We’ve got some important press conferences ahead of us on Friday – and this will be the place to come to get all the big Gameweek 16 team news.

We’re hoping to hear from 17 Premier League managers today, hopefully clearing up the lingering concerns we have about flagged players.

As ever, we’ll be bringing you the latest key team news updates in this ‘live’ article. Keep checking back throughout the day for the latest updates.

For the headline updates from Thursday’s three press conferences, check out this article here.

GAMEWEEK 16: KEY INJURY UPDATES FROM FRIDAY’S PRESSERS

• Arsenal: Calafiori ban, Arteta little help on Rice, Timber, Trossard + Saliba
• Liverpool: Slot to talk to Salah today, Isak knock, Bradley ban
• Chelsea: Palmer available but had “mixed feeling” after training, Fofana recovers
• Manchester City: Toure fills in for Pep, updates on Stones + Rodri
• Crystal Palace: “Looks good” on Mateta + Sarr, Munoz out for 4-6 weeks
• Manchester United: Magure + de Ligt out, Sesko could return, Amorim still unsure on AFCON trio
• Bournemouth: Iraola to give Senesi every chance, Milosavljevic out for 2-3 months
• Aston Villa: Martinez + Pau to be assessed
• Newcastle United: Joelinton a doubt, no one expected back
• Brighton and Hove Albion: Milner, Mitoma, Ayari + Watson available, Tzimas out for the season
• Tottenham Hotspur: No fresh concerns, Solanke in individual training
• Everton: Branthwaite + Rohl back on the grass, Gueye + Iroegbunam return after suspension
• Nottingham Forest: Yates likely out till 2026, four return in midweek, no further word on Sels
• Sunderland: Reinildo trains, Cirkin ready, Diarra to train next week
• Leeds United: Nmecha ruled out and faces a rescan
• West Ham United: Nuno coy on team news, Scarles an option, AFCON pair available
• Wolverhampton Wanderers: Bellegarde out for 6+ weeks, Gomes back from a ban

GAMEWEEK 16 PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES

*Manchester City’s press conference will now be held by Kolo Toure due to a personal issue for Pep Guardiola

ARSENAL

Surprise, surprise, Mikel Arteta wasn’t much help with the injury and illness doubts that Arsenal have going into Gameweek 16.

Declan Rice (illness), William Saliba (ankle), Leandro Trossard (calf) and Jurrien Timber (knock) were the names in question – and there won’t be any flags coming off before the deadline.

“We have to wait and see. Yesterday we didn’t train, so he hasn’t trained with us yet. We have an extra day, we train this afternoon. Let’s see if he can be available or not.

“[The ‘matter of days’ prognosis] remains the same, yeah. If you ask me [about] the Everton game [in Gameweek 17], I think he will be fit. For tomorrow, I don’t know.

“It was something quite small. It came from an ankle injury that he had and then he started to modify the way he was running and he started to overload an area, which is something common. But at some point he was uncomfortable continuing to be able to train and play and we had to stop it. He looks better but we’ll have to wait and see if it’s enough for him to be able to train with the team.” – Mikel Arteta on William Saliba

“Timber, again, depends [on] how he feels today.

“It was a knock that he picked [up in Gameweek 15] and he wasn’t feeling comfortable. So, again, I think it’s something a matter of days. Whether it’s tomorrow or not, we will see.” – Mikel Arteta on Jurrien Timber

“Let’s see how he is today. Obviously, he was ill but that’s an illness. Normally in a few days, it gets resolved, but we have to wait how far he can push.” – Mikel Arteta on Declan Rice

“Again, another one that is a matter of days. Sounds boring but is the reality. So, we don’t know, and if he is available, for how long.” – Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard

We do know that Max Dowman (ankle), Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Kai Havertz (knee) and Gabriel Magalhaes (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Riccardo Calafiori is also suspended in Gameweek 16 due to yellow card accumulation.

And Arteta did at least confirm that there were no fresh concerns from Wednesday’s win in Belgium.

LIVERPOOL

Mohamed Salah will reportedly be involved against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend after a reconciliation of sorts with Arne Slot.

If involved, this will be Salah’s last match with Liverpool before he jets off to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Earlier in the day, when facing the media, Slot had pledged to chat with the Egyptian.

“I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome of that conversation determines how it will look tomorrow.

“What I need is a conversation with him. I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. You can keep on trying but there is not much more to say about it [other than] that I speak to him today and, like I said, the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow.

