There’s lots of Gameweek 23 team news to come on Friday as 15 Premier League managers face the media.
There are also embargoed quotes to come from Ruben Amorim, who filmed his pre-match press conference in the aftermath of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League win over Rangers.
As ever, we’ll bring you the key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) injury updates on this page.
This is a ‘live’ article, so it’ll be updated as and when manager quotes become available – so keep refreshing for the latest news.
For the headlines from the four pressers held already, read our Thursday round-up here.
GAMEWEEK 23: FRIDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Arsenal: Lewis-Skelly + Saliba injuries “nothing serious”, White latest
- Liverpool: Jones ruled out, Slot on Konate’s fitness + left-back rotation
- Manchester City: New signings to be involved in squad, Doku + Dias out
- Newcastle United: Pope back in contention, Wilson update
- Chelsea: Lavia out for weeks, Enzo + Colwill could return, Palmer “better”
- Tottenham Hotspur: Spence + Sarr doubts, Romero not ready, Solanke timeline
- Manchester United: Yoro + de Ligt doubts, Mazraoui precaution, Shaw latest
- Aston Villa: McGinn back training, Barkley, Onana + Pau still out
- Everton: McNeil may need knee surgery, Garner + Iroegbunam train
- West Ham United: Bowen + Summerville could return, Todibo out, Mavropanos ban
- Bournemouth: Tavernier could return but eight others still injured
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Cunha “ready”, Lemina won’t be considered, Toti returns
- Fulham: Tete + Nelson out, everyone else available
- Crystal Palace: Doucoure + Riad join injury list, Esse set to be involved
- Brentford: New signing Kayode can’t feature, Ajer available
- Leicester City: Four still out, Ndidi could return next week, Coulibaly to be involved
GAMEWEEK 23: FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Friday's #FPL Press Conferences ⏰
🔴 9am – Slot
⭕️ 9.30am – Arteta
⚫️ 9.30am – Howe
🧿 10.30am – Maresca
🐓 10.30am – Postecoglou
🦊 11.15am – van Nistelrooy
🔵 12.30pm – Guardiola
🍒 1pm – Iraola
👹 1.30pm – Amorim
🍬 1.30pm – Moyes
🐺 1.30pm – Pereira
🐝 1.30pm – Frank… pic.twitter.com/TqDQXUeOwK— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) January 24, 2025
ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta says the injuries currently being nursed by Myles Lewis-Skelly (knee) and William Saliba (hamstring) are “nothing serious”.
“With Myles, it’s nothing serious on the scan so it will be a matter of today having a meeting with the medical staff. We have a training session, whether it’s too early or not [we’ll see].
“With Willy, something similar as well. I think definitely be in for next week. This week, let’s see how it goes.” – Mikekl Arteta
Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Ben White (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) remain absent but Riccardo Calafiori (muscle) and Ethan Nwaneri (muscle) returned to the matchday squad in midweek.
“Still not available.
“He hasn’t trained with the team yet, but I think he’s very close to doing that. He still needs to tick a few boxes in the next two or three days, and if that’s all going well and smoothly, I think he’ll be with us pretty soon.” – Mikel Arteta on Ben White
Away from injury news, Arteta was asked again about if his club needed a striker.
“My opinion is clear: we lost two very important players, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, so we lack goals, people and options in the frontline, it’s clear.
“If we can get the right player, that’s what we are actively looking at. Any player? No. Someone that makes us better and has an impact on the team. It’s clear that for the period that we have lost them, ideally, we need some help because we were very short already and we’re even shorter. The team has still coped with that but we have do what is right for the club.” – Mikel Arteta
There was praise for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, too.
“I’m very happy, because I think they’ve made another step forward. They are impacting the game in a more powerful way, in a consistent way as well. Both of them, playing off the left, playing off the right, in the centre. It’s a great asset to have because they are really important and the fact that both of them now are in a good moment, I think gives the team a very good threat.” – Mikel Arteta
LIVERPOOL
A new addition to the injury list is Curtis Jones, who felt discomfort in the midweek win over Lille and had to be replaced at half-time.
