News

Covid latest and how it affects FPL

The increase in Coronavirus cases has already seen 10 Premier League fixtures postponed, with six of those arriving in Gameweek 18.

It could have been more, too, with Chelsea seeing their request to call off Sunday’s game at Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected, which infuriated manager Thomas Tuchel, who said forcing what remained of his squad to travel to the match had put them at risk of catching Covid.

Now, all 20 top-flight managers are due to meet with the Premier League on Monday to discuss their concerns, so we may get an update soon as to what’s going to happen moving forward, but for now, here is what we know so far.

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS SET TO MEET ON MONDAY

Premier League clubs will meet on Monday to discuss the growing crisis, with a number of issues to be tackled, including the schedule, late postponements and jab take-up.

There are also concerns over player release for next month’s African Cup of Nations, which has implications for the likes of Mohamed Salah (£13.1m), Emmanuel Dennis (£6.0m), Edouard Mendy (£6.2m) and Sadio Mane (£11.9m), all of whom are currently due to miss Premier League matches.

Managers and captains are also due to hold their own meetings, with several discussing the impact of Covid over the weekend.

“We play now on Wednesday, Sunday and Tuesday. That is impossible. We do not have the players. We could maybe have another case or two. We have to think about it, we cannot just push it all through. First of all, take away the second semi-final of the Carabao Cup. Just play once, wherever you play it I don’t care. The 26th and 28th of December is really not possible. We would prefer to play but we need some help. If we carry on we cannot carry on as usual. If we don’t play anymore and have a break I am fine. But I know the problem. When do you want to play the games? It is not that easy to fit them in. We said before Coronavirus that it was a bit busy and now it gives us a proper punch.” – Jurgen Klopp

“The regulators will make the decision over whether a game is played or not but we all need to understand the reasons behind it. We are going to have to find a way. We knew when we started the season this (Covid problems) could be a possibility and I am sure there was a Plan A, B and C. We need clarity.” – Mikel Arteta

“I think it’s probably on a knife edge would be my verdict on it. I think when you start losing players to Covid, I think then the worry for me is that the competition becomes slightly unfair. I don’t think anyone wants to see that. The biggest thing people want to see is a fair league. They don’t want to see disparity in games and players missing. We all want the product to continue, I’m desperate to continue the programme myself but I do think that the welfare of the players and supporters has to come first.” – Eddie Howe

GAMEWEEK 20 POTENTIALLY OFF?

On Sunday evening, The Athletic reported that one of the options to be discussed is to trigger a Christmas circuit-breaker, which would involve an entire round of games – Gameweek 20 – being postponed.

The fixtures impacted in this scenario would be:

Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 20 schedule

That would have huge implications for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.

For example, Chelsea would face successive matches against Liverpool (h), Manchester City (a) and Tottenham Hotspur (h) after facing Brighton and Hove Albion (h) in Gameweek 19, whereas the likes of Leicester City, Newcastle United, Watford and Everton would head straight into more appealing runs.

If that block of fixtures above is to be merged into a current Gameweek further down the line, it also increases the likelihood of a huge Double Gameweek involving all 20 teams, which would seem an ideal time to deploy the Bench Boost chip.

WHICH GAMEWEEK 19 FIXTURES COULD BE AT RISK?

As is stands, all Gameweek 19 fixtures are currently scheduled to go ahead, at least for now, but this handy graphic from the excellent @Legomane_FPL details those most at risk.

The purple blobs indicate a match which involves a squad with a current Covid outbreak, while the yellow ones are squads that are yet to reach the Premier League threshold for postonement.

This is a fast-moving situation, and with cases rising daily, there are likely to be more postponements in the days ahead. Because of that, holding onto those transfers till as close to deadline as possible is of course advisable.

We’ll be back with an update and reaction from today’s Premier League meeting as soon as information is released, but for now, you can read the club-by-club latest via our Covid watch page.

367 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Sorry if his has been asked before, but what game week will Salah be going to AFCON and has here been any confirmation that AFCON is indeed proceeding?

    Thanks

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Everyone is selling now after his blank

    2. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Would also like to know this.

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

      Egypt's first game is 11th Jan. GW21 game for 'Pool is 9 days before. You'd have thought he plays that.

  2. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Simple question I know but I assume the fact that the Premier League plans to honour festive fixtures in principle doesn't mean that matches will not be postponed on a case by case basis? We could still end up with only a few fixtures in GW19, right?

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

      Yes, keep an eye on cases and news from teams

      This announcement should mean teams will do more to prevent cases

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, and let's hope so

    2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      13 first team players should mean that the top 6 should be likely to play as they have big squads

  3. Team Bobcat
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    The bright side is it makes FPL more exciting in the short term

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

      Yeah, and if you’re s*** like me it removes some of the skill element

      Every cloud

  4. King of Kings.
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Does anyone know when the pre-match pressers are due to take place? Does this happen on Christmas eve or even earlier?

    This will make it really difficult to plan ahead with limited info available before the deadline. Alot could happen in 48 hours....

