Matchweek 5: Fantasy Premier League Insights and Managerial Decisions
With the Fantasy Premier League deadline looming at 18:30 BST, Premier League managers are playing their own games of bluff and brinkmanship. Injuries, suspensions and returning stars are twisting the selection picture everywhere you look.
Below is how the weekend is shaping up across a packed Matchweek 5.
Brentford v Chelsea – Full-backs, fine margins and Alonso’s poker face
Brentford’s back line is in flux. Aaron Hickey snatched Michael Kayode’s right-back spot last weekend and has no intention of handing it back. On the other flank, El Hadji Malick Diouf impressed in the EFL Cup at left-back and is now pressing Keane Lewis-Potter hard for that role in the league.
Keith Andrews tightened things up last time out with Yehor Yarmoliuk in an advanced central midfield role. The question now is whether he sticks with the Ukrainian’s discipline or turns again to the more creative Mikkel Damsgaard.
Across west London, Xabi Alonso is saying plenty and revealing almost nothing. Joao Pedro’s status remains shrouded in doubt – “It is a possibility,” is all Alonso would offer after the forward pulled out of Brazil duty through injury. If Pedro fails to make it, Danny Welbeck stands ready to step in.
Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson are all in the grey zone. Alonso has parked those decisions until Friday, leaving Fantasy managers guessing. Pep Chavarria, still waiting for his first league start, lurks as an intriguing option if the Chelsea head coach shuffles his pack.
Spurs v Aston Villa – Full-backs back, big names returning
At Spurs, Roberto De Zerbi is ready to reset his defence. Pedro Porro, left out as a precaution against Everton, is fit and expected to reclaim his right-back spot from Archie Gray. On the left, Destiny Udogie, who returned in the midweek EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool, should keep his place ahead of Andy Robertson.
The spine of the side strengthens too. Sandro Tonali has been passed fit after missing Anfield, while James Maddison is edging closer to a first start of the season after a series of cameos off the bench. Dejan Kulusevski has rejoined full training after his long lay-off, but his comeback is likely to be parked until after the international break.
Unai Emery, meanwhile, has to rewire his Aston Villa back line. Matteo Ruggeri, impressive on his first start in the EFL Cup win at Coventry, is poised to replace the injured Ian Maatsen at left-back. In the middle, Tyrone Mings is set to partner Victor Lindelof with Pau Torres out, while Matty Cash could reclaim the right-back berth from Aaron Wan-Bissaka after shaking off muscle soreness.
Joao Gomes returns from suspension to bolster midfield. Up front, Emery faces a classic form-versus-faith call: stick with Nicolas Jackson or reward Tammy Abraham, who struck twice in midweek.
Brighton v Arsenal – Seagulls settled, Gunners weighing options
Brighton’s 5-0 demolition of Coventry City last weekend gives Fabian Hurzeler every reason to stick with a winning XI. The Seagulls might well go unchanged, although Georginio Rutter’s return from injury in the EFL Cup win at Manchester United hands Hurzeler a tempting attacking alternative.
Jaouen Hadjam is available at left-back despite being forced off on his debut at Old Trafford. Out wide, there is no such good news for Femi Azeez, who remains sidelined with the hamstring problem he brought from Millwall. Brighton still carry a heavy list of longer-term absentees: Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood, Stefanos Tzimas, Yankuba Minteh, Zadok Yohanna, Evan Ferguson and Mats Wieffer are all missing.
Arsenal arrive with their own injury puzzles. Ben White picked up a groin issue at Sunderland and missed the EFL Cup win at Ipswich Town. Mikel Arteta believes he should be fit, but Jurrien Timber is also ready and could start at right-back if the manager opts for freshness.
Arteta is “really positive about everybody” in defence, including Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera, both expected to be available. Further forward, Bruno Guimaraes is pushing hard for his first Premier League start for the club after scoring off the bench at Sunderland. Arteta lauds his dynamism and versatility; where Guimaraes fits will depend on what Arsenal “need on the day.”
