The remaining 16 Premier League managers will deliver their Gameweek 28 team news to the media on Friday.
As usual, 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 press conferences held already, read our Monday round-up here.
GAMEWEEK 28: FRIDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Liverpool: Gakpo in pain and yet to train, Slot hints at rotation
- Newcastle United: Isak latest, Botman surgery, Hall out for the season, Howe on rotation
- Crystal Palace: Mateta out but could be back by Gameweek 30, Hughes banned
- Manchester City: Ake out for 10-11 weeks after surgery
- Tottenham Hotspur: Solanke knock, Davies could return, Kulusevski on the injury list
- Chelsea: Jackson back running, Gusto could make swift recovery
- Arsenal: No team news from Arteta but five still out, Lewis-Skelly available
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: Cunha banned, Guedes, Rodrigo + Agbadou all fit
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Mitoma passed fit, no other team news changes
- Aston Villa: Onana close to being available, Barkley still out
- Brentford: Jensen + Norgaard return, van den Berg back in training next week
- Bournemouth: Araujo still out, Christie being monitored, Iraola on Evanilson
- Manchester United: Amorim unsure if Magure + Ugarte will return
- West Ham United: Paqueta + Coufal back in training, too soon for Fullkrug
- Everton: No new worries, Coleman + Broja closer but no one expected back from injury
- Leicester City: Coulibaly fine, Pereira available, no fresh concerns
GAMEWEEK 28: FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Friday's #FPL Press Conferences
🕊️ 9am – Hurzeler
⚫️ 9.30am – Howe
🔴 10am – Slot
🐔 11am – Postecoglou
⚒️ 11am – Moyes
🦊 11.15am – van Nistelrooy
⭕️ 1pm – Arteta
🍒 1pm – Iraola
🧿 1pm – Maresca
👹 1.30pm – Amorim
🐝 1.30pm – Frank
🐺 1.30pm – Pereira
🦅 1.30pm -… pic.twitter.com/5qeks3sMdV— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) March 7, 2025
LIVERPOOL
Cody Gakpo remains a concern for Gameweek 28. The Dutchman sat out the midweek win over Paris Saint-Germain after aggravating an ankle issue – and Arne Slot revealed that the forward was yet to train since.
“He didn’t train yesterday yet, so let’s see if he can train with us today. Again, close call it will probably be. It’s not a long-term injury but yeah, he still had a bit of pain yesterday so he was not able to train. Let’s see where he is today. So, I can’t give you the answer yet.” – Arne Slot on Cody Gakpo
Joe Gomez (hamstring), Tyler Morton (shoulder) and Conor Bradley (muscle) are all still sidelined.
Rotation will be as much of a concern as injuries for many Fantasy managers heading into Gameweek 28.
The visit of Southampton precedes the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 tie with PSG on Tuesday. The Carabao Cup final follows next Sunday.
Slot was asked how the upcoming cup matches and quick turnaround could impact his team selection on Saturday – and he seemed to lay the groundwork for some rotation.
“For me, the one against Southampton is by far the most important – not only because it’s the first one we play but it is a very, very important one for us.
“So if, if, I make the choice to play other players, that is because I think that is the biggest chance to win the game tomorrow and not because I want to rest them for the game against Paris Saint-Germain.
“So, the only way I make a change is because maybe it’s only two days in between, and then I might feel that playing someone else is a better option, because we have many players that are of equal quality.
“But that then only has to do with us getting a bigger chance of winning the game against Southampton than it has anything to do with the Paris Saint-Germain game.
“If there would be three, four, five days in between the last game and this one, I would have probably started the same 11 again. Even if there was only two days in between for the next one. But since there’s only two days in between and we had to fight really hard, and it’s not the first game after being three or four weeks out, it’s probably the 50th game in three months. I don’t know how many. So you take that into account.” – Arne Slot
Mohamed Salah was meanwhile namechecked when Slot was asked about Harvey Elliott, Wednesday’s match-winner.
