We’ll be covering all the big Fantasy Premier League (FPL) injury news from Friday’s pre-match press conferences in this ‘live’ article, with the latest awaited on Erling Haaland (£12.2m) and Jarrod Bowen (£8.2m), amongst others.
We’re expecting 13 Premier League managers to face the media today, while the Gameweek 14 sections of Erik ten Hag and Mikel Arteta’s post-Europa League pressers will also be released from embargo.
You can read what Messrs Rodgers, O’Neil, Hasenhuttl, Lampard and Marsch had to say in our round-up of Thursday’s press conferences here.
KEY UPDATES
- Manchester City: Haaland “better” but still a doubt
- Liverpool: Thiago returns
- West Ham United: Bowen “running”
- Tottenham Hotspur: Richarlison and Kulusevski still out
- Chelsea: Too soon for Koulibaly
- Newcastle United: Saint-Maximin has a chance
- Manchester United: Martial and Varane out
- Aston Villa: Digne back in the squad
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Costa knock
- Crystal Palace: No changes from last week
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Veltman a doubt
- Brentford: Norgaard not quite ready
- Fulham: Tete back fit
- Nottingham Forest: O’Brien could return
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
MANCHESTER CITY
As widely predicted, Pep Guardiola didn’t give us anything concrete on Erling Haaland‘s availability after the striker picked up a knock in midweek.
“He feels better but we have training this afternoon and we will assess in a few hours.
“We will see how he feels in his feet. After we will decide.
“I will know it in two hours if he is able to play or not.” – Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland
Guardiola was asked if there were any other fresh concerns, given that Joao Cancelo had – like Haaland – also been suffering from a fever when starting the draw with Dortmund.
“After the game, everyone trained well. I have to wait for the people coming back to know exactly how they feel.” – Pep Guardiola
Kalvin Phillips (shoulder) and Kyle Walker (groin) remain out, meanwhile.
If Haaland does miss out, Guardiola looks set to field Julian Alvarez in his stead.
“Normally if Erling [Haaland] is not ready then Julian [Alvarez] is the first option, of course. We’re going to play him, definitely. He can play false nine but I think this is not going to happen. Julian can drop, is good dropping and playing. If Erling is not able, not tomorrow [but] for the future, then Julian is the first option.” – Pep Guardiola
LIVERPOOL
Diogo Jota (calf), Luis Diaz (knee), Joel Matip (calf) and Arthur Melo (muscle) all remain injured, while Naby Keita (muscle) isn’t match-fit despite a return to training.
Thiago Alcantara is back after an ear infection, while Jordan Henderson is expected to recover from a knock to the knee.
Ibrahima Konate (muscle) and Darwin Nunez (muscle) were back in the matchday squad ahead of the midweek Champions League clash with Ajax, meanwhile.
“With Hendo, we have to wait a little bit. It’s a knock, he was a bit stiff yesterday, only treatment yesterday so we will see how he will be today. I expect him to be okay. Thiago is back. Naby not yet.
“Joel will not be back, is here training but rehab. You don’t have to ask about Diogo or Luis for a while.” – Jurgen Klopp
WEST HAM UNITED
Jarrod Bowen missed West Ham’s win over Silkeborg on Thursday with a minor ankle problem and, like Guardiola with Haaland, his manager didn’t give us a clear answer on whether or not he’d be fit for Gameweek 14.
David Moyes only told reporters that the midfielder had done a “little bit of running on the grass”, with further assessment to follow.
Lucas Paqueta (shoulder) remains out, while Moyes had previously said that Craig Dawson (dead leg) and Maxwel Cornet (calf) would be “touch and go” for Sunday.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Richarlison (calf) and Dejan Kulusevski (hamstring) remain sidelined, with Antonio Conte confirming that there are no fresh concerns for Spurs.
Cristian Romero (calf) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (thigh) returned to action on Wednesday but Conte suggested that the former would have to be “managed” as he is “really tired”.
“We have taken a big, big risk for this decision. Especially for Cuti [Romero] because he was really tired and we risked a lot. But you know for this time of game you have to take some risks and the player gave us the availability to play.
“Now we have to manage him very well because he played and finished the game with great will and great desire. For this reason, it’s right also to tell thanks to him and also Pierre.
“I think Cuti needed to recover better but Pierre is OK, 100%. Cuti is OK but we have another important game on Tuesday and for this reason, we try to make the best decision for him.” – Antonio Conte on playing Romero and Hojbjerg in midweek
CHELSEA
N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee) and Reece James (knee) are medium-term absentees, while Kalidou Koulibaly remains sidelined with a knee problem for the time being.
