We’ve got all the important Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team news information for Gameweek 13 in our Friday press conference summary.
You can catch the headline updates from Thursday’s pressers – featuring Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton, Leeds United and Southampton – via this link here.
For other help and advice, from our weekly Scout Picks to team reveals, head to our complete Gameweek 13 guide below:
And for much more detailed information, check out our Predicted Line-ups page (which is being refreshed on Friday evening) and Injuries and Bans feed plus Az and Neale’s video here:
CHELSEA
The much-awaited update on Ben Chilwell‘s knee injury has arrived. Thomas Tuchel has ruled out the wing-back for at least six weeks, at which point a decision will be made on whether he needs surgery.
“Ben Chilwell is out. He has a partial tear of his ACL, and the decision is to treat it conservatively. The next six weeks will tell the story if he makes it and be available, or if he will need surgery. We are very positive because the first reaction of his body is very positive, so hopefully it stays like this. Now the full focus from everybody is towards the next six weeks and bringing him back to the pitch.” – Thomas Tuchel
N’Golo Kante also departed the Juventus match with a knee problem, albeit less severe. Tuchel will not play him at the weekend but there is no decision on next midweek’s league meeting with Watford. Mateo Kovacic (hamstring) is still out, while Romelu Lukaku (ankle) was an unused substitute on Tuesday night but looks unlikely to start this weekend.
“N’Golo twisted his knee a little bit against Juventus and feels better but it seems he will be out for some days, one week maybe. It would be almost a miracle if he makes it. Romelu is in training, if you ask the player he will say, ‘Yes, I can start!’ There is a bit of a difference between ready for training and ready for games – the possibility that he starts is not very high.” – Thomas Tuchel
There was no mention on Kai Havertz‘s hamstring but the German was back in training on Friday.
MANCHESTER CITY
Pep Guardiola has not said whether Phil Foden (knock) or Jack Grealish (knock) will be risked against West Ham United, having both been absent against Paris Saint-Germain.
“They are training individually, they are much better – especially Phil.
“Today is a day off, tomorrow training in the morning, we will see how they feel. We will not take risks but hopefully, they can come back soon.” – Pep Guardiola
Kevin De Bruyne has missed the past week after testing positive for Covid-19, while Ferran Torres (foot) remains injured for the rest of 2021.
“He [De Bruyne] is a little bit tired, no taste. He is feeling better now. It is around seven or eight days already so a few more days ahead of him to make a PCR test and if negative, he will be back.” – Pep Guardiola
MANCHESTER UNITED
Harry Maguire is suspended for the trip to Chelsea after his red card at Watford, joining Paul Pogba (thigh) and Raphael Varane (hamstring) on the absentees’ list.
Caretaker manager Michael Carrick may also have issues with Luke Shaw (head) and Fred (ankle).
“There are one or two that we’re kind of waiting on. Luke [Shaw] took a bang on the head [against Watford], so we’re assessing him during the week and we’ll make a call on how he is. Fred took a knock the other night and twisted his ankle. He managed to carry on and see the game out, which is pretty incredible. We’ll have to see how that settles down.” – Michael Carrick
Mason Greenwood has missed the past week due to testing positive for Covid and Sunday may come too soon.
LIVERPOOL
Roberto Firmino (hamstring), Joe Gomez (calf), Harvey Elliott (ankle) and Curtis Jones (eye) are still ruled out for this weekend but there are no fresh injury concerns for the Reds.
“My phone didn’t ring this morning about any kind of issues. The players who were involved in the squad last game, against Porto, should be available again.
“A week or 10 days ago, we had pretty much two-and-a-half [central] midfielders. And now that looks different. For the first time for a while, I have to make decisions.” – Jurgen Klopp
Andy Robertson was given a midweek appearance after missing the 4-0 win over Arsenal with a hamstring injury from international duty. Kostas Tsimikas deputised well but Robertson is still Klopp’s first choice.
“[Tsimikas] is pushing but Robbo is Robbo. People forget how good he has been. Kostas is pushing him. I don’t doubt Robbo at all. We’re really happy with Kostas but Robbo is Robbo. An outstanding player.” – Jurgen Klopp
Diogo Jota was also on the bench on Wednesday having recovered from a knock.
LEICESTER CITY
Brendan Rodgers only left out Jonny Evans (thigh) as a precaution during Thursday night’s win over Legia Warsaw.
