After previously rounding up Thursday’s eight pre-Gameweek 12 press conferences, we now turn our attention to the remaining media gatherings that were held on Friday.
Liverpool v Manchester City is the stand-out fixture this weekend and there was important news from both camps.
Ederson (muscle) will miss Sunday’s clash, with Pep Guardiola saying:
He is not able to play tomorrow. I don’t know [how long he will be out].
Aymeric Laporte (knee), Leroy Sane (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (knee) and Rodri (hamstring) remain missing while David Silva (muscle) – who there was no mention of in Friday’s presser – also looks likely to miss out, with Guardiola having said last Sunday:
I didn’t speak with the doctor but when he has some muscular problems and can’t play more minutes it’s because he has something, and muscular problems normally means 10 to 12 days.
Asked about his “defensive” tactics at Anfield last season, Guardiola added:
The plan for Anfield last season was not like this. Let them play maybe the first step but push and try to play as always. But the people forget you sometimes can’t do it because we play against the champions of Europe.
Defensive was not the plan, it’s because they were so good. We are not going to play 90 minutes there because they are an exceptional team. Sometimes you have to defend deep, sometimes you can’t make a build-up as usual because they are incredible.
Jurgen Klopp had more positive news from the Liverpool camp, saying:
Virg [van Dijk] was for other reasons not here [on Thursday] but is completely fine. Jordan [Henderson] is completely fine. Joel [Matip] still out, like Shaq, like Clyney.
Mason Mount (ankle) has been the cause of concern among Fantasy managers over the last 48 hours but Frank Lampard offered his owners a glimmer of hope in Friday’s press conference when saying:
Ross [Barkley] has got an ongoing issue so he’s not in the squad tomorrow. With Mason [Mount], he’s in the squad, we’re giving him another 24 hours, and we’ll make a call on that one in the morning.
Antonio Rudiger (groin) faces another three weeks on the sidelines, however.
Crystal Palace are in good shape as they prepare to visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Roy Hodgson saying that all of his squad are fit.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t deliver a press conference today but we have had some of his post-Europa League comments lifted from their embargo.
Asked whether any of his injured players could return this weekend, the Norwegian said:
Hopefully Scott [McTominay]. Hopefully Victor [Lindelöf] as well. He hasn’t trained this week. It’s his foot.
When probed about whether Brandon Williams could start in place of the suspended Ashley Young, Solskjaer replied:
There are options. I’m not going to give the team out now. Ashley is suspended and I felt we needed a strong team tonight and an experienced team. We just wanted the win.
Solskjaer again seemed to suggest that Mason Greenwood wouldn’t be involved on the domestic front, adding:
Sometimes it’s not the right time to play him. We’re taking our time with him. It’s been a difficult period, Anthony’s been away, but to put all the weight on his shoulders wasn’t right. He needs to learn the man’s game.
Brighton’s Adam Webster will miss the trip to Old Trafford after damaging his ankle ligaments.
Spurs reported that Erik Lamela and Jan Vertonghen (both hamstring) remain unavailable this weekend as they continue their rehabilitation, while Hugo Lloris (elbow) is a longer-term absentee.
Asked specifically about another start for Giovani Lo Celso, Mauricio Pochettino said:
I need to assess tomorrow morning, it is a very short period to recover. Some players suffer some small issues and are maybe not fresh enough to play. We are going to play three games in six days.
Across north London, Unai Emery said that Granit Xhaka won’t be considered for a first-team return after the public fallout between the erstwhile club captain and Arsenal’s fans.
Dani Ceballos is also unavailable after picking up a hamstring injury in the draw with Vitoria on Wednesday.
Dean Smith expressed some doubt about Jack Grealish‘s (calf) chances of featuring against Wolves this weekend, saying of his midfielder:
It’s 50/50, to be honest. I expected him to be training by now but unfortunately, the bleed on his calf was a little bit bigger, so he’s still got a lot of pain.
He’s physically OK. He just needs to make sure that he can get through the training session tomorrow. We’re hopeful but he’s a 50/50 one at the moment.
Nuno Espirito Santo said that Morgan Gibbs-White remains a doubt with a niggling back problem.
Ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to Newcastle, Eddie Howe said:
Dan Gosling has trained and trained well. Still no David Brooks, Junior Stanislas, Charlie Daniels. Andrew Surman is still out, so we’re missing some key players but the squad is still in good shape.
The Magpies will again be without Fabian Schar (knee), Matt Ritchie (ankle), Florian Lejeune (match fitness) and Sean Longstaff (suspended).
Predicted line-ups and more detailed information will be found in the Team News tab.
Our YouTube/podcast round-up can be viewed below.
Lessons learned from Gameweek 11
- Bournemouth 1-0 Manchester United
- Arsenal 1-1 Wolves
- Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
- Brighton 2-0 Norwich
- Manchester City 2-1 Southampton
- Sheffield United 3-0 Burnley
- West Ham United 2-3 Newcastle United
- Watford 1-2 Chelsea
- Crystal Palace 0-2 Leicester City
- Everton 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
