Team News

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Latest News: Eddie Howe said that he was "very hopeful" that Nathan Ake would have no ill-effects from the slight head injury that caused him to miss the defeat to Burnley and indeed had previously said that the defender would have played had the match at Turf Moor been on Sunday instead of Saturday, as the Cherries were only observing the mandatory concussion protocol. Ake could return at the expense of Simon Francis or Steve Cook, then, with the former having been preferred alongside the Dutchman immediately before his injury. Jefferson Lerma has also been back in training this week following a minor back problem and could return at the expense of Andrew Surman if Howe sticks with a 4-5-1, with Dan Gosling and Philip Billing either side of him. Gosling may potentially make way, however, if his manager reverts to a 4-4-2 and pushes Josh King up front. King, Harry Wilson and Ryan Fraser will be set for a three-way fight for the wide-midfield slots if there is no change in shape, with Junior Stanislas perhaps fourth in the pecking order on the flanks. Howe's other main decision will be whether to reinstate Diego Rico at left-back, following his benching last week. Adam Smith was used in that position in Lancashire, with Jack Stacey brought in from the cold on the opposite flank. The results were mixed, with the Cherries bossing the first half before capitulating after two VAR calls went against them, so there are no obvious indications that Rico will regain his place. Smith not being a natural left-footer did perhaps stunt Bournemouth's output from that flank, so Howe has a call to make on whether he desires more width with Rico or perseveres with the set-up against Burnley. Charlie Daniels (knee), Arnaut Danjuma (foot), Chris Mepham (knee), Lloyd Kelly (thigh) and David Brooks (ankle) remain out.

Latest News: Jose Izquierdo (knee) is Brighton's only confirmed absentee ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace, with Dale Stephens (hamstring) having returned to training and been passed fit ahead of the M23 derby. As we mention on a weekly basis, Graham Potter is one of the trickiest managers to second-guess regarding team selection. Only Lewis Dunk, Mathew Ryan, Aaron Mooy and Davy Propper are ever-presents over the last four Gameweeks, with their manager changing personnel and formation on a frequent basis. Potter matched Sheffield United's shape last weekend and went with a 3-5-2 but could opt to show a bit more attacking ambition for a match that isn't a million miles away from carrying must-win status, given the tough tests that follow over the next two months. Adam Webster or Shane Duffy could drop out if three centre-halves are deemed unnecessary, with Dan Burn's presence down the left giving Potter the option of transitioning into a wing-back system during the game anyway. Leandro Trossard has started the last four matches at the Amex so could return down the left, while Pascal Gross and Solly March were also omitted from the line-up at Bramall Lane and will be clamouring for a recall. Potter used a 4-2-3-1 when the Seagulls bossed Palace at Selhurst Park in December so could seek to use a similar set-up for this rematch, although the shape-shifting Potter has a plethora of other options available to him, such as Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Yves Bissouma and Aaron Connolly, to make anticipating his line-up all the harder. Glenn Murray has started the last three league games but was short of his best last weekend, while Potter said on Thursday that Alexis Mac Allister and Tariq Lamptey could be involved in the matchday squad for the first time. Lamptey adds to the choices available at right-back, with Ezequiel Schelotto, Steven Alzate and Martin Montoya other possibilities in that position. Schelotto has started the last two but Potter did say in his pre-match presser that Albion would carefully monitor his minutes, given that he has recently returned from a long-term lay-off.

Latest News: Ashley Barnes (hernia) is still unavailable as Burnley prepare to face Newcastle, while Sean Dyche said on Thursday that Matthew Lowton (knee) and Johann Berg Gudmundsson (minor niggle) are both "unlikely" to be involved on Tyneside. There was better news concerning Chris Wood (hamstring), however, with Dyche confirming that his striker had been back in training this week and that he "comes back into the thinking". The Burnley boss is not known for making unenforced changes to a winning side and acknowledged that Matej Vydra had "laid down a marker" in the New Zealand international's absence but Wood has been so central to his manager's plans this season, and Vydra so peripheral, that there could be a change of partner for Jay Rodriguez up top. Alterations look less than likely elsewhere, with Robbie Brady (on his wrong flank) or Aaron Lennon possible alternatives to Jeff Hendrick down the right if Dyche really wants to take the game to the Magpies. Kevin Long, Erik Pieters and new signing Josh Brownhill seem set to be among the substitutes unless any late injuries befall the first-team regulars.