“He should be okay for the weekend. He’s felt it from time to time over this last few weeks and he felt it in the warm-up. The last thing I want to do is lose another player to an injury. Daniel Amartey’s been playing exceptionally well and he’s come in and done a great job. Jonny should be, hopefully, okay for the weekend” – Brendan Rodgers
Unfortunately, he’ll head into December without Youri Tielemans (calf) and Ricardo Pereira (thigh), although long-term absentees James Justin (knee) and Wesley Fofana (leg) are edging closer to a return to first-team proceedings.
CRYSTAL PALACE
After being an unused substitute during the 3-3 draw at Burnley, Eberechi Eze is edging closer to an on-pitch return having missed the last six months with an Achilles injury. Another victim of this, Nathan Ferguson, is back in training, although he hasn’t played for almost two years. Will Hughes has been backed to step in for James McArthur (hamstring), who Patrick Vieira doesn’t know how long he’ll be absent for.
“Everybody trained this morning. Eze had a really good week, a full session with the team. Nathan took part in some training this week. Players have to be ready, as we get to a time where the team needs them; they have to perform. Will [Hughes] is one of them. I’m really happy with what he is showing me in training.” – Patrick Vieira
ASTON VILLA
Trezeguet has completed his first full week of training since his April knee injury, hopefully progressing to under-23 football after a second week. It’s still not time for Bertrand Traore (thigh) to return but Steven Gerrard believes both Douglas Luiz (hamstring) and Morgan Sanson (knock) will be involved in the trip to Crystal Palace.
“Bertrand Traoré is still going to be some weeks away, so we need to be patient on that one. Sanson has trained fully. He’ll travel with us and be part of the squad. Douglas Luiz will come into the squad as well, so positive news from an injury point of view.” – Steven Gerrard
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs will be desperate to recover from Thursday night’s humiliating late defeat in Slovenia to NS Mura but will still be without Cristian Romero (thigh) because of an injury sustained on Argentina duty, the same place where Giovani Lo Celso picked up a knock.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Although things are quiet on the injury front for Newcastle – with just Dwight Gayle (hamstring) joining Paul Dummett (calf) on the injury list – the major fitness news concerns new boss Eddie Howe, who has recovered from Covid and will be on the touchline for Saturday lunchtime’s match at Arsenal.
“Dwight Gayle was feeling his hamstring slightly so that’s one that will be assessed today. Other than that there’s been no new injury concerns for us with a training session still to do today.” – Assistant head coach Jason Tindall
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
There has been another good week in training for left-back Marcal (calf), although Bruno Lage may still prefer Rayan Ait Nouri.
In addition to injured Yerson Mosquera (thigh), Pedro Neto (knee) and Jonny Castro (knee), it has been confirmed that Willy Boly has a muscular problem with no timeframe set on when he’ll return.
BRENTFORD
Thomas Frank has revealed that Yoane Wissa will make the squad against Everton, having recovered from the ankle injury that has kept him out for the last six weeks. Mathias Jensen (Covid) and Mads Bech Sorensen (knee) are also available but Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen is likely to miss out with a muscle problem.
David Raya (knee), Kristoffer Ajer (hamstring) and Josh Dasilva (hip) remain out.
WEST HAM UNITED
It’s another brief injury update from David Moyes, whose Hammers side continues to successfully navigate league and European football without a big injury list. Angelo Ogbonna, whose knee issue has likely ended his season, is the only absentee.
“We seem OK but we’ll assess things today – get through the training and see how everyone is. We think we’re okay though.” – David Moyes
BURNLEY
With James Tarkowski and Ashley Westwood both suspended after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season, the only other issue for Sean Dyche is Ashley Barnes‘ thigh injury.
“Barnesy [Ashley Barnes] is the only one who is going to be a bit of time because he’s got a pretty decent tear in this thigh. There’s not a time limit on it, but it’s certainly not going to be days, it’s going to be weeks. Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra, just a bit of tightness but they should be fine.”
Dale Stephens (ankle) is slowly getting back to full fitness, having played for the under-23s.
WATFORD
There is a knee problem for Ismaila Sarr that rules him out of the Leicester trip. Nicolas Nkoulou (hamstring) is another new injury, added to a list that includes Peter Etebo (thigh), Francisco Sierralta (hamstring) and Kwadwo Baah (ankle). However, Christian Kabasele (hamstring) has resumed training and will soon be joined by Ken Sema (knee), who has been running.
Back from suspension is midfielder Juraj Kucka.
NORWICH CITY
The continued absence of Christoph Zimmermann (ankle) is the only main injury for Dean Smith, as the Canaries seek a third successive win. Long-term absentee Sam Byram will continue to build match fitness by playing for the under-23s, whilst Kieran Dowell has returned from a knock.
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