He’s now ruled out of Gameweek 23.
“So, it’s mostly not a good sign and it wasn’t because he will not be available for the game tomorrow. The rest, we have to wait and see how long it is going to take. I’m not expecting months but let’s see if he’s available for PSV or Bournemouth.” – Arne Slot on Curtis Jones
Joe Gomez (hamstring) and Diogo Jota (muscle) remain sidelined.
Arne Slot also commented on Ibrahima Konate‘s fitness after the defender admitted this week that he is playing through pain.
“I think you’ve seen how we tried to manage that. I think we skipped him twice, didn’t we? Or at least in this [Lille] game, Jarell [Quansah] played, and the Accrington Stanley game he didn’t play as well. So that is a bit maybe because he has still some pain in his knee, don’t exaggerate it, but he probably feels a bit… but it’s safe for him to play. It’s more the load where you’re aware of if a player is out for five or six weeks and then play him every three days. That’s, in our opinion, a certain risk, so we always try to manage that. I think he now comes to a moment where he would be able to play three times a week.” – Arne Slot on Ibrahima Konate
Staying on the subject of his defence, Slot responded to a question about rotation at left-back.
“I think both. If Kostas was on a completely different level than Robbo [Andy Robertson] then it would not be smart to rotate in that position or manage the load because then you drop so far in quality that it could be a risk.
“I don’t know what Kostas’ situation was last season, I know he didn’t play a lot but I don’t know where he was at which level. But from the moment I came and in our tour in the United States, he did really well. He’s proved that he can play in the left full-back position as well. Since we’ve now got two good options, in my opinion, you can indeed see we are managing loads and rotate in that position quite a bit. Yes, that’s true.” – Arne Slot on whether his rotation at left-back is down to managing workload or because Kostas Tsimikas’ level has improved this season
MANCHESTER CITY
Jeremy Doku (unknown) and Ruben Dias (abductor) will miss the clash with Chelsea.
Doku picked up a problem in the win over Ipswich Town and missed Wednesday’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, while Dias came off at half-time in France.
“The same injuries that we had. Ruben is out, Doku is out. The players that we had out, are out. – Pep Guardiola
“Abductor.
“I don’t know yet [how long he will be out].” – Pep Guardiola on Ruben Dias
Nathan Ake sat out the Ipswich win with an unspecified issue and hasn’t featured since, so we assume he is still unavailable.
Rodri (knee) is also a long-term absentee, of course.
Oscar Bobb (leg) is back in training after being sidelined since summer 2024 but has yet to feature in a matchday squad.
Three players who will be involved in the Gameweek 23 squad are new signings, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov.
“Yes [they will be in the squad]. We don’t have players!
“I don’t yet [whether they will start]. Can play but I don’t know yet.” – Pep Guardiola on whether his new signings will be in the squad
“Yeah, good [impression in training]. We didn’t train much because we travelled. We didn’t make a training session altogether, I think they didn’t make one. Omar Marmoush yesterday was the first, the other ones trained a little bit but not all together.
“Vitor is young, has a huge personality, needs time.
“Khusanov has already settled. The fact that he plays in the French league where he handles tough, tough, quick, fast players. But of course, he doesn’t speak much English, not French. Communication will be one of the situations that we have to deal with.
“Omar, yesterday was the first training, I think he will adapt quick.
“Tomorrow we have just one central defender. Now we have more, I would say.” – Pep Guardiola on his new recruits
- READ MORE: FPL new signings: Who are City’s new defenders Khusanov + Reis?
- READ MORE: FPL new signings: Can Marmoush be Man City’s ‘new Alvarez’?
NEWCASTLE UNITED
We could see Nick Pope (knee) back in a matchday squad for the first time in a month.
