Manchester United and Chelsea begin Premier League week nine on Saturday, with both clubs missing several key players. The midweek Carabao Cup fixtures have added to the fitness concerns for a number of top-flight sides.
Arsenal and Aston Villa injury concerns
Arsenal are without several players for their match against Liverpool on November 1. Christos Tzolis (thigh), Declan Rice (knock), Noni Madueke (ankle) and Riccardo Calafiori (hip and stomach) are all expected to return on that date. William Saliba (back) is due back on November 20, while Bukayo Saka (quad) is not expected until December or early January 2027.
Mikel Arteta said after the Carabao Cup loss at Fleetwood Town: "Calafiori was out, Noni was out with an ankle [issue]. And Declan finished with a problem [against Everton] the other day. That’s why I had to substitute him."
Aston Villa face Fulham on October 31 with Modou Keba Cisse (groin) expected to return then. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring) is due back on November 21, Matteo Ruggeri (hamstring) on December 2, and Amadou Onana (ACL) around April 2027.
Speaking before last weekend's win over Manchester City, Unai Emery said: "We are training now in the afternoon and we are still being with players who are clearly out like Onana, Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] and Ruggeri. The other players, we will see how they are after the match they played on Wednesday. Some have some pain, but I can’t tell you now until after the training session this afternoon."
Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton updates
Bournemouth's Alex Scott (hamstring) and Eli Junior Kroupi (foot) are expected to return on November 8. Julian Araujo (hamstring) is due back on November 21, while Veljko Milosavljevic (knee) has no confirmed return date.
Marco Rose said of Kroupi: "Junior needs some more training to respond better to the load. We’re going to train hard and improve his match time. Everyone at the club, our fans, the players and the technical staff, is really happy to have this guy back." On Scott, he added: "He’s on the pitch, he works hard, he has no problems. He didn’t train with the team so far, but I’m quite sure that he’s going to do it the next couple of days and then we’re going to see: is it worth bringing him back before the international break in the squad or do we do it after the international break to be maybe more reasonable?"
Brentford's Josh Dasilva (hamstring) and Antoni Milambo (fitness) are expected to return on October 31. Kaye Furo (foot) and Rico Henry (hip and quad) are due back on November 27, while Kevin Schade (shoulder) has no date.
Keith Andrews said before the Carabao Cup loss at Sunderland: "Rico is going to be out for a period of weeks, probably until after the international break. It’s really unfortunate for him. He’s working hard to get back up to speed. Antoni trained with the group on Saturday and he’s involved today [Tuesday], so he’s in and around it. Kaye is doing really well. He’s been out of his boot for about a week to 10 days. He’s not on the grass yet but is making really good progress and is in good spirits. Josh, similarly to Antoni, was involved with the Saturday session before the Hull game. He’s building, was involved in a bigger session in midweek last week and is making really good strides."
Brighton have Ferdi Kadioglu (hip) and Andres Chema (groin) expected back on October 31. Pascal Struijk (thigh) is due on November 8, while Kaoru Mitoma (thigh), Femi Azeez (thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle) and Zadok Yohanna (fitness) are all expected on November 22. Stefanos Tzimas (knee) returns on December 2.
Fabian Hurzeler said before the midweek loss at Manchester City: "We have to really see the situation where we are in with the players. If Chema is fully fit, I think he played really well in the last games. It is important to get consistency in this position as well. When you look at the right-back position, I think Costinha and Ferdi played well before his injury. It really depends on which situation we are in with which player, where we need help for filling a gap in our squad."
Chelsea, Coventry and Crystal Palace
Chelsea's Jamie Gittens (ankle) is expected to return on October 31 for the match against Manchester United. Joao Pedro (hamstring) and Emiliano Martinez (jaw) are due back on November 21, while Reece James (knee) is out until mid-January. Maxence Lacroix and Pep Chavarria have unknown issues.
Xabi Alonso said of Joao Pedro: "He has an injury in his thigh and he’s going to be out for a few weeks. Let’s see how many; we don’t want to predict that. But he will not be ready for the next games." On Lacroix, he added: "Too early to tell. Probably he felt something on the hamstrings. And we need a couple of days to check what's going to be the injury."
Coventry City have Luke Woolfenden (knee), Josh Eccles (calf) and Aurele Amenda (calf) expected back on November 21, with Haji Wright (hamstring) due on December 1. Frank Lampard said of Eccles: "He’s progressing. The ankle has been an annoyance really for all of us because his calf injury has cleared up and now the ankle has been a bit of a problem so it’s affecting his rehab and his recovery. He’s still not with us out on the grass yet. We’re looking forward to him being back outside with us."
Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson (ankle) and Jorgen Strand Larsen (ankle and foot) are expected back on October 31. Ismaila Sarr (groin) is due on November 8, Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) and Quinten Timber (thigh) on November 21, and Chadi Riad (knee) in 2027.
Pierre Sage ruled Sarr out of this week: "At the moment, he’s not able to play." On Strand Larsen, he said: "We will see on Wednesday for Strand Larsen, because he received, as you saw, a tackle [against Besiktas] and his ankle twisted."
Everton, Fulham, Hull and Ipswich
Everton's Jack Grealish (illness), Jarrad Branthwaite (head) and Vitaliy Mykolenko (calf) are all expected to return on November 2. David Moyes said: "We’ve got our share of bits and pieces and we’ll keep them quiet. I wouldn’t be answering any questions [on team news], at the minute, that’s for sure."
