We’ll be bringing you the key team news and injury updates from all the Premier League pre-match press conferences ahead of Gameweek 31.
Eight managers spoke to the media on Thursday – those of Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Leicester City, Southampton and Watford – and you can read all the headline news from those pressers via this link here.
For much more detailed information, check out our Predicted Line-ups page and Injuries and Bans feed.
And for other help and advice from our weekly Scout Picks to team reveals, head to our complete Gameweek 31 guide here below.
GAMEWEEK 31 TEAM NEWS
LIVERPOOL
Jurgen Klopp has given an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring) and his availability for Saturday lunchtime against Watford. He won’t commit either way and calls an appearance “possible”, although Liverpool’s brutal April schedule could come into consideration.
“Trent trained yesterday, parts, and will be in full training today. We have to see what we do with it. It will be tight for tomorrow but it’s possible. With our rehab and fitness department, it was really intense what he did before he trained with us. Physically he should be fine and now we have to make a decision about rhythm and these kinds of things.”
However, he did confirm that Andrew Robertson and James Milner have recovered from illness, whilst Naby Keita (knee) will be assessed today.
CHELSEA
Another popular FPL right-back that could play is Reece James (muscle), after Thomas Tuchel declared that everyone is in training except Callum Hudson-Odoi (back) and Ben Chilwell (knee).
“Ready to go, yeah, Reece [James] is in the squad for tomorrow. Callum [Hudson-Odoi] and Ben Chilwell will miss the game. Callum still has some lower back problems. Everybody else was in training.”
That indicates that Andreas Christensen (muscle), Saul Niguez (Covid) and Kepa Arrizabalaga (illness) are all available to face Brentford, although jet lag could keep Christian Pulisic out.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Ben Davies is available for Spurs, having only pulled out of the Wales squad as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte believes Ryan Sessegnon (thigh) and Oliver Skipp (groin) are “very, very close” to being back in training but won’t make this weekend. Centre-back Japhet Tanganga is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
“They are improving a lot. They are having important training sessions, not with the team but apart. I hope next week to have both players back with the team.” – Antonio Conte on Oliver Skipp and Ryan Sessegnon
MANCHESTER CITY
No news is good news for Pep Guardiola, as Cole Palmer (match fitness) and Ruben Dias (hamstring) are still the only players missing. He believes that it’ll be another fortnight until Dias returns.
“I don’t know how long, the doctor said: four-to-six weeks. Ruben [Dias] is on four now – the first of March he was injured – it’s now four weeks later, I think we need two weeks more.”
MANCHESTER UNITED
There is not much to report from Old Trafford either, where Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Edinson Cavani will not play for a couple of weeks after picking up a calf injury with Uruguay.
WEST HAM UNITED
There is even a chance that Jarrod Bowen (Achilles) could return this weekend, alongside Vladimir Coufal (hernia). Match fitness may be the problem, especially as the Hammers host Lyon in Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final first leg. Angelo Ogbonna (knee) remains out, with midfielder Manuel Lanzini able to play following a car crash.
“There’s a chance that both of them could make it. They both did a bit of training over the international break. I’m not quite sure both of them are match-fit and ready, that’s my only concern. We have to concentrate on this game first.” – David Moyes on Jarrod Bowen and Vladimir Coufal
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Withdrawn from the Slovakia squad due to illness, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is already back in training and should be fine for the trip to Tottenham. Fabian Schar (groin) is expected to be ready too, with Jonjo Shelvey (illness) also likely to make the matchday squad.
Callum Wilson (calf) and Kieran Trippier (foot) are still absent but Federico Fernandez (muscle) has been back in training after a minor issue.
“Fabian came back having not played and not trained, but we’ve had a couple of sessions with him so we think he’ll be fit. Martin trained with us for the first time yesterday, so we hope he’ll be fine.
“We’ve got a little bit of illness in the camp, probably like most teams have around the country, but we’ve still got a couple of days before the game so we hope everyone will be OK. We had a little bit of COVID during the break, with players and staff, as most teams did, but I think it’s under control.
“Jonjo has trained, he hasn’t trained every session that we’ve done because he had a bad bout of illness. Yeah, we hope he’ll be OK.
“Kieran today has a scan on his foot to see how that’s healed, so, hopefully, the scan goes well, and from this day, maybe we can push him quite quickly to get back. So, hopefully, we get good news. With Callum, he’s slightly behind Kieran but he’s still making good progress. He is back on the grass running. I hope [that he’ll be back this season] but I can’t tell you with any clarity that it’s a certainty.” – Eddie Howe
ASTON VILLA
Lucas Digne returned from a hamstring injury to play for France in midweek, although this weekend is too soon for Marvelous Nakamba (knee) as he will play for the under-23s beforehand. No word was given on Kortney Hause (abdominal).
“Lucas Digne has come through 90 minutes for France, which is a big positive. From the last time we had a squad to pick, we’re at full health. Marvelous Nakamba will play between 45-60 minutes for the reserves tonight, which is a big positive. Hopefully he can be back and have a full week leading into Tottenham and maybe be available to face them. It might be a bit too soon for him now.” – Steven Gerrard
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
With Raul Jimenez suspended for two matches – having collected his second red card of the season in Gameweek 30 – Wolves are also without key midfielder Ruben Neves, after he suffered an MCL knee injury in the same match. He will be out until May.
Pedro Neto (foot) and Nelson Semedo (hamstring) are back in training but head coach Bruno Lage would not confirm their status regarding match-readiness. Still out is Ki-Jana Hoever (hamstring).
EVERTON
Donny van de Beek and Asmir Begovic have recovered from illness but the thigh injuries of Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Tom Davies persist. Delph is expected to be back in another week or so, with a fortnight for Mina.
Frank Lampard also confirmed that Andros Townsend is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured ACL. This is the second of a three-match suspension for midfielder Allan following his red card versus Newcastle.
“The break has been positive for Dominic [Calvert-Lewin]. He was playing short of fitness. We’ve worked well with him over the last couple of weeks. Without putting undue pressure on him… he’s in a good place.
Anthony [Gordon] has started every game for me. I enjoy working with him, he’s a pleasure to work with for attitude and quality. It’s an area of the pitch where we do have competition but at the same time, Anthony has really stood up.” – Frank Lampard
NORWICH CITY
This weekend comes too soon for Max Aarons (hamstring/illness) and quite possibly Brandon Williams (ankle), whilst loanee Ozan Kabak picked up a hamstring injury on international duty that may end his time at the club.
Although Adam Idah (knee) and Andrew Omobamidele (back) remain unavailable, Dean Smith is able to welcome back Christoph Zimmermann (eye infection) and Grant Hanley (Covid). Forward Josh Sargent will be assessed after rolling his ankle but hasn’t been ruled out.
“Ozan Kabak picked up a hamstring injury in his game against Italy (for Turkey) and he looks like he is going to be out long term. Brandon (Williams) and Max (Aarons) both got injured against Leeds. Brandon has been back on the grass, but the game might come too soon for him. Max felt his hamstring against Leeds and has been out since then.” – Dean Smith
BRENTFORD
Christian Eriksen missed Gameweek 30 due to Covid but had a fantastic international break with Denmark. Additionally, Josh Dasilva was set to return from a three-match suspension but has a minor injury that sees him miss this weekend.
“Everyone is in a good place. Everyone came back fresh as ever.” – Thomas Frank