Latest News: Christian Pulisic (tendon), N'Golo Kante (muscle) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) have been joined on the sidelines by Tammy Abraham, who has suffered a recurrence of his niggling ankle problem. Olivier Giroud seems set to continue up front ahead of Michy Batshuayi, while the fit-again Pedro could return to the starting XI after injury forced his non-involvement against Spurs. Frank Lampard used a wing-back system against the Lilywhites and against Bayern Munich (with mixed results) but has generally reserved that formation for the "tougher" fixtures, of which a match against struggling Bournemouth arguably isn't one. There are no guarantees of an alteration in shape but a change to a back four could see surplus wing-back Marcos Alonso lose his place, with Cesar Azpilicueta moving across to left-back. Willy Caballero looks poised to keep the dropped Kepa Arrizabalaga out of the side between the posts, while Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger continue to keep Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma at arm's length, having started the last six together at centre-half. Kante's injury may see Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho continue in the centre of the park but Ross Barkley is, of course, an option in a deeper role or further forward, where we saw him against Spurs and Bayern. Willian's regular starts have dried up, meanwhile, but the Brazilian may, along with Pedro, be a beneficiary of a move back to a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 this weekend. Mason Mount has started 23 of Chelsea's 27 league games this season so looks one of the more secure starters in whatever set-up is preferred, although Lampard may also have one eye on next Tuesday's FA Cup tie with Liverpool when he selects his team this weekend.

Latest News: James Tomkins (hamstring) and Jeffrey Schlupp (muscle) remain sidelined ahead of the trip to Brighton and Hove Albion but Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) and Luka Milivojevic (illness) are back in training and Cheikhou Kouyate has made a swift recovery from the twisted ankle that forced him off last weekend. Whether Sakho is fit enough to start remains doubtful given how long he has spent on the sidelines this season, while Roy Hodgson said on Friday that Milivojevic's bug had "debilitated him in some way." The Serbia international is a near-certain starter when fully fit but, should his manager err on the side of caution, Kouyate could get a stay of execution in the middle of the park. Kouyate could even take James McCarthy's place on the right of midfield but the former Everton man is an ever-present this calendar year and appears to be a favourite of Hodgson's at present. Jordan Ayew's fine display on the right flank against Newcastle may nix Max Meyer and Andros Townsend's chances of a start, although loanee Cenk Tosun may get a look-in centrally in place of Christian Benteke. Martin Kelly's prospects of a recall likely rely on any late-developing injuries and Sakho's return may force him even further down the pecking order at centre-back.

Latest News: Theo Walcott (knee) has been passed fit to feature against Manchester United but Lucas Digne (calf) remains a concern, with Carlo Ancelotti saying on Friday that the France international had only been training individually and that he would need to be checked before the weekend's game at Goodison Park. Walcott had started the last six matches down the right flank before his injury and could replace Alex Iwobi on Sunday, while Bernard may return down the opposite wing as the Brazilian has made the starting XI in each of the Toffees' last four games on Merseyside. Jean-Philippe Gbamin (thigh) and Morgan Schneiderlin (knee) are unavailable but Ancelotti still has plenty of options in the middle of the park, with Fabian Delph, Andre Gomes, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Davies all tussling for two spots. Central midfield has been a bit of a problem position for Everton this season but Gomes shone in a half-hour cameo at the Emirates and his manager said on Friday that he was "ready to start", although would need to make a final check with the player before the visit of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's troops. Delph has started five of the six league matches that he has been available for this calendar year so could potentially get the nod alongside Gomes, although Sigurdsson has also featured regularly under his current boss and could even take on a wider role, as he did in Gameweek 27. The successful Richarlison/Dominic Calvert-Lewin partnership is set to continue up top, leaving Moise Kean warming the bench, while the regular centre-back pairing of Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina was reunited at the Emirates after a surprise benching for the former against Crystal Palace. Michael Keane is an alternative at the heart of defence should Ancelotti's policy occasionally rotating his stoppers still be valid, while Leighton Baines will be primed to deputise for Digne should he fail to recover. Seamus Coleman is the back-up option at right-back, meanwhile.