Fulham's Emile Smith Rowe (fitness) is expected back on October 31. Alvaro Arbeloa said: "Yes, I think everyone is available. Sander Berge is feeling better. Who we will see there because we played two days ago, how everyone is feeling if we have some issues, but I think no problem at all. So, everyone is available."
Hull City have Lucas Gourna-Douath (calf), Nobel Mendy (thigh) and Jack Butland (elbow) expected back on October 31. Darko Gyabi (groin) is due on November 22, Matt Targett (ankle) in mid-December, and Elliot Matazo (knee) in mid-February. Charlie Hughes (hernia) has no date. Sergej Jakirovic said: "Everybody, they are ready. We are in good shape. We have, I think, now 27 players in the squad, which is good."
Ipswich Town's Sasa Lukic (thigh) is expected back on October 31. Gary O'Neil said: "The fitness levels are top. We run a lot every weekend. We cover an awful lot of ground, which I can imagine can be difficult to play against for the opposition."
Leeds, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd
Leeds United have Anton Stach (foot) and Nico Elvedi (illness) expected back on October 31. Joe Rodon (hamstring) has no date, and Mateo Joseph (knee) is out until early February. Daniel Farke said: "Nico is way better. He is back in training and is available for this game. Also a good training week for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor. They had a normal training week. It seems, if nothing happens, that they are also fully available. Anton Stach is struggling still a bit with his foot injury. So, let’s see. I hope it will get better in the next 48 hours but it’s a question mark. Also some good news with Joe Rodon. First time, yesterday, part-integrated back in team training. It’s the next steps in his rehab. Right now, he just needs session after session after being out for so long but a way better situation that it was last week."
Liverpool's Victor Munoz (knee) is expected back on November 1, Dominik Szoboszlai (thigh) on November 4, and Jeremie Frimpong (muscular) and Conor Bradley (knee) on November 22. Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) is out until early 2027, while Giovanni Leoni and Vitezslav Jaros (both knee) have unknown dates. Andoni Iraola said: "He was quite fine, Florian – I’m quite optimistic that he will be available. And with Dom and Victor [Munoz], I’m not so sure. I don’t want to say no, but I think it’s going to be more difficult than Florian, yes."
Manchester City's Matheus Nunes (thigh) is expected back on October 31, while Antoine Semenyo (knee) is out until mid-December. Enzo Maresca said: "After Villa, we gave five players three days off. Erling [Haaland], Elliot [Anderson], Gigio [Donnarumma], Ruben [Dias] and Josko [Gvardiol]. Go away on holiday. Three days off, go, come back. Full energy."
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (knock) and Marcus Rashford (groin) are expected back on October 31. Kobbie Mainoo (back) is due on November 8, while Benjamin Sesko (shin), Patrick Dorgu (thigh) and Luke Shaw (thigh) are due on November 22. Manuel Ugarte (thigh) is out until April 2027.
Michael Carrick said: "Kobbie [Mainoo] has done a little bit of training yesterday, so he is back and around the group, so that is a positive. Unfortunately Ben [Sesko] looks like he is going to be out for a period of time. We are still not clear of exactly how long but it is going to be for a longer period of time. It is a process and as I said before we have to go through the process, there is a healing process for the injury to see how he would react and what direction to go with that. Even now we are still working through it. First and foremost for Ben for the period that he has had and tried to get through it. Going through it again and to not have him available is a blow but we will get him back as quick as we can."
Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Spurs
Newcastle's Matias Fernandez Pardo (illness) and Lewis Miley (glute) are expected back on November 2, Tino Livramento (knee) on November 7, and Ewen Jaouen (thigh) in mid-December. Matthias Jaissle said: "[Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Lewis Miley] are still doubts and question marks if they can make it. Still two days to decide if they are able to be in the squad but we don't want to take any additional risk."
Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus (calf), Nicolo Savona (knee) and Nicolas Dominguez (muscular) are expected back on October 31. Neco Williams (arm) is due on November 7. Oliver Glasner said: "[Nicolas Dominguez] has a minor muscle injury, but he could be back next week. It’s always when we have these small issues that we don’t want to take the risk because it’s the same as Morgan [Gibbs-White], and [we need to consider] whether he will be available next week. We are confident he will be available against Brentford, or at the latest against City."
Sunderland's Brian Brobbey (hamstring), Wilson Isidor (muscular), Norsi Mukiele (neck) and Juan Riquelme Angulo (knock) are all expected back on October 31. Dan Ballard (hamstring) has no date, and Romaine Mundle (knee) is out until January 2027. Regis Le Bris said: "[Isidor] should be available. At the minute, except Ballard and Romaine, all our players are more or less available. We have to manage minor injuries. It’s a question of three days, four days, depending on the players."
Tottenham's Destiny Udogie (knee), Tosin Adarabioyo (calf) and James Maddison (muscular) are expected back on October 31. Lucas Bergvall (knee) is due on November 7, Mykhailo Mudryk (ankle) and Savio (muscular) on November 21, and Wilson Odobert (knee) on November 29. Xavi Simons (knee) is out until February 2027.
Roberto De Zerbi said of Maddison: "Not very important problem I hope. We need to make the medical check tomorrow. I hope it's not a big problem because he's a special player for us. We need him."
