Get ready for a surprising twist in the Premier League drama! While all eyes are on the impending Manchester City lineup that’s set to shake things up, Gameweek 23 kicks off quietly with West Ham United vs. Sunderland at 12:30 PM GMT. But here’s where it gets intriguing: Granit Xhaka, the Swiss midfield stalwart and one of only four Fantasy midfielders to start every game this season, is sidelined due to injury. And this is the part most people miss—his absence could be a game-changer for both teams and Fantasy managers alike.
West Ham, fresh off their 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, field an unchanged lineup, a move that’s as predictable as it is strategic. El Hadji Malick Diouf, returning from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), takes a seat on the bench, while Ollie Scarles retains his spot at left-back. Meanwhile, Lucas Paqueta’s absence was confirmed by manager Nuno Espirito Santo earlier in the week, leaving fans to wonder how the team will adapt without their creative spark.
Sunderland, on the other hand, welcome back two of their AFCON stars—Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi—though they’ll start on the bench. Eliezer Mayenda steps in for Xhaka, marking the only change from Gameweek 22. But here’s the controversial bit: Could Sunderland’s 3-0 thrashing of West Ham in the reverse fixture earlier this season be a sign of things to come, or will the Hammers flip the script this time?
The lineups are set, with West Ham’s XI featuring Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Pablo, Summerville, and Castellanos. Their bench includes Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Ward-Prowse, Wilson, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, and Kante. Sunderland counter with Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, and Brobbey, backed by substitutes Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, Diarra, Adingra, Isidor, and Talbi.
What do you think? Will Xhaka’s absence tip the scales, or is this Sunderland’s chance to repeat their earlier dominance? Let us know in the comments—this is one match you won’t want to miss!