Latest News: Wilfred Ndidi (knee) is uncertain to be involved at Carrow Road on Friday evening, despite having returned to training and having made "great progress" according to his manager. Brendan Rodgers added that the Foxes "want to just be sure" of the Nigerian's fitness after his short-lived comeback earlier this month and talked in terms of "looking to next week" if his key midfielder fails to make it, so Ndidi may once again be absent when Leicester head to East Anglia in the Gameweek 28 curtain-raiser. Hamza Choudhury is available after suspension and is a natural fit in front of the back four but Rodgers hailed Dennis Praet's "outstanding" display in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role against Manchester City last week so, with bottom-of-the-table Norwich likely to be more obliging opponents than Pep Guardiola's side, the Belgian may again be trusted with the more disciplined role behind the likes of Youri Tielemans and James Maddison. Rodgers used a 3-5-2 against City last Saturday to circumvent his shortage of midfield anchors but may drop a surplus centre-half (almost certainly Christian Fuchs) and reinstate Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez to the starting XI here, in order to revisit the 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 set-up he has most commonly favoured this season. Kelechi Iheanacho is set to be available for selection having been taken off after a clash with Ederson in Gameweek 27 and may well be called upon up front, with unconfirmed rumours circulating on Friday that Jamie Vardy is set to miss out. Demarai Gray and Marc Albrighton are the increasingly peripheral wide-midfield alternatives available to Rodgers, while Wes Morgan, James Justin and Ryan Bennett will expect to be back-up defensive options once more.

Latest News: Jordan Henderson (hamstring), James Milner (muscle), Nathaniel Clyne (knee) and Xherdan Shaqiri (calf) remain out but Jurgen Klopp didn't reveal any fresh injury concerns in his pre-match press conference on Friday. A looming FA Cup tie with Chelsea could factor into the Liverpool manager's thoughts regarding team selection at Vicarage Road but, given the lack of rotation in the Premier League outside of a busy December and the seemingly low priority with which he has treated the domestic cups, there is little evidence to suggest Klopp will ring the changes on Saturday. The Reds' head coach stressed that Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain weren't competing for just the one spot in his starting XI but that does seem to be the case at present, with Georginio Wijnaldum an almost ever-present in 2019/20 and Fabinho the only real natural fit in the number six role while Henderson remains out (although Adam Lallana has operated there in the past). Klopp acknowledged that Keita "can play better" than he did against West Ham on Monday and praised Oxlade-Chamberlain's impact on the game, so the former Arsenal man could be handed a recall in the middle of the park. Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip are all rested options in their respective positions but, given that the back four has remained unchanged for the last ten league matches and that only Sadio Mane's recent injury prevented the front three from boasting a similar record, they will be poised to warm the bench once again.