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

      Press conferences don't really matter in relation to postponements though. You will still have until the deadline to hear if a match has been postponed

      1. King of Kings.
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        But if matches are going ahead then press conferences are fairly vital in determining who we transfer in is my point.

  5. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    When do we expect AFCON players to leave their clubs? after GW20 and some might already leave after GW19?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Don't even know if it's happening. Apparently they're discussing whether it should be postponed again or not

      1. Dr.Oftaw
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Should be cancelled for many reasons

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

      GW21 is around a week before first game so all depends how much teams want their players for pre-tournament preparation. 19 sounds very early.

    3. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      It’ll vary by country and whether they want to enforce their right to join up after Boxing Day. For example, Rangers have confirmed that the 3 Nigerian players won’t join up with Nigeria game until after 2nd January game v Celtic. Nigeria’s first game is 11th January so assume same applies for EPL players like Dennis, Iheanacho etc.

  6. George James
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Chances of villa chelsea going ahead?

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

      50:50

      It will or it won't

      1. George James
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I have a feeling you are right.

  7. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Good news. The premier league is continuing with no cancelled gameweeks. Let the chaos continue!

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Chaos for teams I don't have players for would be nice. I wanted to start spreading the risk about a week ago, yet now I somehow have triple Liverpool, Arsenal and Watford.

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yep exactly the same here in addition to triple City and double Chelsea. This will have to be addressed I feel

  8. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    As it stands, would you keep FT here? King stinks a bit imo. Obviously Ronaldo would be good or Arsenal mid as well but you can't have them all?
    2.2ITB

    Rambo/Foster
    TAA/Cancelo/James/Alonso/Duffy
    Salah/Jota/Foden/Bowen/Raph
    Laca/King/4.4

  9. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Ramsdale Gunn
    TAA Cancelo James Alonso Tomiyasu
    Salah Jota Mount Bilva Bowen
    Antonio Dennis King

    2 ft
    2.5 itb

    I know we don't know what's happening but would Bilva and King to Son and Broja be OK?

    Broja a decent enough sub option?

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

      Broja is a good sub to have imo.

  10. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    3rd and 4th round FA Cup replays scrapped this season according to SSN. January DGWs incoming. Ben Crellin has just ejaculated.

  11. Dr.Oftaw
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    We need some new info charts alongside the watchlist, season ticker etc titled Vaccinated players and Had Covid players

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The unvaccinated are staying silent. Probably with good reason.

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

        I wish more vaccinated players spoke out really. This is the moment.

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

          In US, the NFL has different return rules for unvaccinated VS those players that are vaccinated. EPL instituting different rules would tell us which players are which....and probably pressure unvaccinated players to get the shot

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

            Genuinely wish EPL does it

  12. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Laca or Jesus?

    1. Dr.Oftaw
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Neither until we have any idea which games are on or off

    2. MidTableFantasy
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The one who is nailed

      1. wilsonito
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Jesus then? To the cross that is

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

          You spoilt it by explaining

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Seems like the moment for Lacazette to me, but fixtures aren't amazing, with a blank and only one game to rearrange (che). I will likely go with neither on WC next GW.

    4. JUNITED
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Neither has the value of 8.0 Forwards but Laca is more nailed on. He will start weekly since Arteta is done with Auba. So Laca is the choice.

      1. JUNITED
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Laca also on penalty which makes it more obvious why laca > jesus in FPL

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

          You won’t know that now.
          He missed his shot against West Ham handing Fabianski 8-9 points.
          Could be him again, could be the one that gets fouled or could be anothers turn.

          If Arteta learned from Pep we should see another one take the next one

  13. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Would you WC this week or next? Not even sure how many changes I’d want. When’s the AFCON start and who’s the main players effected?

    DDG
    TAA. Alonso. Cancelo. White
    Salah(C). Jota. ESR. Foden
    Lacazette. Antonio
    (Foster. Raph. King. Livra)

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like just Salah

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Reply fail. Sorry. Your team looks good, I'd save WC Covid postponements permitting.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Sanchez
      TAA, Cancelo, James, Rudiger
      Salah, Jota, Bernardo, Son, Saka
      Watkins

      Steele, Dennis, Broja, Liva

      0.0m, 1 LTB

      The weekend's postponements saved me a major benching headache (I had 14 players I'd have been happy to start). This GW looks a lot simpler which forward should I start (assuming there are Covid postponements) ?

      A) Watkins (CHE)
      B) Dennis (wol)
      C) Broja (whu)

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Tricky. A probably with Kante back

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

      Ideally this week so you can save FT next week and use 2 FT to get rid Salah and use the other fund to boost your other position. But that’s ideal only in normal circumstances with no covid getting in the way.

  14. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I completely unnecessarily burned up two transfers, which annoyed me extremely and was absolutely avoidable.

    First I did the Vardy -> Watkins transfer, thinking that the Aston Villa v. Burnley game will take place.

    Then I did the Gilmour -> Raphinha transfer because I thought you could play in the 1-5-5-0 formation.

