English Premier League team news
Get all the latest team news and information for the next round of Premier League action.
FRIDAY’S GAME
PREDICTION: United to take a 1-0 victory
FANTASY PICK: Sergio Romero
KEY STAT: Aston Villa have not beaten Manchester United at home in the Premier League since August 1995 (D7 L12). The Red Devils have won more games against Aston Villa (32) than any side has against a single opponent in Premier League history.
– Aston Villa
Rudy Gestede may have to settle for a place on the bench despite his debut winner last week. The striker scored in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth after coming off the bench but boss Tim Sherwood does not want to rush him after an interrupted preseason. Jack Grealish (hamstring), Carles Gil (ankle) and Jores Okore (knee) are out while Idrissa Gueye, Jordan Amavi, Jordan Ayew, Jordan Veretout and Micah Richards are also set for their home debuts.
Provisional squad: Guzan, Bunn, Hutton, Bacuna, Richards, Clark, Baker, Amavi, Crespo, Richardson, Westwood, Sanchez, Veretout, Cole, Gueye, N’Zogbia, Kozak, Agbonlahor, Ayew, Sinclair, Gestede.
– Manchester United
David de Gea has been left out because manager Louis van Gaal still feels the goalkeeper is not mentally up to the job. Centre-back Phil Jones (thrombosis) and midfielder Marouane Fellaini (suspended) are out while defender Marcos Rojo will not feature because he still lacks match fitness.
Provisional squad: Lindegaard, Romero, Johnstone, Shaw, Blind, Blackett, Evans, Smalling, McNair, Darmian, Varela, Valencia, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Goss, Herrera, Mata, Pereira, Januzaj, Young, Depay, Rooney, Hernandez, Wilson.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
PREDICTION: Saints to take the points with a 2-1 win
FANTASY PICK: Graziano Pelle
KEY STAT: Eleven of Graziano Pelle’s 13 Premier League goals have come at home. Italian striker Pelle has scored five goals in his last eight Premier League appearances, after going the previous 14 games without a goal.
– Southampton
New £5 million signing Oriol Romeu is expected to make his Southampton debut after arriving from Chelsea. Manager Ronald Koeman will also return to the Southampton bench after missing the 2-2 draw at Newcastle while recovering from surgery to a ruptured Achilles. He will be without two other summer recruits, Steven Caulker (sinus infection) and Jordie Clasie (hamstring), however, as well as Ryan Bertrand (knee) and long-term absentee Fraser Forster.
Provisional squad: Stekelenburg, Davis, Soares, Yoshida, Gardos, Fonte, Targett, Long, Davis, Rodriguez, Mane, Tadic, Wanyama, Romeu, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Pelle, Juanmi
– Everton
Everton defender Leighton Baines has been ruled out for three months after ankle surgery so 19-year-old Brendon Galloway is expected to deputise at left-back again at Southampton. Forward Kevin Mirallas has recovered from the ankle injury which forced him off against Watford last weekend. Gerard Deulofeu, Aiden McGeady and Muhamed Besic all returned to training this week after missing last weekend’s season-opener with hamstring injuries.
Provisional squad: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Galloway, Cleverley, McCarthy, Barry, Barkley, Lukaku, Mirallas, Robles, Oviedo, Browning, Osman, Besic, Naismith, Deulofeu, McGeady, Kone, McAleny.
PREDICTION: Goalless draw
FANTASY PICK: John Ruddy
KEY STAT: Sunderland have won just one of their previous six Premier League games against the Canaries (D2 L3). Norwich City have scored just once in their last six visits to the Stadium of Light.
– Sunderland
Dick Advocaat has been handed a boost by the news that Adam Johnson’s shoulder injury is not as serious as was first feared. The club announced on Wednesday evening that the England midfielder would be sidelined for at least eight weeks, but a scan carried out later the same day confirmed that no surgery would be required and his absence is now being estimated at six to seven weeks. Advocaat has otherwise reported a relatively clean bill of health ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Norwich with only Jordi Gomez (knee) still missing, and fellow midfielder Yann M’Vila has been included for the senior squad for the first time.
