We’ll get the Gameweek 35 team news from at least 12 Premier League managers on Friday.
That might be 13, should Nuno Espirito Santo also be facing the media today. We’re yet to get a time for his pre-match press conference.
All the injury updates will appear in this ‘live’ article, which will be regularly refreshed during the day.
For the headline news from the seven pressers held on Thursday, check out this article here.
GAMEWEEK 35: FRIDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Liverpool: Slot pledges to rotate in the run-in, Bradley should be fit
- Arsenal: Calafiori + Jorginho still out, Havertz still on course for late-season return
- Newcastle United: Howe on Isak + Gordon, Joelinton likely out for the season
- Aston Villa: Rashford injured but could feature again in 2024/25
- Tottenham Hotspur: Bergvall could be out for the season, Solanke a doubt, Maddison set for scan
- Manchester United: Amorim set to rotate, Mazraoui won’t feature, Amad returns
- Chelsea: Maresca hopeful on Sanchez + Nkunku
- Bournemouth: Evanilson available, three still out, no fresh concerns
- Crystal Palace: No new worries, Glasner to pick strongest side
- Brentford: No fresh concerns, Hickey + Thiago in training
- Everton: Calvert-Lewin could return, Broja back available
- West Ham United: Summerville’s season over, Ferguson available again
GAMEWEEK 35: FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
🚨 Friday's FPL Press Conferences!
🍒 9am – Iraola
🔴 9am – Slot
⚫️ 9.30am – Howe
🐝 12.30pm – Frank
⭕️ 1pm – Arteta
🧿 1pm – Maresca
🦅 1.30pm – Glasner
🍬 1.30pm – Moyes
👹 1.30pm – Amorim
🐔 1.30pm – Postecoglou
⚒️ 1.30pm -Potter
🟣 2pm – Emery
🌳 TBC – Nuno pic.twitter.com/CLjVNzR1HO— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) May 2, 2025
LIVERPOOL
With the title in the bag, Arne Slot has threatened some rotation in the closing weeks – rendering this article here now useless…
“My line-ups will be different to what we’ve had mostly during the last 10 months. We’re not going to change everyone but there will be a few players that come into the team, there will be a certain rotation in the upcoming games.” – Arne Slot
“I think some of them deserve to play already earlier this season because they’ve trained so well, they are good enough to play for this club, but I mainly chose the same players. And I think this is also a moment to see where they are, also looking towards next season maybe a bit already, but definitely also because they deserve to play this season.” – Arne Slot on his fringe players
“Harvey is one of the players that haven’t had as much playing time as he maybe deserved.” – Arne Slot on Harvey Elliott
“As I said, it’s not now that all the ones that have played all the games are not going to play any more, and all the other ones are going to play now. I did this once before, Plymouth away. And I got quite a lot of criticism by you, or didn’t I? So I don’t think… and that is probably then also not an honest chance. So we will mix it up. But it’s not going to be four games with the same line-up as we had against Tottenham.” – Arne Slot
On the team news front, Conor Bradley (knock) is expected to train today and be in the squad on Sunday.
“He will train with us today, so that’s the first start. Let’s see how he does. So, we expect him to be available. I don’t know if that means that he’s available to start but if all goes well today and tomorrow, he will probably be in the squad.” – Arne Slot on Conor Bradley
Joe Gomez (hamstring) remains out.
ARSENAL
Riccardo Calafiori (knee) and Jorginho (rib) remain out.
So too does Kai Havertz (hamstring) but Mikel Arteta again insisted that the German has a chance of featuring before the campaign’s end.
“I think so. I think if everything goes the way it’s going at the moment, and the way it’s planned, I think he will have a chance to play a few games this season.” – Mikel Arteta on whether Kai Havertz will play again this season
Elsewhere, the seasons of Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are over, while on-loan goalkeeper Neto also can’t face his parent club this weekend.
Ben White and Mikel Merino, absent a week earlier against Crystal Palace, were back available in midweek.
Arteta gave little away as to what he has planned for his line-up.
“Now we will assess how the squad is, what we are going to do tomorrow certainly with the players that we have available and with the line-up and the possible subs.” – Mikel Arteta
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Having missed the win over Ipswich Town last weekend, Joelinton is likely out for the season because of a niggling knee issue.
“The likelihood is it’ll be difficult, I think, but with Joe, you can never rule him out. He’s so motivated to try and come back.
“Bit of discomfort in his knee last week just before the game. He sought a specialist opinion, that opinion was that it was nothing serious but he needed a period of rest. He’s now in Brazil and so we’ll wait and see if we can get him back before the end of the season but the likelihood is probably not.” – Eddie Howe on Joelinton
Lewis Hall (foot), Matt Targett (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (knee) remain out, although the latter has returned to team training this week.
