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West Ham v Sunderland team news: Xhaka ruled out

24 January 2026 620 comments
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Before the rumoured bedlam that will erupt with the release of the Manchester City teamsheet, we’ve got a more low-key start to Gameweek 23.

West Ham United v Sunderland gets us underway at 12.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

The team news is fairly straightforward in east London, with West Ham unsurprisingly unchanged from their 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

El Hadji Malick Diouf has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but has to settle for a place on the bench. Ollie Scarles keeps his place at left-back.

Lucas Paqueta‘s absence was confirmed by Nuno Espirito Santo on Thursday.

Something that Regis Le Bris didn’t do on the same day was divulge information about Granit Xhaka.

The Swiss international, one of just four Fantasy midfielders who were ever-present starters this season, misses out through injury.

Eliezer Mayenda takes his place.

That’s the only change from Gameweek 22.

The Black Cats have two of their own returning AFCON representatives on the bench, namely Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi.

The Gameweek 23 matches are a re-run of the opening weekend of the season. In the reverse fixture of this encounter, Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0 on Wearside.

LINE-UPS

West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Pablo, Summerville, Castellanos.

Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Ward-Prowse, Wilson, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Kante.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, Brobbey.

Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, Diarra, Adingra, Isidor, Talbi.

620 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    15 hours, 30 mins ago

    Bowen beaut!

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  2. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    15 hours, 30 mins ago

    5 FTs.

    DCL > Kroupi
    Foden > Bruno
    Minteh > Rice
    Virgil > Chalobah
    Konsa > Alderete

    With 0.1 to spare...

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    1. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 28 mins ago

      Mane over Kroupi in case they get a double in GW26?

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        15 hours, 27 mins ago

        Yes

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      2. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        15 hours, 20 mins ago

        Oooh yeah

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      3. The-Red-1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        14 hours, 57 mins ago

        Yes but one will be against Arsenal.
        A sgw player might do better than his double!

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          14 hours, 55 mins ago

          They struggled against Wolves last time

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  3. iFash@FPL
    • 1 Year
    15 hours, 28 mins ago

    Interesting!
    Who would have thought of the Xhaka effect on Sunderland?

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    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 27 mins ago

      They are much better at home than away also.

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      1. iFash@FPL
        • 1 Year
        15 hours, 24 mins ago

        True that! Just wasn’t expecting this much difference to WHU.

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  4. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    15 hours, 24 mins ago

    Get that 3 pointer Alderete

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  5. F4L
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 23 mins ago

    read an article not too long ago about the 3 biggest over/under performers. biggest underperformer was wolves, over was sunderland and villa. regression to the mean already started for all 3?

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  6. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    15 hours, 23 mins ago

    https://x.com/i/status/2015052747716923617

    Is he starting?

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    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 22 mins ago

      Could be

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    2. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      15 hours, 21 mins ago

      No, Sunderland are losing 3-0. Thats the reference.

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      1. Philosopher's Stones
        • 5 Years
        15 hours, 19 mins ago

        Internet has wasted these kids thinking capacities.

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    3. Voronins Pony Tail
      • 2 Years
      15 hours, 21 mins ago

      Find out soon

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      1. OneTeamInBristol
        • 2 Years
        15 hours, 20 mins ago

        Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

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    4. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      15 hours, 20 mins ago

      You just added 2 + 2 and got "yellow"

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  7. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    15 hours, 21 mins ago

    Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodrigo, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

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    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 20 mins ago

      Awesome

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    2. Admiral Benson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 20 mins ago

      Phew

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    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 20 mins ago

      Oh dear

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    4. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      15 hours, 20 mins ago

      Now for Haaland to come on at 90, score three own goals and get booked!

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    5. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 19 mins ago

      Well at least O'Reilly starts

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    6. F4L
      • 11 Years
      15 hours, 19 mins ago

      cheers

      thats a good enough defence and mid to keep a clean sheet. please donnarumma 🙂

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    7. Voronins Pony Tail
      • 2 Years
      15 hours, 19 mins ago

      Big day for my guy Cherki

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    8. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 19 mins ago

      Embarrassing

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    9. Zilla
      • 8 Years
      15 hours, 19 mins ago

      SUBS | Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis

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    10. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      15 hours, 19 mins ago

      Reijnders to steal the show

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    11. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      15 hours, 10 mins ago

      Sucks. I was busy this morning doing Dad stuff. Missed the leaks and now all the ITK ppl have sold Foden for Bruno and captained someone else than Haaland.
      Advantage everyone else. 🙁

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  8. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    15 hours, 19 mins ago

    This feels like one of those weeks where Haaland comes on at half time and scores a hatrick.