Provisional squad: Pantilimon, Mannone, Matthews, Kaboul, Jones, Van Aanholt, Brown, O’Shea, Coates, Cattermole, M’Vila, Bridcutt, Lens, Rodwell, Buckley, Larsson, Giaccherini, Defoe, Fletcher, Graham, Watmore.
– Norwich
Norwich report no fresh injury concerns. Nathan Redmond is pressing for a starting place after coming off the bench to score in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, as is forward Cameron Jerome. Full-back Martin Olsson (shoulder) continues his rehabilitation, along with forward Kyle Lafferty. Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, a summer signing on a free transfer from West Brom, is out with a fractured metatarsal.
Provisional Squad: Ruddy, Whittaker, Bassong, Martin, Brady, Johnson, Tettey, Howson, Hoolahan, Redmond, Jerome, Rudd, Dorrans, Hooper, Grabban, O’Neil, Wisdom, R Bennett.
PREDICTION: Swans have too much, 2-0
FANTASY PICK: Jefferson Montero
KEY STAT: Since being promoted to the top-flight, Swansea have collected more points against Newcastle than any other side (17 – W5 D2 L1). Papiss Cisse has netted four times in four Premier League appearances against the Swans.
– Swansea
Swansea will assess Ki Sung-yueng after the South Korean midfielder was forced off in the first half at Chelsea with a sore hamstring and Jack Cork, an impressive replacement at Stamford Bridge, will start if Ki does not make it. Jefferson Montero was also taken off at Chelsea as a precaution after cramping up but the Ecuador winger is fit.
Provisional squad: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Cork, Shelvey, Ayew, Sigurdsson, Gomis, Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Amat, Tabanou, Fulton, Britton, Routledge, Emnes, Dyer, Eder, Montero, Grimes.
– Newcastle
Midfielder Vurnon Anita has been included in the squad after overcoming a back injury. He was carried from the field on a stretcher after hurting his back in last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Southampton, but has made a speedy recovery. Striker Emmanuel Riviere has undergone minor surgery on a knee cartilage, while midfielder Remy Cabella (hip/thigh) has returned to training and will be joined by defender Paul Dummett (hamstring) next week. Midfielder Sylvain Marveaux (groin) remains on the sidelines.
Provisional squad: Krul, Darlow, Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Taylor, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, De Jong, Colback, Obertan, Aarons, Gouffran, Cisse, Mitrovic, Perez.
PREDICTION: A 1-1 draw
FANTASY PICK: Harry Kane
KEY STAT: Charlie Adam has scored three times and been sent off twice in seven Premier League games against Spurs. Adam has scored five goals in his last nine Premier League games for Stoke.
– Tottenham
Hugo Lloris is ready to start as Mauricio Pochettino reported a fully-fit squad. The 28-year-old goalkeeper sustained a fractured wrist in preseason and was only fit enough to start the opener at Manchester United from the bench, although he played 90 minutes for Spurs’ under-21s against Everton on Monday. Andros Townsend (shoulder) and Danny Rose (quad) are also back in contention, while Alex Pritchard marked his return from injury with two goals for the under-21s against the Toffees. Aaron Lennon and Emmanuel Adebayor have not been given squad numbers, while Roberto Soldado has travelled to Spain to discuss an exit.
Provisional squad: Lloris, Vorm, Walker, Trippier, Yedlin, Rose, Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Fazio, Wimmer, Dier, Mason, Bentaleb, Alli, Carroll, Dembele, Eriksen, Townsend, Chadli, Pritchard, Lamela, Kane
– Stoke
Xherdan Shaqiri has declared himself fit and ready, but he will not be able to make his Stoke debut after being forced to miss the game against Tottenham to fulfil a one-game ban he earned while playing for Inter in the Coppa Italia last season. Mark Hughes will likely have forward Marko Arnautovic back available as well as defender Marc Wilson, after the pair missed last Sunday’s home loss to Liverpool due to thigh and ankle problems respectively. Peter Odemwingie (hamstring) and Bojan Krkic (knee) are still out, while skipper Ryan Shawcross faces between two and three months on the sidelines following back surgery.
