FPL Team News and Injury Round-up: Gameweek 26

Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee) has returned to training for Liverpool ahead of the visit of Bournemouth, though doubts remain over whether the England full-back will be fit to feature at Anfield on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp said:

Trent trained yesterday first time, didn’t mention any issues. After three-and-a-half weeks, first session, so we need to see what we do with that.

Klopp added on the Reds’ other injury concerns:

Joe’s [Gomez] surgery worked pretty well. Four to six weeks for a return to play. [Henderson] trained yesterday for the first time. We need to have another look. Gini [Wijnaldum] trained yesterday completely normal. Dejan [Lovren] is not available.

The Cherries will again be without David Brooks (ankle) and Callum Wilson (knee), with a four-week timeframe put on both players’ return.

Manchester City take on Chelsea on Sunday afternoon and the hosts will once again be without Benjamin Mendy (knee) and Vincent Kompany (unknown).

Pep Guardiola said of Mendy’s recovery:

His injury is not easy. Meniscus. It is not easy. He needs to re-adapt. You can’t return and train for two days and then you are fit. You have to be careful.

Chelsea have only minor doubts over Callum Hudson-Odoi (illness) and Gary Cahill (back) and Maurizio Sarri expects that every player will be available for the trip to the Etihad.

Harry Kane (ankle), Dele Alli (hamstring) and Ben Davies (groin) remain out for Spurs, though Mauricio Pochettino suggested that Kane could return for the Gameweek 27 clash with Burnley.

Spurs are this weekend up against Leicester City, who have lost Marc Albrighton (hamstring) to a potentially season-ending injury.

Unai Emery had plenty to clarify in his press conference yesterday, including the latest situation on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (illness):

Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] today is training with us as normal, Mkhitaryan also played 45 minutes on Monday with the under-23s.

Today is sick, but I think is good for Saturday, Aubameyang. Yesterday was sick, Laurent Koscielny, but today is training well.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lost Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia to “niggles” but has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from.

However, reports on Friday suggest that Victor Lindelof has been omitted from the travelling party to face Fulham with one eye on the UEFA Champions League tie against PSG next Tuesday.

Nuno Espirito Santo isn’t scheduled to deliver a press conference before the Gameweek 26 deadline, so flags remain on Diogo Jota (knock) and Ruben Vinagre (illness) – though both are expected to recover ahead of Monday night.

Newcastle United will have record signing Miguel Almiron available for that clash after the Paraguayan midfielder was granted a visa, while the Magpies also welcome back Paul Dummett (hamstring), Ki Sung-yueng (hamstring) and Mohamed Diame (groin).

Wilfried Zaha is free to play after the FA temporarily suspended his one-match ban for improper conduct pending appeal, though Crystal Palace look set to be without James Tomkins (calf) for the visit of West Ham.

The Hammers themselves welcome back Marko Arnautovic from injury.

Danny Ings (hamstring) has joined Mario Lemina (abdomen) on the sidelines for Southampton, while Ryan Bertrand and Maya Yoshida are back in contention – but Ralph Hasenhuttl asserted in his press conference that he won’t change his back five for now.

Neil Warnock said of Cardiff City’s team news:

Harry Arter is back [after being ineligible to feature last weekend]. Victor [Camarasa], possibly. He did train with us yesterday but he’s got to be 100%. We have to be a little bit careful with Victor.

Abdoulaye Doucoure (knee) and Kiko Femenia (hamstring) are back in training and in contention ahead of the visit of Everton, who will again be without Leighton Baines (rib) – meaning a likely start at left-back for Lucas Digne.

Dale Stephens (hip) will be assessed by Brighton ahead of the visit of Burnley, who could have Matthew Lowton (toe) available after injury. Steven Defour (unknown) looks likely to miss out, however.

Claudio Ranieri will be without Marcus Bettinelli (knee) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (ineligible) for the visit of Manchester United, while Huddersfield Town may be able to welcome back Jonathan Hogg (back).

We have more injury information and predicted line-ups in our Team News tab and in the YouTube video below: