Team News

Latest News: Laurent Koscielny (muscle) will be assessed ahead of the visit of Southampton, though Unai Emery said the defender's substitution in the win over BATE on Thursday night was "precautionary" in nature. Ainsley Maitland-Niles will also face a fitness test, having missed that Europa League tie through illness. Second-guessing Emery's formation is always difficult, with a 3-4-3/3-4-1-2 having been utilised variously this season, but the Arsenal boss has used a back four in his last four home matches in all competitions. A return to the 4-3-1-2 is a possibility, then, with Mesut Ozil or Aaron Ramsey playing in behind Pierre-Emerick Auabmeyang and Alexandre Lacazette, though Emery may decide - as he did at half-time in the win over Cardiff - to sacrifice a third central midfielder and use the 4-2-3-1 formation that was employed on Thursday night. Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were used in those wide roles against BATE, though recent signing Denis Suarez is another option on the flanks. Sokratis is fit again after a month out and he might step in at centre-back alongside Shkodran Mustafi if Koscielny fails to make it, though Nacho Monreal and Dinos Mavropanos are further options in that position. Sead Kolasinac's continued inclusion at left-back could depend on Emery's formation choice, with a 3-4-3 or 4-3-2-1 providing more cover for his forays forward. Monreal was used at left-back on Thursday evening, however, and is an arguably more defensively sound option if his manager wishes to be more expansive further forward. Lacazette is well-rested after missing out on that win over BATE through suspension, while Aubameyang started his first match in almost three weeks on Thursday night and will surely not be fatigued after that comfortable win over the Belorussian side. The Gabonese striker is another option on the left flank, of course, if Emery switches to a 4-2-3-1. The Arsenal boss declared himself happy with Ozil's performance against BATE, though did add that the German midfielder will sometimes "be on the bench" given the competition for places and fixture congestion ahead. Hector Bellerin (knee), Rob Holding (ACL) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) remain out.

Latest News: Junior Stanislas (thigh) is set to be assessed ahead of the visit of Wolves but David Brooks (ankle) and Callum Wilson (knee) will again be missing for Bournemouth, with Eddie Howe saying on Friday that the pair are still "some way" from a return. Howe used a defensive 4-3-3 at Anfield a fortnight ago but may opt for a slightly more adventurous formation when back on home soil, with one of Andrew Surman, Jefferson Lerma or Dan Gosling to drop out and perhaps Dominic Solanke primed for a recall alongside Joshua King. Howe used a 3-4-3 to match Wolves at Molineux in December but the Cherries fell to a 2-0 defeat that day and indeed the Bournemouth boss hasn't started with a wing-back system at the Vitality Stadium this season (in the league, anyway), so a return to a back four is anticipated. Should Howe break tradition and go with a three-man central defence at home, then Chris Mepham or Charlie Daniels could join Steve Cook and Nathan Ake at centre-half. Jordon Ibe will again be on standby if Stanislas fails to make it, while Lys Mousset is another option in attack.

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Latest News: Steven Defour (calf) is once again missing for Burnley ahead of the visit of Spurs, while Aaron Lennon (knee) and Jon Walters (Achilles) remain out. Sean Dyche confirmed on Thursday that Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady are fit to feature though the two wingers may be forced to watch on from the bench again: the Burnley boss has kept an unchanged side in the last five Gameweeks, with his team now unbeaten in seven league matches. Gudmundsson for Jeff Hendrick on the right flank could be one change that Dyche makes but the Irish midfielder has performed admirably in an unnatural role and has earned praise from his manager, so could get a stay of execution in the starting XI. Dyche has kept the same back four for this seven-game unbeaten run so the likes of Matthew Lowton, Stephen Ward, Kevin Long and Ben Gibson will struggle to get a look-in, while the settled partnership of Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood appear unlikely to be ousted by Peter Crouch or Matej Vydra.

