There are a total of 14 managers speaking to the media today, with the other six facing questions yesterday. The most important updates from Thursday’s press can be found here. BASIC UPDATES Friday press times are listed below: For much more detailed information, see the Predicted Lineups page and the Injuries and Suspensions feed.
LIVERPOOL
Thiago Alcantara (muscle) has joined Diogo Jota (thigh), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (muscle), Caoimhine Kelleher (muscle), Ibrahima Konate (muscle), Curtis Jones (muscle) on the sidelines for Monday’s clash with Crystal Palas but Naby Keita has recovered from illness and Kostas Tsimikas (knock) could also be involved as he returns to training today. “We have now, at the moment, certainly too many injuries, that’s clear. Some boys are coming back. Nabi will return on Monday, Kostas will train today for the first time, so he can return as well. “Thiago is good, but the injury is not good. I read four to six weeks [for a timeframe]. I’d rather have four!” – Jurgen Klopp Klopp was also asked about the developing relationship between Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, as well as the importance of Roberto Firmino in the Liverpool squad. “It’s a nice partnership, for sure. They are two players who are determined to score and be in key areas – I mean behind the line, wherever the line is. It is very helpful. Mo is having a great time and Darwin is settling in. I think Luis [Diaz] I just missed the goal, if you will [at Fulham]very good times, very good situations. [He had] two chances, one was post I think, or crossbar, then blocked in another situation. So a bit of luck and then he would score and that would help him massively. But other than that, this section wasn’t our problem last weekend. “[Firmino is] very important. If we now take our last game against Fulham, we didn’t get Bobby right. There were several reasons, we saw many in the analysis. we can talk about it, but it was something that had nothing to do with us, to be honest, because the center was very often blocked. If you want to watch it, you watch it too, and they weren’t bad players. That’s why it was a little difficult for him to get into the game. And we didn’t play well, and that’s always for an offensive player that’s not easy to really show up. But other than that, obviously I’m not judging Bobby because of one or two games or anything. Bobby is a fantastic player and he had a good preparation, not a perfect preparation but a good preparation and that was all he needed, to be able to have the number of sessions he had and train as often as he did. He’ll benefit from that for sure during the season and we’ll go from there.” – Jurgen Klopp
CITY OF MANCHESTER
Aymeric Laporte (knee) is still on the sidelines ahead of the visit of Bournemouth, while Kalvin Phillips (niggles) and Cole Palmer (foot) are new doubts. “We have Kalvin [Phillips] I don’t know if it will be possible with any kind of shingles. Cole Palmer has had a knock on his leg the last few games and is questionable tomorrow. The rest [apart from Aymeric Laporte] it’s perfect.” – Pep Guardiola Pep Guardiola has confirmed that new signing Sergio Gomez will be part of the first team and will provide back-up/competition for Joao Cancelo at left-back. “You know the club is always working for a lot of chances and opportunities in all positions. That one goal is a young player, in the World Cup years ago the best player was Phil Foden and he was the second best player in that tournament. “He played for Spain under-21s, he was a new talent for the Barcelona academy, he went to Dortmund, he didn’t get many minutes, he played in good hands under Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht last year. He played well, we are targeting him and we can bring him here. “He is for now, he will stay with us, the team and with Joao, Josh [Wilson-Esbrand] and he, an option for the left back”. – Pep Guardiola to Sergio Gomez
ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta confirms that Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira have all returned to training after injury, while Kieran Tierney “looks in perfect condition”. However, Reiss Nelson is set for a spell on the sidelines.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Antonio Conte has confirmed that Clement Lenglet is very likely to miss out with “fatigue in his adductor” ahead of the trip to Chelsea. The Spurs boss also revealed that Oliver Skipp needs a “few weeks” before he returns, but Richarlison returned from suspension this weekend.
