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
.

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. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you take a 4 point hit to bring in Vardy for Kane this DGW?

    Playing BB and it may be bordering on greed but if Vardy hauls and kane falters it could be a decent hit?

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

      Depends on your other transfer

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

        Swapped ward Prowse for Foden

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

          If JWP to Barnes could be good.

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

            Foden was a cheaper option to Barnes but yeah Barnes delivers.

            Thx for your imput.

  2. Ruudy Van
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench boost with ;

    McCarthy, Targett, Burke, Adams

    P.s buying Fabianski for a 4.0 in the hope he plays both game or any keeper for 5.3?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No with Burke

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

      Burke is my concern

    3. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      All with bad fixtures and Targett on 4 yellows.

    4. Ruudy Van
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks everybody. Confirms it for me. No BB

  3. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do we think both Salah and KDB will be above 100% EO in top 10K or there is a chance for KDB not to be because of all those free hits ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just pick the one who you think scores the most.

      1. Jindaljain
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I don't have KDB

  4. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Think I'm gonna regret selling Son for KDB.

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

      Same, still hesitating :/

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Might be wise to keep.
        But then again..

  5. gellinmagellan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Leno
    Robbo Cancelo Coufal
    Salah Son Bruno Soucek Raphinha
    Vardy Bamford

    Forster Adams Strujic Taylor

    A) Taylor > Stones -4
    B) Son + Adams > KDB + Brewster -8
    C) Adams > Antonio -4

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

      C

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

        Leaning towards this myself but going without KDB...:|

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

          Have Brewster and would love to get rid...

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

      A

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

        Bench Raphinha?

  6. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to sell for Salah?

    A) Son
    B) Rashford
    C) Bruno

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

      B

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

      B

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

    Which option would you prefer?

    A] Kane (shu) + Lacazette (NEW) + 8 points
    B] Vardy (SOU,CHE) + Mane (MUN,BUR)

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

      B

    2. TRE2
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How does that work?

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

        Alongside a bench reshuffle from Bissouma to Brewster

  8. TRE2
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mane to KdB? Also have Salah.

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

      Yes

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

      No

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

      yes

  9. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez
    Stones, Dias, Cresswell
    Rash, Bruno, KDB, Son, Soucek
    Laca, Rodrigo

    Steer, Alioski, Kilman, Brewster (2.8ITB)

    Still yet to make any transfers. I'm thinking a simple Laca & Rodrigo > Vardy & Antonio (-4). Anything better you can see? Cheers

  10. Mikha In A Tutu
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bamford to Antonio
    Klich to Lookman
    Son to KDB
    Worth it for a -8?

  11. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Matip back in training today.

  12. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy and Soucek
    OR
    Antonio and Son

    ???

  13. VinMar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son or Vardy for the next 5 games?

  14. Tomas_brolin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone or Martinez?

    1. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez

    2. DavidHopkin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez if money not an option.

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

    I can take out either Zaha for Mount, Barnes or Foden (last one is a distant favourite because Pep roulette).

    Or play Son in the belief that he's likely to outscore any of those DGW three vs SHU.

    Any thoughts appreciated, guys...

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

      Zaha to foden sounds good. Can you get foden and play son?

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

        Midfield is almost full of dgw players. I can roll a transfer and play either Zaha or Son (who both just play once) or swap either out. I'm loath to get rid of Son - even for one gw - because I'll just have to buy him back. You reckon Foden will get a game and a half-ish?

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just play Son, I won't sell Zaha his fixtures turning.

  16. DavidHopkin
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can get this with a -8. Worth it and thoughts on BB?

    Johnstone
    Stones cancelo chilwell coufal
    Salah son* Bruno soucek
    Vardy Antonio

    McCarthy*, Justin, bamford*, raphinha*,

    The transfer would be:

    Kane, adams, Dallas > stones, Vardy, Antonio.

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably worth it. The bench looks well worth boosting.

  17. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB?

    Steer, Mitchell, Bamford, Dallas?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No but it could score 20+

    2. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

    3. Mikha In A Tutu
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, wait for wildcard to get full playing bench.

  18. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek to outscore Raphinha by 4 points or more?

    1. Mikha In A Tutu
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Don’t know about that. Raphinha looks decent.

    2. DavidHopkin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Tough one. I reckon so. Leeds shaky defensively without Phillips and soucek two plum fixtures.

  19. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dallas to Stones for a hit?

    1. Mikha In A Tutu
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Probably not.

  20. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    El Ghazi expected to play both games? I assume the Villa players who had COVID will be out of isolation for first game?

  21. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I don't have KDB or any city players will people allow me to play?

    1. Chill, we'll call you
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Please cancel your FFL account now and keep your distance. It could be catching.

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

    Feel there is a bit too much love for Vardy on here. Both Soton and Chelsea are dencent defensievly and Vardy still got his groin issues. Nacho could get a start imo.

    1. JayKay1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Trust me, born and bred in Leicester (49 years and counting), Vardy plays both, even if not 100% fit (and he's confirmed back in squad today)... Hip / groind jus ongoing minor niggle, he'll play through it, too important to team...

  23. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane to Vardy -4?

    Already own Son

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

      Not for -4 imo

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

      Yes do it

  24. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Fabianski
    TAA Cancelo Dias Coufal James
    Son Salah Bruno Soucek
    Bamford

    Bench: Johnstone Raphinha Rodrigo Adams

    a) Son Adams > KDB Decordova-Reid-4 pts (Play BB)
    b) Son > Sterling for free (Dont play BB?)
    also, play fabianski (may not be fit) or johnstone?

  25. Public user
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No manc cover , is mane -> kdb worth the ft?

  26. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A - Son -> Rashford
    B - Adams -> Antonio
    C - Save FT

  27. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son and Grealish to
    KDB and El Ghazi? (-8)

  28. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A - TC Salah
    B - BB with a bench of Forster, Bamford, Targett, Strujik
    C - Save both

  29. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench boost currently consists of

    Bellerin (NEW)
    Bamford (BHA)
    Saiss (WBA)
    Foster (---)

    Any DGW players worth a hit, already have 3 city otherwise Ederson would be in.