Team News

The latest news on Lukaku’s ankle injury ahead of FPL Gameweek 9

Romelu Lukaku (£11.7m) looks set to miss Gameweek 9 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) after twisting his ankle in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League.

The Belgian limped out of Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Malmo and while an exact timeframe on his recovery is still not known, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel confirmed after full-time that his striker would miss “some matches”.

Lukaku was the second most-bought FPL forward of Gameweek 9 before news of his injury broke, sitting in over a third (36.3%) of Fantasy squads in total.

Well over 60% of the top 10,000 FPL managers owned the Belgium international, too.

Lukaku had also been top of our captaincy poll for the upcoming Gameweek, with over half of our voters backing the premium striker with the armband:

We’ve now reset the results of that poll, which you can vote on again in the sidebar of this page.

TUCHEL’S COMMENTS ON LUKAKU’S INJURY AND ROTATION

It was a double-whammy for Chelsea on the injury front, with Timo Werner (£8.6m) succumbing to a hamstring strain shortly before the interval.

Tuchel said of his injured strike duo:

“Romelu twisted his ankle with the foul in the box and Timo has a hamstring injury. It will take a while for both of them. We need more examinations to be more precise but they will be out for some matches.

“If I knew before [the game], I wouldn’t have [started Lukaku]. But how can you know it before and it was necessary that he was on the pitch and he started very strong. I spoke with him about the situation, that I think that he carries a bit of mental fatigue around with him. I think that is also normal but he is our number nine and is our reference upfront.

“The best thing against mental fatigue is a goal and we knew that we could be the dominant team. We knew that we wanted to build our attack today with Mason and Timo around him and him as the reference up front in the middle.

“I had the strong belief that in a Champions League match he could turn things around in terms of scoring and being decisive, which he actually did because he was super strong in our start. He took the foul and without him maybe it’s not 2-0,

“So no, I don’t regret it. It’s not a muscle injury or because of physical fatigue. He is a little bit overplayed, this is my opinion and maybe I’m not even right. This was a moment to give him confidence and let him play. I don’t regret it, things like this can happen. It was bad luck.”

There were also some ominous words on rotation from Tuchel, who named a strong team for a routine win over the Swedes:

“This will be maybe one of the shortest pre-match meetings in my history of coaching because we want everything on the same level. We have the chance to switch on some positions, to demand from everybody physically the same input.”

Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.2m) and Andreas Christensen (£5.1m) started their second successive matches of the week, although the first two of those were handed breathers midway through the second half.

Antonio Rudiger (£5.8m) and Thiago Silva (£5.5m) were both back in the starting XI after missing Gameweek 8 but Reece James (£5.5m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.9m) were again only substitutes.

WHO PLAYS UP FRONT NOW FOR CHELSEA?

On the assumption that Werner and Lukaku do indeed miss Gameweek 9, Chelsea need a new attacking spearhead against the Canaries.

With the likes of Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi gone from the club either on a permanent basis or on loan, the European champions are short of options up top.

Enter Kai Havertz (£8.1m).

The German replaced Lukaku after 24 minutes of Wednesday’s clash, going on to score his side’s third goal with a fine finish having earlier wasted a clearer opening. Havertz racked up four shots in all, the most of anyone on show.

Havertz has occasionally played as false nine in the past and ended 2020/21 mostly being used in that role, although hasn’t had a look-in through the middle since Lukaku joined. He’ll very likely be the man playing centrally on Saturday and at 3.9% owned, is a veritable FPL differential for the visit of the Premier League’s basement club.

“Always, always a chance and it is always necessary to prove a point. We will have some games without Romelu and Timo so everyone is invited to join the race for minutes on the pitch.

“When they are on the pitch, they need to show their hunger and determination to be decisive and be in the box.

“This is how it is and they did it today but there’s still room to improve and on Saturday we need the same performance, hunger and determination from whoever starts for us because we need goals to win matches. We want to find solutions without Romelu and Timo, that’s clear. Everyone will join the race to be decisive for us.” – Thomas Tuchel on Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi

WHO ARE THE BEST LUKAKU REPLACEMENTS IN FPL?

We’ll have an article out tomorrow looking at the best replacements for the Belgian in FPL.

In the meantime, you can propose your own alternatives in our Hot Topic and see what our Rate My Team projections think for the coming six Gameweeks.

