Team News

Latest News: A medical bulletin from the Gunners on Monday confirmed that Sead Kolasinac (thigh) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) will miss the midweek trip to Stamford Bridge and be sidelined until after the winter break so, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang serving the second game of a three-match ban, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli look poised to continue down the left flank after impressing against Sheffield United. The fit-again Hector Bellerin is another option at full-back, of course, but his inclusion at the expense of Saka would necessitate either the Spaniard or Ainsley Maitland-Niles playing on their 'wrong' side - so this perhaps looks a less likely scenario. Shkodran Mustafi will be on standby to continue at centre-half if Sokratis does not recover from the illness that caused him to miss out on Saturday but, should the Greek defender be passed fit, then he will surely return alongside David Luiz in west London. Changes perhaps look less likely elsewhere, with fit senior alternatives thin on the ground, although the likes of Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock are all options in the middle of the park should Mikel Arteta need to freshen things up. Eddie Nketiah will likely be the back-up striking option on the bench again following the termination of his loan spell at Leeds. Kieran Tierney (shoulder) and Calum Chambers (knee) remain long-term absentees.

Latest News: We didn't get any injury updates from Dean Smith in the broadcast section of his pre-match press conference but we do know that John McGinn (ankle), Jed Steer (Achilles), Tom Heaton (knee) and Wesley (knee) are all long-term absentees, while Keinan Davis (hamstring) is also thought to still be sidelined. We are, however, none-the-wiser about the availability of two players: Marvelous Nakamba, who was reportedly substituted with a knock on Saturday, and Frederic Guilbert, who was pictured on social media sporting a swollen mouth after some dental work. Mohamed El Mohamady is the obvious replacement for Guilbert should he not be in a condition to play, while Villa are well-stocked with central midfielders - namely Douglas Luiz, Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury - should Nakamba fail to recover. Smith has shown tremendous faith in Danny Drinkwater since his arrival from Chelsea but the loanee was visibly struggling with his stamina at the weekend and a second start in the space of a few days might be too tall an order. With Jonathan Kodjia having departed the club and imminent signing Mbwana Samatta not registered in time to feature against the Hornets, it looks likely that Anwar El Ghazi will reprise his role as the false nine, with Jack Grealish and Trezeguet either side of him. The back three of Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause has remained unchanged in the last three Gameweeks, so Bjorn Engels and James Chester may again have to bide their time on the substitute's bench. Youngster Indiana Vassilev looks likely to join them and provide back-up to the Villans' attacking trio.

Latest News: Eddie Howe said on Monday that he would assess Lloyd Kelly's match-fitness ahead of the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion, with the left-back having made his playing comeback from a thigh injury in an under-23s match on Friday. Chris Mepham (knee), Charlie Daniels (knee), David Brooks (ankle), Jack Stacey (hamstring) and Josh King (hamstring) all remain out and, given the lack of an update on Junior Stanislas (calf) and Arnaut Danjuma (foot), it is assumed that those two players are also still sidelined. Howe will be forced into at least one change on Tuesday, as Steve Cook serves a one-match ban following his dismissal in the defeat to Norwich City. Jack Simpson could potentially come into the side alongside Nathan Ake but it seems likelier that Simon Francis, who has spent minutes at centre-half in each of the last two Gameweeks, will get the nod to replace his suspended teammate. The beleaguered Bournemouth boss continues to shuffle his pack as he searches for a formula to end the Cherries' run of ten defeats in 12 games, with his latest tactical tweak seeing Dominic Solanke benched and an extra central midfielder - Philip Billing - brought into the team at Carrow Road. Howe may look to give the isolated Callum Wilson more support with this being a home game, perhaps by reinstating Solanke to the starting XI, although another option would be to inject more creativity into the centre of midfield. The Bournemouth boss revealed that Jefferson Lerma has been playing through the pain barrier of late and was limping during Saturday's defeat so, with Howe blessed with alternatives in the middle of the park, the Colombia international could be rested for this clash on the south coast. Lewis Cook and Andrew Surman, along with Gameweek 23 starters Dan Gosling and Billing, are all tussling for a start, although there would seem to be less competition for Ryan Fraser and Harry Wilson in the wide areas given the dearth of fit alternatives. Aaron Ramsdale recovered from a hamstring injury to play at the weekend so should continue between the posts.

