Team Talk Fantasy Football GW6

Team Talk Fantasy Football GW6

Welcome to GW6 and if it’s anything like as dramatic as GW5 was then we’re in for a real treat. Well, there is every chance as Saturday is derby day in both Liverpool and London – its also a three-day gameweek, which is very convenient in some ways, but painful in others – but we’ll come to that later. Our gameweek kicks off Saturday lunchtime up at Anfield for the “Friendly Derby”…do they really still call it that? Its Liverpool vs Everton and it doesn’t get any bigger than that…..in Liverpool. We then have a plethora of 3pm matches as league leaders Chelsea host Aston Villa, Crystal Palace meet Leicester, Man City travel to Hull, West Ham go to Old Trafford to score a few vs United, ‘Arry goes back to Southampton with his Rangers and Sunderland entertain Swansea at the Stadium of Light. Saturday evening sees the second derby of the day as Arsenal play Spurs at the Emirates…this one defo ain’t the friendly derby. The fixture generator has been kind to those golf fanatics amongst us who are looking forward to watching the Ryder Cup conclude on Sunday as the only Premier League match that afternoon is West Brom vs Burnley – not one that is likely to keep you on the edge of your seats. Monday evening sees our gameweek finish as Stoke take on Newcastle.
Let’s go Around the Grounds and catch up on the latest team news.

Liverpool vs Everton (Sat 27 Sept 12.45)
Liverpool have a number of injuries for Saturday, most notably Daniel Sturridge, who Brendan Rodgers says will certainly not be match fit – he may make the squad, but in all likelihood he probably misses out this week, but a final decision will be made shortly before the game. Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho were passed fit late on Friday, but Emre Can, Glen Johnson, Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan are definitely ruled out. Those worried about Raheem Sterling playing 120mins in the Capital One Cup victory will be encouraged by Rodgers stating “he is a very fit boy” and playing on Saturday won’t be an issue for him. Unless he’s rested, eh Brendan?!
Everton’s major concerns are Seamus Coleman and Steven Pienaar – Coleman has missed the last two matches with a head injury, while Pienaar has missed over a month – Roberto Martinez will give them every opportunity to make the game. Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo are both now fully fit after playing in midweek, while Arouna Kone is not far away, but needs to build up his match fitness. Ross Barkley remains out, but is making good progress.

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Chelsea vs Aston Villa (Sept 27 Sept 15.00)
The good news for Villa is that all the players who suffered with a virus in the run up to and during the loss at home to Arsenal have all now recovered and are 100% fit – namely Ashley Westwood, Darren Bent, Abdreas Weimann and Nathan Baker. The other piece of good news, though not for this week, is that striker Christian Benteke, who has been missing since April, has a great chance of returning in GW7. The bad news for Paul Lambert and his men, apart from the fact that they are playing Chelsea, at Chelsea, is that defender Ron Vlaar is again struggling to be fit. Libor Kozak is still out with a broken leg.
Good news and a huge sigh of relief for most fantasy managers as Jose declares that Diego Costa is fit to start vs Villa without any problems. The Blues only absentee is midfielder Ramires, who is suffering with a groin injury. Expect plenty of changes to the team that crept past Bolton in midweek, with all the regulars returning to the starting line-up.

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Crystal Palace vs Leicester (Sept 27 Sept 15.00)
Eagles’ Marouane Chamakh returns to the squad, but aside from him there won’t be many changes to the squad that won at Everton as Neil Warnock reports no fresh injuries. Palace will take heart from last week’s win at Everton and are unbeaten in three in the league.
The Foxes will look to build on their momentum that was so wonderfully shown last week against United. They will continue to be without Matthew Upson and Zoumana Bakayogo and will likely name a largely unchanged squad from last week, though Nick Powell will be included after being ineligible to play vs United.

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Hull vs Man City (Sept 27 Sept 15.00)
Hull will be without Robert Snodgrass for the visit of the Champions, while David Meyler is the only other concern after he sustained a back injury on Wednesday – sadly for Steve Bruce, his squad have not exactly impressed thus far and are winless since the opening day victory over whipping boys QPR. Hatem Ben Arfa won’t be fit to start vs City.
City themselves are winless in their last three league matches, though Wednesday’s 7-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday will be good for confidence, despite the strength, or lack of it, of the opposition. Sighs of relief are heard throughout the FPL world as Sergio Aguero has been passed fit to play. David Silva is also ok, while Pablo Zabaleta returns from suspension after his sending off vs Chelsea last week. Fernando and Stevan Jovetic remain out and Samir Nasri is a doubt with a groin injury.