Latest News: Sean Morrison (appendix) is back in training ahead of the visit of Watford, with Neil Warnock saying that he hopes the centre-back will play some part in the three league matches to come over the next week - but also adding that he wouldn't rush the club captain back into action. Sol Bamba and Bruno Ecuele Manga were joined by Lee Peltier at centre-back in a 3-5-2 at Southampton, though Warnock has almost exclusively favoured a back four on home soil this season so may switch back to a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 for Friday's match at the Cardiff City Stadium. Warnock again brought up Victor Camarasa's fitness issues despite the Spaniard's comeback cameo off the bench at St. Mary's, saying on Thursday that the player continues to be plagued by calf issues - so there has to be considerable doubt over whether the on-loan midfielder will start against the Hornets. Joe Ralls has performed admirably over the last three Gameweeks and would be harshly done by if benched on Friday, but Warnock may decide that three central midfielders is overkill in a home game and could reinstate Josh Murphy or Junior Hoilett on the flank in order to provide more attacking menace. With Watford having conceded a lot of headed chances over the last six Gameweeks, the aerial prowess of Callum Paterson could be a key weapon and may convince Warnock to start Kenneth Zohore up front - though Oumar Niasse and Bobby Reid have impressed in recent weeks. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kadeem Harris are further options out wide, while Leandro Bacuna is an alternative option in central midfield or at right-back,

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Latest News: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) and Martin Kelly (muscle) have been ruled out of Crystal Palace's trip to Leicester, so Joel Ward looks likely to deputise at right-back. James Tomkins (calf) returned on the bench against Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup last weekend, so is expected to reclaim his place alongside Mamadou Sakho at the expense of Kelly. Cheikhou Kouyate also made his comeback in that cup tie, though faces an altogether tougher task to oust Jeffrey Schlupp from central midfield after the Ghanaian impressed in his stead in Gameweeks 25 and 26. Nevertheless, an away trip to Leicester may convince Roy Hodgson to reinstate the more physical Kouyate alongside ever-presents Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur in midfield, with Schlupp and Max Meyer forced to watch on from the bench. Wilfried Zaha is available following suspension after missing out at Doncaster and will surely return to Hodgson's starting XI on the left wing, with Andros Townsend (another Palace player to have started all 26 league fixtures in 2018/19) occupying the opposite flank. Hodgson has a wealth of options available to him in attack, with Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi and Jordan Ayew all candidates to lead the line. Batshuayi and Ayew (admittedly playing in a more unorthodox left-wing role) failed to stake a convincing claim at the Keepmoat Stadium, however, so Benteke may be handed his third straight league start on Saturday. Bakary Sako and Connor Wickham would seem set for places on the bench at best, given the competition for places up front.

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Latest News: Claudio Ranieri reported on Thursday that he had a near-fully-fit squad to choose from, with Alfie Mawson (knee) having only just started running and still some distance from a recovery. Second-guessing Ranieri's team selection has come to be a tricky business of late, with the Fulham boss having switched between a wing-back system and a back four (and back again) during each of the last three league matches. Ranieri has generally favoured a 3-4-3 during his time in west London and he may return to that system at West Ham, with Cyrus Christie perhaps recalled at right wing-back. New signings Lazar Markovic and Havard Nordtveit could feature for the first time after building up their match fitness, with Markovic offering yet another option on the flanks and Nordtveit capable of filling in either at centre-half or as a defensive midfielder. Tom Cairney, Luciano Vietto and Ryan Sessegnon have all struggled to nail down regular starts under Ranieri and are as uncertain as ever to feature, while Neeskens Kebano and Floyd Ayite look even less likely of a rare start. Timothy Fosu-Mensah is available again after being ineligible for the visit of Manchester United. Marcus Bettinelli (knee) wasn't mentioned by name in Thursday's presser but it is thought the Fulham goalkeeper remains out for the medium term.

Latest News: Jonas Lossl and Chris Lowe have recovered from the illnesses that forced them to miss the defeat to Arsenal, while Jan Siewert said on Thursday that Elias Kachunga had been laid low with a less-serious dose of the flu ahead of the trip to Newcastle. Danny Williams (knee) won't be ready to feature despite a return to training, though Abdelhamid Sabiri (knee) featured for the under-23s last week and may come back into contention. Jason Puncheon played as a false nine in the defeat to Arsenal but Siewert may choose to go for a more orthodox striker for the more "winnable" match on Tyneside, with Karlan Grant perhaps the favourite to get the nod in a fluid front three alongside Adama Diakhaby and - if fit - Kachunga. Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre offer further options up top. Philip Billing may be unable to force himself back into the starting XI after Juninho Bacuna's promising display against the Gunners, though Lowe may be brought in at the expense of Terence Kongolo to offer more width down the left flank given that Siewert openly discussed how Newcastle's wing-backs play a high line. Erik Durm and Florent Hadergjonaj are alternative options in the full-back positions. Isaac Mbenza (calf) remains out.

