FPL GW8 team news and injuries: who to worry about

FPL GW8 team news is dominated by two heavily owned absentees: Szoboszlai and Semenyo are both ruled out with no return date. The deadline is Friday 23 October, 18:30 UK. There are 103 flagged players across 19 clubs, but the table below keeps only the flags that matter, ordered by ownership.

Which flags matter most in GW8?

Szoboszlai (19.2% owned) has a hamstring injury and the FPL news reads "Hamstring injury - Unknown return date". He was flagged three days ago, and our model loses 7.9 projected points from him over six gameweeks. The likely replacement, Koumas, has only a 27% start probability, so Liverpool's midfield is unsettled. If you own him, plan a move.

Semenyo (12.2% owned) has a knee injury, "Knee injury - Unknown return date", also flagged three days ago. The cost is 10.0 projected points over six gameweeks. Cherki is the likely replacement at 47% to start, which is a coin flip.

Who is doubtful but could play?

Several players carry a 75% chance of playing, and for each of them the call will come late.

• Gibbs-White (11.4% owned): "Muscular injury - 75% chance of playing". He is not in our predicted XI, and the loss is 22.6 projected points over six gameweeks. Hudson-Odoi would step in at just 7% to start.
• O'Reilly (9.2% owned): "Back injury - 75% chance of playing". Flagged only a day ago, and he is in our predicted XI. The backup, Gvardiol, has an 11% start probability, so the club expects O'Reilly to play.
• Brobbey (5.5% owned): "Hamstring injury - 75% chance of playing", with J.Angulo at 8% as cover.
• Manzambi (2.8% owned): "Calf injury - 75% chance of playing". He is in the predicted XI, with McGinn on 36% to start if he misses out.
• Robertson and Marmoush of Tottenham are both at 75% and both in the predicted XI. Robertson's cover is Senesi, at 46%. Marmoush has no clear replacement.

Doubtful flags often clear by the weekend, but a 75% player is still a risk to your captain or a bench slot. Re-check predicted line-ups nearer the deadline.

Who is out for longer?

• Shaw (5.6% owned): "Unspecified injury - Unknown return date", flagged eight days ago, with Mazraoui on 11% to start.
• Mendy (5.5% owned): "Groin injury - Expected back 31 Oct", with Giles on 36%.
• Pedro Porro (4.9% owned): "Hamstring injury - Expected back 24 Oct", flagged 31 days ago. Senesi covers on 46%.
• Tzolis (4.8% owned): "Hamstring injury - Expected back 1 Nov". Madueke is the likely cover, at 37%.
• Martinez of Chelsea (4.2% owned): "Head injury - Unknown return date", with no likely replacement named. The model loses 15.7 projected points from him over six gameweeks.
• Janelt (2.2% owned) is suspended until 31 Oct, with Damsgaard at 63% to start in his place.

Manchester United have a cluster of problems. Mainoo is out until 8 Nov, Šeško is out until 31 Oct, Martinez is doubtful, and Rashford was flagged today with a hip injury at 75%. Cunha is the likely replacement at 50%.

What should I do about it?

• If you own Szoboszlai or Semenyo, move them. Neither has a return date.
• If you own a 75% player, hold only if you have a decent bench option and can wait for team news.
• Do not buy a replacement with a low start probability. Koumas at 27% and Hudson-Odoi at 7% are not safe picks.

See the full list at every flag, club by club, plus price changes if you are moving a player and want to time it.

How we worked this out

Flags come from the FPL game data and are quoted as written. The projected points lost are our model's expected points over the next six gameweeks. Start probabilities and predicted line-ups are our estimates and will move with press conferences, so treat them as a guide and check again before the deadline.