1,519 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Okey then.. Let's do it like this, bench one if I do Lukaku + Mahrez to Vardy + Havertz?

    a) TAA
    b) Azpi
    c) Walker
    d) Cancelo
    e) Mbuemo
    f) Raphinha
    g) Hwang

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hwang

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just play 4 or 5 at the back this week.

  2. Stewarts11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Stuck between Captaining Havertz or Salah, whos everyone else going for?

    1. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Check the captain poll.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Havertz

  3. LikeItLoveIt
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    A - Trossard > Rafinha (bench Lukaku play Livra)

    B - Trossard & Lukaku > Rafinha and Vardy (-4)

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

  4. mitro
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Move out Jota or Benrahma first?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      The one you’re never sure is going to play

    2. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      a

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Jota

  5. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Maupay or Maupassant?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A post that deserves to be bottomed

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I told myself: 'I am surrounded by unknown things.' I imagined man without ears, suspecting the existence of sound as we suspect so many hidden mysteries, man noting acoustic phenomena whose nature and provenance he cannot determine. And I grew afraid of everything around me – afraid of the air, afraid of the night. From the moment we can know almost nothing, and from the moment that everything is limitless, what remains? Does emptiness actually not exist? What does exist in this apparent emptiness?

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Maupay at his finest!

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Now I see why his shots exhibit entropy

    3. The Orienteer - find me in …
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Maupassant didn't have the answers though, did he?

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        ‘The essence of life is the smiles of…………..under the shadow of cosmic boredom.’ What more answer do you need?

  6. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku to:
    A) Vardy
    B) Auba
    C) Kane

    Have Ronaldo and Antonio

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Vards

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Vardy

  7. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on that initial WC shape?

    Raya/Foster
    XXX/Cancelo/Chilwell/Livra/XXX
    Salah/Son/Havertz/Raph/Mbeumo
    Vardy/XXX/XXX

    In def, it's either TAA or Azpi - I'm tempted to double up on Che due to the fixtures, could take the risk of not owning TAA for now.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good, Trent a must, probably 2nd best player in the game

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I will never say that he is a ad pick just only 7 points in last 4 games while Pool looking more focused on attacks than keeping CS. Thinking Azpi could give the same points being much cheaper. Or double up on City defs.

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          It's 7 points in his last two matches. Missed the other two due to very human reasons which also aren't likely to happen in the next 4

          I'm benching TAA, btw... But wanted to point this out

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You can do without TAA this week but not next

    3. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      KDB is 3.3% owned i couldnt leave him out

  8. stevehaigh84
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    A) Lukaku - Kane -4
    B) Lukaku - Vardy -4
    C) Stick with Lukaku and rely on bench of Cody, Liver and Gilmore...

    1. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If Lukaku is out only 1 week Lira would be good cover against Burnley

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I've heard 4-6

  9. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku and Saka to Jesus and Haverts -4?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Like this

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Pull the trigger

    3. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I’m considering Lukaku and Gallagher to Havertz and Jesus. Not sure about the consistent quality of Jesus though.

      1. No Kane No Gain
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Jiménez instead of Jesus?!

        1. Stockport Hatter
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Yeh that’s an option. I could just do Lukaku to Vardy.

  10. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Whats chelseas attack look like this week, Mount Haverts CHO?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Alonso?

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Is Pulisic available?

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Don't think so

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yes - see my predicted team below

  11. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Greenwood > Havertz worth a punt now?

    Cheers

  12. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    1Ft

    Wondering between Marcal to Chilwell (5-4-1), Saka to Havertz (4-5-1) or maybe just Lukaku to Edouard, Kane depending how much Lukaku will be out for?

    Ramsdale
    Trent Rudiger Dias Livra
    Salah Raph Gray Saka
    Lukaku* Vardy

    Steele Marcal Sissoko Scarlett

  13. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    1FT, 2.1 ITB, thoughts?

    Sanchez / Steele

    TAA / Christensen / Coady / White / Livramento

    Salah / Raphinha / Gray / Mbeumo / Allan

    Lukaku / Vardy / Antonio

    1. mcginnntonic
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      lukaku to vardy and gray to havertz if affordable

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Luk > Kane

    3. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      coady to a city or chelsea def?

  14. mcginnntonic
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who would start out of Daka and Ihenacho this weekend? thanks

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Nacho

  15. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Predicted Chelsea XI this weekend

    Mendy
    Azpi Silva Rudiger
    James RLC Kovacic Chiwell
    Mount Havertz CHO

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Confident on the James start? I've still got Alonso and James. Might give them both 1 more week but doesn't look great with the sub ons last night

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Can you make Christensen play please?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        OK - 50/50 between him and Silva

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Woohooo

  16. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Line ups tonight will be interesting.