Latest News: Dan Burn (shoulder) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) are the Seagulls' only two confirmed absentees for the trip to Bournemouth, leaving Graham Potter with a healthy squad of over 20-odd players, any one of whom could get feasibly get the nod at the Vitality Stadium. The Brighton boss changes system and personnel from week to week and a near-full complement of squad members means he will be even more difficult to second-guess on Tuesday evening, particularly as he has previously made multiple alterations when fixtures have come thick and fast - although the fact that Albion subsequently have an 11-day breather after this match might curb his tinkering a little. Potter bemoaned a lack of creativity in the draw with Aston Villa at the weekend so may look towards Pascal Gross (without a league start in 2020) or Alireza Jahanbakhsh for this potential six-pointer against Eddie Howe's troops, with Aaron Connolly perhaps making way. Davy Propper and Aaron Mooy have been regular starters when available of late, while Leandro Trossard was excellent against the Villans and looks set to make Potter's line-up for the fifth match in a row. Neal Maupay has only had two benchings since Gameweek 3, meanwhile (both in periods of fixture congestion), so will expect to get the nod up front. Elsewhere, the versatility of Steven Alzate could see him retain his place at right-back or pushed further forward, while the likes of Yves Bissouma (who started in the reverse fixture) and the slightly out-of-favour Solly March are further options in midfield. Glenn Murray continues to be linked with a move away from the Amex but remains on the books, with Potter perhaps just being diplomatic when saying that the veteran, without a league start since September, could be involved against the Cherries. Shane Duffy is an alternative to Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk at centre-half or an option alongside them, should Potter revisit the wing-back system he has sporadically used in 2019/20.

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Latest News: Marcos Alonso (muscle) was passed fit by Frank Lampard on Monday, while there was also positive news on Reece James, with the Chelsea boss saying that the right-back's worrying-looking knee injury has "settled down pretty quickly" and that the youngster is "in contention for tomorrow". Lampard did add that it would be "a tight call" regarding James' involvement so, with that in mind, Emerson Palmieri and Alonso will be on standby to deputise, with Cesar Azpilicueta potentially moving over to right-back. Emerson's dismal display at the Emirates in the reverse fixture will be fresh in Lampard's mind, however, while Alonso's struggles in a flat back four are another issue to consider, given that Lampard abandoned a wing-back system after just half an hour when these sides met in December. The introduction of substitute Jorginho (for Emerson) alongside Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante was a real game-changer in Gameweek 20, so Lampard may very well, as he so often does in games of this magnitude, unite all three of those midfielders on Tuesday night. With Willian having started 18 of the last 19 league fixtures, one of Callum Hudson-Odoi or Mason Mount may have to make way to accommodate those three aforementioned options - the money perhaps being on the former given that Hudson-Odoi has yet to start against big-six opposition. Tammy Abraham was defended by his manager after drawing a blank on Tyneside at the weekend and will surely see off Michy Batshuayi's challenge in attack, while Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori are alternatives to Andreas Christensen (who has started the last two) at centre-half. Pedro and Ross Barkley could be poised for more bench duty, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles) and Christian Pulisic (tendon) remain unavailable.

Latest News: Mamadou Sakho (hamstring), Christian Benteke (muscle), Andros Townsend (unspecified), Jeffrey Schlupp (muscle) and Patrick van Aanholt (hamstring) remain unavailable due to injury, while Luka Milivojevic serves the final match of a three-game ban and is also sidelined for the visit of Southampton. Max Meyer has recovered from the ankle injury that led to his no-show at the Etihad at the weekend, however, so the German midfielder will likely return to the matchday squad in midweek. Meyer had started four league matches in a row before missing Saturday's fixture but he may struggle to get back into the starting XI on Tuesday, with the Eagles having performed admirably against Pep Guardiola's side. Jordan Ayew moved to the right wing (where Meyer had been playing) to accommodate Cenk Tosun centrally and the on-loan Everton striker, who scored Palace's opener at Eastlands, was praised for his "excellent" overall performance by his manager in Monday's pre-match press conference. Connor Wickham is set to remain a substitute for the mid-table clash with the Saints, then, with at least two youngsters from the pool of Tyrick Mitchell, Gio McGregor, Nya Kirby, Brandon Pierrick and Sam Woods likely to warm the bench as well. Scott Dann and Joel Ward are fit-again alternatives at the back but, while Ward was very much the first-choice right-back option until sustaining an injury in November, Hodgson may opt to keep Martin Kelly in that position after his fine display in Manchester. With little more than 72 hours separating Palace's fixtures in Gameweeks 23 and 24, however, Ward and Meyer could come into contention if fatigue is an issue.

