Dugout Discussion

Rodgers’ quotes on Perez and Maddison absences as Antonio misses out

There are notable absences on either side as high-flying West Ham United and Leicester City meet in east London this afternoon.

Kick off at the London Stadium is at 14:05 BST.

The non-availability of Michail Antonio (£6.6m) had been heavily signposted in David Moyes’ pre-match press conference, with the striker missing as expected today.

His place in the Hammers’ attack is taken by Jarrod Bowen (£5.9m), with the hosts otherwise unchanged from the 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and still without the sidelined Declan Rice (£4.7m).

As for Leicester, Brendan Rodgers has made two changes to the side that started last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) and Dennis Praet (£5.2m) are recalled, with Marc Albrighton(£5.2m) and Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) making way.

Perez isn’t in the matchday squad and neither is James Maddison (£7.2m), with unconfirmed rumours alleging that the pair – along with Hamza Choudhury (£4.6m) – are absent for disciplinary reasons.

Rodgers poured more fuel onto that fire ahead of kick-off when guaranteeing their availability for next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final:

They’re not available for this game, but after this game, they’ll be fine. They’ll join the group next week and be ready for next week’s semi-final.

Two of the three most-bought players of Gameweek 31 feature in this match, with Jesse Lingard (£6.4m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.9m) both heavily transferred in ahead of Friday’s deadline.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Soucek, Noble, Fornals, Lingard, Masuaku, Bowen.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Amartey, Evans, Fofana, Pereira, Tielemans, Ndidi, Castagne, Praet, Iheanacho, Vardy.


GAMEWEEK 31 SO FAR…

Nick Pope (£5.5m) was absent from the Burnley squad on Sunday as the Clarets made it six matches without a clean sheet when succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.

Sean Dyche said of the England international:

We don’t think it’s too serious. He’s just not made today.

The partnership between budget forwards Chris Wood (£6.3m) and Matej Vydra (£4.8m) continues to reap points in Fantasy Premier League, with the former assisting the latter for the game’s opener.

Wood has five FPL attacking returns in his last four outings, with Vydra registering three goals and an assist in his five most-recent appearances.

Newcastle were, as they so often have been without their first-choice attack, ineffective until the second-half introduction of the fit-again Callum Wilson (£6.5m) and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m).

It was the Frenchman who turned the game on its head, first teeing up wing-back Jacob Murphy (£4.9m) for the equaliser before grabbing the winner with a fine solo goal.

1,144 Comments Post a Comment
  1. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lingz could have had a hat trick if coufal gets that in front of him

    Insanity

    1. Party time
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hat trick in 2nd half buddy

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks jesse, iheanacho second half brace now please

      1. Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This

    3. Pablitto
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Did Coufal to Rudiger

    4. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Get a strong feeling Nacho is blanking this game

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Sorry, I ruined him 🙁

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

      Vardy 1 goal in 17 games :O

    6. Sif
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Need Holding to be benched to get Coufal on now 😀

    7. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      How are Lingard goals still giving me rank boosts inside the top 1k? This feels like cheating at this point. What a guy.

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        8/10 nice humble brag.

      2. Kane and Ablett
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I love him.... all the more so after the doubters thought he’d stop delivering without Antonio , he is on fire

    8. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If someone told you on January 1st that Lingard would be ending seasons 4 months later... 😀

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        After 2020 nothing would have sounded strange on January 1st.

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Fair. But still, Lingard...

    9. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      XG doesn’t consider the quality of the player so is a load of nonsense, Maguire having a shot 18 yards out has the same XG as Kane would doesn’t he? JLing, like Son is just a lot better than the average player so defies this pointless stat

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Lingard is better than the average player? Utter nonsense comment he’s been a bench fodder at United for years

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          And Iheanacho is good?

          1. Pukki Blinders
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Never said Nacho was a good player

      2. Kane and Ablett
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        You must have different criteria to me for what makes a good attacking midfielder, Zaha was another bit of bench fodder at Utd that has done pretty well in the right environment

    10. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Seriously considering JLingz(c) vs NUFC instead of Kane DGW

      1. Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not really

      2. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Do it

      3. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeeeeeeeah course

    11. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Neto over Lingz they say.

      1. Cruyff's Eleven
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Who did?

        1. Pukkipartyy
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Many did

          1. Cruyff's Eleven
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Not where I was preparing for my WC they weren't...

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Enough mate. Leave us alone

        1. Pukkipartyy
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Sry bro 🙁

    12. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Was having a decent season but Lingard has ended it early, see you next year

    13. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why on earth wouldn’t you own Lingard??? Can someone explain that to me who hasn’t got him yet?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I haven’t a clue. Just seems really stupid to not have him.

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Because I don’t believe in magic

      3. dansmusen
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I dont have him and yes it is costing me my cash ML at the moment

      4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        To make room for players you (incorrectly) believe will get more points?

      5. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        other priorities like Jota, a player who actually posted good numbers

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Lingz has crushed Jota?

      6. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        On wc wanted to attack the fixtures. Plus with rice and Antonio out I wasn't sure how many chances he/West Ham would get.
        I was wrong!

      7. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Couldn't afford him in one move, had Antonio so thought that would cover me.

        So I am not as clever as you. Carry on and mock me.

    14. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Benched Coufal and Bamford

      And captained Jota

      Oh, well

    15. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Neto to Bowen this week if Antonio is still a doubt.

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Sssssh

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

      Nothing worse than weirdo Utd fans celebrating Lingard's form like he's still playing for them lol

      1. Rassi
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Utd still owns him

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

          Cristiano Ronaldo is still UTD's. He's just on loan

          1. Rassi
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Now that is just a stupid statement.

      2. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        "Nothing worse than Utd fans"

        QFT 😀

    17. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This is probably best day of my life...lol

    18. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Starting to think Fofana might not haul this game..

    19. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho is good this game tbh,only player who has some chances for Leicester

    20. Party time
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Lingard Is inevitable

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Bruno-who!?!?!

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I thought Vardy was.

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            ... you know what comes next.

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              An injury?

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Better than Bruno?

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Don’t disrespect JLingz comparing him to that level of player.

      • Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Souceck to lingard done

        Souceck brace next week

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

        Vardy and Sterling looking like a colossal waste of money

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Most of the premiums do at the moment, in fairness.

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        LMS safety score currently 32 with live bonus.

        https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

      • mgilbert86
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This really turns me off leicester players so far

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

          I've tripled up.....

      • Vazza
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Lingard has killed my rank. I’m heartbroken 🙁

      • Essan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        How the hell did I bench Lingard 😮 Any chance Saka doesn't play? Pretty please ....

      • DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Really need a west ham clean sheet here as a Coufal/Lingard owner. Mainly cause Coufal is coming in for Dias ahead of Dallas. Would soothe my Sunday.

        1. MrZ
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Really need a dawson goal & CS because he's also ahead of Dallas.
          & Trossard or Dunk, one of you can have your 1 wk rest now.

      • Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The experts told me to get X over Y. Feel bad for me please

      • Sz21
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Anybody else SELL Lingard this week then?