bale (£9.3m).

“He arrived injured for the first month and the Europa League group phase is a different intensity, so in the Premier League didn’t play a lot of minutes. Then an injury against Stoke where he was having a good first half. Not an easy process.”

Jose Mourinho

West Ham

David Moyes, frustratingly, did not provide a specific update on Michail Antonio (£6.2m) in his pre-match press conference.

The West Ham boss did offer information on Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) and Lukasz Fabianski (£5.1m), however.

“We’ve only had two players missing; Fabian Balbuena is isolating – he came in contact with somebody – but basically we’re just about okay. We’re waiting on Lukasz Fabianski to see how he is, we’re not sure yet and Arthur Masuaku’s probably a couple of months away from being involved again.”

David Moyes

Burnley

Charlie Taylor (£4.5m) owners may not get two games out of the Clarets defender in Double Gameweek 19.

“Charlie Taylor is a doubt, he is a maybe. Everyone else is fine. There are a couple searching for true fitness as in high-level Premier League fitness but the squad is coming back together now.”

Sean Dyche

Wolves

Nuno Espirito Santo delivered a surprisingly lengthy team news update ahead of West Brom’s visit to Molineux.

“Let’s see. We have Adama (Traoré) and (Willy) Boly coming and joining (training). Let’s see how they are for tomorrow. We still have Daniel out. We have work to do. Jonny, Podence, Marcal are out.”

Nuno Espirito Santo

On Pedro Neto (£6.0m), he added:

“He’s inside all the players we have to assess, realising we still have a lot in front of us. At the same time, Pedro is doing well, so we’ll decide. He had a big knock but is improving. Better today, and hopefully better tomorrow.”

Nuno Espirito Santo

A reversion to the tried-and-trusted back three could also be on the cards at Wolves.

“We (have) made big mistakes, especially in defence. We must be compact and from there can grow positives. We have to go back to our main foundation; a clean sheet.”

Nuno Espirito Santo

Sheffield United

Chris Wilder has injury issues, though exactly which players remains unclear. The Blades boss said:

“We’ve got a few out. I think we’ve got seven out for the weekend. We’re hopeful we’ll get a couple back but we might lose one and we’ve got a doubt about one.”

Chris Wilder

On striker Oli McBurnie (£5.6m), Wilder added:

“He’s working away – he’s been out on the grass today. Difficult one because of the nature of the injury. “Still got another day to go but he’s a doubt.”

Chris Wilder
Brewster not immediately drafted into Sheffield United starting line-up

Leicester

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) and James Maddison (£7.1m) are available for the Foxes’ home clash with Southampton on Saturday.

Leicester play at the King Power again on Tuesday, hosting Chelsea in their second tie of Double Gameweek 19. On the pair, Brendan Rodgers said:

“Both those players are available. It wasn’t so much a rest [for the FA Cup]. They couldn’t play or if they did play, there was going to be a huge risk for them. They’ve had ongoing issues throughout the season unfortunately and [Stoke] was a game where we saw a window to get some medical work done with them knowing we’ve got other players who can play. That’s worked well for us. They’ve re-joined the group so they’ll be available this weekend.”

Brendan Rodgers

Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) will not be rushed back into action again, having returned to team training.

“Cengiz Under should be back this weekend, Ricardo Pereira too. A bit like (Caglar) Söyüncü, it will be step by step. We don’t need to rush (Pereira), especially having him broken down before. He’s worked very hard and has gone through all of the tests. We are able to get him close to the squad now, and step by step (we are) getting him back.”

Brendan Rodgers

Dennis Praet (£5.2m), meanwhile, is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. Rodgers explained:

“Dennis will be out for up to three months, which is a huge blow for us. It was an awkward one, he overstretched. It was a tendon in the hamstring.”

Brendan Rodgers

Southampton

For the Saints, Ralph Hassenhuttl confirmed the news that Danny Ings (£8.3m) had tested positive for COVID-19 last week and will miss the trip to Leicester.