Latest News: Richarlison (knee) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (groin) have both failed to recover from the minor injuries that forced their non-involvement at West Ham on Saturday, while Alex Iwobi (hamstring) won't be risked despite a return to training. Michael Keane (neck) is in the provisional squad for the visit of Newcastle, meanwhile, but, having missed the draw against the Hammers, Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday that the former Burnley centre-half was feeling "not so comfortable". A late decision will be made on Keane's involvement, then, and his potential availability could break up the Yerry Mina/Mason Holgate partnership at the back - Ancelotti having said last week that he would occasionally rotate his centre-backs and that he was "maybe going to rest Mason Holgate" for Gameweek 23. Djibril Sidibe was dropped to the bench in east London and could very well return here at the expense of Seamus Coleman, although both defenders could make the starting XI if Ancelloti wishes to play the Irishman as a right-sided centre-back in a 3-4-3 or Sidibe 'out of position' as a right-winger in a 4-4-2. Leighton Baines, Morgan Schneiderlin and Oumar Niasse could all come into the reckoning if fatigue is deemed an issue given the swift turnaround in matches, while youngster Anthony Gordon was a half-time replacement for Bernard on Saturday and will be pushing for his first-ever Premier League start against the Magpies. Ancelotti indeed has previous for minute-management when rotating his side over the hectic Christmas period, although the fixture congestion was a lot fiercer in December and the Toffees do have a breather coming up this weekend.

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Latest News: The hopes of millions of Fantasy managers will be resting on Jurgen Klopp's team selections in Double Gameweek 24 but we likely won't be hearing from the Liverpool boss ahead of Tuesday's deadline, with the league leaders' fixture against Wolves not taking place until Thursday evening. That means we will probably be in the dark regarding the availability of James Milner (muscle), Naby Keita (groin), Dejan Lovren (muscle) and Xherdan Shaqiri (calf), plus any other fitness concerns Klopp may have. Milner and Keita are thought to be slightly longer-term injuries but Lovren was anticipated to return to training this week, while Shaqiri told the club's website on Monday that he hoped to be back for the midweek clash at Molineux after missing out against Manchester United. The fit-again Fabinho and Joel Matip made the bench at Anfield on Sunday so, with Takumi Minamino added to the ranks, Liverpool finally have some depth to their bench after weeks of filling it with academy products. Matip (and Lovren if fit) look likely to be substitutes at best given the excellent form of the current back four but Fabinho could feasibly get a look-in if fit enough, occupying the number six role and freeing up Jordan Henderson to play on the right of midfield. That is perhaps the only place in the starting XI in question, with Adam Lallana - who started in the reverse fixture - another alternative to present incumbent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. While rotation is always a possibility elsewhere, the fact that Liverpool next face Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup on Sunday may mean that fringe players such as Matip, Minamino, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Divock Origi are instead held back for that meeting with the League One club - Klopp having previously blooded a second-string XI when facing Everton in round three.