CHELSEA
Marcos Alonso will not be considered for selection this weekend as he tries to force a move away from Chelsea, while Mateo Kovacic is out of action against Tottenham Hotspur with a troublesome knee. “[Alonso] he is not in training at the moment trying to finalize his transfer so will not be available for tomorrow’s game. So is Kova, who is unfortunately injured. He has problems with his knee and always a bit of a reaction, so we decided to take a step back and increase the healing time and reduce the stress that comes from training. “Everyone else is available.” – Thomas Tuchel
MANCHESTER UNITED
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Manchester United’s squad news is “still the same” for the trip to Brentford, meaning Anthony Martial and Viktor Lindelof remain on the sidelines. Asked if Cristiano Ronaldo could start against the Bees after last weekend’s ‘false nine’ experiment with Christian Eriksen, the Red Devils boss was noncommittal. “So he had a good week of training, I thought he played just over half an hour [against Brighton], I’d say he now has two half games. We will see the starting line-up tomorrow. Of course, I’ve made up my mind, but me [will] keep it.” – Erik ten Haag to Cristiano Ronaldo
ASTON VILLA
We haven’t had much squad news from Steven Gerrard ahead of the Everton game, but the Villa boss has spoken at length about well-known FPL midfielder Leon Bailey, saying the winger “looked sharp” in training. “I don’t think he’s had a lot of luck in terms of health and his body being used to the Premier League. On the back end, he’s had some injuries and niggles that have prevented him from getting into a routine and rhythm. “In the pre-season, he was healthy and looked sharp. Repeating games and training – again he looked sharp this morning – he’s in a good place. He was disappointed, like all of us, with the last game, but it’s a game. Leon is in a much better place than he was last year. “He had doubts about his body, he didn’t have the best luck and that was quite disappointing for him.” – Steven Gerrard
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Jonjo Shelvey may struggle to return before the Premier League’s World Cup break, with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe ruling him out for around 12 weeks following hamstring surgery. “It was quite complicated. We had a number of scans, a number of opinions because we wanted to make the right call. It wasn’t a simple injury. He has undergone surgery and we expect him to be out for around 12 weeks. “He was very disappointed, he worked very hard in preparation and he looked in good physical condition. It’s a real shame for him and for us, but he’s on the road to recovery now, he’s in a much better place after the operation. “I feel we have enough to cover his absence at the moment, but you know football, it can change very quickly. Bruno played in that position on Saturday and did very, very well. We have other players too: Sean Longstaff played the position during pre-season and again very well.” – Eddie Howe on Jonjo Shelvey’s injury Jamaal Lascelles is expected to shake off a thigh injury after being left out of the Gameweek 1 squad and briefly missing training earlier in the week, while Jamal Lewis (groin) and Federico Fernandez (calf) are building slowly their physical condition after a long lay. – offs. Emil Krafth is suffering from a back problem, despite scans coming back clean.
EVERTON
The Toffees released a medical update earlier in the week on Ben Godfrey (foot) and Yerry Mina (ankle): the former will be out for three months with a fractured fibula while the latter “will see a specialist this week to find out its full extent [his] problem before treatment’. Conor Coady has of course been added to bolster the numbers at the back, while Salomon Rondon returns from suspension this weekend. “No, we’re still weighing it. And the reality is that we are still in a bit of pre-season mode and not all players have been able to play many minutes in the short preparation that we have had. I have to weigh up the fitness levels to try and get the sharpest players on the pitch. If maybe some people didn’t have as many minutes, they might be more effective when they come.” – Frank Lampard when asked if it was a ‘given’ that Salomon Rondon starts this weekend
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Bruno Lage confirmed on Friday that Raul Jimenez and Joao Moutinho remain out of action for the clash with Fulham. Nelson Semedo and Adama Traore are technically available for selection, but Lage warned of a lack of pre-season, so fitness still appears to be an issue.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Michael Olise (leg) could make his long-awaited return against Liverpool on Monday, but the game comes too early for James McArthur (groin) and James Tomkins (calf), while Nathan Ferguson (leg) had a “loss” and faces yet another spell on the sidelines. “Michael trained all week with the team so there is a chance he will be with the team. The other two [James McArthur and James Tomkins]it will be too short for them. “[Nathan Ferguson] he just had a setback. It’s too early to tell, but apparently…