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Man Utd vs West Ham (Sept 27 Sept 15.00)
The message is clear here – expect goals. The Hammers arrive in confident fashion having seen off Liverpool comfortably last weekend and with goals flowing through their side. However, Big Sam will be without his vital central midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, who will be out for six weeks with a groin injury sustained in last week’s victory. There are no other new injuries – Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis have returned to training but won’t be available for Saturday, while Andy Carroll and Joey O’Brien remain sidelined.
What to be said of United? The injury crisis continues, especially in defence with Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling joining Phil Jones on the treatment table. Tyler Blackett is, of course, suspended following his red card in the car crash at Leicester last week. This leaves just Marcos Rojo as the only fit senior centre back – LVG may decide to blood young Paddy McNair alongside Rojo, while Luke Shaw is expected to make his league debut at left back. McNair as well as his fellow academy defender Tom Thorpe are both confirmed as being in the squad, but Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young are all still out, so it’s not all bad news.

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Southampton vs QPR (Sept 27 Sept 15.00)
Southampton’s Maya Yoshida hasn’t trained all week, but was hoping to train on Friday, while fellow defender Toby Alderweireld trained on Thursday and is looking good for a return to the squad after a minor hamstring injury ruled him out of the win at Swansea. James Ward-Prowse has sadly been ruled out for 10 weeks with a foot injury, but better news of midfielder Lloyd Isgrove and Sam Gallagher, who have both returned to training. J-Rod is still out.
Rangers have midfield issues with Joey Barton and Jordan Mutch both ruled out with hamstring injuries, while Niko Kranjcar and Adel Taarabt are both doubtful. If that wasn’t enough, Sandro injured himself celebrating a goal in training, though he is expected to be ok for the trip to St Marys. Jermaine Jenas and Alejandro Faurlin are long term absentees.

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Sunderland vs Swansea (Sept 27 Sept 15.00)
Wilfried Bony is set to return to the Swans squad after he served his suspension by missing the midweek Carling Cup victory over Everton. This leaves just Leon Britton and Jordi Amat as the only definite absentees, while defender Dwight Tiendalli is hopeful of recovering from a groin injury.
Sunderland strikers Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher are both hopeful of shrugging off knocks in time to face the Swans, while midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini should also be available after sitting out the midweek defeat in the Capital One Cup. Wes Brown is a small doubt but Billy Jones and Will Buckley both impressed despite the Cup defeat to Stoke and Gus Poyet suggested both could play this weekend at the expense of Santiago Vergini and Adam Johnson or Ricardo Alvarez. Defender Sebastien Coates has been ruled out.

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Arsenal vs Spurs (Sept 27 Sept 17.30)
Mauricio Pochettino has no new injury worries for his first North London derby. Kyle Walker remains the only absentee for Spurs as they try and reverse a poor recent record in the fixture that has seen win just once in their last 21 Premier League matches at Arsenal. Be wary if you own a Spurs defender – the Gunners last failed to score at home to their neighbours in the league in 1998.
Arsene Wenger says that midfield yellow card magnet Mathieu Flamini is to return, while Kieran Gibbs and Per Mertesacker will both be ok to play. Alexis Sanchez is expected to be recalled, but Nacho Monreal is unavailable with a back injury, while longer term absentees Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Mathieu Debuchy, Serge Gnabry and Yaya Sanogo will all be watching from the comfort of their corporate box. Wenger has been talking up the partnership of Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck, otherwise known to Gooner fans as the modern day Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry. Errrr right, ok.

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West Brom vs Burnley (Sun 28 Sept 16.00)
Ryder Cup Sunday – it’s down to the singles and in all honesty, I have a lot more interest in talking about Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood than Brown Ideye, Andre Wisdom and Youssouf Mulumbu, but I suppose I should run through the injury news for you. Briefly.
The aforementioned Ideye has tweeted that he expects to be fit for the match having recovered from an ankle injury, while Chris Baird has been ill all week – neither of that pair or Victor Anichebe trained on Friday, probably watching the golf, but could all feature on Sunday.
Burnley continue to be without strikers Sam Vokes and Danny Ings, while there are concerns with midfielders Dean Marney, Matty Taylor and David Jones and defender Keiran Trippier. See, you have no interest either do you?
Told you it was dull – and if you’re still in doubt, bear in mind that Burnley and the Baggies have scored just four goals between them this season. Trust me – back to Gleneagles.

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Stoke vs Newcastle (Mon 29 Sept 20.00)
Stoke are looking for their first point at home this season, so who better to invite to town than bottom placed Newcastle? The Potters will again be without Peter Odemwingie and Geoff Cameron, but hope that Jon Walters passes a late fitness test. Both teams had decent away wins in the Capital One Cup in the week and will be hoping to carry on that form.
Just when you thought I was done with the golf, let me have the last word. Under fire Toon boss Alan Par-dew (thanks Init) is expecting Papiss Cisse, Tim Krul and Yoan Gouffran to recover from illness, but defender Daryl Janmaat is a real concern after he limped off with a muscle strain in midweek. Jonas Guitierrez, Siem de Jong, Davide Santon, Rolando Aarons and Ryan Taylor all remain long term casualties. Midfielder Mehdi Abeid is suspended after being sent off in the Capital One Cup win at Crystal Palace.

There we go, all done. Mostly good news it seems. Best of luck for GW6.

Thanks for reading Team Talk Fantasy Football GW6. This article was written by Cookie

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