Everton v Ipswich – Midfield balances and attacking auditions
Harrison Armstrong missed Everton’s EFL Cup win over Wolves, but David Moyes “expects him to be OK” to partner James Garner in central midfield. That pairing, if confirmed, would give Everton a familiar core.
Jack Grealish is knocking loudly for his first league start since returning on loan from Manchester City. On the right, Tyrique George could edge ahead of Brennan Johnson, though Tyler Dibling’s lively display in midweek has complicated that decision. Merlin Rohl and Christian Norgaard remain unavailable.
For Ipswich, Gary O’Neil has his main striker back. Emersonn is fit after a tight quad kept him out of the EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal. Yet the man who replaced him at Crystal Palace, Zian Flemming, scored the winner there and is now pushing for a start of his own.
Azor Matusiwa is back in contention but unlikely to feature, leaving Jack Taylor as the club’s only confirmed absentee. O’Neil’s biggest dilemma is how to reward form without disrupting the balance that has carried Ipswich into this fixture.
Newcastle v Hull – Injury chaos meets unbeaten momentum
Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle are creaking under the weight of injuries. Anthony Elanga missed the defeat to Leeds, forcing Jacob Murphy into the side. If Jaissle wants a different look, Harvey Barnes could switch over to the right, with Bazoumana Toure introduced on the left.
Nico Gonzalez’s concussion against Leeds opens a spot in central midfield, likely for Sean Steur, with Jacob Ramsay also unavailable. At the back, Amar Dedic has joined the casualty list, so Tino Livramento is in line to start. Joe Willock and Matias Fernandez-Pardo appear to be locked in a straight fight for one remaining midfield berth.
Hull City arrive in a very different mood. Four games into their Premier League return, they are still unbeaten, and that stability has allowed Sergej Jakirovic to stick largely with a settled side.
He will, though, be without Nobel Mendy after a concussion last weekend. Lucas Herrington and Paddy McNair are the leading contenders to replace him. In midfield, Matt Crooks is trying to fend off Lucas Gourna-Douath and Tim Iroegbunam, while Sorba Thomas is pressing hard for Elliot Stroud’s spot. An unbeaten start brings confidence; it also brings fierce competition for places.
Nott’m Forest v Coventry – Shape-shifting and selection pressure
Nottingham Forest’s injury picture has eased only slightly. Nikola Milenkovic remains out with a hamstring problem, but Jair Cunha has returned to training. Oliver Glasner will monitor “how he reacts” before deciding whether to throw him straight back in. Ola Aina stands by to cover again if required.
In midfield, Ibrahim Sangare was overlooked in favour of Xaver Schlager and James McAtee against Aston Villa and seems likely to miss out once more. Up front, Igor Jesus came off the bench to score the winner in that match and is now applying real pressure on Dan Ndoye for a starting role.
Coventry, under Frank Lampard, face a tactical fork in the road. He switched from a back three to a back four in the EFL Cup and must now decide whether to revert or stick. Aurele Amenda is out with a calf injury, which could bring Manchester City loanee Stephen Mfuni into the side, unless Lampard opts for a broader reshuffle.
Victor Torp and Caleb Yirenkyi impressed in midweek and are pushing to start in central midfield. The competition is just as fierce in the two No 10 roles, where new signing Yann Gboho joins an already crowded field. Up front, teenager Sidiki Cherif deputised for the suspended Taiwo Awoniyi on Wednesday and will battle Ellis Simms for the shirt.
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool – Tired legs or trust in a winning XI?
AFC Bournemouth come into the weekend riding the high of a famous European night. Marco Rose sent out the same XI that drew with Brentford to beat Real Sociedad away on Thursday, and there were no new injury concerns.
That continuity points strongly towards a third straight start for the same group, even with Amine Adli, Julian Araujo, Junior Kroupi and Veljko Milosavljevic still sidelined. If Rose does decide to freshen things, Lewis Cook for Tyler Adams in central midfield looks the most likely tweak, the one area he has rotated in the league so far.