.

“We’ve had one positive test since the Liverpool game; Danny Ings. So he’s been out for the past 10 days. When you stick to the protocols, you minimise the risks and that’s what we’re continuing to do. I don’t know if Danny can come back [to training] tomorrow but it looks like he’s out for the weekend.”

Alex McCarthy (£4.7m) and Che Adams (£6.0m) are back in the Southampton fold, while Hasenhuttl has a mix of short and long-term injuries to deal with.

“Alex McCarthy and Che Adams have come back in, so they will both be available. [Nathan] Redmond, [Jannik] Vestergaard and [Moussa] Djenepo are all longer-term injuries. [Michael] Obafemi has had surgery and [Nathan] Tella has problems with his muscle. We have a few problems in the moment which gives me a bit of a headache.”

Ralph Hassenhuttl

Leeds

Marcelo Bielsa has suddenly got some strength in depth at centre-half, with Liam Cooper (£4.3m) and Diego Llorente (£4.4m) both passed fit by the Leeds boss.

“Diego Llorente, Tyler Roberts and Liam Cooper are all available. No (other players are unavailable), just Kalvin Phillips (suspended).”

Marcelo Bielsa

Owners of defenders Luke Ayling (£4.5m), Stuart Dallas (£4.8m) and Ezjgan Alioski (£4.5m) will be scanning the Leeds teamsheet on Saturday to see how Bielsa decides to set up his defence and midfield.

Brighton

Brighton boss Graham Potter has not faced the press but the club’s medical update ruled out Tariq Lamptey (£4.7m), Danny Welbeck (£5.5m), Adam Lallana (£6.2m), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£5.4m), Aaron Connolly (£5.2m) and new signing Jakub Moder (£5.0m).

Fulham

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m) could return for Fulham after missing the midweek 1-1 draw at Spurs. Scott Parker said on Thursday:

“Aleksandar Mitrovic is possible to return for the weekend. He trained lightly today. Mario Lemina and Tom Cairney are not available at the moment. We’ll see where we are in the coming days. Tom has an issue with his knee.”

Scott Parker

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) is ineligible to face his parent club.

Chelsea

Chelsea should be set to welcome Reece James (£5.1m) back to action, after the right-back missed the club’s last two Premier League games.

Frank Lampard declined to name specific players in his team news update on Thursday, saying:

“We’re all good. N’Golo Kante is suspended but he’s back in training tomorrow. So we’re all good.”

Frank Lampard

Arsenal

Following the Gunners’ 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday, Mikel Arteta said of the missing Kieran Tierney (£5.4m):

“I don’t know (if I’ll have him back for the next game). It depends on how he evolves. He’s going to have an MRI scan tomorrow and we’ll see how he is.”

Mikel Arteta
Blank Gameweek 18 and Double Gameweek 19: The key player and team stats
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On further injury news, Arteta added:

“[Pablo Mari] had a calf injury in training [on Wednesday]. I think he will miss a few matches. He’s another one we will lose but we’ve got Gabriel [Magalhaes] back after Cocid, which is good news, we’ve got Thomas [Partey] back as well. Let’s focus on the positives.”

Mikel Arteta

Newcastle

On team news, Steve Bruce told the media:

“Jamal Lewis could come back in. Jamaal Lascelles too. We’ve got a problem with Federico Fernandez. Allan Saint-Maximin is maybe training today or tomorrow, which is good news. But he’s been out for around seven weeks so we’ll have to monitor him. Fatigue is the biggest thing.”

Steve Bruce

Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson used his press conference to praise his team’s latest defensive performances

On Palace’s trip to Arsenal, the manager stated:

“We were playing a team in excellent form and we go away with a deserved 0-0. I thought the game was end-to-end and we are happy we took something away from the game. Two clean sheets in a row now. If you don’t defend well, it is going to be hard to win games.”

