Sadio Mane will be assessed for Liverpool’s early kick-off with Stoke City as Jurgen Klopp offers reassurance on rest and rotation concerns. Kasper Schmeichel is still ruled out as Leicester make their way to Crystal Palace, while Ben Mee also remains on the sidelines for Burnley’s Turf Moor meeting with Brighton.
Here’s our summary of the team news so far ahead of Gameweek 36, with the majority of the big name press conferences still to come this afternoon.
Earlier this morning, Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Sadio Mane is a minor doubt for Liverpool’s home clash against Stoke City. The Liverpool coach – who is without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the rest of the season due to a knee ligament injury – has again suggested that he will play a strong side for the 12.30pm encounter. Despite the second leg of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma taking place four days later, Klopp appears to dismiss the concept of resting players….
“How could we say we rest 3 or 4 players who are able to play? What about Fair Play? It should not be allowed and I won’t think about it. We play Tuesday-Saturday-Wednesday, so we could play same team, if they were available”.
This could see Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino joined by Danny Ings in the front three, then.
Glen Johnson is a major doubt to face his former club due to a groin issue, with Kurt Zouma expected to fill in at right-back. Meanwhile, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Kostas Stafylidis remain out for the Potters.
Burnley pair Ben Mee and Scott Arfield remain out for the home meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion, with Kevin Long set to deputise at centre-half once again for the former. Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (hamstring) is back in training and expected to return to the squad.
As for the Seagulls, Davy Propper is still serving his suspension, with Steve Sidwell the only absentee.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the home meeting with Leicester City, although Jeffrey Schlupp is back in training, and could be ready to return among the substitutes. Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend look set to lead the line in a 4-4-2 once again.
Kasper Schmeichel and Shinji Okazaki both remain sidelined with ankle injuries for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Ben Hamer continuing between the posts. Meanwhile, Daniel Amartey will step up his recovery from a hamstring injury by turning out for the reserves this evening.
After scoring the winner as a substitute in the 1-0 victory over Watford, Huddersfield Town midfielder Tom Ince is likely to earn a recall for the vital home fixture against Everton, with Collin Quaner at risk of dropping to the bench.
Sam Allardyce has revealed Morgan Schneiderlin (dead leg), Leighton Baines (facial injury) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (back) are all slight injury concerns ahead of the trip to the John Smith’s Stadium, with late decisions set to be made on the trio.
Dwight Gayle could return at the expense of Islam Slimani up front for Newcastle United’s home fixture against West Bromwich Albion. The likes of Jacob Murphy and Mikel Merino may also come into contention for recalls in midfield, while Christian Atsu is a minor injury concern.
Interim manager Darren Moore could hand a recall to Jonny Evans after the defender returned from injury in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool. Moore can also call upon Daniel Sturridge after the forward was ineligible to face his parent club last time out, with both he and Nacer Chadli nearing full fitness following spells on the sidelines.
Southampton welcome back Jack Stephens for the crucial home clash against Bournemouth following the defender’s three-match ban, but Steven Davis misses out once again due to an ankle injury.
As for the Cherries, they will be without injured duo Adam Smith and Harry Arter for the trip to St Mary’s, but Dan Gosling and Jermain Defoe could push for recalls.
Defenders Federico Fernandez and Kyle Bartley are injury concerns ahead of the home encounter against Chelsea, but Sam Clucas is set to be handed a recall after returning from injury last weekend. On-loan forward Tammy Abraham is ineligible to face his parent club, but Luciano Narsingh (ankle) remains doubtful.
Marcos Alonso will miss the trip to south Wales as he serves out the final match of a three game-ban, with Emerson Palmieri or Davide Zappacosta set to deputise at left wing-back. Thibaut Courtois will return in goal after Willy Caballero started in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton.
Adrian will start between the posts for West Ham United for the home meeting with Manchester City with Joe Hart ineligible to face his parent club. Manuel Lanzini has appeared as a substitute in each of the last two matches as he builds up his match fitness and he looks set to return to the starting XI.
The champions welcome back Fernandinho following the midfielder’s two-match suspension, while Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane will all be expected to earn recalls for the trip to the London Stadium after warming the bench from start to finish against Swansea last weekend. John Stones (groin) remains set to miss out.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho could stick with the same 4-3-3 formation that beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final for the home fixture against Arsenal. However, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial offer alternatives in attack should he revert back to a 4-2-3-1 set-up.
But Arsene Wenger will surely ring the changes with one eye on the Gunners’ second leg against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Europa League semi-final next Thursday. The likes of Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi could all come into contention for recalls, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should also return in attack given that he remains ineligible to play in European ties.
Hugo Lloris will return in goal for Spurs’ home meeting with Watford after Michel Vorm started in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United. Serge Aurier could push for a recall at right-back in place of Kieran Trippier, but, as it stands, Danny Rose is continuing to work his way back to fitness following a calf injury, with Ben Davies expected to retain the left-back berth.
Javi Gracia looks set to be without Troy Deeney for the trip to Wembley, with the forward reportedly in danger of missing the rest of the season due to a foot injury. Roberto Pereyra is also a doubt due to a groin problem, while Sebastian Prodl will be assessed after missing the goalless draw with Crystal Palace due to illness.
All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. Keep an eye on our official Twitter account for breaking news – as the day unfolds, we will issue updates from Friday’s press conferences and refresh our Team News tab accordingly to keep you informed.