Latest News: Ben Chilwell and James Maddison are slight doubts for the visit of Crystal Palace and will be assessed ahead of the Saturday evening kick-off, though Claude Puel stressed that the injuries were "not serious" in his press conference on Thursday. Christian Fuchs could deputise for Chilwell if the young left-back fails to recover, while Puel has plenty of options available to him further forward if Maddison misses out. Puel lined up in what resembled a 4-1-4-1 at Wembley in Gameweek 26, with Wilfred Ndidi playing as the deep-lying midfielder behind the more advanced central pair of Maddison and Youri Tielemans. Nampalys Mendy has recovered from the groin injury that forced his withdrawal from the starting XI against Spurs and could threaten Ndidi's start, though Puel - who has been widely criticised as being overly negative by sections of the Leicester fanbase - would surely risk the home support's wrath if he dared pair those two defensive midfielders together at the King Power Stadium. Right wing is something of a problem position at the moment, with Rachid Ghezzal producing a so-so performance on a rare league start at Wembley. Ghezzal may continue there this weekend, though Demarai Gray could feasibly move over to his "weaker" right side after a run-out as a central striker against Spurs. Ricardo Pereira is an "out of position" option on the right of midfield, too: Danny Simpson could deputise at right-back in such an eventuality, particularly if Puel is concerned about the threat from Wilfried Zaha and Patrick van Aanholt coming down the Palace left. Puel talked up Gray's future prospects as a centre-forward but Jamie Vardy will be optimistic of a recall on Saturday after his goal off the bench against Mauricio Pochettino's side. Marc Albrighton (hamstring) and Daniel Amartey (leg) remain out.

Latest News: Dejan Lovren (muscle) will again miss out for Liverpool this weekend, joining Joe Gomez (leg) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) on the sidelines. The 4-2-3-1 formation appears to have been temporarily shelved and Jurgen Klopp has generally favoured a 4-3-3 in away matches against the "bigger" sides anyway, so this latter system would seem likely to be used again at Old Trafford on Sunday. Klopp acknowledged that he has welcome selection dilemmas to make all over the pitch, though the back four would appear to pick itself - even if the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner have performed admirably when filling in at centre-half and right-back. Those three players will join Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita in competing for a central midfield role, with Henderson's excellent performance against Bayern perhaps standing him in good stead. Wijnaldum has been a constant presence in matches against the "big six" this season, while Fabinho may be preferred over the more expressive Keita given the nature of the fixture. The regular front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino will surely be expected to continue in Manchester, though Xherdan Shaqiri, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi are alternative options if required.

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Latest News: Anthony Martial (groin) and Jesse Lingard (hamstring) could both be available this weekend, with Martial looking the more likely to return to the Manchester United starting XI for the visit of Liverpool. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday that he "thinks" the Frenchman will be fit to feature but said he "hopes, rather than thinks" Lingard will recover. Both players were set for a return to training on Friday having worked individually during the week and will be assessed ahead of Sunday's clash at Old Trafford. Solskjaer added in his press conference that United can cope without the midfield pair, saying that "if they don't make, it might be the same team we played against Chelsea." The interim boss used a 4-4-2 diamond in that FA Cup victory at Stamford Bridge, though that would have appeared to have been a specific ploy to nullify the influence of Jorginho in the Chelsea midfield. A repeat of that formation is a possibility but we might instead see a return to the 4-3-3 that United played against Spurs, with Juan Mata or - if fit - Lingard used as a false nine to drop into midfield and disrupt Liverpool from the front. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial started on the flanks in that match at Wembley, cutting inside from the wings and exploiting the space behind left by Lingard. Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, of course, are further options up front. Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic look assured starters in central midfield, so the likes of Andreas Pereira, Fred and Scott McTominay will very probably be substitutes at best. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly face a three-way battle for the one centre-half spot alongside Victor Lindelof, with Smalling perhaps having the edge after being given the nod in west London last Monday. Ashley Young and Luke Shaw are strong favourites to start at full-back, where Diogo Dalot is an alternative. There was no update forthcoming on Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia, who had been ruled out for a "couple of weeks" with niggling injuries a fortnight ago. Marcos Rojo has been back in training, meanwhile, and could come into contention.