Roy Hodgson

And Hodgson added on the visit to the Etihad:

“If they [Man City] are not conceding goals, they’re always likely to score with the quality of players they have to choose from. It’s going to be a very, very tough ask for us. Am I looking forward to going there? Well, not really, because I know it’s going to be a very hard ask for us. You have to show every bit as much discipline, energy and effort that we put into tonight’s game.”

Roy Hodgson

West Brom

Sam Allardyce did not provide anything in the way of team news during his press conference on Thursday.

1,398 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    on a FH, G2G?

    Areola
    Targett stones coufal
    salah kdb(c) bruno rash soucek
    antonio vardy

    1. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Areola I'm not sure on, I would rather Johnstone and his double personally.

      1. tibollom
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        thanks mate ill do that; wasnt sure who to go for

      2. tibollom
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        what about the rest of the team and captain? not huge team value hence cheapish defence

  2. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio or Watkins?

    1. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That's the 6.2 million dollar question...

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      To bring in or to play?

  3. George James
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best downgrade to do Son >> Salah

    A) James > Mitchel (Play saka)

    B) Saka > 4.3 mid (Play James)

    C) Robertson > Cresswell

    D) Bruno > Rashford

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      D, it's a sidewise move but the smallest compromise.

  4. Sean
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which scores more over next few GWs..

    A) De Bruyne & Adams
    B) Vardy & Son

    1. HugoSimpson2
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  5. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which would you do?

    A. Raphina to Foden/Gundogan for -4
    B. Start Bamford

    1. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  6. HugoSimpson2
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Don't have any city defender and already forced into taking a -8.

    Is Robertson > Cancelo/Dias/Stones for -4 worth it?

    I know prob not but can't believe I'm going to miss out on City clean sheets!

  7. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I feel like most proposed hits for a BB are not going to end up working out for the best

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m undecided.
      Robbo to Cancelo is probably my most risky - I’m saying that’s my FT! DGW to DGW but with better fixtures
      Mitchell to Stones (-4)... surely works out
      Davis to Antonio (-4) again would have to be pretty bad luck to not at least break even

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

    Would you BB this?

    Martinez
    Cancelo, Shaw, AWB, Coufal
    KDB, Salah, Fernandez, Soucek
    Jesus, Wilson
    Subs Areola, Bamford, Saka, Holding.
    3xSGW.

    1. Macca71
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You almost have to. 5 fixtures from your bench and v favourable fixtures for your 3 SGW players

  9. Lukakwho
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I really don’t want to but would you wild card this? Thinking it’s imperative I bring in KDB + Vardy but can’t really do this without taking a -12 / -16 as haven’t got the value and need to lose a couple of players. What would you do?

    Mccarthy Johnstone

    Dallas Justin Stones KWP Balbuena

    Grealish Salah Fernandes Son Soucek

    Bamford Brewster Kane

    0.9M ITB

    1. Macca71
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane - Antonio, Grealish - de Bruyne? A risk with Grealish given Newcastle fixture. I don’t fancy Vardy; they’re up against two decent defences.

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

      Never wildcard when you don't want to. When you are ready to WC you will know. Why imperatives? Vardy certainly isn't and KDB looks shot

  10. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which City DEF in?

    A) Cancelo
    B) Dias
    C) Stones

    1. TheBabyfacedAssassin
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias

    2. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Everyone will say A but I would go B

    3. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B or C for less rotation risk sadly.

  11. Legohair
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hey guys!i really need some help here?!?!

    My team is

    McCarthy-Steer
    Chilwell-Lindelöf-Justin-Coufal-Alioski
    Salah-KDB-Bruno-Son-Grealish
    Bamford-Adams-Brewster

    Plan A:
    Mccarthy&Lindelöf&Adams to Martinez& Antonio & Mitchell (then no BB)

    Plan B:
    Son&Brewster&Steer to Antonio&Martinez&Bowen/Foden(BB team)

    Plan C
    Lindelöf &Adams to Targett&Antonio(probably wont BB)

    Please i need lors of opinnios?!?!?

