:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67989228/1229804323.0.jpg)
The trigger fingers of fellow FPL managers move quicker than Usain Bolt doing 100 meters; it is this movement that can make or break a fantasy week. Sometimes doing nothing is doing something.
Most transferred in
- MID Jota LIV 545520
- MID Fernandes MUN 219547
- FWD Vardy LEI 217606
- FWD Calvert-Lewin EVE 163063
- MID Grealish AVL 157424
Most transferred out
- MID Zaha CRY 476184
- DEF Alexander-Arnold LIV 244973
- DEF Saïss WOL 224698
- MID Salah LIV 141137
- MID Rodríguez EVE 137832
With the wealth of options boasting good form and fixtures to accompany them, managers head into game-week 10 with hopes of climbing their respective leagues, although some have simply given up hope and just want their favorite club to win.
Friday 27th November 2020
[ This is our early match that should give Fantrax managers its confirmed lineups in the countdown hour. ]
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle
With a shooting accuracy of 40% and only one clean sheet in nine games, it seems like Palace is no good at either end of the field, and now Zaha is missing due to having to self-isolate. Adding fuel to the fire, Palace has lost 71.4 percent of English top-flight games played without him.
Injuries/suspensions: Zaha is in isolation, while captain Luka Milivojevic is out of isolation but misses out as he serves the final game of a three-match ban.
Steve Bruce hopes Calum Wilson will be fit to face Palace. Since the failed takeover by the Saudi Arabian-backed consortium, it seems like Steve Bruce has a rub of the green; so we might see Wilson start and add to the great season he is enjoying. I am sure there are plenty of people ready to buy the striker a pint at the Shearer bar once fans are let in to the stadium.
Injuries/suspensions: Matt Ritchie and Jonjo Shelvey are also under consideration to start following recent injuries, but Jamaal Lascelles is doubtful and Ryan Fraser remains out.
The past seven meetings have produced only seven goals, so don’t expect a goal fest, but something tells me Callum Wilson will score.
Saturday 28 November 2020
Brighton vs Liverpool
Graham Potter’s side love playing the beautiful game in the so called “right way”, playing out from the back. But this can be their downfall: they learned the hard way when they were picked off by the Reds last season. With Liverpool coming back from a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League, I see Klopp giving his side the hair dyer treatment, but will they respond?
Injuries/suspensions: Brighton & Hove Albion will be without star defender Tariq Lamptey due to suspension. Former Liverpool fan-favorite midfielder Adam Lallana will have a thigh injury assessed, but the lethal Leandro Trossard and Solly March should be fit.
Liverpool are on a run of nine consecutive victories against Brighton in all competitions, scoring 27 goals in the process. They could set an outright club record of nine successive top-flight home matches without a win for the seagulls.
PS: The Egyptian King has returned and I am sure he wants his goal-scoring crown back.
Liverpool’s captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara were both absent on Wednesday but could be involved against Brighton; long term injuries are still a long way away.
~
Man City vs Burnley
Eight games into the Premiership, Burnley finally registered their first win of the season. The 1-0 win over Palace sees them in high spirits heading into this clash.
Injuries/suspensions : Burnley suffered an injury crisis, four key players are to miss the Man City trip: Nick Pope and midfielders Jack Cork, Robbie Brady and summer signing Dale Stephens.
Pep Guardiola’s side has won just two of the last seven Premier League games, including a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham last time out, placing them 13th in the table, four positions above their opposition. Pep’s side needs to keep pace, and Burnley is a very stubborn side, but with Aguero back in the frame anything is possible.
Injuries/suspensions : Nathan Aké picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with the Netherlands; the extent of the damage is yet to be declared, but he will miss the Burnley game.
~
Everton vs Leeds
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the man leading the pack chasing the Golden Boot. He should find a lot of opportunity against Leeds who play such open and expansive football.
Injuries/suspensions: Lucas Digne is out for a couple months with an ankle ligament injury that will require surgery.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side is winless in its last three Premier League games (two defeats and a draw) so will be looking to return to winning ways. Rodrigo is getting better with every passing game, and Hernandez could well struggle to get enough game time. In a way, it’s a good sign for Leeds United that Bielsa can call a player of Hernandez’s calibre from the bench when needed.