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Latest News: Marcus Rashford (back) and Paul Pogba (ankle) remain sidelined ahead of the trip to Everton, while Anthony Martial (thigh) is a fresh doubt after missing Thursday's demolition of Bruges. Martial picked up a muscle injury in training ahead of that Europa League tie and had a fitness test on the morning of the game, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying that the Frenchman had "tried" in vain to recover. The United boss was unsure about how long Martial would be sidelined for and we may not get any further information on the issue ahead of Friday's deadline, what with there being no stand-alone press conference ahead of the fixture at Goodison Park. Solskjaer hinted in a post-match interview (and pretty much with his team selection) that Mason Greenwood was being preserved for Sunday's match on Merseyside but the teenager's inclusion doesn't necessarily mean that Martial is a non-starter, as the pair indeed both made the line-up last weekend against Watford. Greenwood was deployed on the right wing against the Hornets and could continue in that role even if Martial fails to make it, with Odion Ighalo being positioned centrally. Thursday was the Nigerian's first competitive start of 2020, however, so a second run-out in quick succession might be too much of an ask. A third scenario could see Greenwood play up top with Juan Mata stationed on the right, with the long-serving Spaniard having struck up a good rapport with Bruno Fernandes against Bruges. Fernandes and Daniel James had their minutes managed on Thursday with one eye likely on Sunday's game, while Victor Lindelof may well return to the back four at the expense of Eric Bailly, whose recovery from a long-term injury continues to be handled carefully. Scott McTominay is also just back from a lengthy lay-off and was handed 72 minutes against the Belgian side, so Nemanja Matic could be reinstated alongside Fred this weekend - although the Serb will very likely be the fall-guy if McTominay is ready to feature again from kick-off. Luke Shaw's form means that Brandon Williams' chances of a start may well hinge on Solskjaer rolling out a wing-back system at Goodison Park (Shaw having featured as a left-sided centre-half recently), with that set-up having occasionally been preferred in trickier away fixtures.

Latest News: Ciaran Clark (ankle), Jetro Willems (ACL), Paul Dummett (tendon) and Andy Carroll (hip) remain out, while the availability of Emil Krafth (ankle), who was pencilled in for a return to training this week, is uncertain. Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Javier Manquillo (hamstring) have been back on the training ground this week, at least, and could come into contention. Manquillo is a welcome option at right-back given that Valentino Lazaro will serve a one-match ban, although DeAndre Yedlin and Isaac Hayden are also options in that position. Shelvey's creativity is an asset with Newcastle struggling for goals and it could well be that both returning players are catapulted straight into the starting XI after the injury lay-offs, providing they are completely match-fit. The Magpies' formation has been easy to predict for much of the campaign, with Steve Bruce emulating Rafael Benitez's 5-4-1, but the growing disquiet about a lack of goals has been acknowledged by the United manager, who said in Friday's press conference that a change of shape is "something we've talked about and worked on". Bruce moved to a 4-3-3 of sorts in the closing stages of the defeat to Crystal Palace, while training videos in the week suggested that Joelinton was being used on the left flank rather than centrally. That could pave the way for Dwight Gayle's return up top, although it's obviously all mostly guesswork if a new formation is indeed in the works. Isaac Hayden could be handed a reprieve if the Magpies do move to a back four, with a ball-winner in midfield all the more important given that Bruce's troops would be down a centre-half. That could spell bad news for Nabil Bentaleb and/or Sean Longstaff, then, who were the midfield two at Selhurst Park. Fabian Schar could be the makeweight if one centre-back is dropped given his questionable positioning, although he could potentially be deployed in front of the back as he was in the closing stages last weekend. Matt Ritchie and Matty Longstaff are further midfield options, while the availability of Christian Atsu, not signed in training ground photos having missed out against Palace through illness, is uncertain.

