Premier League Matchweek 1: Injury Updates and Team News
The new Premier League season is on the doorstep, the transfer window still humming in the background, and already managers are juggling injuries, fitness calls and bold new signings. For Fantasy Premier League bosses racing the 18:30 BST deadline, the first big clues are here.
Below is how Matchweek 1 is shaping up across the grounds.
Arsenal v Coventry: Arteta waits on Guimaraes
Mikel Arteta’s first team sheet of the campaign may go right to the wire.
New midfield signing Bruno Guimaraes is a major doubt, with Arteta ready to leave the final call as late as possible. “Let’s see how it is. He is evolving really well,” the Arsenal manager said, refusing to rule him in or out.
There is better news for two of his cornerstones. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, both on the bench for the Community Shield win over Manchester City, are “ready to be involved” and expected to step back into prominent roles.
At the back, Jurrien Timber is still “a few weeks” away from returning, while William Saliba remains a long-term absentee, keeping Arsenal’s defensive options slightly stretched.
Coventry arrive with a major hole in attack. Last season’s top scorer Haji Wright has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a serious quad injury. “He won’t be available for a little while… it’s certainly going to be a number of weeks,” Frank Lampard admitted. Ellis Simms is in line to replace him up front.
There is at least some relief. Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni have shaken off pre-season issues and are in contention, though Lampard is unlikely to gamble on them from the start. Frank Onyeka will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness.
Hull v Manchester United: patched-up hosts, selection puzzles for Carrick
Hull open the season with a treatment room that looks far too busy for August.
Six first-team players, including Jack Butland and Darko Gyabi, are out until at least next month. Joe Gelhardt’s absence is another heavy blow to their attacking plans. Hidemasa Morita and Cody Drameh are expected back in training only after the United game.
With Charlie Hughes sidelined, new signing Nobel Mendy is poised to step into central defence, likely as part of the tight five-at-the-back system that carried Hull through the playoffs. It will be containment first, ambition second.
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United have their own headaches, but they are more about choice than crisis.
Mason Mount, sharp in pre-season, is “touch and go for the weekend”, though Carrick insisted “there are no dramas” and that the midfielder will not be missing for long. Matthijs De Ligt is back in training but not yet ready to feature, while Benjamin Sesko has rejoined the squad but is unlikely to start. That leaves Carrick with big decisions in attack and a chance for others to seize early-season momentum.
Everton v Crystal Palace: Henderson race against time
Everton’s team news is still under wraps, but Crystal Palace have laid their cards on the table.
New manager Pierre Sage is hopeful Dean Henderson will be fit despite the goalkeeper twisting his ankle in the final pre-season friendly against Freiburg. “We want him to play,” Sage said, explaining they had given Henderson a few days of treatment to get him as close to peak condition as possible.
The rest of the squad is available. Jean-Philippe Mateta is back in the frame but short of full fitness; he is unlikely to start but should make the bench and could be unleashed for minutes late on.
Ipswich v Sunderland: Le Bris spoilt for choice
Ipswich are keeping their plans close, but Sunderland arrive almost at full strength.
Every player is available except Simon Adingra, who has not fully shaken off an ankle problem. Manager Regis Le Bris knows the real challenge is not who he has, but who he trusts from the opening whistle. “We’ll see for the game time because they are not all at the same stage, but they are available,” he said.
Thomas Meunier, a summer signing, had been troubled by back pain but trained this week and will be in the squad, with the prospect of minutes at right back. Defenders Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele are also back from injury, giving Sunderland a depth and flexibility that could prove decisive over the coming weeks.
Nottingham Forest v Leeds: Yates out, Okafor managed
Nottingham Forest start without their captain.
Ryan Yates, missing from the final pre-season outing against Stade Brestois, has not recovered in time. Defender Nicolo Savona is also sidelined, having suffered a minor setback after surgery ended his previous campaign. “We had to take a step back, so he’s working in the gym again and working on his knee to get back on the grass. I think it will take a couple of weeks,” Oliver Glasner explained.
