We will be hearing from 14 Premier League managers on Friday as the pre-Gameweek 25 press conferences continue to take place.
All the injury updates and key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points will be covered in this ‘live’ article.
Hit refresh for the latest news as this piece will be updated as and when the pressers take place.
The main headlines from Thursday’s three media gatherings are available to read here.
Roy Hodgson’s press conference was cancelled due to illness, so we may not get the Crystal Palace team news now.
Sean Dyche and Roberto De Zerbi are scheduled to face reporters on Saturday, meanwhile.
GAMEWEEK 25 TEAM NEWS: KEY INJURY UPDATES
- Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold out, Salah in contention, Bradley + Alisson available
- Manchester City: Grealish unlikely to feature, Gvardiol out, Bernardo to be assessed
- Tottenham Hotspur: Porro out for “maybe” two weeks, Udogie to miss Gameweek 25
- Arsenal: Arteta coy on team news as usual, Partey latest
- Newcastle United: Wilson out for months, Isak + Willock “close”
- Aston Villa: Kamara out for at least seven months, Carlos sidelined for 3-4 weeks
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: No timeline on Cunha but Hwang returns
- Chelsea: Thiago joins injury list, Sanchez returns
- West Ham United: Antonio returns, Paqueta close but misses out
- Brentford: No fresh concerns, Wissa + Onyeka back from AFCON
- Luton Town: Mengi fully fit
- Fulham: Jimenez out for weeks yet but everyone else fit
- Bournemouth: Four still injured, Billing banned, Faivre ill
- Sheffield United: Wilder hoping for good news on Brereton Diaz + McBurnie
GAMEWEEK 25 TEAM NEWS: FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
LIVERPOOL
Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Friday that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss all of Double Gameweek 25 with the recurrence of the knee injury he first sustained in January.
Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring), Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Ben Doak (knee) and Joel Matip (knee) also remain out.
“With Dom, it will be around [the EFL Cup final], we will see how it exactly works. Trent, maybe a week or two longer. It’s not great.
“Not sure Dom has a chance for the final but maybe. Trent will probably be after.” – Jurgen Klopp
Reorts circling on Friday evening meanwhile suggest that Alisson will miss out on the weekend action with a hamstring injury.
In better news, Joe Gomez has recovered from the illness that forced his absence in Gameweek 24.
Conor Bradley is also back after his recent compassionate leave, while Ibrahima Konate returns after suspension.
And, most newsworthy of all, Mohamed Salah (hamstring) is available for selection after rejoining team training this week.
“Mo is back in full training, that brings him automatically in contention.” – Jurgen Klopp
MANCHESTER CITY
Jack Grealish (muscle) is set to miss Saturday’s clash with Chelsea after limping out of the midweek win over FC Copenhagen.
Pep Guardiola had earlier in the week ruled out Josko Gvardiol (ankle) for two to three weeks.
Bernardo Silva (knock) will be assessed in training on Friday, while Mateo Kovacic (knee) and Sergio Gomez (knee) are expected to recover.
“Jack, I think, will not be ready. Bernardo, we will assess now in the training session after his knock. Kova I think is back, or training at least. Sergio, as well. The rest, we’ll see. We’ll see when they arrive.” – Pep Guardiola
“I didn’t speak with the doctors, I only know he’s not able for tomorrow.” – Pep Guardiola on Jack Grealish
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs have suffered a double blow at full-back after Destiny Udogie (knee) and Pedro Porro (muscle) were both ruled out Gameweek 25.
“Destiny [Udogie], in last week’s game, jarred his knee a little bit. Don’t think it’s anything too serious but he’ll miss tomorrow. Hopefully, with no game next week, that’s all he’ll miss.
“Pedro [Porro] picked up a strain at training, again we’ll get some futher information. It’s fair to say he’ll miss tomorrow. Maybe a couple of weeks for him.” – Ange Postecoglou
Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring) rejoined training last week so should be ready to feature after not being rushed back against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) has also been back on the grass this week.
Manor Solomon (knee) has been joined on the injury list by Fraser Forster, who has suffered a fracture in his foot and will be out for a couple of months.
ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta was as guarded as ever when asked about the Arsenal team news on Friday morning.
“Some of them have been progressing better than others. We have a training session again today. Some of them, they’ve done a few beats this week and I am positive that hopefully, we are going to get a few back for tomorrow.
“At the moment, no, [no one is definitely ruled out for tomorrow].” – Mikel Arteta
Of what we know of the flagged Gunners, Gabriel Jesus (knee) missed out on the win over Liverpool in Gameweek 23 with an injury that was only expected to keep him out for “days”. Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) was withdrawn in that match after feeling muscular discomfort and neither player featured at West Ham United last weekend.
Also missing against the Hammers were Takehiro Tomiyasu, who had a “niggle” after returning from international duty, and Emile Smith Rowe, who “turned his ankle in training” ahead of Gameweek 24.
We did get some sort of update on Thomas Partey (muscle) and Fabio Vieira (groin), at least.
“No, there’s not big setbacks on any of those injuries and Thomas Partey, as well, is progressing really well. I don’t want to say too much but he’s looking very good and he’s on the field already.
“Hopefully, [a couple of weeks].
“[Fabio] is very close. He’s been training already for a few days with the team, so I think it’s very close. He’ll be back probably faster than we expected and he’s in a good place.” – Mikel Arteta
Jurrien Timber (knee) is the only other Gunner who is confirmed as out.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Callum Wilson (tendon) will have surgery today on a pectoral muscle he damaged in last Saturday’s win at Nottingham Forest.
Media reports yesterday suggested an absence of up to 12 weeks.
Eddie Howe hinted that the timeline was about right when expressing hope that Wilson could feature towards the end of the season.
“It was a really strange injury. He got in a tussle with the centre-back right at the end of the game, I think we were over the allotted time. Initially, I thought he must have hurt his shoulder but it wasn’t, it was a muscle in his pec. We had it scanned, we hoped initially he could carry on. He felt good actually, he felt functionally fine, he’s moving his arm at full strength, but when he went to see a specialist it was apparent quite early that he needed it operated on. I think he’s having that operation we speak.
“It’s no doubt a big blow to him because he’s looking at various things. His first priority is always Newcastle and it’s been a stop-start season for him. He takes that burden of being one of our two strikers very seriously. He’s desperate to do well and score goals, so he was very disappointed from that perspective. And then of course, he had England on the horizon, as well.
“We hope he’ll be back before the end of the season, we hope we will see him again. I’d never rule anything out with Callum. He could come back and still play an important part towards the end of the season for us.” – Eddie Howe on Callum Wilson
Alexander Isak (groin) and Joe Willock (Achilles) are said to be “close”, although the clash with Bournemouth may come too soon.
“Probably not for the weekend. He’s very, very, very close and looking really good. I’m really pleased with the progress that he’s made. Mentally I can see he feels free, he feels good, so let’s wait and see.” – Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak
“Another one, like Alex. He’s knocking on the door, very, very close, looking good and feeling much better. Another huge player for us that we’re desperate to get back. He’s close.” – Eddie Howe on Joe Willock
Howe added that Jacob Murphy (calf) hasn’t trained all week – although he also said the same thing about Anthony Gordon a week ago, the winger duly recovering to start at the City Ground.
The Newcastle boss gave a wry nod to that update in Friday’s presser.
“You need to listen to my words here: he has not trained yet. That’s where that one is. It could mean anything!” – Eddie Howe on Jacob Murphy
Elliot Anderson (back), Joelinton (quad), Sandro Tonali (ban), Nick Pope (shoulder) and Matt Targett (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
“They’re due to be training very soon, hopefully within the next 10 days.” – Eddie Howe on Matt Targett and Elliot Anderson
ASTON VILLA
Unai Emery expects Boubacar Kamara to be unavailable for at least seven months with the serious knee injury he sustained last weekend.
“He’s going to be out for the rest of the season and maybe in, more or less, September or October he’s coming back.” – Unai Emery on Boubacar Kamara
Diego Carlos was added to the injury list in midweek, having suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out for three to four weeks.