“I think we have decided as a club, and I was part of that decision, not to take him to the Inter Milan game. I’m always in contact with [the club executives], but when it comes to the decision-making of the line-up or the squad, they always leave that open to me.” – Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah

On the injury front, Slot will monitor Alexander Isak after the striker picked up a knock in midweek.

“Alex also got a knock in the first half, so let’s see how he has recovered from that today – if he’s able to start tomorrow and, if he’s able, if I make the decision to start [Isak and Hugo Ekitike] again together, or we do it in a different way.” – Arne Slot on Alexander Isak

Recent casualties Cody Gakpo (muscle) and Wataru Endo (ankle) remain out, as do Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring), Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring), Jayden Danns (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL).

“It’s going to be weeks.

“With Cody, it’s a muscle injury and Wata is an ankle injury.” – Arne Slot on Cody Gakpo and Wataru Endo

Federico Chiesa (illness) should be back, however.

“Federico is not ill anymore. He trained yesterday and will train today again, so I assume he’s ready to be in the squad tomorrow again.” – Arne Slot on Federico Chiesa

Conor Bradley serves a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation.

Away from injury news, Slot discussed his two-striker set-up in Milan, in which Isak and Hugo Ekitike started together.

“I think what we all saw – and which is completely normal – the more they will play together, the more they will adapt to each other and the better they will cooperate. I think it’s fair to say that the other two that were on the pitch, the two No.9s – [Marcus] Thuram and Lautaro Martinez – were more used to playing with each other.

“But I saw also promising things from the both of them. It’s been the second time they’ve played together for obvious reasons, because match fitness is the obvious reason for that. And I think we will see more of this in the future of them playing together.” – Arne Slot on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool’s fixture schedule eases after Gameweek 16, with long periods of rest between matches.

“I am almost happy that we’re out of the League Cup, because if we had to play with 13 outfield players available with any Premier League experience – we have more available, of course, but not players that have Premier League experience – and we have to go [to] Arsenal away on Tuesday again after already so many games played, maybe, maybe, maybe, I don’t know, people can understand a little bit better why I made that [EFL Cup] line-up against [Crystal] Palace, which wasn’t good for me but it was another decision I made for the team.

“Losing a game of football is never a good idea and that is what happened when we were not in the best run of form. But sometimes players need rest as well. Look at Dominik [Szoboszlai], look at Virgil [van Dijk], look at Ibou [Konate], look at Ryan [Gravenberch], they have played so many minutes because other ones weren’t available. So, it’s good for them that we go now to a run of games where there is one week rest in between. And players will come back from injuries [in that time] and when they are back from injuries there’s more to choose from as well.” – Arne Slot

CHELSEA

Cole Palmer, rested in midweek, is available but finished yesterday’s training session with a “mixed feeling”.

“He’s okay, he’s better. He’s, at the moment, available. We have one more session this afternoon. Yesterday, he finished the session with us with a mixed feeling, but overall, he’s okay.” – Enzo Maresca on Cole Palmer

Wesley Fofana is fit, too, despite suffering a freak eye injury in midweek.

“He is available, he is fine. He took part in the session yesterday and he’s completely fine.” – Enzo Maresca on Wesley Fofana

Still out are Liam Delap (shoulder), Dario Essugo (thigh), Romeo Lavia (quad), Levi Colwill (knee) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended).

“We don’t know yet, can be still two, three, four weeks. We don’t know exactly how many days he needs.” – Enzo Maresca on how long Liam Delap will be out

Moises Caicedo has one more match to go of his three-game ban; he’ll be back in Gameweek 17.

Enzo Maresca was asked about whether the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella might be fatigued after the Atalanta defeat, and whether Andrey Santos and Jorrel Hato may get more of a look-in soon.

“Enzo [Fernandez], Marc [Cucurella], as you said, they are playing many games. It’s normal that the level can not be always the same. I don’t have a doubt that Andrey [Santos] is going have his chance, Jorrel [Hato] exactly the same. Hopefully, tomorrow, or soon, we can give them some chances.” – Enzo Maresca

Despite Josh Acheampong‘s fine display (at right-back) in midweek, Maresca hinted that Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah would get the nod at centre-half again.

“Because in this moment, also with Trev [Chalobah] and Wes [Fofana], we had like four, five, six games with clean sheet, clean sheet, clean sheet. So sometimes you are also looking for stability. So this is the reason why. But again, when you know that you have a player that when you need him, he’s always ready to perform, it’s so important. So Josh has to continue to do what he’s doing.” – Enzo Maresca on why Josh Acheampong hasn’t been given more chances

MANCHESTER CITY

The big ‘unavailable’ news from the Manchester City presser concerned their manager, not their players.