    West Ham at home have minor advantage in rest but Spurs are only travelling to the Netherlands which is nothing really.

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      spurs are resting all their outfielders nuno said

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Missed that - ty

        There's a real benefit for WH to finish top of the group as they would miss an extra 2 matches in February and be on same sort of schedule as CL.

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      After the nonsense of Utd flying to Leicester last week, maybe it would be good of Spurs to do Harwich to the Hook to level it out

  17. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What about CHO at 5.3?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Will you CHO CHO Choose him?

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Unpossible

      2. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I think he has a very good chance of getting a lot of minutes up front...

      3. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        What’s a battle?

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Possibility, I'm looking at other options in that price range and there's very few unfortunately

  18. CrouchDown
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Start Hwang or Livra?

    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      livra

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

        Really mate?

        I didn't see Hwang last weekend, was he quiet?

        1. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Got Livra in my WC this week

  19. altan8797
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    who do you think will gain more points in next 3gw?

    a) Son
    b) Haverz (assuming he'll play as a striker)

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Son

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Son. There's way too many unknowns with Havertz - is he any good up top? will Lukaku be back soon? are Chelsea going to be good going forward?

  20. ManofKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I think I'm going to hold Lukaku on my bench. I took a 4pt hit to get rid of Ronaldo and get KDB & Toney in (had to do it early for funds), so another -4 seems excessive. No guarantee that a straight swap to Vardy would cover the-4, Brentford are hardly a porous defence. Will reassess after the weekend, always a chance Lukaku could be fit for next weekend too, just missing this weekend and the Caraboa...

  21. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Any pressers today? No tweets

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hot Topics

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Neale put them on the last page, it is hulked

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Argh nice, sorry

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah. A page up.

  22. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Would you play Livra ahead of anyone in the lineup below? Was planning on benching Townsend but then I read Neale's comment on him in the scout picks plus he's on pens if DCL and Rich are still out.

    Ramsdale
    TAA - Dias - Cancelo - Azpi
    Salah (C) - Raphinha - Townsend - Mbeumo
    Jimenez - Antonio

    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      g2g

  23. Bggz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    WC Behold!

    Raya
    Chilwell - Rüdiger - TAA - Cancelo
    Raphinha - Salah - KDB
    Toney - Antonio - Jiménez

    Foster, Livra, Allan, DLuiz

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No Son?

      1. Bggz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Wasnt even in any of my drafts

  24. boc610
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    robbie savage an absolute embarrassment on BT sport last night with his Man U love. its bad at the best of times but he just cant keep it together. cringiest moment-aside from all his org asmic groans was definitely 'Viva Ronaldo!!! '

    1. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Literally impossible to listen to him commentate on Wales games. Unbearable

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Surprised?

      He's Robbie Savage. Man Utd youths. Son is with United now.

      At least he's not Jermaine Jenas 😉

  25. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mahrez + Lukaku out for:
    A) Son + Vardy
    B) Havertz + Kane

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Son + Vardy.

      Too many unknowns with Havertz.

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I think A is safest, but B has a higher ceiling

    4. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A just looks so solid

      B could pay off but its less safe

  26. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ughh had a nightmare of a wildcard last week... Current team with 1ft and 0.2itb.

    Ramsdale
    Dias James Cancelo
    Salah Raphinha Saka* Mbeumo
    Lukaku* Antonio Jimenez

    Foster; TAA, Livramento, Brownhill

    Lukaku to Vardy is 99% nailed. Any other moves needed? If Saka doesn't play my bench should be good enough. Also is the bench correct in your opinion?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yer good

    2. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just Kaku to Vardy agreed but personally I’d never bench TAA.. but, with your squad I’ve no idea who I’d drop either

    3. citizenkane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No hit needed.

  27. xHaTr
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on this -4?

    Lukaku and Saka to Aubameyang and Havertz

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yay

  28. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Imagine Salah reaches 70% ownership?

    Just over 5% to go.

  29. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    lukaku and Benhrama to Raphina and Vardy? Thoughts on this -4?

    1. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      do it

  30. jackruet
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Tuchel next match
    Mendy
    Azpi christensen rudiger thiago chilwell
    Kovacic jorginho kante chalobah
    Saul

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ha ha, would be classic.

    2. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Where is my Reece James?