“I don’t think Mo was happy that I took him off five minutes before the end, if I looked at his body language. And there’s a reason for that because he is a player that can score a goal for us, even if he’s not even playing his best game. So, that’s why I hardly take him off. Now I did, and Dominik Szoboszlai is, yeah, you could call him a machine. Every time you play him on the pitch, he’s the one that runs most. And that’s what makes it sometimes hard for Harvey.” – Arne Slot
NEWCASTLE UNITED
As reported earlier in the week, Lewis Hall is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his foot.
Now, Eddie Howe has confirmed that Sven Botman (knee) will go under the knife. The Dutch defender may not be seen again until May.
“So with Sven, we’ve been trying to get him back to full fitness and he was actually very close for the Brighton game [but] just the day before, [in] one of the last actions in training, he felt the same problem in his knee. So, that meant again just a sort of a resetting. We still hoped he could come back but then this week again, he’s felt the same discomfort, so it looks like he will now have to have an operation.
“It’s a really minor operation but whenever you have an operation, there’s always a slight unknown. But we hope he’ll be back sort of eight weeks is a timeline so that should give him plenty of time to get some games in before the end of the season.” – Eddie Howe on Sven Botman
Last Sunday’s cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion came at a further cost, with Anthony Gordon sent off for violent conduct. He now begins a three-match ban after the Magpies opted against an appeal.
Alexander Isak (groin) and Kieran Trippier (back) both came off in that loss to the Seagulls after seemingly struggling.
Howe initially gave a non-committal update when asked about the pair.
“We have still got two more training sessions before Monday night’s game but at the moment that would be enough and fingers crossed we can keep everyone else fit.” – Eddie Howe, when asked how Messrs Trippier and Isak were and if he had any fresh concerns
However, later in the presser, he said that Isak was “fine”.
“Yeah, he’s fine. Sunday he came off, he was just feeling a bit fatigued I think towards the end of the game, a bit tight in his body, so we withdrew him. Just trying to think back to this week but I think he’s trained every day. Yeah, he’s good.” – Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak
“Well fingers crossed, yeah. I mean, as I said, if he’s fit, he’ll play, because that’s the best way to get him in the best physical condition for future games. Footballers are finely tuned athletes and when they’re ready to play, they have to play, and we have to give them that opportunity. So, fingers crossed Alex will be fine. I understand the intense speculation and spotlight on him but the best thing we can do is just relax and let him play his football.” – Eddie Howe when asked if Alexander Isak was fit to play against West Ham and then the EFL Cup final a week later
“If you actually look at it in isolation, we’ve got three injured players in our squad. That includes Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall. We’ve got one player suspended. By any team in the Premier League, that’s not huge numbers. The challenge we have is we have a very small squad.” – Eddie Howe
Jamaal Lascelles (knee), as Howe mentioned, remains unavailable.
While Arne Slot may have been signalling his intent to rotate, the Newcastle boss did nothing of the sort.
“No, I don’t think so, no. The focus is on West Ham, it’s a Premier League game. Our Premier League form is hugely important to us. We need to get back on track in that respect. We need to feel the momentum of winning and the best chance we have of winning any cup is to go into that game feeling as good as we can. The only way to feel good is to win, so we will pick our strongest team.
“Resting players doesn’t even come into my head. I mean, if you think a player not playing for two weeks before a huge game is good for them, that’s not the case. They need regular football to give them the best chance of being fit but also performing, so those players, as I say, will play.” – Eddie Howe when asked if he had to think about the EFL Cup final and who he may need to rest and protect for Wembley
Anthony Gordon begins a three-match ban, meanwhile.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Jean-Philippe Mateta (ear) will miss the visit of Ipswich Town but the good news is that he could be back by Gameweek 30.
Mateta needed 25 stitches on an ear laceration after being floored by Millwall’s goalkeeper last weekend but wasn’t concussed and didn’t suffer any other injuries.
“He won’t play tomorrow but he is doing well. He is at home and recovery is [going] well. Fortunately, he had no fractures and no concussion. A huge wound was stitched but the healing is going like we expected and we hoped.
“He will go with us next week to Marbella, training individually. If everything goes how we expect and how we wish, then he should be available for the Fulham game [the FA Cup tie after the March international break, which precedes Gameweek 30].” – Oliver Glasner
Elsewhere, Will Hughes will be suspended for Gameweeks 28 and 30 after collecting his 10th booking of 2024/25 last week.
Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are out for the season with knee injuries.
MANCHESTER CITY
Nathan Ake (foot) has joined Manuel Akanji (groin) and John Stones (adductor) on the medium-term injury list.
The Dutchman underwent surgery on a fractured foot this week and faces well over two months on the sidelines.
“Ten weeks, 11 weeks [out], they said to me.
“When it’s surgery, it’s pretty serious. When you go to surgery, it is because something wrong happened. It’s important that it is done. He has struggled a lot this season with the problems in his feet. It happened.” – Pep Guardiola on Nathan Ake
“Now some central defenders from the academy are coming to training with us because with the absence of the three central defenders almost until the end of the season… maybe in the World Cup will be ready, maybe in the last one or two games. But when you’re talking about eight to 10 weeks, it’s a lot of time.” – Pep Guardiola
Rodri (knee) has been back in individual training but City are looking more towards the end of the season for a playing return.
Oscar Bobb (leg/ankle) should be back sooner following his own return to the grass.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Dominic Solanke suffered only a knock when hobbling off at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night and could even be involved this weekend.
“With Dom, I think he got a knee into the backside so it’s probably a bit sore. It’s a knock so hopefully it settles down pretty quickly.” – Ange Postecoglou on Dominic Solanke
Ben Davies (unknown injury) may also return.
“I’m not really sure. He’s actually training at the moment so we will see how he feels. He’s definitely progressed and he feels good, so we will see how we go in the next 24/48 hours. He has a chance [for Sunday] but we will see how he goes.” – Ange Postecoglou on Ben Davies
Dejan Kulusevski (foot) joined the injury list earlier this week and is likely to be out till after the March international break.
Richarlison (calf) also remains sidelined, while Radu Dragusin (knee) is out for the season.
Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, like Solanke, were among the substitutes in the Netherlands in midweek. They could now be involved in Gameweek 28.
“Yeah, they’ve a chance. When I saw the pitch the night before [the AZ game] I pretty much made up my mind that I wasn’t going to risk them. It wasn’t a great pitch, and it wasn’t steady underfoot. It wasn’t the sort of game I thought I needed to expose them. A couple of extra days’ training and recovery and hopefully both are in line to feature.” – Ange Postecoglou on whether Messrs van de Ven and Romero could feature on Sunday
CHELSEA
Benoit Badiashile (muscle) and Trevoh Chalobah (back) returned to the Chelsea squad for Thursday’s UEFA Conference League tie against FC Copenhagen.
Malo Gusto came off in that match but could make a very swift recovery for Sunday’s clash with Leicester City.
“He’s okay, he’s better. They just said to me that probably he could be available for Sunday’s game, also, so hopefully we can have him for Sunday’s game.” – Enzo Maresca on Malo Gusto
In a further boost, Romeo Lavia (muscle) has rejoined training in the last few days.
Nicolas Jackson (hamstring) is back running but won’t feature this weekend, while Marc Guiu (hamstring) and Noni Madueke (hamstring) also remain out.
“Wes [Fofana, who returned on the bench in Gameweek 27] is training with us already more than 10 days, so he is back. Benoit also is back. Romeo started to work with us, that is good news. He is still far from being fit 100% but he is starting to work with us.
“The rest are still out: Nicolas [Jackson], Marc [Guiu], Aaron [Anselmino] and Noni [Madueke].
“[Jackson] is starting running outside, he has started to do something outside also. But I think the programme is still the same in terms of probably after the international break [before returning].” – Enzo Maresca
Mykhailo Mudryk is still provisionally banned by the Football Association.
ARSENAL
We didn’t get anything new on the fitness front from Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal’s injury situation is, so far as we’re aware, unchanged from Gameweek 27.
Gabriel Jesus (knee), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Gabriel Martinelli (hamstring), Kai Havertz (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) remain out, with Jesus, Havertz and Tomiyasu sidelined for the season.
Saka and Martinelli had yet to resume training as of Monday.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is available again: he served a one-match ban in the draw at Nottingham Forest. His substitution in the midweek win over PSV was linked to him running the risk of another sending off, having already been booked.