“There’s a chance he’ll be in the squad. He’s started training with the group again and it’s great to see Nick back and his presence, his positivity that he brings. I’ve seen him do some really good things this week, so yeah, delighted to have him back in the mix.” – Eddie Howe on Nick Pope
Harvey Barnes (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) and Callum Wilson (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
“It’s too early for Callum. Callum is still on track for, I think, right at the beginning of February, if my memory serves me right. He’s making good progress, we’re trying to do the right things with him and make sure that he is robust enough and has all the work behind him and the load behind him before he starts training with the group.” – Eddie Howe
Howe also commented on Sven Botman, who has returned from a long-term injury, and Fabian Schar, who has recently been affected by illness.
“It was a challenge for Sven [starting two games in quick succession]. Fabby had been ill and he wasn’t 100% fit. Sven, I think he has been magnificent since his return but obviously that was a challenge for him and I thought he looked a little bit fatigued in the game. Naturally, because he’s been thrust into action, which has been a great thing for him, minimal time to think, just straight back in and he’s got to find his rhythm – by and large he’s been excellent in all respects. But a challenging few days for him, he’s one player we’ve tried to look after and he’s had a bit longer to recover. Fabby hopefully is now over his illness as well.” – Eddie Howe
Storm Eowyn might not be cancelling any games but it is affecting Newcastle’s travel plans for Gameweek 23. With winds battering the north-east, the Magpies may have to fly to Southampton on Saturday morning instead of today as planned.
CHELSEA
Romeo Lavia (muscle), Enzo Fernandez (muscle) and Levi Colwill (knock) all missed out on Monday’s win over Wolverhampton Wanderers but two of them could return.
“Probably Levi and Enzo, they could be available. Depends on today’s session. Romeo will be out.
“We don’t know yet [how long Lavia will be out], we need to wait a little bit more but at least I think a few weeks more.” – Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca also commented on the fitness of Cole Palmer, who played through an ankle issue against Wolves.
“He’s better, he’s better. He did an unbelievable effort to play against Wolves. He’s getting better.” – Enzo Maresca on Cole Palmer
Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (unknown) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended) remain sidelined.
Maresca gave his backing to the much-criticised Robert Sanchez, meanwhile.
“Robert is okay, he is okay. It is just a matter for me to understand that anything can happen. How many times has Moi [Caicedo] missed a pass during the season? Many times. How many times has Nico [Jackson] missed a goal? Many times. How many times has Noni [Madueke] missed a cross? Many times.
“Robert did four mistakes during the season that [meant] we conceded a goal. It is normal. It is part of the game. If you don’t risk, if you don’t play, then you don’t make a mistake. For me, it’s not any strange thing behind Robert’s mistake. It is something that for me is part of our job.” – Enzo Maresca
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Rodrigo Bentancur (concussion) is back available but that’s about as good as it gets for Spurs on the injury front.
Destiny Udogie (hamstring), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Brennan Johnson (calf), Timo Werner (hamstring), Dominic Solanke (knee), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Cristian Romero (hamstring) and Guglielmo Vicario (ankle) remain out for the Lilywhites.
Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Thursday’s win over Hoffenheim that Solanke would be out for six weeks.
“No, [Romero is not ready]. Like I said, we got him back training. Him and Micky are the two next cabs [off the rank] out of the long-term ones. They’ve still got a bit to do in terms of getting some training into them with the team. Obviously, we haven’t been training a lot and because the other day was sort of a pretty low-tempo session… it was just good to get him involved, not just for him but for the players themselves because they need a bit of help, they need some encouragement and seeing Cuti training with them gives them a big lift. Micky’s not too far away.” – Ange Postecoglou
Pape Matar Sarr (knock), Yves Bissouma (knock) and Djed Spence (knock) are all doubts, too.
“Djed is still sore from the weekend, he is a doubt for this weekend. He got a knock [against Everton], so he’s a doubt. Pape’s still a doubt.” – Ange Postecoglou
“See how we go. He’s definitely a doubt for Sunday but we’re hoping by Elfsborg he could be right.” – Ange Postecoglou on Yves Bissouma
Richarlison looks set to start again, then, with injuries plentiful elsewhere in the squad.
