There are 16 more pre-match press conferences to get through before Saturday’s Gameweek 24 deadline, following on from the four we had yesterday.
As usual, we’ll be bringing you all the key quotes that you need for your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) teams.
Erik ten Hag’s name does not feature in the tweet below, with his Gameweek 24 preview taking the form of embargoed quotes given in the aftermath of last night’s draw with Barcelona.
For the updates from the press conferences of Michael Skubala, Sean Dyche, Marco Silva and Steve Cooper, check out our Thursday round-up.
KEY UPDATES FROM FRIDAY
- Arsenal: Jesus still out, Smith Rowe set to return
- Manchester City: Stones still sidelined
- Chelsea: Sterling and Chilwell could feature
- Newcastle United: Almiron fine, Wilson back in training today
- Liverpool: No fresh concerns, four still out
- Manchester United: Martial and Antony still out
- Tottenham Hotspur: Four out, no fresh concerns
- Brentford: Toney passed fit
- Crystal Palace: Zaha still a “couple of weeks” away
- Leicester City: Maddison fine, two more return
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Lallana out for “months”
- West Ham United: Paqueta out, Aguerd has a “chance”
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Podence “closer”
- Aston Villa: Mings to be assessed
- Southampton: Adams a doubt
- Bournemouth: Senesi expected to recover
FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
ARSENAL
Mohamed Elneny (knee) remains out long term, while Gabriel Jesus (knee) isn’t ready to feature competitively despite his return to the Arsenal training ground last week.
Thomas Partey will have to be assessed after missing the midweek defeat to Manchester City with a muscle injury but Emile Smith Rowe (thigh) is in contention for the matchday squad, after a return to full training.
“We have to assess [Partey] again today. He had some discomfort, a little muscle discomfort. We have to assess him this morning, to see how he is.
“Emile will be training today so if he is fine, he will be in the squad. Gabby [Jesus] is still not there.” – Mikel Arteta
Arsenal face a tough Wednesday night-Saturday lunchtime turnaround, which prompted questions in Mikel Arteta’s presser about whether he’d have to freshen things up at Villa Park.
“It’s very difficult to play tomorrow [but] we will have full energy. It’s not a worry – I want the players to be in the best possible mindset and physically ready to get that challenge going.
“They are young – they have a lot of energy!
“Every week, we consider the best possible option for players and where they are in terms of performance, mentally and physically and for sure, tomorrow we’ll do it again.” – Mikel Arteta
Arteta was also asked if Leandro Trossard deserves to start a game soon, with the Belgian continuing to eat into Gabriel Martinelli‘s minutes off the bench.
“He’s had an impact every time he’s been on the field, so he’s an option.” – Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard
MANCHESTER CITY
John Stones (hamstring) is the only City player we know who is definitely on the sidelines this weekend, although Pep Guardiola wasn’t asked about any other team news in the broadcast section of his press conference.
Embargoed quotes follow at 10.30pm GMT this evening, so there could be fresh news emerging then.
“He’s getting better. No, no [chance of playing tomorrow].” – Pep Guardiola on John Stones
Erling Haaland shook off a thigh issue to feature at Arsenal on Wednesday.
CHELSEA
Armando Broja (ACL), Christian Pulisic (knee), Edouard Mendy (finger) and N’Golo Kante (hamstring) remain out but Graham Potter says that there’s a “good chance” that Raheem Sterling (knock) and Ben Chilwell (knock/fatigue) will be involved against Southampton.
“Well, it’s positive. We’re going to train later on this afternoon so providing they come through that OK, there’s a good chance they’ll be in the squad.” – Graham Potter on Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling
There was no word on Reece James’ starting prospects but another full-back who is just back from a longer-term injury, Chilwell, was discussed in terms of workload.
