See which players we think will start for their Premier League clubs this weekend
Football writer Sam Cunningham has predicted the line-ups of all 20 Premier League clubs in action this weekend.
See: Injury updates for every club and player
See: Who’s suspended or close to a ban
Brentford v Fulham predicted line-ups
Brentford: Mikkel Damsgaard has been ill but is expected to be well enough to play again. Aaron Hickey is also available, which Brentford manager Keith Andrews described as “a bonus for us”. Jordan Henderson, Rico Henry and Vitaly Janelt will be unavailable this weekend. Henderson could be back within “the next couple of weeks”. Kaye Furo also has “a slight groin strain” and misses out.
Fulham: Marco Silva has most of his squad to choose from, though Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed are at least a week away from recovery. Kevin is also a longer-term absentee, but could feature before the end of the campaign. Silva has been settled on his starting line-up in recent weeks and will be reticent to make too many changes.
Leeds v Wolves predicted line-ups
Leeds: Daniel Farke has said that every player available in the shock win against Manchester United is “ready” to play against Wolves. Others close to a comeback from injury are, however, unlikely to feature. “Joe Rodon, Daniel James, Anton Stach, the first step is back in team training,” Farke said. They are being assessed “day by day” but none were back in training on Thursday – meaning Saturday will be a stretch. Gabriel Gudmundsson has been struggling with a minor groin issue but came through the Man Utd game well and is “all good”.
Wolves: Wolves are hoping to bounce back from a heavy defeat against West Ham, but their chances will be hampered by the suspension of Yerson Mosquera, who is unavailable for two matches after being booked 10 times. However, Matt Doherty is closing in on a return and may well go straight back into the starting XI. Manager Rob Edwards said he will be given a late assessment, but Sam Johnstone, missing with a shoulder injury, is still out meaning Jose Sa will retain his place in goal.
Newcastle v Bournemouth predicted line-ups
Newcastle: Joelinton is suspended after picking up 10 yellow cards, forcing a reshuffle in midfield. Bruno Guimaraes is close to making a comeback from the thigh injury that has kept him out for two months, but it is touch and go if he will be ready to face Bournemouth. “There is a chance he can be fit for the weekend,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. Fabian Schar remains unavailable since having minor surgery on his foot. Injuries to key players are taking their toll and Howe will look to reinvigorate his team following three straight defeats.
Bournemouth: Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is not expected to make many changes from the side that pulled off a stunning victory against league leaders Arsenal and is on the league’s longest unbeaten run. Julio Soler is back in contention after recovering from a thigh injury, but the defender’s minutes will be carefully managed. Lewis Cook is taking longer than expected to recover and will miss out. Beyond that Iraola’s squad is in good shape.
Spurs v Brighton predicted line-ups
Spurs: Roberto De Zerbi said that Rodrigo Bentancur “is available to play” but remains unlikely to make the starting line-up. Guglielmo Vicario is still not ready, so Antonin Kinsky will continue deputising in goal. De Zerbi said he was “sorry” Cristian Romero is out for the season, but added: “We have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, they are able to play and able to play well, to give us quality on the ball and strong in the defensive phase.” Xavi Simons could come in after starting De Zerbi’s first game on the bench.
Brighton: Lewis Dunk is suspended as he serves the second match of a two-game ban and James Milner is still out but “he is getting close”, Fabian Hurzeler said. Beyond that, the Brighton manager said there were no new injuries to report. Hurzeler is unlikely to make significant changes to the most in-form side in the league and could even go unchanged. He has a decision to make over starting Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh, but is leaning towards the latter.
Chelsea v Man Utd predicted line-ups
Chelsea: Enzo Fernandez will make a return after being dropped for the FA Cup game against Port Vale and defeat to Manchester City for disciplinary reasons. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said centre-back Trevoh Chalobah is “very close” to making a return, but appears unlikely to start. Reece James “is a little bit further away” and will not be in the squad. Of the long-term absentees, Levi Colwill will play for the Under 21s but is not quite ready for the first team.