    I threw some points out the window and this was really stupid. Is it the same for other people?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I just left it till the last minute. But can see how others would have been burnt with other commitments before the deadline

    2. Dr.Oftaw
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yes transferred in Watkins last minute only for game to be called off, extended transfer deadline allowed me to minus 4 him back out for lacazette

    3. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      You are learning and also it's a totally ludicrous year. Go easy on yourself. It's a game of chance at the best of times

    4. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I got very drunk Friday night and tried to do Watkins in for Antonio, I fell asleep with my phone in my hand and woke up just after the price changes around 2am... I tried to confirm the transfer but it couldn't go through as Watkins had risen and Antonio had dropped and I was now 0.1 short.

      So in the end I just left it and kept Antonio, playing with 9 players. Still got a nice green arrow on 64 pts.

      Moral of the story: just drink through the chaos.

  15. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Many sure Afcon will be cancelled/ postponed . Don't hold your breath, why should they ? when the PL has decided to battle on .

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The reason isn't covid

    2. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The PL has nothing to do with it, CAF's constituency is Africa and they will move heaven and earth to play it, having put it back a year already. Postpone again and it becomes next to impossible to play it at all, meaning the whole qualification process will be made null and void.

      There are also underlying and bitter arguments at play, such as whether international or club football takes precedence and whether African football is given sufficient respect or is simply treated as a resource to be mined by European interests to their own advantage and none of Africa's.

      I tend to sympathise with CAF's arguments that European clubs know well what the deal is when signing African players and really shouldn't try to weasel their way out of it as Liverpool (especially) continually try to do. And I do expect AFCON to go ahead, more likely than not.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        This

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

        Agree , well summed up Ruth . Just that CAF will look at the PL decision and be more determined to proceed.

      3. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Was waiting for the Liverpool dig 😆

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          😆

        2. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          like clockwork.

  16. BIGREDDOG
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Gundogan to Foden worth a hit?

    1. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      It's 6 days until deadline mate

      Chill

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No

  17. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Play ….
    1. Gallagher
    2. Reguilon

    1. BIGREDDOG
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Reg

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

      Reg

    3. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Uilon

  18. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA, Cancelo, James, Rudiger
    Salah, Jota, Bernardo, Son, Saka
    Watkins

    Steele, Dennis, Broja, Liva

    0.0m, 1 LTB

    The weekend's postponements saved me a major benching headache (I had 14 players I'd have been happy to start). This GW looks a lot simpler which forward should I start (assuming there are Covid postponements) ?

    A) Watkins (CHE)
    B) Dennis (wol)
    C) Broja (whu)

    1. golfboy
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Dennis but I'm sure there will be!

    2. Lord of Ings
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Broja

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

      C

    4. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A

  19. I Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Is Foden in Pep's bad books now?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Why do you do this to yourself?

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Haha do what?

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      He's certainly in mine.

    3. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      He'll get back into hia good books when I transfer him out...

    4. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Nope. He’s just semi-injured. Pep has mentioned this.

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        See below. Pep has said Foden and Grealish were benched for off the field behaviour.

        1. Amartey Partey
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Interesting. I haven’t seen that quote from Pep.

  20. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Specsavers tweet after Kane tackle yesterday:

    “We appreciate VAR’s consistent dedication to promoting our business”

    1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Bloody brilliant

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        This

  21. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Quiet before chaos here??

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Haven't you heard that you don't Covid at Christmas like when you're away on holiday !

  22. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    1 week only (then WC)

    A) Bernado (LEI) > KDB (LEI)
    B) Bernado (LEI) > Son (CPL)
    C) Bowen (SOU) > Son (CPL)
    D) ESR (nor) > Rashford/Sancho (new)
    E) Jesus (LEI) > Kane (CPL)
    F) Jesus (LEI) > Ronaldo (new)

    Ramsdale
    James Alonso Cancelo Trent
    Jota Bowen Bernado
    Lacazette Dennis Jesus

    Foster | ESR, Sissoko, Robertson**

    1FT. 4.4 ITB

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

      F

  23. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Setting bus team....subs OK?
    Ramsdale
    TAA cancelo(vc) james alonso
    Salah(c) jota gundo raph ESR
    Antonio
    (Guaita broja Dennis livra)

  24. MidTableFantasy
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    So ESR has lost his starting spot then? I don't want to start him if he's coming off the bench.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Could enter rotation with Saka and Odegaard as well. He's good across the front three, so can even be used to rest Laca if necessary. So I would say he's lost his nailed status on the left, but his place in the XI is not lost in the same way. That said, it seems set up for Arteta to name another unchanged team in the next game, and rotate 2 days later. So there's a good chance I will be sad and bench him this week

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

      I wouldn't be surprised to see Martinelli benched against Norwich where his pace on the counter might not be expected to be a factor. But, until something like that happens, we don't know Arteta's mind

    3. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      He’s scored 3 goals in 3 games and you want to sell him?

  25. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Pep Guardiola has said Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were left out of the #ManCity Starting XI due to off-field 'behaviour issues'

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Lads lads lads

      • DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish spoiling the kids at City now.

      • Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        They were naughty boys and needed punishing. The dominatrix said this to them.

      • Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Ah shite

      • Amartey Partey
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Link?