“As fit as he could possibly be. We are obviously managing his minutes at the moment. He felt good last night, he got through it. He hasn’t played for a long time so he is not going to be at his sharpest. We have still got to manage that. The reality is, unless something changes, he has to play.” – Ange Postecoglou on how fit Richarlison is to play every few days
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ruben Amorim has three new concerns ahead of the clash with Fulham, although none appear too serious.
Noussair Mazraoui was left out of the matchday squad for the win over Rangers in the Europa League as a precaution. The defender sustained a knock during the loss to Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.
Then, on Thursday, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, were taken off early with minor complaints.
“I dont know. Leny has a pain. Mata [Matthijs] was a bruise from a touch. Leny was a little bit tired, he is playing more in this moment, so we have to be really careful and we will see. I don’t know.” – Ruben Amorim on whether Messrs Yoro and de Ligt will be fit
Victor Lindelof (unknown) resumed training this week, while Luke Shaw (hamstring) is set to follow suit.
“He is going to be fit to train with the team. Then we have to start with more minutes, we do not have a lot of time to train.
“We have to put some exercises in 10 minutes, then he has to make extra work to improve his fitness. I don’t know [when he will play], it is two weeks to start training and to start thinking about putting him in [for] a few minutes.” – Rubem Amorim on Luke Shaw
Jonny Evans (muscle) and Mason Mount (leg) remain out.
ASTON VILLA
Pau Torres (foot), Amadou Onana (hamstring) and Ross Barkley (calf) remain on the sidelines for Villa.
John McGinn (hamstring) has trained all week, however, and is in contention to feature.
“John McGinn is starting to train with the group, he’s working with us.
“Onana is still working alone.
“Ross Barkley is still not available and Pau will need more time to try to be close with us.” – Unai Emery
EVERTON
Dwight McNeil may need surgery on a niggly knee issue that has kept him out since December.
“It looks like Dwight is probably going to have some surgery on his knee. Today he’s tried, it looks like we’ll probably have to get him back to the specialist to see.
“He was out on the grass this morning and he said [the knee] doesn’t feel right so [the medical team] always said that if it didn’t feel right, they would take him back to a specialist.
“The general feeling [from the medical team] is that they don’t think it’s anything so bad – it’s not like he’s got a cruciate or anything – so hopefully he’ll be okay.” – David Moyes
Armando Broja (ankle), Youssef Chermiti (thigh) and Seamus Coleman (calf) remain out for the Toffees this weekend, too.
Long-term absentees James Garner (back) and Tim Iroegbunam (foot) are back in training, with Garner at the front of the queue for a playing comeback.
“James is a wee bit further on than Tim at the moment but Tim’s been back in training the last three or four days. Jimmy’s been back in and around training as well. In an ideal scenario, you’d be trying to give them a couple of under-21 games if possible and get them some more practise but if we need to use them then I would do.
“They’ll not be too far away as I just need them back around the squad to give me that little bit more depth.” – David Moyes
WEST HAM UNITED
Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) and even Jarrod Bowen (foot) – who has been back in training this week – could return this weekend.
“[Bowen] has been integrating into the group. He’s had 1-2 sessions, still we need to assess him and how he reacts. It’s still early but obviously we’ve got another day tomorrow. We’ll see but I think it’s important we don’t rush him in and we make sure he’s right.
“It’s the same with Cry, as well, he’s had a couple of sessions, but again just need to make sure that he’s confident and we’re confident.
“No further problems from the weekend.” – Graham Potter
Niclas Füllkrug (hamstring), Michail Antonio (leg) and Jean-Clair Todibo (unknown) are out.
“[Todibo] is progressing but the weekend will come too soon for him for sure.” – Graham Potter
Konstantinos Mavropanos is also suspended following his Gameweek 22 red card.