Pep Guardiola couldn’t host his usual pre-match press conference because of a “small matter”, so up stepped Kolo Toure. Guardiola will be back in the dugout for the Crystal Palace fixture on Sunday.

Toure wasn’t much more use than his manager in terms of team news.

“Today, the players are off. Tomorrow, when everybody comes back, we’ll know more about the players.” – Kolo Toure

John Stones (thigh) joined Rodri (hamstring) and Mateo Kovacic (ankle) on the injury list last weekend. Guardiola didn’t know how long Stones would be out when asked in midweek but it doesn’t sound too serious.

“I’m sure it wasn’t something too big. I think he’ll be back soon.” – Kolo Toure on John Stones

“Rodri is training really well, he’s doing his rehab really, really well. He looks sharper and sharper every day we see him. For sure, I don’t think that we’re going to see him for the weekend but he’s on the process, definitely.” – Kolo Toure on Rodri

Toure confirmed that the AFCON-bound Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush will depart after this weekend.

CRYSTAL PALACE

We knew ahead of Oliver Glasner’s Friday presser (which was more a one-on-one interview) that Daniel Munoz (knee) would be out for 4-6 weeks.

But what we were looking for were updates on Jean-Philippe Mateta (knee) and Ismaila Sarr (ankle). It sounds positive on both fronts.

“We hope that JP [Mateta] and Ismaila Sarr are available for the game. Of course, we need to train with them and see if there is any reaction but it looks good and it looks okay right now. It will give us a little bit more option and it’s important that we have these options against City.” – Oliver Glasner

Glasner also confirmed that everyone came through the Shelbourne game unscathed. Justin Devenny seemed to be limping when being substituted in that match but is presumably okay.

“All who played [last night] should be fine.” – Oliver Glasner

Jaydee Canvot only missed Thursday’s Conference League match due to illness, so could return.

Cheick Doucoure (knee) and Caleb Kporha (back) have been absent all season, while fellow long-term absentee Chadi Riad (knee) was only partly reintegrated into team training this week.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Harry Maguire (hamstring) are still missing for Monday’s clash with Bournemouth.

Benjamin Sesko could return, although his recovery from a month-long knee injury has been affected by a bout of food poisoning.

“Maguire is out, de Ligt is out. Ben we have to see. We have to see if he’s available. He had some [food] poisoning, but we’ll see. Let’s wait. We have two trainings still. The other two are out, Benjamin we will assess.” – Ruben Amorim

“I think he has something in his back, I don’t know for sure. Sometimes you see it is not a big injury because he finished the game quite well against Crystal Palace but he has some pain. Sometimes you think it is going to be solved during this week, but sometimes he feels a little bit pain, so we have to be careful with that.” – Ruben Amorim on Matthijs de Ligt

The United boss still doesn’t have a departure date for the three players, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are away to AFCON.

Most Premier League players will be able to contest their Gameweek 16 fixtures before leaving for Morocco but with the Red Devils not playing until Monday night, there is a bit more uncertainty.

“We are still in conversation with the national teams. The game is just Monday. They are here, they are training, and we are trying to prepare all the scenarios to prepare the game.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be the same situation [for all three, with Mazraoui’s Morocco playing earlier]. It depends on the games, every international team has their ideas about when they want the players. I expect today to have a decision or maybe tomorrow. But we are waiting until the last moment to have all the players available to choose the best team.” – Ruben Amorim on his AFCON-bound trio

BOURNEMOUTH

Andoni Iraola said he hopes Marcos Senesi will be available for Monday night’s trip to Old Trafford.

The centre-back finished with cramps in Gameweek 15 and is still dealing with “some issues” but the Cherries are hopeful of his involvement.

Otherwise, Iraola said it was a “similar picture” to last week in terms of injury news.

“I think it’s a similar picture than we had past week. Marcos was the one that finished the game with some cramps and still is dealing with some issues there but there is not a proper muscle injury. So we hope he’s available also for Monday but we are not still sure. It’s strange because we still have three more days, so it’s difficult to know what’s going to happen but should be very similar from past weekend.” – Andoni Iraola on the team news

We now have a timeline on Veljko Milosavljevic (knee): he will be out for 2-3 months.

