After an all-action set of Premier League fixtures in midweek, it’s no surprise to note that the injury lists are piling up at a number of top flight clubs.
So before you place your bets and set your fantasy teams for this weekend, be sure to check out the latest Premier League injury news and suspensions below:
Burnley vs Manchester City (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Burnley have been handed some bad news this week with Steven Defour expected to miss the next two months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury. Jonathan Walters, Dean Marney and Robbie Brady are other long-term absentees, although Tom Heaton could return next week. James Tarkowski and Stephen Ward should be fit enough to start here.
There a few problems for Pep Guardiola to ponder at Manchester City. David Silva got a nasty kick against West Brom and had to be substituted in the first half, and he may not be ready for the early kick off here. Leroy Sane, Fabian Delph and Gabriel Jesus also miss out, and while John Stones should have recovered from illness Guardiola may stick with new man Aymeric Laporte in defence.
Bournemouth vs Stoke City (Saturday, 3pm)
Bournemouth enjoyed the perfect Wednesday: a brilliant 3-0 win at Chelsea was backed by the news of no new injuries. So the only current absentees for the Cherries are Jermain Defoe, Adam Smith and Tyrone Mings.
The only new injury concern for Paul Lambert at Stoke is the dead leg suffered by Jack Butland in midweek; the England keeper is hoping to be ready in time for this game.
Brighton vs West Ham (Saturday, 3pm)
Brighton’s new big-money signing Jurgen Locadia has a pre-standing hamstring injury, and so won’t be seen in a blue-and-white shirt for a while. He joins Isaiah Brown, Jiri Skalak and Steve Sidwell on the treatment table.
It’s been a tough week for West Ham off the pitch with all sorts of allegations being thrown at various members of staff, and on it the situation with injuries doesn’t look too healthy either. Carroll, Arnautovic, Masuaku, Lanzini, Obiang and Edemilson are all out, while Winston Reid is facing a race against time to be fit. Michail Antonio should return after being dropped in midweek for being late to a team meeting.
Leicester City vs Swansea City (Saturday, 3pm)
Leicester’s only injury doubt remains Wes Morgan, although the transfer saga of Riyad Mahrez has left a sour taste in the mouths of all parties. The Algerian was left out of the side against Everton in midweek, and subsequently didn’t turn up to training – copping a £200k fine. It would be surprising if he featured here.
Swansea loaned Andy King from Leicester on transfer deadline day, but he can’t play here under the terms of his deal. The Swans picked up Andre Ayew too from West Ham, but he has an existing hamstring problem that will probably rule him out.
Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town (Saturday, 3pm)
The prognosis isn’t good for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly, with a late February return date looking rather optimistic. Marouane Fellaini (knee) and Daley Blind (ankle) join them, on the treatment table.
Scott Malone has picked up a knock for Huddersfield and is unlikely to feature in David Wagner’s plans. He will watch on from the stands with Elias Kachunga and Jon Stankovic, while Danny Williams’ dead leg may rule him out too.
West Brom vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm)
Alan Pardew is a wily customer, and in his pre-match press conference he was more poker-faced than usual. What we do know is that five of his players – Krychowiak, Livermore, Evans, Robson-Kanu and Gibbs – are all struggling with hamstring/thigh injuries. James Morrison and Nacer Chadli face another few weeks on the sidelines.
Manolo Gabbiadini has picked up a hip injury, and will need to pass a late fitness test here. Charlie Austin remains sidelined until late February or early March.
Arsenal vs Everton (Saturday, 5:30pm)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal’s latest big money signing, has been struggling with illness this week but is expected to play some part here alongside another new boy in Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Jack Wilshere has also been ill and missed training this week, but should figure.
It’s a case of as you were for Sam Allardyce: Ramiro Funes-Mori is still a few weeks from a return, there is no return date for Leighton Baines and Maarten Stekelenburg and James McCarthy, after his sickening double leg break, will be targeting a return next season.
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United (Sunday, 2:15pm)
Palace are enduring a tough time with injuries at the moment, and you can now add Bacary Sako to the list of absentees after the forward suffered a nasty ankle injury last time out. He joins Scott Dann, Jason Puncheon, Jeff Schlupp and Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the sidelines.
Islam Slimani would have come into Newcastle’s squad for this match, but the on-loan Leicester frontman has a thigh injury. He will watch on from the stands alongside Florian Lejeune, Jesus Gamez and Rob Elliot.
Liverpool vs Tottenham (Sunday, 4:30pm)
There are no new injury worries for Liverpool, so Jurgen Klopp is sweating solely on the fitness of Adam Lallana and Ragnar Klavan. Both are struggling to be back in time for Sunday’s game. Nathaniel Clyne is in light training after missing out this term with a back injury.
Mauricio Pochettino has a decision to make on Toby Alderweireld, who after a couple of months out is said to be nearing full fitness. Serge Aurier and Harry Winks definitely miss out here.
Watford vs Chelsea (Monday, 8pm)
Watford’s injury crisis is easing slightly, but this is still a copy-and-paste job from last week: Younes Kaboul and Heurelho Gomes are close to full fitness but may not be risked, while Cathcart, Hughes, Britos, Chalobah, Wague and Femenia are still some weeks away.
Olivier Giroud could make his first start for Chelsea if Alvaro Morata does not recover sufficiently from his back injury. David Luiz and Andreas Christensen are both definitely out, although Willian could return after entering training this week.