Sven Botman came through his comeback substitute appearance unscathed, meanwhile.
Anthony Gordon has been back available for a while but Eddie Howe did say after Gameweek 34 that Gordon wasn’t “100% match-fit” due to knee discomfort.
Howe followed that up with more quotes this week.
“I don’t think it’s too bad. Of course, that was last week, he’s had a full week’s training this week and he’s looked better physically, I’d say. So, the main thing for him is to try and now, if he’s 100% fit, focus on his performance and make sure he’s at the levels that he has been for the majority of the season. He’s a massive player for us and we’re going to need him.
“There’s no doubting Anthony’s qualities. He’s an outstanding player. Of course, the team’s been consistent without him and that’s always a challenge but we need those players knocking on the door.” – Eddie Howe on Anthony Gordon
Howe was also asked about Alexander Isak, who has perhaps been below par of late.
“I think there’s more to come from Alex than he’s shown maybe in recent weeks but I think we’re working towards that. You got to remember he’s had a couple of little niggles within his groin. That then limited his ability to train. I think he’s trained fine this week, he’s looked good, and he’s a difference-maker and we need him at 100%.” – Eddie Howe
ASTON VILLA
Marcus Rashford (hamstring) will miss the visit of Fulham as expected but Unai Emery suggested on Friday that the loanee could still have a part to play in 2024/25.
Gameweek 37 would be the last match he could feature in for the Villans, as a meeting with parent club Manchester United follows on the final day.
“For tomorrow, he’s not available. He’s working on his comeback as soon as possible, but there’s still weeks to be available or not with us for the rest of the season.
“Of course, there’s four weeks and hopefully he will play with us one or two matches.” – Unai Emery on Marcus Rashford
Villa have no other fitness concerns that we’re aware of.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Lucas Bergvall is likely out for the season with the ankle issue he picked up before Thursday’s win over Bodo/Glimt.
“Lucas, it looks like the injury is significant enough to probably keep him out now for the rest of the season. He just tweaked ligaments in his ankle so he is out.” – Ange Postecoglou
James Maddison (knee) and Dominic Solanke (thigh) sustained problems during that game, with the former set for a scan and the latter a “doubt” for Sunday.
“Dom’s not too bad, he’s still a bit sore from last night but we don’t think it’s anything serious. Obviously a doubt for the weekend but we’re hoping it’ll settle down pretty quickly.
“Madders is a bit more of a concern because it’s a knee, we’ve sent him for a scan and just waiting to hear the outcome.” – Ange Postecoglou
Son Heung-min (foot) also seems to be looking more towards next Thursday, while Radu Dragusin (knee) won’t feature again in 2024/25.
“Sonny is working hard, he’s progressing, still doing the individual [training] but he’s out on the grass, feels better every day so we’ll see how he’s going by Thursday.” – Ange Postecoglou
Like his counterpart at Manchester United (see below), Ange Postecoglou promised changes on Sunday.
“Yeah, likely. I think it’s important for us because it’s a quick turnaround and we’ve had our issues this year and continue to have issues. That’s just the way our season’s going. At the same time, it just goes to show how important it is that the players who aren’t playing are ready to go, like with Biss last night.” – Ange Postecoglou when asked if there will be ‘plenty of changes’ on Sunday
MANCHESTER UNITED
Matthijs de Ligt (foot) and Amad Diallo (ankle) were involved the United squad for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Athletic Club, coming on as substitutes.
Diogo Dalot (calf), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring), Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Toby Collyer (leg) remained at home, however, and look set to miss out again.
Ruben Amorim again heavily hinted that he will rotate for Sunday’s clash with Brentford, naming Noussair Mazraoui as one player he won’t risk.
“In this moment it’s hard to separate [the Premier League and the Europa League]. We know that we have always a responsibility. But in this moment we have to take a risk, and there are some positions that we don’t have more players. For example, Nous Mazraoui cannot play. He’s in the limit to get an injury.
“So we are going to deal with that and prepare a game against a team that they won today and is in a great moment. And we have always a responsibility to perform. We have always a responsibility to offer the result. But in this moment, we have to be clear: our focus is more on saving players and trying to be competitive. It’s not a good thing to say, but we need to understand the context.” – Ruben Amorim
CHELSEA
Enzo Maresca is hopeful of having Robert Sanchez and Christopher Nkunku (both knocks) available for Liverpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku seems to be the biggest concern.
“At the moment, just Marc Guiu and Anselmino, they are out. Christo Nkunku, he has a small problem.
