Tonight’s Fantasy Premier League deadline marks the start of a busy period in which three Gameweeks will be contested in the space of a week.
While rotation to a particular FPL asset is one thing that is often difficult to anticipate and seldom explicitly mentioned in Premier League managers’ press conferences, we can at least hope these head coaches provide some clear-cut injury news to help us out with our last-minute tinkering.
Unfortunately, Pep Guardiola wasn’t so obliging today.
When asked if Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan would be fit for the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday, the City boss said:
I don’t know. We have training in two-three hours and we will assess and see how they are. I don’t know right now.
Guardiola was also asked if he planned to “freshen the team up” for the encounter with Eddie Howe’s side:
Maybe, yeah. Because it was a really tough game [v Lyon] and after this game we have another one in three days against Watford. That is the toughest period and everybody deserves to play and [they are] going to play.
The former Barcelona coach later added that Jesus was “much, much, much better”, while Bernardo was reportedly close to featuring in midweek so both players could be in contention to feature. Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, will “soon be ready”.
We had nothing definitive on Eden Hazard from Maurizio Sarri, either, who gave a brief presser after Chelsea’s win over PAOK on Thursday.
The Belgian wasn’t even mentioned once by his manager, so all we have to go on are Sarri’s fairly positive words on Wednesday:
Hazard is not a serious injury, I think. I think that we will be able to recover him for the next Premier League match.
Twenty-five days ago he had a back injury, now the ankle, so he has lost a lot of training. So it is normal that he isn’t at the top of his physical condition. He needs to have one week of training and a couple of matches to [recover] his best level.
I think that this week it’s useful for him to have [only] training [and not play v PAOK]. Of course, I think that he cannot play ten matches in 29/30 days. So sometimes he has to rest.
Jurgen Klopp said the following about Liverpool’s team news, meanwhile:
The squad situation, not 100% sure at the moment. It was quite an intense game [v PSG] and we had a lot of knocks. It’s good that we have this one day more. Wednesday-Sunday will be enough to have a nearly fully fit squad.
Kieran Trippier seems set to miss the north London derby as he enters the final stages of his rehabilitation from a groin strain, while Erik Lamela is also a doubt after picking up a thigh injury.
For the Gunners, Alexandre Lacazette has trained this week without any issue so is expected to recover from a groin problem.
Alexis Sanchez (hamstring) was ruled out for up to six weeks by Jose Mourinho, who said that Diogo Dalot may start in the league for the first time this season.
Manchester United are up against Southampton this weekend, who will again be without Danny Ings (hamstring) and who have problems at left-back with Ryan Bertrand (back) and Matt Targett (head injury) rated doubts.
Marco Silva reported a clean bill of health at Everton, while Jonny (knee) is the only injury-enforced absentee for Wolves tonight.
Roy Hodgson also doesn’t have any fresh fitness concerns in his Crystal Palace squad.
Marko Arnautovic has recovered from the knock that forced his withdrawal in Gameweek 13, meanwhile.
Manuel Pellegrini said:
Marko Arnautovic worked the whole week without any problems. He has one day more to recover for the game, but he’s OK. Marko is ready to play.
Newcastle United have Jamaal Lascelles and Yoshinori Muto back in contention after the pair returned to training, though Paul Dummett (hamstring) again misses out.
Glenn Murray and Mathew Ryan have recovered from the knocks they picked up last weekend ahead of Brighton’s trip to Huddersfield, who welcome Zanka back from suspension but who have a doubt over Terence Kongolo (knock).
Johann Berg Gudmundsson has recovered from the illness that led to his absence on Monday, while the Clarets have James Tarkowski pushing for a recall after his rehabilitation from a hernia surgery.
Harry Maguire (knee) is still sidelined for Leicester this weekend, though James Maddison has at least served his one-match ban in the EFL Cup and is available for selection. Jamie Vardy was given a 90-minute run-out in midweek and could be back in a Premier League starting XI for the visit of Watford, who welcome back Jose Holebas from a calf injury.
Bournemouth may have a headache in central midfield for the trip to the Etihad, with Jefferson Lerma suspended and Dan Gosling (knee) a doubt.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin McDonald remain out for Fulham, while Neil Warnock seemed to hint that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (match fitness) isn’t quite ready to feature for Cardiff City tonight.
Our Team News tab has more in-depth injury news and predicted line-ups, while our regular Press Conference Call video below covers the headline stories from the pressers held over the last 48 hours.
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