Injuries/suspensions: Pablo Hernandez is still not fit enough to play, while Diego Llorente and Jamie Shackleton are also still out injured
~
West Brom vs Sheffield United
Bilic’s men will be confident due to their performances against Manchester United and Spurs. A little improvement surely leaves the Albion with three points, but such a crucial game for both may mean they cancel each other out.
Injuries/suspensions: Slaven Bilić has confirmed that Jake Livermore and Kieran Gibbs will miss today’s game after they tested positive for COVID-19.
Sheffield United could be tempted to hand Oliver Burke a start when they travel to his former club as manager Chris Wilder hunts for ways to give his team a vital edge over fellow Premier League strugglers.
Sheffield United is the only team below Albion in the Premier League, earning just one point from the opening nine matches. I think they need Lord Lundstram’s contract situation to be sorted and everything will be fine.
Sunday 29 November 2020
Southampton vs Manchester United
Southampton could break into the top four of the Premier League over the weekend with a win, but without Ings the Saints still seem to be marching on, Che Adams taking on the responsibility of leading the line.
Injuries/suspensions: Danny Ings is still out. There are injury concerns for James Ward-Prowse and Ryan Bertrand.
The Red Devils look to have found a consistency previously lacking, especially at home, so it’s a good thing they are away. The big questions are: Will VAR save United again? Will United’s strike force step up? Come backing from a strong victory in the Champions League, and with Fernandes handing penalties to his peers like he’s Santa, it seems United is in high spirits.
~
Chelsea vs Tottenham
Great news for Lampard: Captain America Christian Pulisic isn’t doing Thanksgiving in the States. He’s expected to be fit again after a thigh injury, giving Lampard a full quiver of attacking arrows to draw upon. Chelsea has scored at least twice in four of the last five league game-weeks.
Master vs apprentice: This could be a classic between two teams who are scoring goals for fun. This is the type of game Jose loves, so I can’t wait for the post-game interviews. Either way, win or lose, Jose will come out with classic lines that we expect.
Injuries/suspensions: Toby Alderweireld is nursing a groin injury, plus Erik Lamela will also be absent. We’re waiting to see if Matt Doherty’s self-isolation period will end after a positive Covid test ruled him out against City.
~
Arsenal vs Wolves
The less I talk about Arsenal the better. I think it would not matter who’s fit or not; the way they are playing they need divine intervention.
Wolves lack bite, but I wouldn’t poke them with a stick. They still have an offensive line that can hurt most teams, just not quite what we became used to seeing last season. This maybe a perfect game for them to kick start their campaign.
Injuries/suspensions: Conor Coady should be back after Covid-19 kept him from training before the Southampton game. Romain Saiss also missed that game due to a positive test.
Monday 30 November 2020
Leicester vs Fulham
Here’s a match that I’ll be watching very closely, and I may hit the triple captain button on Jamie Vardy in the hope he takes advantage of Fulham’s poor form. They let one Englishman score two against them, so I’m hoping they will show that same level of hospitality to another (Vardy).
Injuries/suspensions: Caglar Soyuncu, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ricardo Pereira are all still out.
I feel this is going to be a tough day at the office for Parker and his men. I can see Fulham’s goal difference dropping into the minus double figures, further cementing the Cottagers’ place in the drop zone.
~
West Ham vs Aston Villa
The Hammers have made their best start to a Premier League season for five years. In another boost for West Ham, David Moyes is expected to welcome star striker Mikail Antonio back into the fold after he missed the last three games through injury.
Injuries/suspensions: The only other doubtful Hammer is the injured Ryan Fredericks.
Villa playmaker Ross Barkley will miss the trip to London Stadium after injuring his hamstring in the defeat to Brighton at the weekend. Meanwhile Villa captain Jack Grealish has hit the headlines again for all the wrong reasons, which could affect his performance; it could swing either way as he is no stranger to controversy. Without Barkley alongside Grealish, West Ham will feel more confident they can focus all their efforts on stopping the influential captain.
Injuries/suspensions: Ross Barkley.
Will you use your triple captain? On whom are you pinning your hopes? However your week turns out, remember we are here to discuss everything FPL, so please join us in the comments!
~