BOURNEMOUTH
Evanilson (foot), Enes Unal (knee), Julian Araujo (hamstring), Marcos Senesi (quad) and James Hill (hamstring) remain firmly on the sidelines for the Cherries.
Adam Smith (muscle), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring) and Alex Scott (knee) are back in individual training but also remain unavailable.
Julio Soler is still at the South American U-20 Championship, too.
Marcus Tavernier (hamstring) is the one player who could make a return but even his involvement is uncertain.
“The only player that has started training with the group is Marcus Tavernier but I don’t know if we are going to have him tomorrow. We will have to decide. Even if we put him on the bench, maybe we don’t use him. I don’t know what we are going to do with him.” – Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola does at least have no fresh worries.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Mario Lemina won’t be considered for selection with the midfielder desiring, and heavily linked with, a move away from the club.
Matheus Cunha, another Wolves player purported to be a target for other clubs, is available, however.
“I’m waiting for the end of the market and we’ll decide what to do. If he stays here, he will be a very good player for us, in my opinion. He has quality. We’ll see what happens.” – Vitor Pereira on Mario Lemina
“He knows what I want from him as a captain. We had a conversation and everything is sorted. He’s ready for the game, committed with us and ready to help the team.” – Vitor Pereira on Matheus Cunha’s poor body language in Gameweek 22
On the injury front, Toti Gomes (hamstring) should be back involved but is not ready for 90 minutes according to his manager.
Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Yerson Mosquera (knee) and Enso Gonzalez (knee) remain out but Boubacar Traore (knee) is back on the grass after a long-term lay-off.
Traore looks set for minutes with the under-21s to build his match fitness.
FULHAM
The Cottagers’ team news is nice and straightforward: Kenny Tete (knee) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) are out but everyone else is available.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad have been added to the injury list after both suffering knee issues this week.
“Unfortunately, Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad both have knee injuries and aren’t available for [Sunday’s] game.
“Let’s see. The doctors have to look at it, and let’s see how it goes, but [we don’t have a timeframe for their return] at the moment.” – Oliver Glasner
Joel Ward (unknown) and Adam Wharton (groin) are still out, while Matheus Franca (groin) needs more training time before being considered for a playing comeback.
“França is training with us but still needs more time on the pitch to get into his best shape, so he won’t be available.
“All the others who were involved in the last games, they are ready.” – Oliver Glasner
Glasner confirmed that new arrival Romain Esse will be named in the matchday squad.
Jefferson Lerma (illness), who missed last Saturday’s trip to West Ham United, is also available.
BRENTFORD
New signing Michael Kayode, a right-back loaned from Fiorentina, won’t be able to feature this weekend as he still needs international clearance.
Josh Dasilva (knee), Ethan Pinnock (hamstring), Gustavo Nunes (back), Igor Thiago (joint infection) and Aaron Hickey (hamstring) are also still out.
Kristoffer Ajer (ankle) is now available, however.
“Kristoffer Ajer is available, trained all week and will be involved in the squad on Sunday. So, very positive.” – Thomas Frank
Away from team news, Thomas Frank reiterated comments from previous pressers in insisting that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are not for sale.
LEICESTER CITY
Abdul Fatawu (knee), Wilfred Ndidi (hamstring), Ricardo Pereira (hamstring) and Mads Hermansen (groin) remain out for the Foxes.
Ndidi will likely be the first one back: he is expected to return to training next week.
“The players that were available against Fulham are available at this moment for Spurs on Sunday.
“Mads’ situation is that he is in his recovery programme to get back to team training. He is making good steps and progress but he needs to make some further steps to become part of team training and playing games.
“Wilfred is making very good progress in his rehabilitation. So, hopefully he can be a part of team training next week somewhere.” – Ruud van Nistelrooy
New signing Woyo Coulibaly should be involved against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
“He had a very good start of this week. He’s part of team training, so will he be today and tomorrow. He will be, all being well, part of the squad on Sunday.” – Ruud van Nistelrooy on Wayo Coulibaly