“Veljko has a proper injury from the game against Everton, it’s behind the knee. Some small ligaments you have behind the knee and the capsule are a little bit affected and he will be out, they told me around two, three months. That’s what I can say.” – Andoni Iraola

Ryan Christie (knee) and Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring) remain out, while Lewis Cook is still suspended.

Tyler Adams at least returns from a one-match ban of his own.

ASTON VILLA

Villa will assess both Emi Martínez (back) and Pau Torres (calf) ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Ham United.

The pair missed Thursday’s UEFA Europa League triumph against Basel in Switzerland.

“We need now to know how they are, the players after yesterday – the players who played and the players who were injured. We are training now and we are going to train tomorrow morning. And then travel to London. I don’t know.

“But, of course, how we are performing collectively when there are some players out, being injured, small or long injuries, I am so happy with how they are responding. We need every player ready to play.” – Unai Emery, in quotes from the Villa website

Tyrone Mings (hamstring) and Ross Barkley (knee) are still out.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Eddie Howe’s pre-Gameweek 16 presser was filmed in the aftermath of Wednesday’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

It was a brief affair, too, less than three minutes in length.

Howe did at least confirm that he wasn’t expecting any of his injured players back.

Sven Botman (back), Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Emil Krafth (knee), Will Osula (ankle) and Nick Pope (groin) look set to remain out, then.

“I don’t think so. I mean there is a slight… I don’t think so. We’ve got a few days to see. I haven’t been in contact with those guys for a few days, having travelled out here. So, yeah, I think that’s where we are.” – Eddie Howe on whether he is expecting any of his players back for the derby

After the Leverkusen game, Howe confirmed a problem for Joelinton (groin).

“It looks like a groin issue. I don’t know how serious it is at this moment in time.” – Eddie Howe on Joelinton

Yoane Wissa had been affected by illness ahead of the Champions League but was still involved as a substitute.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

There’s a massive fitness boost for Brighton this week.

Yasin Ayari (muscle), Kaoru Mitoma (ankle), Tommy Watson (unknown) and James Milner (muscle) are all fit again after injuries of varying lengths.

It’s not all good, however: Stefanos Tzimas will be out for the rest of the season with the knee injury he sustained in Gameweek 14.

Solly March (knee) and Adam Webster (knee) are still sidelined but the former is hoping to return by New Year.

“Everyone is available [from last weekend]. We have Kaoru back. We have James Milner back. We have Tommy Watson back. So, these are positive news. Of course, Stef will miss the whole season. Solly, I think he will be back in two, three weeks, and unfortunately, Adam is still out, but besides that, it is quite positive.

“Yasin is also back.” – Fabian Hurzeler

Mitoma’s return may mean that Maxim De Cuyper‘s ‘out of position’ run-outs on the left flank won’t continue for too much longer.

“He overcame the pain issue and he trained well this week, so he will be an option.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Kaoru Mitoma

“Now it’s about him to come back to his best shape. It’s about him to fight for his position. I think we have now several options on this position. We played there with Gomez. We played there with Maxim De Cuyper. So now Kaoru is back and exactly that’s what we wanted to have, like competition for every position, and now it’s about them to fight for it.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Kaoru Mitoma

With Tzimas out, fellow young Greek forward Charalampos Kostoulas – now just £4.8m in FPL – may get more of a look-in.

“I think he speeded it up by himself. So, he showed a really good performance against West Ham when he came in the game. Every time he went on the pitch, I think he had an impact and I think that’s exactly what he’s shown in every training session. When we think he’s ready to start a game then he will get the chance but it’s also his responsibility to show it every day and that’s what he’s doing so far.” – Fabian Hurzeler on whether Stefanos Tzimas’ injury speeds up the development plan for Charalampos Kostoulas

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Thomas Frank confirmed that everyone who was available for the Slavia Prague match will be fit for the trip to Nottingham Forest.

Brennan Johnson should rejoin the squad after missing out in midweek due to suspension. He also had a “minor thing” but has trained since.

Dominic Solanke (ankle), Destiny Udogie (hamstring), James Maddison (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Yves Bissouma (ankle) remain on the sidelines, although the former is now in individual training.

“As I said with Dom because it’s an injury he picked up in July and it’s dragged on for a while, I would much more prefer to say instead of ‘he is back soon’ and all of that, when he is training fully with the team and is available for selection that’s when I will say something. Hopefully there will be lots of footage of him training but yeah that is my message.” – Thomas Frank on Dominic Solanke

Radu Dragusin (knee) and Kota Takai (thigh) are injury-free and have been building up their match fitness with run-outs for the under-21s recently.

