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A return to normalcy! After the chaos and mayhem of the festive period, doesn’t it feel great to welcome back a conventional, plain-vanilla fantasy game week?
But even though the frantic pace has now settled down, we still have the after-effects of fixture congestion to deal with: namely, injuries and rotation. Throw in the added twist of the January transfer window and there is much to consider as we look at the team news for GW 23.
Saturday
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Chelsea vs Leicester
Eden Hazard has recovered from the kick to the calf he suffered in the game against the Gunners. Ross Barkley is training with his new team after recovering from hamstring surgery, but the match against Leicester comes too soon.
Jamie Vardy has shaken off a groin niggle and will feature. Wes Morgan and Danny Simpson remain unavailable with hamstring injuries. Robert Huth has recovered from injury but is likely short of match fitness.
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Crystal Palace vs Burnley
Connor Wickham, Joel Ward, Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann, Andros Townsend, and Jason Puncheon will all miss out. Jeffrey Schlupp will undergo surgery on Monday. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a minor doubt with a knock.
Robbie Brady and Tom Heaton are long-term absentees. Chris Wood, and Stephen Ward will also miss out. Scott Arfield is a doubt with a hamstring problem, so Georges-Kevin N’koudou, who just joined on loan from Spurs, could start. (He costs $1 in both Fantrax leagues, so keep on eye on his performance tomorrow with an eye toward the barn door.)
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Huddersfield vs West Ham
Jon Stankovic, Elias Kachunga, and Phillip Billing, Chris Lowe, and Collin Quaner are all out.
Marko Arnautovic has been passed fit, and James Collins and Aaron Creswell should also be in contention. Michail Antonio, Sam Byram, Edimilson Fernandes, and Wayne Fonte will miss out. Reece Oxford, and Diafra Sakho are doubts.
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Newcastle vs Swansea
Jesus Gamez, Florian Lejeune, and Aleksandar Mitrovic are out, but Rob Elliot, Chancel Mbemba and Jamaal Lascelles are available.
Kyle Naughton remains suspended, but Leroy Fer’s red card appeal was successful. Angel Rangel has been ruled out, and Tammy Abraham and Renato Sanchez are doubts. Leon Britton and Ki Sung-Yueng are expected to be available.
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Watford vs Southampton
Miguel Britos, Craig Cathcart, Nathaniel Chalobah, Kiko Femenia, Tommy Hoban, Will Hughes, and Younes Kaboul are all sidelined with injury.
Cedric Soures, Jeremy Pied, and Wesley Hoedt will all be late decisions. Charlie Austin remains out long-term.
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West Brom vs Brighton
Nacer Chadli and James Morrison are unavailable. Matty Phillips, and Kieran Gibbs are doubts, but Johnny Evans is fit.
Long-term absentees Izzy Brown and Steve Sidwell remain sidelined.
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Tottenham vs Everton
Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, and Harry Winks are all out.
Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes-Mori, Michael Keane, and Maarten Stekelenburg are sidelined. New purchase Cenk Tosun is available and likely to start, which would have Dominic Calvert-Lewin likely sitting down.
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Sunday
Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Jermain Defoe, Adam Federici, and Tyrone Mings will miss out. Ryan Fraser, Junior Stanislas, and Josh King are doubts.
Aaron Ramsey has returned to the squad, Jack Wilshere will be a late decision with an ankle sprain, and Mesut Ozil is 50/50 with a knee problem. Santi Cazorla, Oivier Giroud, Sead Kolasinac, and Nacho Monreal are sidelined. Laurent Koscielney, Shkodran Mustafi, and Granit Xhaka are doubts. Transfer uncertainty continues to swirl around Alexis Sanchez, who now appears to interest the Red Devils after noisy neighbor City balked at Arsenal’s asking price.
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Liverpool vs Manchester City
Mo Salah and Daniel Sturridge have been declared fit, but Philippe Coutinho has exited for Barcelona. Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson, and Alberto Moreno will miss out.
Benjamin Mendy, Gabriel Jesus, and Phil Foden are sidelined. Pep Guardiola has also confirmed that Vincent Kompany will miss out. David Silva may again be unavailable due to personal issues.
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Monday
Manchester United vs Stoke
Ashley Young is suspended. Eric Bailly, Michael Carrick, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are out injured. Antonio Valencia is a doubt and will be a late decision. Romelu Lukaku has recovered from a head injury and will start.
Glen Johnson, Ryan Shawcross, and Jese will miss out. Erik Pieters and Bruno Martins Indi have returned to health but may be short of match fitness.
That’s all the team news I’m aware of at the time this article was submitted. As fresh information breaks, please share it in the comments below!