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    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      15 hours, 18 mins ago

      Hope so
      And foden at least comes off and matches whoever people got for him!

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    2. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      15 hours, 18 mins ago

      I expect if they're 2 or 3 up at a half time he won't get a sniff

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    3. Ninja Škrtel
      • 12 Years
      15 hours, 18 mins ago

      nah

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    4. Under my Cucurella
      • 10 Years
      15 hours, 14 mins ago

      Hope not, everyone above me has capped him and I've gone Thiago. I did start him though so coming on for a small return would be nice

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    5. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 11 mins ago

      As long as it isnt Foden.

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    6. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      15 hours, 9 mins ago

      I pray for this as someone who set my team up yesterday, before everyone had leaks

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  9. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    15 hours, 19 mins ago

    2 down & a (c) already then

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  10. Ninja Škrtel
    • 12 Years
    15 hours, 18 mins ago

    HAALAND BENCHED!! SEMENYO CAPTAIN LETS GO!

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  11. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    15 hours, 18 mins ago

    XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush

    SUBS | Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis

    Just one change for Wolves with Arias returning

    Markups to pull up on the 4th minute for sure

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 14 mins ago

      *Marmoush

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  12. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    15 hours, 18 mins ago

    Semenyo, Cherki and Reijnders, LET’S GO!!!

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 11 mins ago

      FH?

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      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        15 hours, 11 mins ago

        Sun

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        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          15 hours, 10 mins ago

          And yes owed all already when Sem was at Bournemouth

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  13. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 17 mins ago

    Feck Haaland benched then. Time to go back to bed.

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  14. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    15 hours, 17 mins ago

    Alderete first on my bench.

    Hope Haaland comes off the bench.

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 11 mins ago

      same

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  15. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 hours, 13 mins ago

    I have double City defense this week and neither of them is O'Reilly. Strange week.

    Thiaw first sub with Haaland starting. Maybe I should've benched Haaland...

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 12 mins ago

      I'm already happy I benched Alderete for Thiaw at this point. No city defender. Nice for you Nunes is back!

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  16. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 13 mins ago

    Just came to witness the carnage lol

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    1. Prinzhorn
      • 5 Years
      15 hours, 12 mins ago

      ragebait 😀

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  17. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    15 hours, 12 mins ago

    The leak is right

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  18. Wheato182
    • 13 Years
    15 hours, 12 mins ago

    Really hope Haaland stays on the bench today, have Bowen as my first sub

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 11 mins ago

      Probably won’t

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    2. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      15 hours, 8 mins ago

      I kind of do too, because have Saka (vc) and happy to get Andersen off the bench

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  19. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    15 hours, 12 mins ago

    I'm glad Reijnders starts.

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  20. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 12 mins ago

    Hope it backfires on pep !

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    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      15 hours, 10 mins ago

      They've not won a league game since we were having leftover turkey butties for lunch - this is a free hit for him

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  21. F4L
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 11 mins ago

    vdv at left back?

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  22. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    15 hours, 10 mins ago

    Is that a save?

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  23. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    15 hours, 10 mins ago

    Wolves to score first?

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    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      15 hours, 9 mins ago

      To win would be great

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      1. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        15 hours, 9 mins ago

        Let's face it, you could have 5 City and still enjoy them getting beaten by Wolves

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  24. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    15 hours, 10 mins ago

    Imagine the raw unadulterated SCENEAGE if Marmoush got injured in the warm up

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    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      15 hours, 5 mins ago

      That would be epic on here

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  25. F4L
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 9 mins ago

    iwobi cm, fulham team looking good again

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  26. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    15 hours, 8 mins ago

    Goal

    Sunderland

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  27. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    15 hours, 8 mins ago

    What a goal

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      15 hours, 7 mins ago

      Who scored it?

      I'm watching Huddersfield Town v Bradford City which is dismal so far

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  28. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    15 hours, 8 mins ago

    Mukiel A
    Brobbey G

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  29. F4L
    • 11 Years
    15 hours, 8 mins ago

    brobbey g
    mukiele a

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  30. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    15 hours, 8 mins ago

    Brobbey G
    Muki A

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    1. iFash@FPL
      • 1 Year
      15 hours, 5 mins ago

      Muks IS a legend!!

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