FPL GW8 final team news: historical deadline archive
Archive notice — Gameweek 8 finished on 25 October 2026. This article records the injury and starting-XI decisions that managers faced before the Friday 23 October deadline. It is no longer a live guide to upcoming FPL fixtures. For current injuries and expected lineups, use OneFPL Team News.
What changed around the GW8 deadline?
Several popular players carried fitness or selection uncertainty: Bukayo Saka's injury, Antoine Semenyo's knee problem, João Pedro's Chelsea availability, and rotation decisions affecting Man City and Man United assets.
This page should be read as a dated snapshot of what was known or uncertain before GW8. A pre-match doubt does not become a confirmed absence simply because it was discussed; the actual lineup and minutes from the match provide the outcome.
Latest FPL news
Confirmed outcomes that matter to future analysis
- Chelsea played Spurs without João Pedro; the manager subsequently explained the training issue and need for assessment.
- Palmer was dismissed against Tottenham; his one-match suspension is due to be served in the EFL Cup, not GW9.
- Bruno Fernandes was an unused substitute during Man United's defeat by Bournemouth, an example of why prediction and confirmation differ.
- All ten GW8 Premier League fixtures are now final; Sunderland–Leeds finished 0–0.
How to use an old team-news article safely
Keep the original pre-deadline context available for readers comparing predictions with outcomes, but never let the archived warnings outrank current player-status data. Do not retitle the original to “latest team news” without adding an explicitly verified current section.
What to check for GW9
After the midweek cup games, reassess training status, the coach's comments and current FPL flags. Confirm expected starters shortly before the Saturday 31 October deadline. The official game's deadline—not the date of an old article—is what matters.
For transfer planning, open OneFPL Planner.
How to preserve pre-deadline research without misinforming readers
Use a visible archived-date label, leave source timestamps and original forecasts in the article for accountability, and place the confirmed post-match outcomes above stale claims. Do not alter old quotes to make them seem newly issued. The current Team News page is where a returning reader should check whether a player is now fit, flagged or in contention.
A separate GW9 team-news article should identify its own deadline, confirmed manager quotes, doubts and anticipated starters. That prevents this archived GW8 page from competing for the same “latest injuries” search intent.