The pre-Gameweek 13 press conferences are set to begin on Thursday, with six managers – including Arne Slot – facing the media.
We’ll have the headline Gameweek 13 team news from these pressers in the article below. We will gradually add more quotes if and when the press conferences become available to watch in full.
We should hear from the other 14 top-flight managers on Friday. For the latest on those clubs, check out our early team news round-up.
GAMEWEEK 13 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S INJURY UPDATES
- Liverpool: Slot still unsure over Konate + Bradley injuries, Alexander-Arnold ready to start
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Dunk + Lamptey to return to the squad, Baleba banned
- Nottingham Forest: Gibbs-White, Elanga + Anderson to be assessed
- West Ham United: Todibo among “two or three little problems”
- Ipswich Town: Hirst out until after Christmas, welcome dilemma at centre-half
- Southampton: Onuachu to be assessed, Lallana ruled out
GAMEWEEK 13 TEAM NEWS: THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Thursday’s #FPL Press Conferences ⏰
🕊️ 9am – Hurzeler
⚒️ 1pm – Lopetegui
😇 1.15pm – Martin
🌳 1.30pm – Nuno
🚜 1.30pm – McKenna
🔴 3pm – Slot pic.twitter.com/MbVIr6v7VU— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) November 28, 2024
LIVERPOOL
Facing the media less than 18 hours after the conclusion of the Liverpool v Real Madrid game, Reds boss Arne Slot predictably couldn’t offer us much new on the condition of Ibrahima Konate (knee) and Conor Bradley (hamstring).
“They are still being assessed so it’s difficult to say where they are in terms of injury.
“Let’s wait and see but it is never a good sign if players… Conor, I had to take him off and Ibou didn’t walk off the pitch as he should after such a fantastic game that he played. He should have made a round and clapped the fans but unfortunately he couldn’t so that’s not a good sign.
“They are still being assessed and it is so close after the game yesterday night, and I just came off the training pitch. So, I can’t tell you exactly where they are, so we have to wait and see where they are this weekend and after that.” – Arne Slot on Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate
Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring), an unused substitute on Wednesday after a fortnight out, is however ready to start.
“Yes, he would.” – Arne Slot on whether Alexander-Arnold would be fit enough start
There was no update on Alisson (hamstring), Federico Chiesa (unknown injury), Diogo Jota (rib) or Kostas Tsimikas (unspecified issue). Chiesa has been partly training with the squad, while Alisson was with the goalkeeping coaches the last we heard.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Tariq Lamptey (calf) and Lewis Dunk (calf) will return to the Brighton squad on Friday after training this week.
However, the Seagulls will be without Carlos Baleba after the midfielder was sent off for two bookable offences last weekend.
There are also ongoing concerns over Ferdi Kadioglu (toe).
“Last week I already said that Lewis [Dunk] would be an option but this week he will be back in the squad!
“Ferdi, we’re not sure if he will be available. We have to see day to day if he can train or not, then we have to make a decision.
“Tariq [Lamptey] will be back, he will be back in the squad. And I think the rest will stay the same.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Fabian Hurzeler’s comments above imply that James Milner (hamstring), Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and Adam Webster (hamstring) remain out. None of them were sighted in any training images on Tuesday, to further that suggestion.
In a week in which many FPL managers are flocking to Joao Pedro, Hurzeler discussed his attacking options.
“Offensively we always have the ability and the quality to score goals because we have a big squad, especially when we see our offensive players.
“We have different types of players. We have Evan, a target player. We have Joao, we have Danny, who is for me a hybrid player. We have on the wings different opportunities with Kaoru, with Simon, with Minteh, Solly March when he comes back, Gruda, Georginio. So there are a lot of opportunities and this gives us a great selection where I can choose and this gives us also a competition between each other.
“They need to be ready to work hard for their place. They need to be ready to make sure that they deserve to play. At the moment they have proven it really good, that they are able to score in every situation of the game. And that’s also what we need to win games.
“But in the end I always judge them by how they work against the ball and how they defend, how their mindset is, especially in defending against the ball – and that’s the way I judge them. But of course, in the end, I know that goals and assists make us win the games.” – Fabian Hurzeler on his attacking options
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahima Sangare (hamstring) have been absent for months but the former is “improving”, according to his manager.
There are three more shorter-term concerns, meanwhile.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson sat out the defeat to Arsenal with niggles they’ve been managing, while Anthony Elanga (shoulder) was described as being in a “lot of pain” at the Emirates before being hooked at half-time.
All three will be assessed ahead of the weekend.
“We still have tomorrow. We have to assess the players and see how they are. Improving, improving. Danilo is also improving. Let’s see tomorrow how they are so they can help the team.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson
“The same [with Elanga], the same. We are still assessing him. He came out with a very painful situation [last weekend] but the doctors are taking care of him.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on Anthony Elanga
WEST HAM UNITED
There is one known new concern from Monday in the shape of Jeanclair Todibo, who had to come off at St James’ Park.
The centre-half is not alone in being a concern for the visit of Arsenal, however.
“The news is that we have two or three little problems that we have to assess tomorrow. With Todibo in the last match and two players more but we have to wait until tomorrow morning to assess and to know exactly if they are going to be able or not for the next big challenge that we have against Arsenal.
“I prefer not [to say who they are]. Let’s see. I am positive… that all of them can be ready.” – Julen Lopetegui
Niclas Fullkrug (Achilles) has been out since September but is closing in on a comeback.
Mohammed Kudus serves the final game of a five-match ban but Edson Álvarez is available after suspension.
IPSWICH TOWN
Kieran McKenna reports the Tractor Boys have no fresh issues from the game against Manchester United.
Kalvin Phillips and Ben Johnson missed out in Gameweek 12 with minor injuries and both will be assessed to see if they can feature against Nottingham Forest.
Nathan Broadhead (groin) is back in training, something Jacob Greaves (hamstring) has been doing since last week. McKenna said he had a welcome selection headache at centre-half, with Cameron Burgess impressing in Greaves’ stead.
“It’s the type of decision you want to have. Jacob was certainly one of our best players in the early parts of the season, then unfortunately he picked up his injury and Cameron Burgess has done very well since he came into the team. That’s where we’d like to be in every position to be honest.” – Kieran McKenna on Jacob Greaves v Cameron Burgess, via EADT
George Hirst (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain out, meanwhile. A scan has revealed that Hirst will be sidelined until after Christmas.
“He’s had another scan and it wasn’t particularly great news. It’s going to be a period of time, certainly. We’re still not exactly sure, but it’s going to take us through the Christmas period, we think.” – Kieran McKenna on George Hirst, via EADT
SOUTHAMPTON
There is mixed news on the two fresh concerns from Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.
Paul Onuachu and Adam Lallana both came off at St Mary’s last weekend but the former could still feature at the Amex. He’ll be assessed over the coming 24 hours or so.
Lallana, however, will miss the “next couple of games” with a hamstring issue.
“Adam Lallana is out, which is a shame because I think he would have loved to have been back on the pitch at a place where he had a really good time.
“Adam’s out and Paul’s being assessed, so fingers crossed that Big Paul will come through all right. It’s not a bad injury at all, which is really good news for us.
“Just a niggle, so hopefully we can manage that and he can be involved. I think Adam’s going to be a couple of weeks, so probably the next couple of games.” – Russell Martin, via the Daily Echo
Jan Bednarek (knee), Aaron Ramsdale (finger), Ross Stewart (hamstring), Gavin Bazunu (Achilles) and Will Smallbone (hamstring) remain sidelined.