“That’s the challenge for us at the moment. He had 30 [minutes] against West Ham, 60 against Dortmund, so the decision will be based on how he recovers today and how he reports. We’ll make that call probably tonight or tomorrow as to the extent that he can play, but it’s certainly something that we have to be mindful of.” – Graham Potter on managing Ben Chilwell back to fitness
Denis Zakaria (thigh), Mateo Kovacic (calf) and Wesley Fofana (knee) returned to the matchday squad in midweek, albeit all of them were unused substitutes.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
There’s good news on the injury front at Newcastle, after a quadruple scare last weekend.
Miguel Almiron (hand) and Allan Saint-Maximin (knee) have been passed fit, while Callum Wilson (hamstring) will return to training today and could be involved against Liverpool.
Joe Willock (hamstring) looks set to miss Gameweek 24 but there’s even a positive update there, with the midfielder suffering only a minor muscle strain and potentially returning for the EFL Cup final the following week.
Medium-term absentees Matt Targett (heel) and Javier Manquillo (knee) have also been back on the grass this week, leaving only Emil Krafth (knee) on the treatment table.
“We haven’t seen Joe yet, so I think he’ll be doubtful for the game tomorrow. I don’t think it’s a big injury at all, it’s a minor complaint with his hamstring, so we hope to get him back very quickly.
“Joe was a big concern, but after a scan, we got the news that it’s not serious. Yeah, he’s definitely got a chance [of playing in the EFL Cup final].”
“[Miguel and Allan] have been back training, and they’re fine.
“Callum has been doing really well – as we said at the time, it was a very minor complaint for him. He hasn’t trained yet, but we hope he trains today and then he’s in contention [for Liverpool].” – Eddie Howe
LIVERPOOL
Thiago Alcantara (hip), Luis Diaz (knee), Ibrahima Konate (muscle) and Calvin Ramsay (knee) remain on the sidelines but Liverpool were boosted by the return of Virgil van Dijk (hamstring), Diogo Jota (hamstring) and Roberto Firmino (calf) to the matchday squad in the Merseyside derby on Monday night.
Arthur Melo (muscle) should be in contention this weekend, too, having rejoined training like his fellow fit-again teammates.
Jurgen Klopp didn’t report any fresh concerns in Friday’s pre-match presser.
“Ibou not yet, Luis not yet. But that’s it, pretty much. Nothing happened on the injury side. Thiago, not available. Calvin had surgery, not available. But that’s it.” – Jurgen Klopp
Van Dijk could return to the starting XI after being an unused substitute against Everton.
“I think [he’s ready to start], yeah. Yesterday, he looked absolutely ready. I think today he will look the same and then we make a decision.” – Jurgen Klopp
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), Hugo Lloris (knee) and Yves Bissouma (ankle) remain on the injury list and will do for some time.
Cristian Romero returns from suspension this weekend, however, while Spurs have no fresh injury worries from their midweek trip to Milan.
“No new injuries, we have a problem with Sessegnon but that was clear from the last game when he wasn’t in the squad. So now at the moment he is not available.” – Cristian Stellini
MANCHESTER UNITED
Christian Eriksen (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee) and Casemiro (suspended) remain on the sidelines, while Sunday’s game will come too soon for Anthony Martial (hip) and Antony (leg) based on Erik ten Hag’s pre-match words before Thursday’s match in Spain.
Scott McTominay (unspecified issue) is due to rejoin full team training at the end of this week, so is an outside chance to feature against Leicester.
We didn’t get much new from ten Hag after the Barcelona game, save for talk of the busy schedule.
“Yes, of course [it’s possible to re-energise and re-focus]. It is about if we do the things right and we are ready and we have been in this rhythm for many weeks. So our players are doing really well in their sleep, in their recovery, in their food and they will be ready for Sunday. Definitely.” – Erik ten Hag
BRENTFORD
Pontus Jansson (hamstring), Frank Onyeka (hamstring) and Thomas Strakosha (ankle) remain on the sidelines, despite the first two of those players returning to training and Onyeka even featuring in a B team game in midweek.
