It’s another one of those weeks. No, not because of the chaos sewed by the quick emergence and even quicker demise of the European Super League but because we have a limited schedule for Match Week 33. With the season coming to a close, fantasy managers will be looking to grind every available point out of their squads which means a squad full of players who will actually be playing this week and, ideally, full of players who will be playing against sub-par competition (we’re looking at you Liverpool and Leicester City, less so at you West Ham and Chelsea). Here is the latest Team News from around the grounds and what it means for fantasy managers:
Arsenal vs. Everton
The big news for Arsenal continues to be the injury bug at the forward position. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (malaria) and Alexandre Lacazette (hamstring) are both out for the visit of the Toffees which almost certainly means Eddie Nketiah will get a start. Martin Odegaard is also likely to miss another match. The combined absences suggest an attacking quartet of Eddie Nketiah ahead of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, and Nicholas Pepe with a small chance that either Gabriel Martinelli or Willian starts ahead of one of the wide options. Also missing will be David Luiz and Kieran Tierney who are likely to be replaced by Rob Holding and Granit Xhaka respectively.
Not much in the way of new news for Everton with Abdoulaye Doucouré our for the season. There are a number of doubts with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina, André Gomes, Bernard, and Fabian Delph all in question. Clearly, Calvert-Lewin would be the big miss there. With DCL’s status up in the air, fantasy managers should exercise caution in picking him and certainly shouldn’t be buying him for this week.
Liverpool vs. Newcastle
Jordan Henderson is still out for the champions as is Nathaniel Phillips but Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones should both be available. The latter pair are more likely to start the match on the bench than in the eleven but that certainly hasn’t stopped Jota from being a fantasy force when healthy this season.
The big news on the opposite sideline is that Allan Saint-Maximin is healthy and ready to go after going off against West Ham in the Magpies upset win last weekend. Saint-Maximin will certainly start with relegation not entirely in the rearview mirror for Steve Bruce.
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West Ham vs. Chelsea
Issues down the spine of the team for David Moyes as he welcomes the Blues to the London Stadium for a crucial fixture in the race for a Champions League place (remember, that’s a thing again). Mikail Antonio is still out at forward and is joined by Declan Rice at the base of midfield and Craig Dawson who is suspended after being sent off against Newcastle in the Hammers last match. The only good news here is that Aaron Cresswell, he of the 10 assists, may return to the left side of the Hammers’ defense.
On the Blues sideline, Thomas Tuchel will be missing only Mateo Kovacic. That’s good news for the manager but rotten news for fantasy managers who have to figure out who might start from among all of the rotation candidates throughout Chelsea’s squad (which is pretty much everyone bar Edouard Mendy, who the manager has said will return to the starting line-up, and César Azpilicueta who seems to have locked in his spot).
Sheffield United vs. Brighton
With Brighton seemingly clear of relegation and Sheffield United mathematically relegated, there isn’t a ton of fantasy excitement here other than whether the Seagulls will come up with a clean sheet. Ben White won’t be available to participate in said clean sheet after getting sent off against Chelsea. Sander Berge could return for the Blades as he mounts his “save me from relegation” campaign down the stretch of the season. A number of big clubs, including Manchester City, have been linked.
Wolves vs. Burnley
There continue to be significant absences for Wolves. They aren’t the biggest names in the Premier League but Raúl Jiménez, Pedro Neto, Rúben Neves, and Jonny were all integral to Wolves fortunes since their return to the Premier League. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be without that quartet again and seems likely to name an unchanged line-up from last week.
Sean Dyche will likely be getting one of his key pieces back with Nick Pope expected back. Pope isn’t 100% to start but if you have a choice to make, it’s probably reasonable to expect that he will. Ashley Barnes and Robbie Brady are still out for the Clarets but neither were likely to be top of mind for fantasy mangers nor should their replacements be.
Leeds United vs. Manchester United
Marcelo Bielsa continues to be without Raphinha, Rodrigo, and Liam Cooper as he welcomes the Red Devils for Match Week 33. Expect Leeds to name an unchanged side from last weekend.
The Red Devils are largely healthy with only Marcus Rashford in question with a foot injury that may or may not allow him to play. Reading the tea leaves, I’d tend toward thinking he will play but it certainly isn’t a crucial match for United so it is hardly a sure thing.
Aston Villa vs. West Bromwich Albion
The crucial injury news in this one is all on the Villa side of things. Jack Grealish is still out and is joined by Matty Cash (suspended), Trezeguet, and Morgan Sanson. Expect El Ghazi to continue starting while Ross Barkley continues to languish on the bench despite injuries elsewhere in the squad. Albion are largely healthy with the exception of Robert Snodgrass.
Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace
Harvey Barnes continues to be out for the Foxes but that’s about the only injury likely to make a difference in your fantasy calculations in Monday’s match.
Good luck with your team selections and enjoy the matches.