Latest News: Pep Guardiola said he "didn't know" when Aymeric Laporte (knee) would be ready for a playing return despite the influential centre-half having been back in training for some time, with the City boss acknowledging that the long-term absentee had been "getting better" but adding that he would "have to think" about the when the Spaniard would first be involved. Guardiola has two other new concerns at the back, revealing issues for John Stones (leg) and Benjamin Mendy (muscle fatigue). The City boss didn't rule those two players out but, with rested options in Nicolas Otamendi, Eric Garcia, Angelino and Oleksandr Zinchenko available to him, Guardiola might err on the side of caution with these two injury-prone defenders. Kyle Walker will be clamouring for a recall, too, having sat out City's last three league fixtures and watched from the sidelines in the disappointing 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Rodri and Riyad Mahrez will expect to return to the side after their benchings in Gameweek 23, with Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva potentially making way - although both of those players, along with Phil Foden, are alternatives to David Silva in the centre of the midfield should the veteran be deemed in need of a breather. Kevin De Bruyne has started the last 15 league matches in a row and is about as close to being a secure starter as anyone else in the City side (if there is such a thing), while five goals in two matches from Sergio Aguero surely diminishes the Argentinean's rotation risk - although this is Guardiola we're talking about and anything is possible. Gabriel Jesus could still return to the visitors' line-up even if Aguero keeps his place, however, potentially reprising the role he played in the reigning champions' 6-1 win over Aston Villa. That scenario would see the out-of-sorts Raheem Sterling drop out of the side, with the England winger having again flattered to deceive against the Eagles at the weekend. Leroy Sane (knee) remains out and is still some way from a playing return.

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Latest News: Jetro Willems (ACL) and Paul Dummett (tendon) have both been ruled out for the rest of the season, while DeAndre Yedlin (knee), Dwight Gayle (hamstring), Javier Manquillo (hamstring), Yoshinori Muto (hip) and Ki Sung-yueng (knock) appear set to remain sidelined ahead of the trip to Everton. Andy Carroll (hip) may also be unavailable, meanwhile, with Steve Bruce telling BBC Radio Newcastle that the match at Goodison Park will likely come too soon for the injury-prone striker. Matt Ritchie looks poised to fill in for Willems at left wing-back, while Emil Krafth - hitherto third-choice behind Yedlin and Manquillo - may well continue on the opposite flank for the time being. Isaac Hayden could potentially deputise in that position as he did at Molineux in Gameweek 22, however, allowing one of the Longstaff brothers to return to the side in the middle of the park. With this match on Merseyside falling 72 hours after the completion of Saturday's win over Chelsea, Bruce hinted in his pre-match press conference that the turnaround in matches may be "too quick for some". The influential Allan Saint-Maximin could well be replaced by Christian Atsu considering that the Frenchman is just back from a hamstring injury, while one of the Longstaffs might be asked to fill in for Jonjo Shelvey considering that the midfielder has similarly recently returned from a muscle issue. Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune may have to watch on from the sidelines as the back three of Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles performed superbly against Chelsea, although again, the latter has just returned from two months on the treatment table and Bruce could opt to manage his minutes carefully.

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Latest News: David McGoldrick missed the draw with Arsenal on Saturday because of a foot injury but Chris Wilder said on Monday that the Republic of Ireland international has a chance of featuring against Manchester City in midweek, with assessment ongoing. McGoldrick, Billy Sharp and Callum Robinson are the three alternatives to Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie in attack, with rotation having occurred on a semi-regular basis up front this season - particularly in periods of fixture congestion. Wilder has handled Mousset's game-time carefully since his arrival and whether the former Bournemouth striker is up to a second start in the space of three days is up for debate, although the Frenchman was withdrawn after just 55 minutes in north London so may not be overly fatigued. Robinson's energy is an option in a game in which the Blades are likely to do a lot of running without the ball and it was he who was given the nod to start in the reverse fixture in December, with Mousset alongside him. There will likely be few, if any, changes behind the front two, with Wilder having not made any unenforced alternations to his first-choice defence and midfield this season, only bringing in the likes of Luke Freeman, Mo Besic and Phil Jagielka when the regular starters have been unavailable through injury or ineligibility. A tired-looking John Lundstram has been substituted midway through the second half in each of the last two Gameweeks, so there exists the possibility of the tough-tackling Besic being played in his stead given that the reigning champions are in town. Wilder indeed said on Thursday that the on-loan Everton midfielder was "pushing" for a start, so the Sheffield United boss could break with his usual habit of not making unenforced changes to his regular midfield trio.