Ezra Konsa (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Jhon Duran (hamstring) and Emi Buendia (knee) remain out for the Villans.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Gary O’Neil will welcome Hwang Hee-chan back from a calf injury that led to his no-show against Brentford last weekend.
There’s no still timeline on Matheus Cunha (hamstring), who O’Neil said earlier in the week had suffered a “fairly significant injury”.
A scan has revealed “some muscle damage”, so the Brazilian forward will be out for a while.
CHELSEA
Thiago Silva suffered only a minor groin injury in Monday’s win over Crystal Palace but it’ll be enough to keep him out of the clash with Manchester City.
Carney Chukwuemeka has also joined the injury list after sustaining a twisted ankle in midweek.
Romeo Lavia (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (knee), Wesley Fofana (knee) and Benoit Badiashile (muscle) remain out.
There is one piece of positive team news: Robert Sanchez (knee) is available after returning to training.
Malo Gusto and Levi Colwill are also fine despite struggling in the closing stages of the victory at Selhurst Park.
WEST HAM UNITED
Michail Antonio (knee) is set for a comeback this weekend, having made a return to training in the last week or so.
Only Lucas Paquetá (calf) remains flagged with an injury but even he isn’t too far away, having himself been back on the grass in the last few days.
This game comes too soon, however.
Edson Alvarez has recovered after suffering from an illness in the chastening defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
“Lucas Paquetá is not fit and available for tomorrow. He’s been on the grass for a couple of days, I wouldn’t say it’s tentative but it’s not full out, that’s for sure.
“Micky is back available. We’ll need to see exactly how we think he is. Micky has probably had a week or so of training now so he’s back in the squad.
“Kurt Zouma was fine [after coming off at half-time last weekend]. The bigger problem was Edson Álvarez, who came off at half-time with an illness, but he’s recovered as well.” – David Moyes
BRENTFORD
The Bees have no fresh injury concerns following last week’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Thomas Frank has been further boosted by the return of Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa from international duty.
Josh Dasilva (knee), Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Kevin Schade (muscle) and Rico Henry (knee) remain on the injury list.
LUTON TOWN
Teden Mengi (knock) was fit enough to be on the bench against Sheffield United last weekend and boss Edwards has now confirmed that the defender is fully available.
Mads Andersen (calf) and long-term absentees Marvelous Nakamba (knee) and Tom Lockyer (health) remain on the sidelines.
FULHAM
Raul Jimenez is expected to remain unavailable until after the March international break because of his hamstring issue.
But the team news was otherwise positive from Marco Silva, who said that everyone else was fit.
That presumably means that Kenny Tete (Achilles) and Tosin Adarabioyo (knock) have recovered from the minor injuries that kept them out of Gameweek 24.
The Cottagers will be further boosted by the return of Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey from international duty.
BOURNEMOUTH
The Cherries will again be without Max Aarons (hamstring), James Hill (ankle), Tyler Adams (hamstring) and Ryan Fredericks (calf), while Philip Billing is still serving a three-match ban following his dismissal in Gameweek 23.
Aarons is “closer” to a return but remains out.
Romain Faivre is suffering from illness and joins the list of absentees for the trip to Newcastle.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Ivo Grbic, who sustained a head injury in Gameweek 22, will be back after serving the 12-day concussion protocol.
Gus Hamer should also be fine as he only sustained a dead leg last weekend.
Chris Wilder said he was hoping to recover one or two players for Sunday’s match, namechecking Ben Brereton Diaz (hamstring) and Oli McBurnie (calf) as two injury victims who have missed out recently.
“We’ve had a couple of setbacks recently, the likes of Oli McBurnie and Ben, so fingers crossed we can get one or two back for Sunday and that will make us a little bit stronger and give us a better opportunity of getting a result.” – Chris Wilder
Rhys Norrington-Davies (hamstring) has joined Chris Basham (leg), Ryan Jebbison (illness) and John Egan (leg) on the sidelines, however.
George Baldock (unspecified issue) should be close to a return based on a recovery timeline that his manager previously set.
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