Key FPL Insights from Latest EFL Cup Matches: Injury Updates and Player Performance

Scout Notes

FPL notes: Dedic injury, Mendy sub explained + another Hall assist

9 September 2026 108 comments

Skonto Rigga

The latest EFL Cup round brought us notable action among Premier League teams. Clubs like Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United advanced past their Championship opponents, while Sunderland managed a narrow win over Hull City.

For those involved in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the outcomes of these matches may have significant implications. Essential insights such as playing time, injury status, and key moments from each game offer a vital perspective as you manage your line-up.

READ MORE: FPL Gameweek 4 tips: Best players, predicted line-ups, team news + more

MATCH RESULTS

Team	Opponent	Result	Goals	Assists	Leading Def Cons
Bournemouth	Lincoln City (h)	4-0 win	Christie x3, Rayan	Gannon-Doak, Brooks, Diakité, Jebbison	Cook (17), Christie (12)
Crystal Palace	Middlesbrough (h)	3-0 win	Strand Larsen x2, Kamada	Mingueza, Chilwell, Strand Larsen	Hughes (16), Ahanor (12), Mingueza (10), Tomiyasu (10), Chilewell (9), Disasi (8)
Hull City	Sunderland (a)	0-1 loss	–	–	Coyle (9)
Newcastle United	Millwall (a)	1-0 win	Willock	Hall	Botman (16), Barnes (11), Schar (8), Ramsey (8)
Sunderland	Hull City (h)	1-0 win	Talbi	Meunie	Ahoka (16), Rigg (14), Hume (11), Ta Bi (9)

TEAM SELECTION AND ROTATION

Team	No. of starting XI changes made from GW3	Players who kept their places (mins played)	Mins for other players
Bournemouth	8	Hill (90), Silva (82), Kluivert (62)	Di Gregorio (90), Soler (90), Diakite (90), Cook (90), Christie (90), Gannon-Doak (78), Brooks (78), Rodriguez (78), Toth (28), Tavernier (12), Rayan (12), Jebbison (12), Juanlu (8)
Crystal Palace	8	Disasi (73), Pino (73), Timber (59)	Benitez (90), Tomiyasu (90), Ahanor (90), Chilwell (90), Mingueza (90), Hughes (90), Strand Larsen (73), Osorio (59), Wharton (31), Kamada (31), McNeil (17), Lerma (17), Gozo (17)
Hull City	8	Coyle (90), Gourna-Douath (60), Mendy (45)	Phillips (90), Herrington (90), Hjerto-Dahl (90), Cho (90), Thomas (90), Targett (76), Crooks (60), Vaz (60), Egan (45), Mouzakitis (30), Gelhardt (30), Slater (30), Stroud (14)
Newcastle United	3	Hornicek (90), Botman (90), Hall (90), Gonzalez (90), Willock (90), Barnes (90), Wissa (66), Dedic (45)	Schar (90), Ramsey (83), Murphy (66), Livramento (45), Elanga (24), Fernandez-Pardo (24), Miley (7), Steur (1)
Sunderland	11	–	Ellborg (90), Hume (90), O’Nien (90), Alderete (90), Ahoka (90), Rigg (90), Ta Bi (90), Talbi (86), Fofana (79), Isidor (79), Methalie (65), Meunier (25), Browne (11), Tutierov (11), Proctor (4)

SCOUT NOTES

CRYSTAL PALACE

In an attempt to scrutinize performance amid significant rotation, manager Pierre Sage opted for eight changes, with early substitutes highlighting concerns about overall squad depth.
While the attacking sequences exhibited promise, defensive frailties were evident. Middlesbrough’s higher shot count (16-8) underscored Palace's vulnerabilities, particularly in the first half.

“We made a better second half in the play because in the first half, we didn’t take too much initiative. I think the first time we played, it was the first goal, and we are able to play like this. Sometimes I don’t understand why we do it not too much.” – Pierre Sage

Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.0m) was the standout performer, netting twice and assisting an impressive chipped goal by Daichi Kamada (£5.0m). Despite his stellar showing, his starting spot for the upcoming Gameweek 4 against Ipswich Town remains uncertain.

“I just have to manage the freshness [of Jørgen], because he played 45 on Fulham, 60, 65 today, and we play on Saturday. I think he will be able to start [against Ipswich Town], but we will see what happens.” – Pierre Sage, via the Palace website

The return from the flanks brought additional excitement, with defenders Ben Chilwell (£4.5m) and Oscar Mingueza (£4.5m) providing assists that highlighted their attacking capabilities.

BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth's reserves excelled against Lincoln, amassing an impressive 36 shots in a dominant performance. In contrast, the opposition managed just two attempts all game.
Ryan Christie (£5.0m) stepped into the limelight with a hat-trick, capitalizing on set pieces and showing a predatory instinct rarely seen in his previous seasons.

HULL CITY

A largely changed side featured by Hull seeks both match fitness and potential mix in strategy, with Nobel Mendy (£4.0m) substituted at half-time as a precautionary measure.

“That was [always] the plan, yeah.” – Sergej Jakirovic on substituting Nobel Mendy at half-time

Final Thoughts on Recent Performance Trends

The recent matches have painted a picture of both opportunity and uncertainty for teams like Newcastle and Sunderland. While Newcastle slugged through a tough game against Millwall, their dominance in possession and shot statistics suggests they can control games, but the lack of clear chances raises flags. Even with significant attacking talent on display, they only managed a breakthrough in the dying moments of the match, underscoring a potential gap in their finishing ability. Sunderland's complete overhaul of their starting XI was an interesting choice and speaks volumes about manager Regis Le Bris's strategy. While it may offer some insights into the team’s depth, it also leaves us with little clarity about their actual performance potential going forward. Players like Chemsdine Talbi have shown promise, netting a goal with impressive flair, yet the overall coherence of Sunderland’s attack remains a work in progress. What stands out here is the general lack of standout performances despite a series of matches that should provide insight into team dynamics and backup options. For Newcastle, if Joe Willock continues to serve as the focal point of their attacking plays, the team might be fine, but they need more consistent goal-scoring across the board. For Sunderland, keeping tabs on emerging talents like Talbi could pay dividends, but their ongoing injury woes complicate matters significantly. If you’re managing a Fantasy Football squad, these fluctuations in player form and health should guide your decisions. The players pushing for starting roles might shift based on upcoming matches, and the distinct lack of sharpness this early in the season could mean that form is more volatile than it appears. As we move deeper into the season, keeping a keen eye on these performers in training and the transfer market will be crucial in discerning who will bring value to your lineup.