Latest News: We were sent mixed signals by Southampton on Monday, with the Saints first declaring that Jan Bednarek would miss the trip to Crystal Palace, only to downgrade their prognosis and report him as a "doubt". The confusion likely stems from Ralph Hasenhuttl's ambiguous comments in his pre-match press conference, with the Austrian saying: "He has a little bit of a problem with his Achilles and I think no, so far". That slightly mumbled response didn't completely rule the ever-present Bednarek out of this one but, should he not recover, then Kevin Danso, Maya Yoshida and Jannik Vestergaard will be tussling for the spot alongside Jack Stephens. The left-sided centre-half role is one that all three have occupied at some point in their careers, although Danso has predominantly (and sometimes confusingly) been used at full-back this season and not in his favoured position. Vestergaard was the only one of the trio on the bench against Wolves on Saturday but it's not a given that he gets the nod, having been out of favour himself and omitted from the matchday squad on several occasions recently. Hasenhuttl has kept a very settled side over the last 11 Gameweeks but strongly hinted at changes at Selhurst Park, saying that "maybe this is the last game where we rotate a little bit" because of the sharp turnaround in fixtures. The Southampton has repeatedly mentioned the workload having to be carried out by his front two players, so it could well be that Michael Obafemi and Che Adams - as they were in Gameweek 19 - are thrown into the attack in south London at the expense of Danny Ings and Shane Long. Moussa Djenepo and Sofiane Boufal could very well come into the reckoning, too, with Stuart Armstrong potentially at risk. Nathan Redmond, James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg staved off the threat of rotation even over the hectic Christmas period so could retain their starts, while further changes to the back four looks unlikely given the shortage of available full-back options.

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Latest News: Sebastien Prodl (knee) and Daryl Janmaat (knee) remain unavailable as Watford prepare to face Aston Villa, while Nigel Pearson suggested that Will Hughes (hip), Tom Cleverley (heel) and Kiko Femenia (hamstring) wouldn't be involved despite that trio nearing returns. Danny Welbeck (hamstring) could very well feature, however, with his manager merely offering a coy "you'll have to wait and see" when asked if the former Arsenal striker would be involved at Villa Park. Even if Welbeck is fit enough to travel, a place on the bench surely beckons after three months on the sidelines. Pearson will be forced into at least one change on Tuesday, however, with Ismaila Sarr (muscle) ruled out of the trip to Birmingham. Roberto Pereyra is one option to replace the injured Senegal international but it could new signing Ignacio Pussetto, who is more of a natural fit on the right flank, who is handed a first Premier League start against the defensively suspect Villans. Pearson has kept a settled side since his appointment, generally only making changes when injury or suspension has forced his hand. The former Leicester and Derby boss had also previously pooh-poohed the suggestion of fatigue kicking in when the fixtures piled up over Christmas, so Pearson looks less likely than many other Premier League bosses to freshen up his starting XI in midweek. Christian Kabasele returned from suspension in Gameweek 23 but couldn't oust Craig Dawson from the heart of the defence so, with the Hornets having kept consecutive clean sheets in his absence, he could well find himself among the substitutes again. Jose Holebas, Isaac Success, Domingos Quina and Andre Gray seem set to be on the bench at best, too, unless further injuries strike between now and kick-off at Villa Park.

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Latest News: We likely won't hear from Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of the Gameweek 24 deadline, so we are still unclear as to the availability of Willy Boly (ankle) and Diogo Jota (dead leg). Joe Edwards of the Express and Star reported that Jota was due to be "running on the grass" this week, with Boly having recently reached a similar stage in his rehabilitation after three months on the sidelines. A bit of jogging is some distance from full-blown first-team training, of course, and Thursday's match against Liverpool would seem a little premature for a playing return in both cases unless there have been miraculous recoveries. Ruben Vinagre is definitely out with a hamstring injury sustained last week, while we await further news on any fresh injuries that may have been picked up either in the win over Southampton or in training since. With Patrick Cutrone having departed, Jesus Vallejo's ill-fated loan spell coming to a premature end and Wolves yet to make any signings in the January transfer window, Nuno Espirito Santo doesn't have many alternatives available to him should he desire to freshen things up - although the generous recovery time between games (five days) and an upcoming free weekend should ensure that Santo's troops are at full-strength. Ryan Giles, Bruno Jordao, Max Kilman and Morgan Gibbs-White look set to be among the substitutes again, then, with one or two of Oskar Burr, Benny Ashley-Seal, Taylor Perry and Luke Cundle set to make up the numbers on the bench. Back-up centre-half Ryan Bennett failed to make the matchday squad at St. Mary's on Saturday, so Santo may shed light on the reason for that in his pre-match media gathering.