  12. GoonerGirl
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do Watkins to Antonio for a hit, or not worth it as both have a double game week?

    1. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, too sideways for a hit.

      1. GoonerGirl
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks, yeah think you're right. Would you do -4 DCL>Antonio this week or wait until after this double game week?

        1. Brehmeren
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yep, would do that one this gw.

  13. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy could end up rising the day after he dropped things are moving so fast

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

    Thoughts on Villa players? Has it been said anywhere that the full squad is back or could some of the 9 who tested positive still be in isolation? Seems risky for the city game

    1. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn’t be buying right now. Surely it makes sense to wait and see who actually plays next for them. Any that tested positive could miss more than 2 weeks.

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Surely the following players aren't worth a BB?

    Martinez, Tierney, Saka and Mitchell

  16. chelseabrad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Are these transfers worth a -4 each? Considering a -12 and BBing

    1. Adams > Antonio
    2. Neto > Soucek
    3. KWP or C.Taylor > Creswell/Coufal
    4. Taylor > Someone?

  17. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else free hitting?

    1. The_FF_King
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me! Doesn’t seem like there are many of us though

  18. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    People that use number of twitter followers to claim club X is bigger than Y. Straight into room 101.

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      club Y*

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

      People who care about club 'bigness' without caring to define it. Room 101.

  19. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best 4.8m-or-below defender replace Taylor (N.B. have Coufal):

    (A) Shaw (better fixtures, better assist potential)
    (B) Dallas (better goal threat)

    1. NejiHyuuga01
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I own both but I thin I would go Dallas if I didn't only because Shaw is a rotation risk with Telles

  20. C'mon the Fylde
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB this, if Leeds DGW is back?
    Button, Bamford, Bednarek, Cresswell

    1. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If you had a DGW Gk I’d BB regardless.

    2. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      what do you mean if its back?

      1. C'mon the Fylde
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Shrewsbury manager has Covid.
        Southampton manager said that they must be prepared to play Leeds, if the FA Cup game is off.

  21. Mr Bird
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Zouma > Cancelo worth a hit?

    Already have Dias but want City double defence long term.

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely not

  22. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Foden or Wilson for the double?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      F

    2. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden

  23. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    do we think KDB is a must?

    1. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's favourable to have him but certainly not essential

  24. Gordon Cole
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    McCarthy/Forster
    Dier, James, Dallas (Targett, Taylor)
    Soucek, KDB, Bruno, Salah, Son
    Antonio, Adams (Brewster)

    Worth a -4 to replace C Taylor with Stones?

    If so, play Stones instead of Dier or Dallas or Adams?

  25. beetlejuice
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How many hits are you on ?
    I'm on -8 and one more is tempting but hopefully that's it.

    Doing Kane, Saka, Saiss to Antonio, Mane, Coufal

  26. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bring in Dias or Cancelo this week?

    The other will be coming in next gwk

    1. C'mon the Fylde
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias is more nailed

    2. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias

  27. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do we have any news from Villa? Have they started training?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No going back to training ground on Sunday best I can find...

  28. BEEZUS
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) KdB and Mane
    B) Sterling and Salah

    1. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why not KDB and Salah?

  29. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Repost: Wilson to Antonio or save? Swaying towards keeping Wilson as he has double too + Antonio not 100% fit

    1. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I would save

  30. Thinkering like a Boss
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Gonna Bench boost. My team:

    Meslier, Johnstone
    Chilwell, Pieters, Justin, Alioski, KWP
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Pulisic, Soucek
    Adams, Bamford, Vardy

    which is better? 1 FT, 0.5ITB

    A) Adams, KWP > Antonio, Coufal -4
    B) Adams, KWP > Watkins, Stones -4
    C) Adams, KWP, Meslier > Antonio, Stones, Areola -8