Liverpool, by contrast, have moving pieces everywhere. Cody Gakpo, absent from the goalless draw with Fulham, returned in the EFL Cup against Spurs with a goal and an assist. That performance should earn him a start, probably on the right, to allow Bradley Barcola to continue from the left.
Alexis Mac Allister also strengthened his claim for a recall with a midweek goal and could come in for Ryan Gravenberch alongside Dominik Szoboszlai. At left-back, Milos Kerkez is set to replace Konstantinos Tsimikas against his former club. Joe Gomez is back after injury, but Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa remain out.
Leeds v Crystal Palace – Farke’s settled side, Palace forced to shuffle
Daniel Farke has little reason to tinker. Leeds dismantled Newcastle 4-1 on Monday, and the XI that started that game looks nailed on to go again. Harry Wilson’s quad injury removes one bench option, but he had only been used as a substitute in recent weeks.
Noah Okafor, on the scoresheet against Newcastle, is likely to keep his place, though Brenden Aaronson offers a different profile if Farke wants to change the dynamic. Ilia Gruev is back in the frame after coming through an Under-21 match, but Joe Rodon and Mateo Joseph remain sidelined.
Crystal Palace are forced into change. Axel Disasi is suspended after his red card against Ipswich, so Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to step into central defence.
Ismaila Sarr, who made his first appearance of the season off the bench in the UEFA Europa League win over Lech Poznan, is pushing for a start. Manager Pierre Sage admitted the Senegal winger could “maybe” start at Leeds, though he is not ready for a full 90 minutes. Dean Henderson and Jean-Philippe Mateta will not return until after the international break.
Man City v Sunderland – Foden out, Ndiaye in the spotlight
Phil Foden’s suspension after his red card in the derby against Manchester United opens the door for Iliman Ndiaye. The summer signing is poised for just his second Premier League start under Enzo Maresca.
Jeremy Doku is available again after recovering from the calf problem suffered in the FA Community Shield, but a place on the bench looks the likeliest outcome for the Belgian. Nico O’Reilly returned from injury to start the EFL Cup win over Norwich at left-back, though Josko Gvardiol should reclaim that position here.
Sunderland’s main headache is on the opposite side of the pitch. Reinildo Mandava’s late red card against Arsenal has left Regis Le Bris without his first-choice left-back. Trai Hume, a right-footer who has covered there before, is one solution; throwing in summer signing Dayann Methalie for a Premier League debut is the bolder alternative.
Beyond that, Le Bris is expected to keep faith with the core that faced Arsenal, having rotated heavily for the landmark Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar. Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle remain the club’s only injuries.
Fulham v Man Utd – Arbeloa waits for lift-off, Carrick weighs his No 9
Alvaro Arbeloa is still chasing his first Premier League win as Fulham boss, but the performance in the draw at Liverpool gives him every reason to stand firm. Sander Berge and Shea Charles dovetailed neatly in central midfield at Anfield and should continue, with Alex Iwobi operating further forward.
Ryan Sessegnon faces a late fitness test after being used only from the bench so far this season. Kenny Tete is definitely out, following concussion protocols after taking a ball to the face at Anfield, while Tom Cairney remains sidelined with a knee problem.
For Manchester United, Michael Carrick’s biggest call comes at left-back and centre-forward. Luke Shaw, injured in Matchweek 3, is still a doubt. Carrick says “there is a chance,” but Patrick Dorgu is again the likely starter on the left of defence.
Up front, Matheus Cunha’s wait for a first league goal of the campaign is dragging on. Benjamin Sesko started the EFL Cup defeat to Brighton but failed to make the spot his own. If Carrick hands him another opportunity through the middle, Cunha could be pushed wide to replace Marcus Rashford on the left. New signing Carlos Baleba may be eased in from the bench.
As line-ups lock in and the deadline ticks closer, the choices made in these next 24 hours will echo well beyond Fantasy mini-leagues. For some managers, this weekend looks like a chance to double down on settled sides; for others, it may be the moment that defines their autumn.
