Premier League Injuries & Suspensions, Week 2

Out: Fantasy-relevant players who have been confirmed out for the week, either through injury or suspension

Doubt: Players facing the dreaded late fitness test, rotation concerns and those who are out of form/favour

In: The likeliest replacements for the Outs & Doubts

Win: Fantasy player to watch / my hunch pick of the week

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Arsenal

Out: Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck

Doubt: Olivier Giroud (selection only),

In: Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Hector Bellerin

Win: Theo Walcott

It will be interesting to see how Arsene Wenger responds to the defeat against the Hammers.  In my view he made an error dropping his form attacking player in The Walcott replacing him with his very much out of form man Giroud.  Further clouding the waters was the appearance of star man Alexis Sanchez from the bench.  Sanchez is one of those players fit all year round.  Wenger clearly wants to give him a break ensuring he is operating at full speed next spring when it should matter most.  The assumption is both Theo and Sanchez start this week with Sanchez perhaps only getting an hour - 75mins as they ease him into the season.

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Aston Villa

Out: Jores Okore, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Chris Herd

Doubt: Jose Angel Crespo

In: N/A

Win: Rudy Gestede - Hard to see two Manu clean sheets in a row

A 1-0 away win is a rare occurrence for Villa and logic suggest he goes with the same line-up for week 2.

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AFC Bournemouth

Out: Harry Arter (groin)

Doubt:

In: N/A

Win: Matt Ritchie - with no pressure and nobody picking him it would be typical to see him perform

The Cherries had their party spoilt by Aston Villa on the opening weekend.  Trips to places such as Anfield are what players dream off.  With that in mind you can bet the side are not downbeat and perhaps will perform better in week 2 minus the expectation of a home win last time out.  The starting 11 is likely to see few changes.

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Chelsea

Out: Thibaut Courtois

Doubt: Ramires

In: Mikel

Win: The bus driver (sorry Blueblood, joke joke).  Eden Hazard as always it must be.

The big blow for the champs is the failed appeal on keeper Courtois.  I very much doubt they expected to win the appeal but it was worth the effort.  City away with Kun not injured may be the most difficult away game in the league this season.  Asmir Begovic will be between the sticks and likely a busy man on Sunday.  I have listed Mikel as a potential start this week with the view Jose may well go with him and Matic as a double pivot and Cesc in more of a free role.

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Crystal Palace

Out: Julian Speroni, Kwesi Appiah, Frazier Campbell, Marouane Chamakh

Doubt: Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie

In: Miles Jedinak

Win: Yohan Cabaye racked the points up last week so let's go with the form horse

I'm enjoying watching Palace right now. Alan Pardew may not be to everyone's taste but he is a fantastically optimistic attacking manager and that makes for fun viewing.  They won't fear anybody at home this season and as shown in the last couple seasons will probably take the scalp of one or two of them. Yannick Bolasie is a big part of the handful to handle that the Eagles have become.  He sat on the bench in week 1 with a minor injury and his replacement Wilfried Zaha scored. That would normally keep him on the bench but I think Bolasie's mix of pace, power and drive is a level above and a threat the Arsenal camp are wary of.

In addition we could see captain Jedi return to match the Gunners midfield numbers.

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Everton

Out: Darron Gibson, Steven Pienaar, Tony Hibbert, Leighton Baines

Doubt: Gerard Deulofeu, Kevin Mirallas, Muhamed Besic

In: Brendan Galloway

Win: Ross Barkley - Signs he was back to the form of 2013/14 season last week

The toffees were very poor in week 1 but almost pinched the win we expected.  Leighton Baines is out and John Stones although now fit could be dropped at any point if the Chelsea deal gets close.  Even Tim Howard has looked unconvincing and with Everton being the lowest spenders of the transfer window so far the fans are restless.  Galloway will face competition at left back from  Brian Oliverio.

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Leicester City

Out: Matty James, Ben Hamer

Doubt: N/A

In: N/A

Win: Jamie Vardy - will give the Hammers back line the pace and movement they didn't have to deal with last week.

The Foxes started the season as they ended the last, full of attacking effort.  The starting 11 is likely to remain the same.  They will face far tougher resistance compared to the frankly awful example of individual and team defending the black cats put up.

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Liverpool

Out: Jon Flanagan (knee), Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen

Doubt: Adam Lallana, Alberto Moreno

In: Roberto Firmino

Win: Christian Benteke - couldn't hope for a better fixture to get off the mark

Brendan Rodgers has been quick to praise the support the owners have given him.  That faith has allowed the Red's boss deep options within their squad.   They didn't convince at Stoke but they did win at a venue with ghosts from last season.  Confidence should be up then and the starting 11 will likely be mainly the same.  One change that seems likely is the first starting game for Firmino.  Sensibly they kept him out of the high tempo of the Stoke game but a home tie against one of the league's weaker defence seems a nice place to start.  Firmino scored a hat trick behind closed doors on Monday and could be a sleeper this week.

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Manchester City

Out: Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph

Doubt: Wilfried Bony

In: Kun

Win: A gamble that Kun starts and scores.

The big question here is a massive one, will Kun Aguero start?