Provisional squad: Butland, Given, Muniesa, Wilson, Wollscheid, Bardsley, Pieters, Johnson, Cameron, Whelan, Van Ginkel, Ireland, Adam, Sidwell, Arnautovic, Afellay, Walters, Diouf, Crouch, Joselu.
PREDICTION: Hornets to take a 2-1 win
FANTASY PICK: Troy Deeney
KEY STAT: The Hornets are winless in 14 league games against West Brom (D6 L8, all in second tier). West Brom haven’t lost away to Watford since November 1994, winning four and drawing three of their visits since then.
– Watford
Almen Abdi and Steven Berghuis have recovered from injuries and are expected to be available. Abdi and Berghuis missed last weekend’s draw against Everton with respective knee and upper leg injuries but both players have returned to training this week. Berghuis is set to make his debut after joining from AZ Alkmaar last month. Defender Miguel Britos and goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis are suspended for the clash at Vicarage Road.
Provisional squad: Gomes, Nyom, Cathcart, Prodl, Paredes, Holebas, Behrami, Capoue, Watson, Ighalo, Jurado, Deeney, Forestieri, Anya, Angella, Vydra, Layun, Gilmartin, Berghuis, Pudil, Abdi.
– West Brom
New record signing Salomon Rondon could make his debut and Tony Pulis is hopeful the £12 million striker will be fit enough to make the squad. Arsenal loanee Serge Gnabry could also feature as he looks to regain match fitness, while Gareth McAuley is available after a calf injury saw him miss Monday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City but Ben Foster (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Provisional squad: Myhill, Rose, Chester, Lescott, Dawson, Brunt, Olsson, Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, McAuley, Morrison, McClean, Gnabry, McManaman, Sessegnon, Lambert, Berahino, Rondon, Anichebe, Ideye.
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PREDICTION: Hammers to win it 2-0
FANTASY PICK: Dimitri Payet
KEY STAT: The Hammers have won seven of their previous eight home Premier League games against Leicester City, losing the other in August 2000. The Foxes lost all six of their Premier League games last season in London, and have gone 20 Premier League games without a victory in the capital (D3 L17).
– West Ham
Diafra Sakho will be involved despite his arrest last week, according to Slaven Bilic. Carl Jenkinson is available having been ineligible to face parent club Arsenal last weekend and Pedro Obiang is fit to make his debut if called upon. Forwards Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia (both knee) remain sidelined, as does defender Joey O’Brien (hamstring). Midfielder Morgan Amalfitano is not in contention having been made to train with the youth team.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Reid, Cresswell, Hendrie, Jenkinson, Oxford, Noble, Nolan, Obiang, Kouyate, Poyet, Payet, Jarvis, Lanzini, Maiga, Zarate, Sakho.
– Leicester
Midfielder Matty James remains the only absentee for Claudio Ranieri’s side due to his knee problem. Striker Jamie Vardy will be involved after being disciplined by the club for using racially offensive language in a casino. Meanwhile, Yohan Benalouane, Leonardo Ulloa, Tom Lawrence, Liam Moore and Ben Chilwell all played for the development squad on Monday, each managing the full 90 minutes in an under-21 league draw against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
Provisional squad: Schmeichel, Schwarzer, De Laet, Moore, Morgan, Wasilewski, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs, Albrighton, Kante, Mahrez, Schlupp, King, James, Hammond, Drinkwater, Vardy, Ulloa, Kramaric, Okazaki, Nugent.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
PREDICTION: A 1-1 draw at Selhurst
FANTASY PICK: Yohan Cabaye
KEY STAT: No player has more Premier League assists in 2015 than Santi Cazorla (8). Mesut Ozil has averaged 3.5 chances created per game in the Premier League in 2015; a higher ratio than any other player.
– Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have no fresh injury concerns. Marouane Chamakh is unlikely to face his former club as the striker is still recovering from a hamstring problem while Julian Speroni is also out with a finger injury. Alex McCarthy is expected to continue in goal as Palace look to build on their opening day win at Norwich last weekend.
Provisional squad: Hennessey, A McCarthy, Ward, Mariappa, Hangeland, P McCarthy, Dann, Cabaye, Bamford, Bolasie, Campbell, Zaha, Jedinak, Gayle, Murray, McArthur, Fryers, Williams, Mutch, Souare, Lee, Delaney, Bannan, Ledley, Kelly, Puncheon, Guedioura.
– Arsenal
Full-back Hector Bellerin should return after a thigh strain. Chile forward Alexis Sanchez could start having stepped up his training this week after an extended break following the Copa America. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky faces a couple of months out after knee surgery, but Jack Wilshere’s recovery from a hairline fracture to his left fibula is on track. Forward Danny Welbeck (knee) is not yet fit.
Provisional Squad: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Ramsey, Sanchez, Giroud, Ospina, Arteta, Debuchy, Cazorla, Walcott, Gabriel, Chambers, Gibbs.
PREDICTION: Honours even, 1-1
FANTASY PICK: Diego Costa
KEY STAT: Jose Mourinho has won seven and lost just two of the 12 meetings as a coach with Manuel Pellegrini (D3). Mourinho has lost nine Premier League games in his second spell as Chelsea manager (77 games) – he lost 10 of 120 PL matches in his first spell at the club.
– Manchester City
Sergio Aguero is in contention to start after being eased back into action following Copa America duty over the summer. He has trained without problem and is close to match fitness. Midfielders Fabian Delph (hamstring) and Fernando (groin) are the only definite absentees while left-back Gael Clichy (ankle) will be assessed.
Provisional squad: Hart, Caballero, Sagna, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Mangala, Denayer, Clichy, Kolarov, Silva, Nasri, Navas, Toure, Fernandinho, Aguero, Bony, Sterling, Iheanacho.
– Chelsea
A one-match ban means Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be absent so Asmir Begovic is likely to deputise. Oscar is a doubt for the match after picking up a knock in training, but Diego Costa is in line to start in attack after overcoming a recurring hamstring injury and playing the full 90 minutes last weekend.
Provisional squad: Begovic, Blackman, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Zouma, Ake, Fabregas, Matic, Oscar, Willian, Mikel, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, Hazard, Traore, Moses, Costa, Remy, Falcao.
MONDAY’S GAME
PREDICTION: An easy 4-0 win for Liverpool
FANTASY PICK: Philippe Coutinho
KEY STAT: Liverpool only attempted four shots (excl. blocked) in their first game against Stoke City – fewer than any other side on MD1. No side won more away games (13) or collected more points away (44) than Bournemouth in the Championship last season.
– Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers could name an unchanged side. Summer signing Roberto Firmino scored a hat trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week, which was also used to give the likes of Danny Ings, Emre Can, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho some match practice, but he is likely to remain among the substitutes. Midfielder Joe Allen is sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Provisional squad: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Ibe, Benteke, Bogdan, Toure, Moreno, Can, Firmino, Origi, Ings, Lucas, Sakho.
– Bournemouth
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe is unlikely to make wholesale changes for the Premier League trip to Liverpool despite last Saturday’s defeat by Aston Villa. Howe has spoken of remaining loyal to the players who won promotion and apart from Harry Arter (groin), Shaun MacDonald (toe) and Christian Atsu (back), he has a fully fit squad from which to choose.
Provisional squad: Boruc, Camp, Francis, Cook, Mings, Gosling, Elphick, Surman, Pugh, Rantie, Daniels, Smith, Ward, Gradel, Tomlin, Wilson, Stanislas, Ritchie, O’Kane, King, Kermorgant.
Injury Table
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