“I think it was quite clear that we had a liability there with the yellow card and then the next action. It wasn’t the moment to take any risks and we have learned from that experience of managing the game for so long, especially with how important this competition is. It’s a lesson to learn for him, for sure. We’ll support and help him, but the line is really thin in this sport and he needs to understand that.” – Mikel Arteta on Myles Lewis-Skelly
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Matheus Cunha begins a three-match ban for violent conduct this weekend – and his punishment may be more severe than that.
The Football Association charged the Wolves forward with misconduct on Wednesday, following his red card in the cup defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
He was banned for two matches after being charged with the same offence earlier in the campaign. So, it could be Gameweek 33 at the earliest before we see him again.
Elsewhere, Rodrigo Gomes (pelvis), Emmanuel Agbadou (muscle) and Goncalo Guedes (knee) all return from injury.
“Very positive because Agbadou is ready to help us. Munetsi had a problem in the last game but he is ready to help the team. Guedes is ready to help the team. Rodrigo is ready to help the team it. Bellegarde, because he got something in the last game, but he’s ready to help the team.” – Vitor Pereira
“We don’t know, we don’t know. We’ll see, we’ll see. We have the last training today, he is working with the team and I must decide.” – Vitor Pereira on if Emmanuel Agbadou can start
Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Leon Chiwome (knee) and Enso Gonzalez (knee) are on the longer-term injury list.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Fabian Hurzeler revealed that Kaoru Mitoma was only suffering from cramp when coming off against Newcastle last weekend. The Japan international is therefore fit to feature in Gameweek 28.
Hurzeler also said that the injury situation was otherwise unchanged – so Lewis Dunk (ribs) and Joel Veltman (foot) are still out.
“[Mitoma] just had a cramp so he will be an option for tomorrow. For the rest of the team, it’s the same. So, there are no new injuries or no new news, so the options will be the same.
“Lewis Dunk is closer but still not an option.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Another defender, Tariq Lamptey, is suspended in Gameweek 28 after being sent off for two bookable offences at St James’ Park.
“We have different options. We played with Mats Wieffer the last time. We played two weeks before with Jack Hinshelwood. So, we have several options.” – Fabian Hurzeler on what he will do at right-back
James Milner (hamstring), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Igor Julio (hamstring) and Jason Steele (shoulder) are on the longer-term injury list.
Matt O’Riley is over his illness but now has a knee issue.
“We have to take care of his other issue with his knee. We have to see if he can train today.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Matt O’Riley
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa have almost everyone back available.
Pau Torres (foot) returned for the first time in 2025 in midweek.
Matty Cash, who sat out the previous two matches, and Tyrone Mings (knee), absent in the FA Cup win over Cardiff City, were also part of the matchday squad to face Bruges.
Now, Amadou Onana (muscle) is close to returning.
That leaves only Ross Barkley (calf) definitely on the sidelines for the trip to Brentford.
“Barkley is out, not available for tomorrow, Onana is starting to work with the team and is close to being with us as well.” – Unai Emery
BRENTFORD
Christian Norgaard (concussion) and Mathias Jensen (adductor) will be back involved this weekend.
Sepp van den Berg (knee) meanwhile will resume training next week.
Rico Henry (hamstring) is already in full training, while Aaron Hickey (hamstring) made his comeback after a year out with an appearance for the under-21s last Friday.
Igor Thiago (joint infection), Josh Dasilva (knee) and Gustavo Nunes (back) are back running but remain out.
BOURNEMOUTH
The Cherries continue to monitor and manage Ryan Christie, who is suffering with a “chronic” groin injury. The midfielder may need surgery on the issue but that could be delayed until the summer.
Julian Araujo (hamstring) was declared “available” by Andoni Iraola ahead of the FA Cup fifth round last weekend but has now taken a step back in his recovery. Iraola said the defender was “still not feeling 100%”, so he remains sidelined.
Marcos Senesi (quad) could be the next one off the rank: he was seeking his surgeon’s approval to resume training last Friday. There was no further update on him, however.
Adam Smith (hamstring/calf) and Enes Unal (knee) remain sidelined, while Illia Zabarnyi also serves the final game of his three-match ban.
