I don’t know quite what to say other than it’s great to be back: back at Rotoworld, back at the start of a Premier League season, back with this great little community we have created here thanks to you, the fans and managers.
While things are going to be a bit different from before, we will do our best to fill every Fantasy Premier League need as before. Obviously this space is usually filled by the great Ben Dinnery, who still remains the go-to figure for any Premier League injury update, but I will do my best to provide a summary of the injury updates ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
One final note: remember that Manchester United v. Burnley and Manchester City v. Aston Villa will take place on a date yet to be determined to give both Manchester sides ample time to rest during the offseason.
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Fulham v. Arsenal
Fulham have kept their injury news in house, if there are any injuries at all. Manager Scott Parker only expressed concerns about midfielders Jean Michael Seri and André Zambo Anguissa as the players only just returned from a loan and the offseason in the past couple of days. Otherwise, the Fulham lineup remains a mystery outside of the preseason hints.
Out: Bellinelli (on loan)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the usual long-term injuries but also ruled out starting defenders David Luiz and Sokratis for the short-term. David Luiz is currently dealing with a neck problem while Sokratis is suffering from a shoulder injury, but both are expected to be back as early as Gameweek 2. That could see William Saliba earn his Premier League debut for the Gunners with Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney also likely to fill in on the injury front.
Out: David Luiz, Emile Smith Rowe, Sokratis, Calum Chambers, Pablo Marí, Gabriel Martinellli, Shkodran Mustafi
Crystal Palace v. Southampton
As usual, Crystal Palace have a major injury crisis on the back line with Mamadou Sakho, Gary Cahill, James Tomkins and Patrick Van Aanholt all injured—making that three usual starters who will not be available for the next couple of weeks. That means that Scott Dann and Cheikhou Kouyaté look like the most likely center-back pairing while Tyrick Mitchell looks to be one of the few £4.0 FPL darlings to start the season. New signing Eberechi Eze has recovered from a groin injury but lacks match fitness, making him a game-time doubt.
Out: Sakho, Cahill, Tomkins, Benteke, Wickham, Ferguson, van Aanholt
Doubtful: Eberechi Eze
It looks like starting midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who recorded five goals and four assists last season, is the only injury concern for Saints after he was injured while on international duty with Scotland. His absence means that Ralph Hasenhuttl could go with an extra forward in Che Adams or a like-for-like replacement in Sofiane Boufal.
Out: Armstrong
Liverpool v. Leeds
Of the four doubts for Liverpool, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks like the player most likely to miss out as he recovers from a knock to his knee suffered during the preseason trip to Austria. However, manager Jurgen Klopp said that he was hopeful that Jordan Henderson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Kostas Tsimikas will be involved after returning to training this week.
Doubtful: Tsimikas, Henderson, Shaqiri, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Adam Forshaw is the only long-term absentee for Leeds United ahead of their return to the Premier League. Manager Marcelo Bielsa, who signed a new contract on the eve of the season, said that new signings Rodrigo and Robin Koch are in good physical condition as they looked to make their debuts.
Out: Forshaw
West Ham v. Newcastle
Manuel Lanzini looks like the only player who is in doubt to face Newcastle this weekend, not just because of injury but also with transfer rumors linking him with a move abroad. Tomas Soucek, who seems to be a hot-pick in FPL.com circles at £5.0, has returned to training from international duty where David Moyes expressed concern over his exposure to a staffer who tested positive for COVID-19.
Doubtful: Lanzini
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said he thinks that Jonjo Shelvey and captain Jamaal Lascelles should be fit to travel to West Ham, but it will likely come too soon for most of the club’s injury absentees. Karl Darlow looks set to start for the injured Martin Dubravka. Now that Florian Lejeune has joined Alaves on loan, Federico Fernandez will likely get the nod alongside Lascelles if the captain is fit to start.
Out: Lejeune (on loan), Clark, Dummett, Schar, Gayle, Matty Longstaff, Dubravka
Doubtful: Shelvey, Ritchie, Lascelles
West Brom v. Leicester City
If Conor Townsend can recover from an ankle injury, West Brom manager Slaven Bilic looks to have a full team available to him. Kenneth Zohore is also struggling with a calf problem but looks to be on his way out of The Hawthorns anyway.
Doubtful: Townsend
Out: Zohore
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping to have James Maddison available after the playmaker returned to training following a hip injury. Christian Fuchs also looks likely to make the team while Daniel Amartey and Wes Morgan have only just returned to training. Jonny Evans won’t be available as he serves a suspension after getting sent off at the end of last season.
Out: Evans (suspension), Pereira, Benkovic
Doubtful: Maddison, Fuchs, Morgan, Amartey
Spurs v. Everton
Japhet Tanganga remains out for Spurs as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back. The only real doubt for José Mourinho’s side is Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentine midfielder has not featured in the preseason for Spurs after sustaining a hamstring injury. Without Lo Celso, Moussa Sissoko and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg look like the most likely midfielder pairing.
Out: Tanganga,
Doubtful: Lo Celso
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that André Gomes and Yerry Mina have been passed fit ahead of the trip to London this weekend. However, Fabian Delph remains an injury doubt but has returned to training. However, the Toffees will have to do without Mason Holgate due to a toe injury, likely making room for Seamus Coleman and Mina.
Out: Holgate, Gbamin, Tosun
Doubtful: Delph
Sheffield United v. Wolves
The big question for Chris Wilder’s side seems to be the fitness of Jack O’Connell. Wilder said the Irishman is available after just returning to fitness but may not be ready to start, meaning that Jack Robinson could fill the final spot in the back three. Sander Berge returned with an injury rom international duty with Norway and is a doubt.
Doubtful: Berge, O’Connell, Mousset
Wolves defender Jonny remains the only injury as the Spaniard will be out until next year with a knee injury. It remains to be seen whether recent signings like Fernando Marcal, Fabio Silva and Vitinha will be in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Out: Jonny
Brighton v. Chelsea
Brighton manager Graham Potter confirmed that the club has no new injuries ahead of their season opener against Chelsea on Monday night at the Amex. José Izquierdo remains out with a long-term knee injury while Christian Walton will miss the next few weeks.
Out: Izquerido, Walton
Manager Frank Lampard confirmed that the club will be without three summer signings in Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva, and Ben Chilwell. All three are hoping to be in training in the next week but won’t make Monday’s match. Marcos Alonso is the player most likely to benefit from the injuries while Lampard won’t have to make as tough of a decision on the wing. However, César Azpilicueta and Christian Pulisic look to have recovered from hamstring injuries.
Out: Ziyech, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Gilmour
