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We go into this game-week with a battle of the titans clash. It’s a reprise of last season’s Champions League Final, with Man City visiting league-leading Chelsea. Pep Guardiola will hope his fans travel in full force to back their side in a tough game at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea is one of three currently unbeaten sides along with Man United and Liverpool.
Coincidentally, Man United takes on Aston Villa in the same early time slot as our other two heavyweights, so Fantrax managers should be treated to four confirmed lineups during the countdown hour before the Fantrax deadline, and Man Utd assets may look more rather appealing against Villa than either of our heavyweights against each other... YMMV
Saturday
For Fantrax managers, this is one of two early matches that should publish confirmed lineups before the Fantrax deadline.
Unbeaten league leading Chelsea is in good shape with only midfielders, Mount & Pulisic missing for this one. Man City has a bit of a defensive headache at the moment, with Laporte, Stones and Zinchenko marked as doubts for this one alongside midfielders Gundogan and Rodrigo. Guardiola confirmed that some players had returned to training but the details are vague. Both sides were able to heavily rotate in their midweek EFL Cup games and may rotate more with Champions League matches coming in a few days.
Prediction: 2-2
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For Fantrax managers, this is the other early match that should publish confirmed lineups before the Fantrax deadline.
High-flying Man United is in good shape. Rashford is noted as the only absentee for this one; he is expected back in October. Aston Villa is full of confidence after a strong 3-0 win last week. Defender Tuanzebe is missing for this one (unable to face parent club). United heavily rotated while Aston Villa brought in quite a few fringe players in the mid-week EFL Cup games.
Prediction: 3-1
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Everton vs Norwich
Everton lacks firepower for this game, duo Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison out until October. Captain Coleman is still out, but Digne has been recently declared fit. The Canaries are still on the hunt for their first point of the season. Their only recent absentee is Cantwell, who is out due to personal reasons. Everton fielded a strong side for the midweek EFL Cup but was pushed all the way by QPR, Everton eventually winning on penalties.
Prediction: 1-1
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Leeds vs West Ham
Leeds is in the midst of an injury crisis, including talisman Bamford out with an ankle injury. The trio of Raphinia, Harrison and Ayling are all doubts and will face late fitness tests. Koch, Struijk and Llorente are set to miss out. Antonio returns for West Ham after missing out last week due to suspension. The Hammers have no other fresh injury concerns after dishing out revenge by knocking Man United out of the EFL Cup.
Prediction: 1-2
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Leicester vs Burnley
Leicester was able to rotate during midweek and have no fresh injury concerns. Burnley also rotated midweek, with Rodriguez scoring four goals and pushing for more game-time. Brownhill is the only fresh injury concern for Burnley, but he is expected to return after recovering from a dead-leg.
Prediction: 2-1
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Watford vs Newcastle
Ben Foster looks set to keep his place between the sticks as Bachmann tries to shake off a knee injury. Defender Femenía is a slight doubt but is likely to pass fit. Newcastle also has injury concerns in goal, with Darlow expected to start once more. Lascelles, Willock, Shelvey and Wilson will all miss out.
Prediction: 2-1
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Brentford vs Liverpool
Brentford hopes to build on a positive start to the season. Defender Henry hopes to shake off an ankle injury in time for this one. Klopp frustrated fantasy managers last weekend, dropping TAA and Robertson to the bench; the duo are expected to return to the side this weekend. Firmino is a slight doubt, a return next week most likely. Keita and Thiago (not Chelsea’s) will miss this one.
Prediction: 0-2
Sunday
Southampton vs Wolves
Saints defender Stephens suffered an injury in a great draw with Man City last time out and will be absent till December. This game will come too soon for the return of S. Armstrong, Walcott and Smallbone. Wolves rotated the majority of their players in the midweek game against Spurs and have no fresh injury concerns.
Prediction: 1-0
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Performances are looking a lot more positive for the Gunners lately as they look to put their terrible start behind them. They have no injury concerns and were able to rotate heavily in a comfortable midweek EFL Cup match. Lacazette was back in the team and amongst the goals and will dream of featuring for this one. Kane played and scored midweek for Spurs, so he will hope to bring that to this North London derby, continuing to add to his impressive record in this fixture.
Prediction: 1-1
Monday
Crystal Palace vs Brighton
Crystal Palace has no new injury concerns, as new striker Edouard will hope to get some more game time. Webster will miss out for Brighton, with Bissouma and Mac Allister marked as slight injury concerns, and will hope to feature in training on Saturday.
Prediction: 2-1
What are your predictions for this game-week? Whom are you backing in the Chelsea vs Man City fixture? Please join us in our FPL & Fantrax virtual pub as we face our deadlines, share late-breaking news and then chat live while the games play out in GW-6!
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