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

    Anyone got the Spurs - United team news? 😉

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

      Nope.. Not out yet it seems.

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s the main course of the weekend, we are all excited

  2. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Even a son hattrick isn't enough to save my week

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I want justice after being misinformed to sell and miss his haul last time against United....18 points will do

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'd do horrible things for a son haul

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I think I would too....

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      My WC couldn't have gone any worse, Neto injury in first few minutes of first game sum it up nicely

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That is very unlucky!

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

          Haha yep as usual! I sold Bamford Watkins Dallas etc too

  3. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    SHAWshank Redemption

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

    there is a poor sole out there who went Greenwood, jota, ihenachio, Cresswell and double city on wildcard

  5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lingard to West Ham has been low-key genius from Man Utd’s transfer department

    Weaken West Ham for the Man Utd game through his absence (3 points bagged)

    Strengthen West Ham for all the games vs the rivals for Champions League

    Before finally acting as €30m of Declan Rice’s €90m transfer fee in the summer

    Proper 4D chess from utd there tbf

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Just a shame they don't have a manager that could utilise him properly

      • Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        90 million euros for Declan Rice? What next? £20 to buy a freddo?

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

          😀

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

        If Rice is 90m then Lingard should be 150m minimum

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yep, just like Michu & Amir Zaki were during their little flurries 😆

    2. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Really need Bale to stay on the bench to get those Watkins points...

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

      Just wipe the CS ffs Vardy

    4. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Does the Cresswell injury make Masuaku more nailed on? Balbuena won't deliver many crosses.

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

        I actually would have thought it makes him less nailed unfortunately.

        Will check the West Ham forums after the games

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers.

    5. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm tempted to continue my love affair with Masuaku next week.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I have a similar thought above.

    6. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jesse Lingard has destroyed my season.

      1. DRIZ ✅
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Imagine not having Lingard haha!

        1. Baines on Toast...
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          He’s on a ridiculous run, only comparison is that Ramsey season.

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Nasri too

            1. Baines on Toast...
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Right. I had every reason to believe Leicester was not a high risk game to ignore for. This defies all logic

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

      Gundo >

      A) Jota (don’t have Salah)
      B) Mount
      C) Bowen (have JLingz)

    8. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lingardinho!!

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

      Imagine not transfer out Welsh golfer

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

      Going to give one more gamweek to Nacho. Not liked what i seen today.

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

        Can you say this again please in 5 minutes

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

        Hahahaha

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

      17 with Kane son and bruno to go

      15 on the bench with none coming on

      not ideal!

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

      Kane above 100 EO, Bruno Son Shaw all below.

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

      We value your privacy...

    14. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Shaw starts! Glorious. No jammy Dallas points for people in my ML

    15. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nachoooo

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

      Nacho G

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

        Yes!! Thank christ

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

      Nachooooo

    18. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yesssssssssss finally a bit of luck come onn

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

      Yeeeeeees NACHO

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

      that's why I got vardy over nacho

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

        Same

      2. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I went Jota Iheanacho over Salah Vardy... Swings and roundabouts, game is all luck

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

      Nice Nacho

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

      Oh F off. Actually. Bloody Iheanacho is better than Vardy now is he? Absolute joke.

    23. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes big Ian!

    24. HaveYassineChikhaoui
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho G, WHU CS wiped. Dreamland.

    25. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Im looking for someone I can be rude to.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hazz? You and him were having a spat yesterday,

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Is Jizz around?

      2. OLD Rafiki
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        why always me?

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

        let me have it

    26. TeddiPonza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Current team. WC and BB to play.

      Martinez (Forster)
      Dias Stones Shaw Digne (Coufal)
      Gundo Salah Bruno Jota Raphinha
      Kane DCL (Watkins)

      2FT and 0m in bank. Would you:

      A. Son, Iheanacho and Philips for Gundo, Digne and DCL (-4).
      B. WC and bring in Son, Lingard, TAA etc.