Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have been dealt a number of tough selection choices to make with four key men listed as doubts for Gameweek 13 fixtures.
Aside from Cole Palmer (£10.9m), who was curiously left out of Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League squad, midweek European fixtures can prove a nuisance in making transfers.
Arsenal and Liverpool both lost players to injuries in their Champions League victories, making it difficult for bosses to decide whether to ditch them or gamble on their fitness.
Reds duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate, along with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes and Tottenham star Cristian Romero, could miss out if they are deemed not to be fit.
Express Sport has the latest FPL injury updates ahead of this weekend’s GW13 schedule.
Gabriel
The third-most owned defender in FPL with a 24.5 per cent ownership, Gabriel (£6.2m) is a doubt after being forced off during Arsenal’s impressive 5-1 win over Sporting on Tuesday.
The Brazilian centre-back was substituted with only six minutes left in Lisbon and Mikel Arteta’s initial prognosis suggests he will face a race against time to be fit for their clash with West Ham on Saturday evening.
“We don’t know [if he is OK], because he said that he was feeling some discomfort,” Arteta said after the game.
Gabriel’s injury doubt may come as a blessing in disguise for owners looking to make a change, as he has only participated in getting one clean sheet in the last eight gameweeks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
All eyes will be on Anfield on Sunday as managers decide whether to bring back one of FPL’s biggest assets in Alexander-Arnold (£6.9m) or keep him out of their teams.
The right-back is closing in on a return to full fitness was included in the 20-man squad for the win over Real Madrid. However, he was left as an unused substitute and Arne Slot stayed true to his word that he wouldn’t play unless he deemed it necessary.
But with their title showdown with Manchester City taking place on Sunday, the Dutchman may have to roll the dice after Conor Bradley was taken off with a hamstring issue – and that could be welcome news for the 18.9 per cent of owners who have patiently kept Alexander-Arnold in their respective squads.
And Slot confirmed that Alexander-Arnold is ready to start.
Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool boss Slot has been dealt the inconvenience of a fresh injury problem after Konate (£5.4m) limped off in midweek.
The Frenchman was seen moving gingerly and was reduced to tears towards the end of Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old is therefore a doubt to be fit in time for this weekend’s clash at Anfield, with Slot staying tight-lipped on the extent of the injury he suffered.
“I know where they have pain, but how bad or how good it is is difficult to judge so close after the game,” Slot said of Konate and Bradley.
Cristian Romero
Tottenham face an anxious wait to see if Romero (£5.0m) will be fit for their London derby with Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Argentinian defender has been coping with hamstring and toe problems recently and he was absent for the 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City last time out.
On Wednesday, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou provided an update on the defender’s progress and predicted he will likely miss out as he is not yet back in training.
“Cuti he is getting better, he is a lot closer,” the Australian said. “I am hoping he will be out there training with the group, with a bit of luck back end of this week. If not, definitely next week.”
With 6.8 per cent of managers owning the Argentinian, they may be tempted to put him on the bench before welcoming him back into their XIs for Gameweek 14.