Latest News: Rob Elliot (back) and Ciaran Clark (knock) are Rafael Benitez's only two absentees for Saturday's match, with the Magpies' injury situation improving drastically over the last three weeks. Jonjo Shelvey (thigh) has been back in training with the Magpies ahead of the visit of Huddersfield Town, though there is stiff competition in the central midfield positions with Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden performing admirably in recent weeks and Mohamed Diame and Ki Sung-yueng behind them in the queue. Shelvey, Clark and Elliot were the only three members of United's first-team squad not to be involved in the mid-season friendly against CSKA Moscow last weekend, with the likes of Ki, Diame, Paul Dummett and Karl Darlow all getting run-outs after injury. Rafael Benitez has named an unchanged team for the last four Premier League matches, with his starting XI producing some commendable performances against Cardiff, Manchester City, Spurs and Wolves. Miguel Almiron will be pushing for his home debut at the expense of Christian Atsu, though the Paraguayan midfielder hasn't started a competitive match since December and may be introduced as a substitute again when Huddersfield visit on Saturday. The fact that the rock-bottom Terriers are the visitors to Tyneside, however, may convince Benitez to take a punt on the club-record signing from Atlanta United. The likes of Yoshinori Muto, Joselu and an out-of-sorts Kenedy will surely be among the substitutes at best, while Dummett and Federico Fernandez may have to watch on from the sidelines too with Fabian Schar, Florian Lejeune and Jamaal Lascelles now firmly established as the defensive trio in Benitez's 3-4-2-1. Javier Manquillo and loan capture Antonio Barreca are the alternative wing-back options, meanwhile.

Latest News: Danny Ings (hamstring) and Mario Lemina (abdomen) have been ruled out of Sunday's trip to the Emirates, though Michael Obafemi (tendon) and Stuart Armstrong (calf) are back in contention after resuming training. While the Southampton boss may not ditch his now-favoured wing-back system after one dismal defeat to Cardiff City, there could be personnel changes within that 3-5-2 formation. Shane Long once again flattered to deceive against the Bluebirds, though Charlie Austin doesn't appear to possess the requisite qualities for what Hasenhuttl demands in a striker so it is uncertain whether he will challenge for a start. Youngsters Sam Gallagher and Obafemi are alternative options in attack, though the Saints' boss could instead use Nathan Redmond as the lone centre-forward with the fit-again Armstrong tucked in behind him. Maya Yoshida will challenge for a first start since returning from international duty, with Jack Stephens perhaps most at risk given that he replaced the Japanese defender upon his departure for the Asian Cup. Matt Targett lost his left wing-back spot to Ryan Bertrand in Gameweek 26, so both he and Kayne Ramsay may have to be content to be back-up defensive options again. Callum Slattery and Mohamed Elyounoussi are further midfield alternatives for Hasenhuttl to consider. The 3-5-2 could easily become a 5-4-1 (as happened away at Chelsea in Gameweek 21), with the two wing-backs dropping into more orthodox full-back positions and Redmond perhaps moving to the left of midfield.