Mateo Kovacic complained of calf tightness in the midweek win over RB Salzburg but has been passed fit.
“We’re pretty much the same as we were against Salzburg. Mateo has no problem with his calf, it was more fatigue.
“Koulibaly has an outside chance for Wednesday but not tomorrow.” – Graham Potter
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring) could be involved against Aston Villa this weekend, with Eddie Howe saying “there’s a chance” the Frenchman is fit enough to feature for only the second time since August.
“There’s a chance. We’re going to see how training goes today. He’s made really good progress. I’m very pleased with how he’s attacked his rehab, and the work he’s put in, so there’s an opportunity, hopefully, to get Maxi fit and available.” – Eddie Howe
Paul Dummett (calf), Alexander Isak (ankle), Karl Darlow (ankle), Emil Krafth (knee) and Matt Ritchie (calf) remain out but Elliot Anderson is fine after a minor niggle enforced his absence at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
“A few bumps and bruises, and a few tired bodies, but hopefully nothing too serious. We’ll make decisions on players today, we’ll hopefully see a couple more train today and then try and pick the best team.
“Elliot’s OK, he had a minor niggle, nothing serious, and he’s back in the squad this week.” – Eddie Howe
MANCHESTER UNITED
Raphael Varane (hamstring) was ruled out of Manchester United’s next three league matches by Erik ten Hag earlier in the week, and now Anthony Martial (back) also faces a fight to be ready before the World Cup.
“I hope [he features before the World Cup]. But he is making progress. He is outside and he is working there. So he is on the pitch and we are waiting for his step back in team training.” – Erik ten Hag on Anthony Martial
Cristiano Ronaldo was back involved against Sheriff on Thursday after being omitted from Manchester United’s squad last weekend on disciplinary grounds, while Harry Maguire (hamstring) and Donny van de Beek (muscle) also marked their returns from injury with minutes in Europe.
ASTON VILLA
Lucas Digne returns to the Aston Villa squad this weekend, with the French full-back now recovered from the heel injury he picked up over the international break.
Diego Carlos (Achilles) and Boubacar Kamara (knee) are definitely out but the latter is already out on the grass and in the final stages of his rehab.
There was no word on Ludwig Augustinsson (hamstring), who should be nearing a return based on the previous prognosis, but caretaker manager Aaron Danks’ line about Villa being “as we were” suggests the Swede misses out again.
“Lucas Digne has done a full week of training back in with the group. That’s fantastic and we’ll welcome him back into the squad.
“Boubacar Kamara is much closer. He hasn’t trained with the team yet but he’s back out on the grass. He’s at the back end of his rehabilitation.
“After that, we’re very much as we were last week. There are one or two knocks and niggles that we’re going to have to manage today. On the whole, really positive.” – Aaron Danks
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Caretaker Wolves boss Steve Davis confirmed that Diego Costa picked up a knock in training on Wednesday but that the veteran striker had trained on Friday and that Wolves were hopeful on his return.
Toti Gomes has started running this week but tomorrow will be too soon for him.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Patrick Vieira said that Palace’s team news situation remains the same as it was last week, which presumably means that Nathaniel Clyne (ankle), Chris Richards (hamstring), James McArthur (groin) and Nathan Ferguson (match fitness) are again all out of contention.
Cheikhou Doucoure returns from suspension ahead of the Southampton game, at least.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Joel Veltman (calf) is a doubt for Saturday’s clash with Chelsea but Kaoru Mitoma and Adam Lallana are back in training and should be available for selection.
BRENTFORD
Thomas Frank says that it’s unlikely that Christian Norgaard (Achilles) will be available to face Wolves tomorrow, with the Dane back in training but not quite match-fit enough after two months out.
Aaron Hickey (ankle), Thomas Strakosha (ankle) and Pontus Jansson (hamstring) are all set to be out until after the World Cup break but Keane Lewis-Potter will be fit enough to rejoin the squad.
FULHAM
Marco Silva confirmed that Kenny Tete is available again after the right-back’s recent absence but added that there are no other changes to the Fulham team news, so Manor Solomon (knee) and Layvin Kurzawa (calf) remain out.
Loanee Daniel James comes back into contention, having been ineligible to face his parent club last weekend.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Long-term absentees Omar Richards (leg), Moussa Niakhate (muscle) and Jack Colback (back) again look set to miss out, while Harry Toffolo joined them on the sidelines last week after picking up a hamstring injury.
Lewis O’Brien could be back after illness, however.
1 year, 7 months agoWhy risk Haaland? City have plenty of options.