EVERTON

Merlin Rohl (hernia) and Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) are back on the grass, with the former set to return the quickest.

“Jarrad and Merlin are back on the grass and doing some work. Merlin is obviously much further on than Jarrad but they’re both back on the grass now. Hopefully we’re starting to see a chance that we get them back soon.” – David Moyes

Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gana Gueye both return from suspension this weekend, with Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye both playing for the final time before they leave for AFCON.

Seamus Coleman (hamstring) remains out.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Murillo (hamstring/illness), Douglas Luiz (hamstring), Oleksandr Zinchenko (muscle) and Dilane Bakwa (hamstring) all returned to the squad in last night’s win over Utrecht.

Chris Wood (knee), Taiwo Awoniyi (knock), Angus Gunn (knee) and Ola Aina (hamstring) remain out, however.

Ryan Yates (hamstring) has joined the injury list, too, and will likely be out until January.

We’ve not had any further word on Matz Sels (groin), who Sean Dyche said was not risked in the Europa League in order for him to have the best chance of recovering for the Spurs match.

SUNDERLAND

Reinildo (groin) has trained this week ahead of the clash with Newcastle United.

There were no quotes in the broadcast section of Regis Le Bris’ presser but the Sunderland Echo had a clear-cut line from the written section:

“Reinildo is fit, he trained on Thursday and again today.” – Regis Le Bris

Fellow left-back Dennis Cirkin (wrist) is “ready”, having returned to training over the last few weeks and got game-time with the under-21s.

Leo Hjelde (Achilles) has been in a similar boat to Cirkin but we didn’t get an update on him.

Aji Alese (shoulder) remains out and Luke O’Nien is suspended, while Habib Diarra (groin) isn’t quite ready to return for the Tyne-Wear derby. He’ll train next week, with Senegal then making a call on whether he’ll be involved at AFCON.

“Habib will train with the group next week. So, full training, ready to go. He’ll need probably one or two weeks to be at his best after a good rehab programme. After that, it depends on the AFCON and so on, but we needed to build his fitness level and after that he will be ready.

“The decision is with the national team. If they want to select the player, they can.” – Regis Le Bris on Habib Diarra

The Black Cats will be the hardest-hit of the Premier League clubs, losing up to six players (including Diarra and Reinildo) to the Africa Cup of Nations after Gameweek 16.

LEEDS UNITED

Lukas Nmecha (hamstring) has been ruled out of the Brentford game after a rescan on the injury he picked up in Gameweek 14.

 “He will also miss this game, he is still a bit symptomatic. Also we had a re-scan and it’s still not completely healed and he’s definitely out for this game.

“The first step will be for him to return to team training. I would like to have him back as soon as possible, hopefully already for the Crystal Palace game.” – Daniel Farke on Lukas Nmecha

Daniel James (hamstring) and Sean Longstaff (calf) are both medium-term absentees for the Whites.

There are no fresh concerns, however.

“Like always during a training week or after a busy week, some hits and knocks but not too bad. So, everyone else should be available.” – Daniel Farke

WEST HAM UNITED

Nuno Espirito Santo was characteristically coy when asked about the latest West Ham injury news.

“Always, players to assess, as you understand.

“I can’t [say any more than that]!” – Nuno Espirito Santo on the latest team news

Lukasz Fabianski (back) is the only casualty we’re aware of, however.

Nuno did at least confirm that Ollie Scarles (shoulder) is an “option” after the young defender returned to training.

Scarles will likely be needed when Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf head off to AFCON but for Gameweek 16, those two are available.

“We’re going to miss them, but it’s something we’re going to have to deal with as a squad.

“We have to find solutions inside the squad. We have natural full-backs, and Ollie [Scarles] this week is back in training, so he is another option for us.

“We will deal with this after [the Aston Villa game]. Now, they are involved in the game.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on his two AFCON-bound full-backs

Igor Julio, ineligible to face his parent club last weekend, is available, too.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Rob Edwards has confirmed that Jean-Ricner Bellegarde could be out for six or more weeks with the hamstring injury he sustained last weekend.

He joins Marshall Munetsi (calf), Rodrigo Gomes (groin), Leon Chiwome (knee) and Dan Bentley (ankle) on the sidelines.

“It’s going to be a period of weeks. It was a hamstring injury. So, yeah, he could be up to six or more weeks, which is a real blow for us.” – Rob Edwards on Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

Joao Gomes is at least back from a one-match ban.