Ivan Toney was spotted rubbing his hamstring when being replaced in the draw at the Emirates but Thomas Frank passed him fit in Friday’s presser.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Wilfried Zaha (hamstring) is still a “couple of weeks” from being considered for a return, so the Ivory Coast international won’t be seen before Gameweek 26.
Joel Ward (calf) also remains out.
“Wilfried, still a couple of weeks before he can start training with the team. Wardy will start training with the team next Monday.” – Patrick Vieira
We await news on Joachim Andersen (calf), who was due to return to training this week, as well as Chris Richards (back) and Will Hughes (knock), who were having issues from the weekend assessed.
An injury-free Nathan Ferguson may be another week closer to the matchday squad as work continues on his match fitness.
LEICESTER CITY
Brendan Rodgers confirms that both Youri Tielemans (calf) and Boubakary Soumaré (hamstring) have trained and are available for the game against Manchester United, while James Maddison has also come through another week of training unscathed as he is carefully managed back from a knee problem.
The trip to Old Trafford comes too soon for Jonny Evans (thigh), however.
“Bouba’s trained all week. Youri is back in training too, so both are available for the game. Everyone’s clearing up now. The squad’s looking strong.
“James is fine. He’s trained well. [Evans is] still a bit of time away. We were hoping he’d be back but he’s still struggling a wee bit with his thigh.” – Brendan Rodgers
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Roberto De Zerbi confirmed on Friday that Adam Lallana (muscle) will now be out for “months”, while Danny Welbeck (calf), Levi Colwill (muscle) and Jakub Moder (knee) will also miss the visit of Fulham.
Colwill could return in Gameweek 25, according to his manager.
WEST HAM UNITED
Lucas Paqueta (shoulder) will miss the Spurs game, while Nayef Aguerd (groin) remains a doubt and a newly fit-again Gianluca Scamacca (knee) won’t get any meaningful game-time in north London even if he does make the matchday squad.
“Lucas Paquetá is not going to be available for the game. Nayef has got a chance but we’re not sure yet if he is going to make it or not.
“It’s great that Gianluca is back but he is nowhere near ready to play, nowhere near ready to be selected. I might try to involve him but I have got to say that it would be minimum minutes because he’s just back really.” – David Moyes
The lack of word on Kurt Zouma (hip) and Alphonse Areola (hamstring) suggests that the pair remain out, while Maxwel Cornet (calf) will only return to the club on Monday to continue the next part of his recovery.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Julen Lopetegui revealed on Friday that Daniel Podence is “closer” to coming back from a groin injury, having missed out in Gameweek 23.
Hwang Hee-chan (hamstring), Boubacar Traore (hamstring), Chiquinho (knee) and Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) remain out, while Mario Lemina is suspended.
ASTON VILLA
Tyrone Mings has trained in the last two days and will have his “small injury” assessed before the clash with Arsenal, while Bertrand Traore will be involved in the squad after his own return to training.
Diego Carlos (Achilles) is back with his teammates on the grass, too, but is still a little way short of a playing comeback.
“He’s in the squad. He trained today and yesterday but we are going to assess tomorrow morning before the match. The last moment is going to be very important about the decision if he can start the game or not.” – Unai Emery on Tyrone Mings
SOUTHAMPTON
Tino Livramento (knee) and Juan Larios (muscle) remain out, while Che Adams is a fresh concern for the trip to Chelsea.
There was no mention of Kyle Walker-Peters (hamstring) in the press conference held by interim boss Ruben Selles but the full-back was sighted in training earlier this week, so could be available.
“We have the injuries of Juan Larios and Tino Livramento, long-term injuries.
“Che Adams is a doubt for tomorrow but that’s it.” – Ruben Selles
BOURNEMOUTH
Lewis Cook (knee), David Brooks (hamstring), Lloyd Kelly (calf) and Illia Zabarnyi (ankle) remain out but Marcos Senesi (back) should be fit despite limping off against Newcastle United, having returned to training in the last couple of days.
Junior Stanislas (muscle) was already back in training last week so could come into contention.
