A Fantasy Football Nightmare: One Key Midfielder Ruled Out! Before the expected chaos surrounding the Manchester City team announcement descends (and let's be honest, we're all bracing for it!), Gameweek 23 kicks off with a slightly less dramatic, but still crucial, clash: West Ham United versus Sunderland. This match gets underway at 12:30 PM GMT, so set your alarms!
TEAM NEWS: West Ham's Stability vs. Sunderland's Shuffle
The news coming out of east London is relatively straightforward. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, unsurprisingly, fields an unchanged lineup from their impressive 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. It seems 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the motto for the Hammers this week.
El Hadji Malick Diouf is back from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), providing an additional option, but he'll start on the bench. Young Ollie Scarles retains his place at left-back, continuing to impress. The previously confirmed absence of Lucas Paqueta, as announced by Nuno Espirito Santo on Thursday, remains a significant blow to West Ham's attacking prowess.
The Real Bombshell: Xhaka is OUT!
Now, here's where it gets controversial... Regis Le Bris remained tight-lipped about Granit Xhaka's status, but the news is out: the Swiss international is unavailable due to injury! This is a major headache for Fantasy managers, as Xhaka was one of only four midfielders who had started every single game this season. He's been a reliable points scorer, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in many teams. Eliezer Mayenda steps into the starting eleven in his place.
That's the only change for Sunderland from Gameweek 22.
Sunderland also welcomes back two players from AFCON: Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi. Both will start on the bench, providing fresh legs and tactical options later in the game.
A Repeat Performance?
Interestingly, Gameweek 23's fixtures are a rerun of the opening weekend of the season. In that initial encounter, Sunderland dominated West Ham, securing a resounding 3-0 victory on Wearside. Can they repeat that performance, or will West Ham exact revenge on their home turf? This adds another layer of intrigue to this early kickoff. And this is the part most people miss: Could Sunderland's previous dominance influence the managers' tactical approaches this time around?
Starting Lineups in Full:
West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Pablo, Summerville, Castellanos.
Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Ward-Prowse, Wilson, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Kante.
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, Brobbey.
Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, Diarra, Adingra, Isidor, Talbi.
So, what are your thoughts? Will West Ham maintain their winning form, or will Sunderland pull off another shock victory? And more importantly, how are you dealing with the Xhaka injury in your Fantasy teams? Share your reactions and tactical masterplans in the comments below! Do you think Le Bris was intentionally secretive about Xhaka to gain a tactical advantage? Let's discuss!