Man Utd: Kobbie Mainoo was absent from the Leeds United defeat on Monday and Michael Carrick said the midfielder “has a chance” of returning to face Chelsea. A decision will be made closer to kick off. Harry Maguire is unavailable after his one-game for a red card against Bournemouth was extended for another match for improper conduct, while Lisandro Martinez is also suspended, leaving Carrick without his first-choice centre-back pairing. Matthijs de Ligt is also still out. Patrick Dorgu is “on track” but not back in training.
Aston Villa v Sunderland predicted line-ups
Aston Villa: Villa received a huge boost with the return of Emi Martinez for the Europa League win against Bologna. The goalkeeper pulled out of their last match with a calf problem, but is back to full fitness. Jadon Sancho has been struggling with a shoulder injury but is also ready to start, although will likely be on the bench. Expect tweaks, rather than wholesale changes, from Unai Emery.
Sunderland: Sunderland have a lengthy injury list, but they have been given a huge boost with the news Dan Ballard is off it. “He is fully fit,” Regis Le Bris said. This game has come too soon for Nilson Angulo. He is sidelined alongside Bertrand Traore and Jocelin Ta Bi, who are all “close to reconnecting with the squad” and are expected back to face Nottingham Forest.
Everton v Liverpool predicted line-ups
Everton: Apart from the long-term injury to Jack Grealish, David Moyes has a full squad to choose from as he attempts to close the gap on the top five against rivals Liverpool. Carlos Alcaraz has not played since the end of January but has been back in training. An injury forced Michael Keane to the bench for the Brentford game, but Moyes will likely bring him back into the defence, at the expense of James Tarkowski.
Liverpool: The injury to Hugo Ekitike, out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles, means Arne Slot has a decision to make in attack. Alexander Isak made his first start in four months in the Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain, but a second in four days would be a risk and Slot said the striker is “not ready to play 90 minutes yet”. It paves the way for Mohamed Salah and Rio Ngumoha – on the bench in midweek – to start with Cody Gakpo. Defender Joe Gomez is not fit and is unavailable for selection on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest v Burnley predicted line-ups
Nott’m Forest: Forest may have reached a first European semi-final in 42 years but it has possibly come at a cost. Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, defender Murillo and striker Chris Wood all picked up injuries and will be assessed. Of the three, Wood and Murillo are the most likely to feature, but manager Vitor Pereira will not want to risk any of them in what is a crucial final run-in. Elliot Anderson missed the Porto game due to a family bereavement but could make a return.
Burnley: Josh Laurent is back after serving a one-game ban in the defeat to Brighton and is predicted to replace Florentino Luis, who stood in for him in central midfield. Centre-back Axel Tuanzebe is nearing a return from injury, but this match will come too soon. Kyle Walker, who was dropped in Burnley’s last match, is expected to come back into the team, meaning Bashir Humphreys can move back into the middle of defence.
Man City v Arsenal predicted line-ups
Man City: This season’s breakout academy graduate Nico O’Reilly was substituted in the game against Chelsea with a suspected hamstring injury, but Pep Guardiola said he is “fine”, dispelling fears he might miss their biggest game of the season. Ruben Dias has been nearing a return but the Manchester City manager said he is “not ready”. Guardiola’s side have found rhythm and it could be a third successive game without changes to his outfield players.
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka is out for the match, in a massive blow. The Arsenal manager is “hopeful” Noni Madueke will be ready, describing him as a “player that pushes through pain”. But he was less positive about other absentees, including Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori. “Some players are quite close but the turnaround is short,” Arteta said. Declan Rice has been struggling after playing so many games but is expected to start.
Crystal Palace v West Ham predicted line-ups
Crystal Palace: Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix are serious doubts for Crystal Palace after being forced off in the first half against Fiorentina. Oliver Glasner does not believe either injury is serious, but with the game against West Ham four days later their chances of a full recovery are slim. Jean-Philippe Mateta was also substituted at half-time and could be rested. Evann Guessand and Eddie Nketiah remain long-term absentees.
West Ham: Nuno Espirito Santo has a fully-fit squad to choose from in another massive relegation fixture. “All the boys are OK,” he said. “It’s always good to have all the options available.” He has a decision to make whether to start Kyle Walker-Peters, who has come in for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in their last two games. Callum Wilson, back on the bench for their last game, will be pushing for a start.