Beyond that, Forest have a clean bill of health, with all other players available for the matchday squad.
Leeds, meanwhile, are weighing risk against reward with Noah Okafor. The forward, who finished last season with six goals in his last 10 games, has been back training for two weeks. Daniel Farke is wary of pushing him too quickly. “It’s my responsibility to see if it makes sense and we’ll take some late decisions,” the manager said.
Willy Gnonto is out with a hamstring injury, with hopes he will return to team training soon. Gabriel Gudmundsson is “still out” as well, but the rest of the Leeds squad is fit and ready.
Brentford v Spurs: De Zerbi’s defence ripped up
Brentford’s team news remains to be confirmed, but Tottenham already know they will have to improvise.
New club captain Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro are both out injured, ripping out two pillars of Roberto De Zerbi’s back line. Archie Gray is expected to fill in at right back, while summer signing Marcos Senesi, brought in from Bournemouth, could go straight into the heart of defence.
Pape Matar Sarr is also unavailable, not yet fit enough to feature. De Zerbi does at least have attacking weapons ready to go: James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes and Destiny Udogie are all available and should give Spurs plenty of thrust in forward areas.
Brighton v Aston Villa: Hurzeler juggling injuries
Fabian Hurzeler’s first Premier League line-up as Brighton manager will be shaped heavily by the medical report.
Yankuba Minteh is out for at least a couple of weeks, while Carlos Baleba, Kaoru Mitoma and Stefanos Tzimas are all doubts and will be assessed before Sunday’s kick-off. New signing Promise David has a chance of involvement, but almost certainly from the bench as he is eased into English football.
Aston Villa’s team news is still to come, leaving Unai Emery’s hand slightly concealed ahead of the trip to the south coast.
Manchester City v Bournemouth: Rose hit by early injuries
Manchester City’s plans are yet to be revealed, but Bournemouth’s situation under new manager Marco Rose is already complicated.
Rose is without last season’s breakout star Junior Kroupi, who required foot surgery and is not expected back until around November. Tyler Adams is being assessed and remains in contention, but Ryan Christie is suspended, opening a potential vacancy in central midfield. David Brooks is also being monitored as Bournemouth try to piece together a competitive core for Rose’s first official match in charge.
Newcastle v Liverpool: Joelinton out, Bamba in the spotlight
St James’ Park will be bouncing, but Newcastle must cope without one of their key midfield enforcers.
Joelinton is out “for a couple of weeks” and will miss the opening weekend, manager Matthias Jaissle confirmed. “I'm really confident that he will be back as soon as possible,” he added, but for now the gap is real.
Summer signing Aladji Bamba is expected to step into central midfield, while Amar Dedic, only just through the door, could be thrown straight in at right back. “He got some minutes in friendlies there, I am confident that he's ready and we need him,” Jaissle said, hinting at an immediate role.
Tino Livramento is close to a return but has only taken part in one training session, so patience will be required.
Liverpool’s team news remains under wraps for now, adding a layer of intrigue to an already explosive fixture.
Fulham v Chelsea: Arbeloa’s first call, Alonso’s new-look attack
Alvaro Arbeloa begins his Fulham tenure without a key defender.
Joachim Anderson is suspended for the start of the season, and Tom Cairney is out until October following knee surgery earlier this month. That leaves Arbeloa with plenty of decisions to make across the pitch in his first match in charge.
One call seems straightforward: new signing Gonzalo Garcia, recruited from Real Madrid in the summer, is expected to start up front and carry much of Fulham’s attacking burden.
Across west London, Chelsea’s new era under Xabi Alonso comes with its own fitness management.
Danny Welbeck, signed from Brighton, is being carefully handled in training but could still feature, most likely from the bench. “We are expecting him back on Saturday,” Alonso said. “We need to go day by day but that's the plan at the moment.” Jordan Henderson is out until September with a wrist injury.
Alonso also warned that players who went deep into the World Cup “may need a bit more time”, though none are injured and all are available. The options are there. The choices, and the early-season tone they set, are now his.
The season starts now. Who gets those first big calls right?