“When we get back to Cobham, the medical staff will tell me how [Nkunku] is and what his status is. He wasn’t with us in Sweden.
“It is exactly the same for Robert Sanchez too, although he is working on the pitch so compared to Christo, he is a better situation. He wasn’t with us in Sweden either and we will see and assess them both before Sunday.” – Enzo Maresca
Aaron Anselmino (unknown), Wesley Fofana (muscle), Marc Guiu (hamstring) and Omari Kellyman (hamstring) remain out, while Mykhailo Mudryk is still provisionally banned by the Football Association.
Malo Gusto (muscle) returned to the Chelsea squad for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Djurgarden.
BOURNEMOUTH
Evanilson is free to face Arsenal after his red card in Gameweek 34 was rescinded.
Ryan Christie (groin), Luis Sinisterra (hamstring) and Enes Unal (knee) remain out for the Cherries but Andoni Iraola has no fresh concerns for the weekend.
“Right now we only have issues with Ryan, Enes and Sini, who is not getting there. The others are available and ready for tomorrow.
“No [fresh concerns].” – Andoni Iraola
Lewis Cook has been struggling with a niggling ankle issue in recent weeks but the versatile midfielder was at least fit enough to be on the bench against Manchester United.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Oliver Glasner reported no fresh concerns for the Nottingham Forest game on Monday.
Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are out for the season with knee injuries, while on-loan back-up goalkeeper Matt Turner can’t face his parent club.
“It’s good times at the moment. Everyone had a few days off and could enjoy the win, but yesterday we met and we watched a few clips from the semi-final and analysed it.
“Then it was the message: we spoke for maybe 30 seconds about the final and City, and then I told them that, from yesterday, we don’t talk about City and the final anymore until the Monday after the Tottenham game [on 11th May].
“We had two very good sessions. I was very surprised – usually after four days off, it takes a bit of time, but the players looked very sharp, very focused, with great intensity and quality in the training sessions, and today was the same.
“All players are still fit, no problems. All players take part in the training sessions, and this is how we want to end the season.
“We have three-and-a-half weeks now. We want to end the season at the best level that’s possible – and the players give me confidence that this is possible.” – Oliver Glasner
Glasner was asked about his team selection plans for the visit of Forest.
“It’s easy for me because I always do the same: pick the best available team. I think that to have the biggest chance to win it, and this I will do on Monday again.
“We could see that players are fit, players are ready, and I think that, with our schedule, we don’t have to save energy and power for any game, especially now.
“It’s always better staying in the rhythm than having maybe 10 days, two weeks, with no game – you lose your rhythm. The players are used to playing in this rhythm, so [it will be the] best possible team.” – Oliver Glasner
BRENTFORD
Thomas Frank doesn’t appear to have any fresh concerns from Thursday’s win at Nottingham Forest.
“Everyone is safe, fit, okay. Ready to go again on Sunday. Of course, it’s a tight turnaround but it is what it is. We are looking forward to play on Sunday. It’s all about recovery, it was basically all about recovery from the final whistle last night.” – Thomas Frank
Long-term absentees Igor Thiago (knee) and Aaron Hickey (hamstring) are back in full training for the Bees but weren’t involved in midweek. Frank suggested on Wednesday that it might be “one or two weeks” before a first-team comeback is considered.
Josh Dasilva (knee) and Fabio Carvalho (shoulder) remain out, while Vitaly Janelt underwent season-ending surgery this week to correct a niggling heel issue.
EVERTON
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) could return to the matchday squad for Saturday’s clash with Ipswich Town.
“I’m hoping to have Dom around it – he’s trained this week. In truth, it would probably be too quick to put him back in and even minutes is a little bit worrying but I think I want to get him back involved.
“We’ve only got three or four weeks to go and I’ve tried to do it with a lot of players who have come back from injury – getting them back in quite quickly and even if I start them on the bench, they might get a bit of time, they might not. I’m not sure yet.” – David Moyes
Loanee Armando Broja is available again, having been unable to face his parent club last weekend.
James Tarkowski (hamstring), Jesper Lindstrøm (hernia) and Orel Mangala (knee) remain sidelined for the Toffees.
WEST HAM UNITED
Graham Potter wasn’t asked much about the latest West Ham United team news in Friday’s presser but did comment on Crysencio Summerville (hamstring), who underwent surgery this week.
“The target would be the first few weeks of pre-season.” – Graham Potter on Crysencio Summerville
Michail Antonio (leg) is also still sidelined but Edson Alvarez, who missed out last weekend with a back injury, could return.
Loanee Evan Ferguson is available again, having been ineligible to face his parent club in Gameweek 34.
