Fantasy managers anxiously await updates on Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero after both were forced off during the weekend action. Jose Mourinho hopes to welcome back a number of players for Chelsea next week, whilst Jurgen Klop expects Philippe Coutinho to return in time for Liverpool’s midweek cup clash with Southampton.
Arsenal
The Gunners are sweating over the availability of three key regulars after yesterday’s draw at Norwich. Alexis Sanchez pulled up with a hamstring problem on the hour mark at Carrow Road and subsequently limped off the pitch. Discussing the incident, Arsene Wenger admitted concerns over the severity of the injury but remained adamant about his decision to play the Chilean forward:
“He says it is a kick on his hamstring, I believe that is not really the reality. I fear it is not the reality. We checked it [Sanchez’s hamstring]. When you have normal force and normal stretch there is no problem and he had that. Nobody is scientifically developed enough to predict when a guy will be injured. I must say with all humility we are not in a position where we can predict (injuries) despite all our tests. I would have rested him today but he felt alright before the game, and he declared that he had no problem.”
Elsewhere on the Gunners’ injury front, Wenger said they’re set to assess Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny in light of their fresh knocks:
“In the first half he (Cazorla) got a kick on the knee and it got worse. I don’t know if he has jaded his knee ligament or he it was just a kick on the nerve but the worrying thing was it got worse during the game. For Koscielny it was a kick on his hip and he could not move at all. We have to assess all of that.”
Bournemouth
Steve Cook and Adam Federici were replaced at half time of the Cherries’ home tie against Everton, with the former picking up a knock and the latter injuring his ankle in the opening 20 minutes. Although their first-choice shot-stopper, Artur Boruc, is also consigned to the treatment room, Eddie Howe said Bournemouth are unlikely to be permitted an emergency loan deal as 23-year-old Ryan Allsop is available for selection:
“I don’t think it is at the moment because we have a fit goalkeeper. We will wait and see, we are unsure on the length of Artur Boruc’s injury; he will be seeing a specialist this week so it doesn’t look good. Adam does not look good, it looks like he has twisted his ankle to point where it has blown up, it is really swollen so he was no good at half-time.”
Howe went on to provide an update on Harry Arter, who left the field of play 14 minutes from time with a hamstring complaint:
“Harry just felt something in his hamstring but we’re not aware how serious that is.”
Chelsea
Loic Remy missed the Blues’ head-to-head with Spurs to attend the birth of his child yesterday. After the goalless draw, Jose Mourinho told reporters that he expects Remy and Radamel Falcao, along with Ramires, John Terry and Thibaut Courtois to be back in action for Bournemouth’s visit next Saturday.
Everton
Roberto Martinez revealed that James McCarthy – who was withdrawn in the 68th minute at the Vitality Stadium – is a doubt for Everton’s midweek trip to Middlesbrough because of a groin problem:
“He over-extended his groin and couldn’t carry on. It’s a concern for us because he is not the kind of player who would come off for anything. We will assess him and make a decision about Tuesday.”
Earlier today, the Toffees boss also revealed that Gareth Barry is a midweek doubt after sustaining a shin problem.
Liverpool
Philippe Coutinho sat out Liverpool’s home encounter against Swansea City with the hamstring problem that forced him off at the Etihad in the previous Gameweek. According to Jurgen Klopp, though, the Brazilian should be fit for their League Cup meeting with Southampton on Wednesday:
“Philippe had a very intensive session yesterday but we decided two or three days ago that we didn’t want to risk [him] for this game. Now I think he’s fit. I saw him in the dressing room and he looks good. I’ll have to talk with him tomorrow – I think he’s ready for Southampton.”
Manchester City
Sergio Aguero was substituted at the 64-minute mark of Manchester City’s home clash against Southampton because of a foot injury. Manuel Pellegini later explained that the Argentine received a kick to the heel and it was “nothing important”:
“I spoke with Sergio before the game and he was not going to play more than 60 minutes. He received a kick in his heel but it was nothing important. The reason was not to play more than 65 minutes. He has a pain in his heel. We will see tomorrow but I hope it is nothing important.”
Reports earlier today, however, suggest that an assessment has revealed that the injury is worse than initially feared, indicating that Aguero may face a race against time to be fit for the Sky Blues’ trip to Stoke next Gameweek.
Manchester United
Louis van Gaal played down the knock that forced Wayne Rooney off in the 68th minute at the King Power Stadium on Saturday:
“No, I don’t think it’s an injury to Wayne. I wanted to change one of the strikers. It could have been [Anthony] Martial or it could have been Rooney because they were not always running behind the central defenders, and I want that. Because of this, I wanted to change but then he was limping and then the choice was easy for me to make.”
The Dutchman also issued an update on the fitness of Marcos Rojo and Jesse Lingard, who both missed the Foxes clash with “minor injuries”:
“I could not play with them. Lingard was a player in good shape so it was a pity. Rojo is our left defender and that’s also a pity because then I have to put my players in a different shape and different organisation. Because of that, I had to play with three defenders.”
Southampton
Jose Fonte was replaced at the 36-minute mark of Southampton’s trip to the Etihad due to a gash in his knee. Ronald Koeman played down fears over the Portuguese centre-back’s health after the match, asserting that he was only substituted because of the length of time required to dress his wound:
“Jose is ok now. It takes too long a time to come back on the pitch and so we changed.”
Sunderland
Sam Allardyce conceded that Jermain Defoe and Sebastian Larsson are both doubts for Sunderland’s upcoming trip to Arsenal after they were withdrawn during the weekend win over Stoke:
“Larsson’s is a problem with the medial ligament in his knee. Jermain Defoe’s a hamstring. Both will be doubts for Arsenal.”
Tottenham Hotspur
Ryan Mason left White Hart Lane in a protective boot after injuring his knee in the 56th minute of the London derby. Tottenham are yet to offer an update on the Englishman’s status, with Mauricio Pochettino simply saying that he “hoped it was not a big issue”.
Watford
Heurelho Gomes was escorted to hospital to undergo scans on a neck injury following a hefty blow from Craig Cathcart’s knee. The Brazilian keeper took to Twitter later that day to confirm that he’d been given the all-clear:
“Hi everyone, thanks for the messages, really appreciate I’m much better now, my neck still very stiff, but I will be fine! On my way home! Special thanks to our medical staff, and also Villa’s medical staff for the great treatment that I had received.”
West Ham United
Diafra Sakho sustained an apparent muscle injury in the process of firing a shot into the side netting against West Bromwich Albion. Slaven Billic conceded that the initial signs are not promising:
“We still have to wait and the specialist will see him to give an opinion. It looks like a muscle injury and the first news is not the best. It is a big blow. You can see injuries in every club and to be fair the number who are missing is not a lot, but the ones missing are key players who play in the same position. It is very hard to replace them.”