Latest News: Sam Byram will miss the rest of the season after being ruled out for four months with a hamstring injury, while Onel Hernandez is set to be sidelined for eight weeks following knee surgery and Christoph Zimmermann (hamstring) won't recover in time to feature against Leicester City. Grant Hanley and Ben Godfrey should continue at centre-half given that Timm Klose (knee) is not even back in full team training, while Jamal Lewis is again poised to start at left-back in Byram's absence. Daniel Farke hasn't made any unenforced changes to his side over the last four Gameweeks but a poor display at Molineux last weekend might tempt him into an alteration or two, with there being plenty of alternatives waiting in the wings. Tom Trybull, Moritz Leitner and Mario Vrancic are options in the double-pivot, although Farke's comments in his press conference about needing "solidity in the middle of the park" against teams like Leicester would perhaps indicate that he isn't about to throw someone like Vrancic back into the side this weekend. Similarly, the Norwich boss declared himself "totally happy" with new signing Ondrej Duda despite a dip in form, which could further reduce Marco Stiepermann's slim chances of a recall. The back-up player who has most dominated the discussion in recent weeks is Emiliano Buendia, with Farke facing some more probing questions on his Argentinean winger, who was in such good form before his injury. The Norwich boss again reiterated that Buendia had been "struggling a bit to come back to 100%" since then but he is an obvious alternative to Lukas Rupp on Friday, especially given his performance in the reverse fixture back in December. One player who looks more sure of a start is Teemu Pukki, with Josip Drmic and Adam Idah set to provide back-up on the bench.

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Latest News: Nathan Redmond (muscle) is set to be out until after the March international break but Kyle Walker-Peters has returned to training after a minor calf issue and could come into contention. Walker-Peters may well slot straight back in at right-back if 100% fit but if the Spurs loanee is not deemed match-ready, then James Ward-Prowse could continue to deputise in defence, with Yan Valery evidently well down the pecking order at full-back having again been overlooked in the win over Aston Villa. Will Smallbone (who got the nod in Gameweek 27) or Oriel Romeu are the options alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield if Ward-Prowse's services are needed further back. Stuart Armstrong looks a likely starter as one of the two number tens but who gets the nod alongside him remains open to debate, with Ralph Hasenhuttl saying in Thursday's press conference that he didn't know if Moussa Djenepo would be in the right frame of mind to feature following the death of the player's mother this week. Sofiane Boufal, who recovered from a heel injury to be among the substitutes against Villa, could be handed a rare start if Djenepo is absent on compassionate grounds. A lack of fixture congestion for the Saints would appear to cement Danny Ings and Shane Long's places in attack, meanwhile, with Che Adams and Michael Obafemi the alternatives up top if needed. Jan Bednarek returned to the starting XI last weekend after a surprise benching against Burnley so, after a comfortable clean sheet for the hosts at St Mary's, Jannik Vestergaard may well be among the substitutes once again.

Latest News: Son Heung-min (arm), Harry Kane (hamstring), Ryan Sessegnon (hip) and Moussa Sissoko (knee) will all miss the visit of Wolves, while Juan Foyth's (groin) return to training hardly boosts Jose Mourinho's options given how little the defender has been used under his current manager. Mourinho went big at the back at Stamford Bridge, matching Chelsea's three centre-halves and using Japhet Tanganga and Ben Davies at wing-back. The Spurs boss may continue with that shape against Wolves despite the defeat, given how Nuno Espirito Santo's troops bossed the Lilywhites (in a back four) in the reverse fixture, although may reinstate Serge Aurier on the right flank to provide more attacking impetus. If Aurier is recalled, then Tanganga or Jan Vertonghen could potentially make way from the backline. Mourinho confirmed on Friday that Erik Lamela is still not fit enough to offer anything more than 20 minutes off the bench, so the potential for freshening things up in attack is limited, especially as Troy Parrott continues to be overlooked. Dele Alli could come back into the equation, however, despite an FA charge for misconduct hanging over his head. The ex-MK Dons midfielder is an option as a false nine, in the hole or further back in the engine room if his petulant reaction to being substituted against RB Leipzig has been forgiven by his manager. Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura will be confident of retaining their places given the dearth of alternatives up top, while Harry Winks and Giovani Lo Celso (when fully fit) have been regular starters in central midfield of late. Tanguy Ndombele, Eric Dier and Gedson Fernandes at least give their manager plenty of options in the middle of the park, although Ndombele's ongoing fitness battle means that he struggles to complete more than an hour in each game.