He had a 30 min cameo on Monday night but will still be lacking some sharpness.  We have seen with him before he doesn't need a run of games to get going but Chelsea are a suffocating side to play.  I'm no wiser than the rest of you but the man is the league's best big game player and if fit surely starts.  Elsewhere the line-up looks likely to stay the same as Monday as the new bookies favourites look to put really early daylight between them and their title rivals.

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Manchester United

Out: Marouane Fellaini. Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo

Doubt: Ander Herrera

In: Bastian Schweinsteiger, David De Gea now ruled out by LVG

Win: Juan Mata - Assume he starts and a soft pen for him

If Liverpool were unconvincing then the Red Devils were more so.  Just the one shot on target home to Spurs and looking lacking pace and drive.  After that performance we could see changes.  The double defensive midfield pair of Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin failed to support the attacking side of the team one may find themselves benched.  Bastin Schweinsteiger seems certain to start and it could be a question whether LVG thinks his two older guard can dominate the midfield or whether Bastian needs the youth of Morgan/Ander Herrera alongside him.  Alternatively they may play 3 in midfield and push Memphis Depay wide with either Ashley Young or Juan Mata getting benched.  Young may be no Neymar but he still seems to offer more than others to the side right now and I'm be surprised to see him dropped.  Against his old club he could be value.  Wayne Rooney was not involved anywhere near enough in game one and did his best to convince the club they need a new forward.  He is though safe to start.  The rule with him is that he is a streaky goal scoring player so after last week we should leave him alone but he does have a great record against Villa.

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Newcastle

Out: Emmanuel Riviere, Sylvain Marveaux

Doubt: Remy Cabella, Vurnon Anita,

In: Cheikh Tiote,

Win:  Georginio Wijnaldum - He plays for the Geordies, his name is Georginio it can only mean two in two for their star man.

After a bright attacking display the Magpies may stick with the same 11 if Anita is passed fit.  Tiote awaits if not.

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Norwich City

Out: Youssuf Mulumbu

Doubt: Martin Olsson

In: Nathan Redmond

Win: Nathan Redmond - the one with pace in the Norwich attack

The canaries don't have many options but they did play well despite the result in week 1.  After his goal expect to see Redmond amongst the starters

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Southampton

Out: Florin Gardos, Fraser Forster

Doubt: Gaston Ramirez, Shane Long, Ryan Bertrand, Jordy Clasie

In: Steven Davis

Win: Sadio Mane - Tip to take the chances he missed last week.

Clasie or Davis maybe the only fitness/selection decision for the Saints this week.

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Stoke City

Out: Ryan Shawcross, Bojan Krkic,

Doubt: Marko Arnautovic, Marc Wilson,

In: Xherdan Shaqiri

Win: Jonathan Walters - with all the hype Stokes reliable man to pop up with a goal

The toss up seems between Afellay, Arnautovic and Shaq for this week.  Nice for Mark Hughes to have these options and you can expect them to share game time if fit.

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Sunderland

Out: Jordi Gomez, Adam Johnson

Doubt: Yann M'Vila

In: Steven Fletcher

Win: Jemain Defoe - the black cat to eat the canaries

After a hopeless first half at least you would expect a response from the Black Cats.  Adam Johnson is out so goal scoring Fletcher should come in.  The experience of John O'shea could also join the starting 11 for the horror show that was Younes Kaboul.

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Swansea City

Out: N/A

Doubt: Ki

In: N/A

Win: Siggy - always Siggy

The Swans are likely to try and field the same 11 who held Chelsea last time.  Ki thought is a doubt and if he is out Jack Cork will come in.

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Tottenham Hotspur

Out: Alex Pritchard

Doubt: Ryan Mason, Hugo Lloris, Andros Townsend

In: Lloris

Win: Harry Kane - back in the goals

Hugo Lloris may be back in the Spurs goal and we could see Eric Lamela picked over Dembele to try and add some supply to Harry Kane other than from Christian Eriksen.

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Watford FC

Out: Giedrius Arlauskis, Miguel Britos, Lloyd Doyley, Joel Ekstrand

Doubt: Almen Abdi, Steven Berghuis

In: N/A

Win: Troy Deeney - At least one goal from the captain, maybe more

Figure they also look to field the side that played well at Everton.

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West Bromwich Albion

Out: Ben Foster, Peter Odemwingie

Doubt: Gareth McAuley, James Mcclean

In: Claudio Yacob

Win: Rickie Lambert - perhaps from a set play.

Mcclean's hooking at half time may or may not see him benched.

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West Ham United

Out: Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia

Doubt: Pedro Obiang, Joey O'Brien, Diafra Sakho

In: Carl Jenkinson

Win: Dimitri Payet - a goal to go with his play from last week

After such an awesome display the starting 11 should remain the same.  A few off the field issues makes Diafra Sakho a risk but Bilic has said he has trained well all week.

Now the team news is early this week prior to the Friday press conferences, thanks to the Friday match between Manchester United and Aston Villa pushing up the deadline. We are going to have little if any time before that deadline to make sense of the remaining news, so be careful picking your sides until you pick up the updates tomorrow.

If there are any updates that come in ahead of the deadline, please feel free to share in the comments to help your fellow managers out.

Stall