Latest News: Harry Kane (ankle) and Ben Davies (groin) are back in training ahead of the trip to Burnley, with Mauricio Pochettino saying on Thursday that the pair would be assessed in the final training session before their meeting with the Clarets on Saturday. Pochettino said Kane "wants" to start but that the decision would be his; with Spurs about to contest three Premier League matches in the space of a week, the Argentinean manager may decide to introduce Kane from the bench at Turf Moor. Danny Rose (ill) is a doubt for Gameweek 27, so with Davies also yet to prove his fitness it could be that Jan Vertonghen resumes left-back duties after starring at wing-back against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The extra height of a third central defender would be a help at set plays, too, with Burnley strong in the air. Erik Lamela is an alternative pick in the attacking positions if Pochettino sticks with a 4-4-2 diamond, while Oliver Skipp, Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier are more defensive-minded options in central midfield. Serge Aurier will likely rotate with Kieran Trippier over the coming week and could start in Lancashire, while Juan Foyth is another name for Pochettino to consider at centre-back. The Spurs manager said on Friday that Dele Alli (hamstring) is "maybe one week, maybe ten days, maybe two weeks" away from a return as the former MK Dons midfielder continues with his on-field rehab.

Latest News: Kiko Femenia (hamstring) is Javi Gracia's only injury-related absentee going into Friday's game at Cardiff, though Jose Holebas begins a two-match ban for accruing ten yellow cards. Adam Masina would be the obvious deputy for the Greek veteran, while Daryl Janmaat looks set to continue in the opposite full-back position in Femenia's absence. Adrian Mariappa and Craig Cathcart may return at centre-back after being rested for the FA Cup victory over QPR, with Christian Kabasele and Miguel Britos making way after their run-out at Loftus Road. Sebastian Prodl has recovered from a knee injury, meanwhile, and will add to the competition at centre-back. Gracia has selection dilemmas to make all over the pitch, with Roberto Pereyra (hamstring) and Isaac Success (hamstring) now back in contention to feature. Pereyra looks a strong candidate to replace Ken Sema on the left flank, though Success appears likelier to be a substitute at best. Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu have been Gracia's strike pairing of choice of late and indeed have started nine of the last ten league matches together, though Andre Gray will be pushing hard for a recall up front after his match-winning strike off the bench against Everton and given Deulofeu's recent struggle for goals. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue would appear the settled central midfield pairing, so the likes of Tom Cleverley and Domingos Quina may have to watch on from the sidelines.

Latest News: Manuel Lanzini (knee) and Samir Nasri (calf) have returned to training ahead of the visit of Fulham, with Manuel Pellegrini saying on Wednesday that the midfield pair can "maybe" be a part of the match-day squad. A place on the bench for both would seem the likeliest scenario, with Lanzini surely not yet ready for a Premier League start having been out since last summer. Robert Snodgrass is perhaps the player most at risk from Nasri's recovery though the Scottish midfielder could make way regardless if Pellegrini wishes to go for the jugular against a porous Fulham side and tweak his 4-1-4-1 into a more attacking 4-4-2. Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic would be the obvious strike pairing in that scenario, with the Austrian - who admittedly started as a substitute in Gameweek 26 - perhaps the favourite to lead the line if Pellegrini opts for one centre-forward. The likes of Arthur Masuaku, Grady Diangana, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez seem set for bench duty again, though Pablo Zabaleta will be pushing for a recall at right-back and may see action over the next week with the Hammers set to contest three Premier League matches in the space of eight days. Winston Reid (knee), Andriy Yarmolenko (Achilles), Carlos Sanchez (knee) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) remain on the sidelines, while it is assumed Fabian Balbuena (knee) is not quite ready to feature given the lack of update in Pellegrini's presser.

Latest News: Nuno Espirito Santo said that "everyone is OK" in his press conference on Friday, presumably meaning that Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty (both knocks) have recovered from their respective impact injuries. Wolves' side looks as settled as ever, with Leander Dendoncker now firmly established as a regular in central midfield alongside Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho. Romain Saiss and Morgan Gibbs-White are the two alternative options in the engine room, should Santo wish to shake his team up after the 1-1 draw with Newcastle. Helder Costa, Ivan Cavaleiro and Adama Traore would seem likely to be among the substitutes again, with Santo's change from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2 coming at the expense of his wingers' Premier League starts. All of those three wide-men are options alongside Raul Jimenez, however, if Jota is - and there is no suggestion of this from Santo's comments - not quite fit enough to start. The back three appears straightforward to pick, meanwhile, though Saiss can fill in at centre-half if required. Ruben Vinagre is the back-up wing-back option as usual.