Latest News: Watford don't have any confirmed absentees for the visit of Liverpool, with Daryl Janmaat (knee) having rejoined training this week. It would be a big ask for the Dutchman to feature after a three-month absence, of course, while it remains to be seen if Kiko Femenia is available for selection, with Nigel Pearson saying the versatile full-back was fit but not "match ready" for the defeat to Manchester United last weekend. Those two players are more natural fits at right-back, with Femenia also having featured on the opposite flank under his new boss, but it could again be one of Craig Dawson or Adrian Mariappa used out of position on the right of defence should neither Janmaat nor Femenia be fully up to speed. Ismaila Sarr could depose Roberto Pereyra from the right flank after making his comeback from injury as a substitute last weekend, meanwhile, with Pearson saying his fit-again winger is "much closer" to a start this week than he had been in Gameweek 27. Etienne Capoue, Troy Deeney, Gerard Deulofeu and Abdoulaye Doucoure have all been ever-presents when they have been available under Pearson, so the likes of Adalberto Penaranda, Danny Welbeck, Isaac Success, Andre Gray and Ignacio Pussetto may have to be patient as they await promotions off the bench. Nathaniel Chalobah is a more defensive-minded option than Will Hughes in the middle of the park but Hughes has been the preferred option when fully fit and available ever since Pearson took charge.

Latest News: Ryan Fredericks (shoulder), Jack Wilshere (groin) and Tomas Soucek (groin) will miss the visit of Southampton, while Andriy Yarmolenko (thigh) is not ready to return despite featuring in a practice match this week. Pablo Fornals could step in for Soucek after coming off the bench to score at Anfield on Monday but changes could be at a premium elsewhere after a very creditable performance on Merseyside in which the Hammers almost spoiled Liverpool's unbeaten league record. David Moyes could potentially accommodate Sebastien Haller by moving to a 4-4-2 or by switching Michail Antonio out wide, with Felipe Anderson - who understandably looked short of match-sharpness last Monday - making way. Manuel Lanzini is another attack-minded midfield option waiting in the wings but Moyes hinted that Jarrod Bowen wouldn't be yet considered for a start as he acclimatises to life in the top flight following his move from Hull in January. Jeremy Ngakia's fine display at Liverpool could see him get the nod at right-back, meanwhile, with Pablo Zabaleta joining Fabian Balbuena as a defensive reinforcement on the bench.

Latest News: Jonny was substituted in the win over Norwich City last weekend with what Nuno Espirito Santo described as a "strong kick" and the wing-back subsequently missed the Europa League clash with Espanyol, with the Wolves boss saying on Wednesday that the Spaniard was "in pain" and expressing hope that he "doesn’t stay out very long". Ruben Vinagre could be deputising on the left flank against Spurs, then, and his early withdrawal in Barcelona was perhaps made with one eye on that trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Wolves' involvement in the UEFA Europa League means that we may not hear much more from Santo ahead of Friday's deadline, with there being no standalone press conference ahead of that clash with Jose Mourinho's troops. Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves were both absent from the matchday squad against Espanyol (presumably rested rather than anything more ominous), while Raul Jimenez was an unused substitute and Romain Saiss was only thrown on in the final half an hour. That quartet, fitness permitting, will all expect to start in north London this weekend, with the likes of Max Kilman, Morgan Gibbs-White and Daniel Podence making way after rare run-outs in Europe. Santo's main decision will likely be whether to stick with a 3-5-2 or return to a 3-4-3 ahead of Sunday's game, with Wolves having used the former since an hour into the 4-0 win over Espanyol last week. Traore's excellent display against Spurs in the reverse fixture in December may factor into Santo's thoughts but the powerful winger may have to again be content with a place on the bench this weekend if there is no change in formation, unless Matt Doherty is handed an unexpected breather at right wing-back. Leander Dendoncker could be the makeweight if a 3-4-3 is used, with Traore joining Jota and Jimenez in a front three.