Iraola was asked about Evanilson‘s recent recovery, too. The Brazilian made a quicker-than-expected return to action and started in the FA Cup last weekend, with Dango Ouattara dropping to the bench.
“He played well [against Wolves in the cup], he looked quite natural, and it’s very good news for us because obviously he’s very important and I hope he continues the same way.
“Now for sure he needs… I don’t know, these things need more time but he’s training normal, he’s playing normal, so let’s hope that continues like this.” – Andoni Iraola on Evanilson
MANCHESTER UNITED
Patrick Dorgu continues his domestic suspension after his straight red card in Gameweek 27. This is match two of a three-game ban.
The injury situation hadn’t improved much ahead of Thursday’s Europa League tie against Real Sociedad.
Toby Collyer was the only name back, with Kobbie Mainoo (calf), Jonny Evans (back), Mason Mount (hamstring), Luke Shaw (hamstring), Altay Bayindir (unknown) and Tom Heaton (unknown) still out.
Amad Diallo (ankle) and Lisandro Martinez (knee) are sidelined for the longer term.
There are two new concerns, too, with Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte not being risked because of knocks.
Ruben Amorim is not sure whether either will recover for the visit of Arsenal.
“I don’t know [if anyone can return]. I don’t know. We need to survive Sunday. The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes [against Sociedad]. We have to prepare for Sunday and then think about this important game in our season on Thursday. But, in this moment, I don’t know” – Ruben Amorim
When pushed on the team news question again, Amorim was more pessimistic.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so, so we’ll see.” – Ruben Amorim when asked again if anyone will return
WEST HAM UNITED
Vladimir Coufal (hamstring) and Lucas Paqueta (ankle) have returned to training this week and could feature against Newcastle United.
“No, he’s fine. Obviously he’s been disappointed because he’s missed a couple of games with his injury but he’s worked really hard to get back on the pitch. He’s done that well, he’s trained well this week. I’ve found him absolutely no problem whatsoever since we’ve been here. He’s always given his best in training and in games. The other stuff is out of my hands and out of my control.” – Graham Potter when asked if he had any reservations about selecting Lucas Paqueta because of a looming hearing into his alleged breach of betting rules
Niclas Füllkrug (hamstring) has also been on the grass but this match comes too soon for him.
Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) and Michail Antonio (leg) remain out for Monday’s game.
EVERTON
David Moyes has confirmed that Everton have no fresh fitness concerns.
However, the Toffees boss says he is unlikely to welcome anyone back from injury this weekend.
Iliman Ndiaye (knee), Orel Mangala (knee), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (calf), Armando Broja (ankle) and Dwight McNeil (knee) look set to be unavailable, then, although Coleman has an outside chance of featuring.
“Yes [the warm-weather camp helped the injured players]. We took all of the players. It was good for Seamus Coleman and Broja, in particular, Chermiti as well. They’re all getting themselves closer to getting ready to play again.
“Seamus is much nearer [to being ready to play]. Whether he’s ready to be involved [now], I’m not quite sure yet. He’s still training and we’re obviously trying not to get him reinjured so we’re giving him every opportunity to make sure he’s fine.
“The likes of Dwight [McNeil], Iliman [Ndiaye] and Dom [Calvert-Lewin]. who would come into our forward players who we’re needing back – our creative players as well. I don’t think any of those three, at the moment, are really close, but Ili is doing much better. He’s not running yet or anything but he’s certainly improving from his injury.
“[Broja] is training. He’s joined in a little bit but he’s not fully, fully right yet. I’m hoping that, I would say, after the international break would probably be the right time. There’s an outside chance that maybe he could be fit for next week, maybe, but, at the moment, I can only follow the medical team. If I was guessing, it looks much more like after the international break.” – David Moyes
One player who will be available is Abdoulaye Doucoure, who missed the Gameweek 27 draw at Brentford to attend the birth of his son.
LEICESTER CITY
Woyo Coulibaly should return to the Leicester squad this weekend after missing the defeat to West Ham United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy said that the Foxes have no fresh worries.
Ricardo Pereira (hamstring) has rejoined full training this week after a long lay-off and is “available for selection”.
Abdul Fatawu (knee) is out for the season.
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