Another big week of fantasy football lies ahead in the Premier League, with Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday the main attraction.
Many FPL managers will be hoping that Mohamed Salah can continue his hot streak against Ruben Amorim’s outfit, with plenty of armbands set to be placed on the game’s highest scorer. But question marks remain about plenty of popular players.
A host of highly-owned stars are in a race to be fit to play, with several more ruled out through injury or suspension. And Express Sport runs the rule over the latest fitness concerns for GW20.
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Kai Havertz missed Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Brentford completely, having picked up an illness that saw the German forward put in a car and told to go home from the Gtech Community Stadium.
Gabriel Jesus continued his scoring run while leading the line in Havertz’s absence, though Mikel Arteta believes that the former Chelsea star will return for the trip to Brighton.
When asked if Havertz is ready for a place in the squad, Arteta simply replied: "Yes, I think so."
Matheus Cunha
Wolves’ talisman Matheus Cunha is owned by 16.7% of FPL managers and only Alexander Isak has more points as a forward than the Brazilian, by a sole point.
He is suspended for the upcoming Monday Night Football clash with Nottingham Forest, the only league game he will miss through a ban, but he also came off at half-time of the 2-2 draw at Tottenham with a muscle problem.
“Cunha spoke with me at half-time,” head coach Vitor Pereira said. “He said ‘coach I felt something in the first half and I’m not comfortable to make a sprint’. Better to stay out the game second half. Hope not hamstring.”
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen was forced off in the second half of his side’s 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool, with the club since putting out a worrying statement as he faces a spell on the sidelines.
The statement read: "The injury to his left foot, picked up in the first half at London Stadium, will sideline the Hammers captain heading into the New Year.”
Marcus Rashford
United misfit Marcus Rashford has been left out of Amorim’s squad on several occasions as of late, but he won’t be a solution to their dismal form away to Liverpool after picking up an illness.
"At the moment he is ill," said Amorim at his pre-match press conference. "He is not training. He is going to be out this week."
Lukasz Fabianski
Alphonse Areola stepped in for Lukasz Fabianski after the West Ham goalkeeper suffered a head injury while colliding with Southampton defender Nathan Wood.
Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui confirmed that Fabianski, owned by 17.7% of FPL managers, won’t be available to face Manchester City as he continues to go through concussion protocols.
The head coach added that Fabianski has to wait 10 days before he can play again, which could see him return for the FA Cup trip to Aston Villa on January 10.
Pau Torres
Aston Villa have been rocked after Unai Emery confirmed that key central defender Pau Torres will be unavailable for two months with a broken toe.
“Jhon Duran is not available because he is suspended, nor Pau Torres because he broke his fourth metatarsal and he is going to be out for, more or less, two months,” the Spanish boss said. “Diego Carlos has a small injury as well - he’s not feeling good after taking a kick to his foot.”
Club captain Tyrone Mings is expected to start at home to Leicester on Saturday.
Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez had ably deputised in Ibrahima Konate’s absence for Liverpool but limped out of the win over West Ham and is set to be sidelined for several weeks.
Konate is back in training but may not be risked to face United, giving Jarell Quansah the opportunity to impress.
