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. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wow. Just wow!

  2. djman102
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    3-0. Leicester have them right where they want them now.

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

    Omfg Vardy/Leicester do something

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

    I have crippling social anxiety which is ironic because the thing I need more than ever right now is a party

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I am happy to authorise the party ... as long as there are Nachos too?

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

      Vardy Party?

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

        Yes, not a real one please

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

    Come on nacho

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      this

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

    David Moyes means business and I utterly love it

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lingard involved again?

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

      A the A

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

    Maddison may have cost LEI both the game and CL next year. And if he caught COVID ...

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Probs cost himself an England place too

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

      Cresswell is screwed

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

        Just 11 more minutes please

      2. djman102
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        FFS-thats two this week!

    3. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who goes for Lingard ?

      Mount Son Bruno Jota Salah?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Son probably

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          But he has double and Lingard aka Messi has Newcastle

          1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            You are right difficult to sell before a double but son is the least in form of all those

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

        None

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Lingard is killing my ranking

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

            Killing mine also, but I won’t give in to a hack like him

          2. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Killing my ml also

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

        Mount

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Chelsea fan and he was amazing last GW, totally deserved more pts

      4. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Mount ... he’s excellent but Europe and fa cup ... slight minutes risk ...

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          But but but he is the only differential damn it, this game sometimes. The template has never been this strong

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

        Jota

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

      JLingz non-owners got away with one there.

      The Czechs don’t like shooting with their feet.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I had Mount and Son 🙁

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

      Nacho has declined in one game!

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        We should have gone Vydra

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

        Closer to a goal than Vardy still

    6. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Souceeek!

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

        He scored

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

          ?

          1. Bobby Digital
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            No, just an assist

    7. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cress owners ..

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

      Bloody Soucek

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

      Cress possible hammy

    10. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Get Cresswell out now Rodgers.

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

        Moyes***

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

        Oh ffs... Thought it said 62min.. My luck with defenders this GW has been appalling.

    11. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ndidi ..... he seems to desperately want a red card .... Rogers really want to think about replacing him before he sees red ...

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

      Considered Lingard C but went Salah instead 🙁

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Went with Salah too.

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

      D'oh! Hope Cressy's okay... bummer!

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

      Cresswell 0 pointer.

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

        Autosub heaven with Dallas coming in.

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

          Haha

    15. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      West ham or City ? Who is better?

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

        West Ham 3 City 0

    16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard taking tablets

    17. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard taking tablets

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

        they just energy tabs, he wants more

    18. djman102
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hang in there, Cresswell.

    19. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cresswell 22.7% EO just noting

    20. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cresswell done

    21. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Tierney last week. Cresswell this.
      Sigh.

    22. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cresswell off ... no clean sheet for him ...

    23. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cresswell DONE