With a Carabao Cup gameweek in midweek and Champions League fixtures to come next Tuesday and Wednesday, we can expect plenty of eyebrow-raising team selections this weekend….and the huge news that Harry Kane will miss Tottenham’s trip to Manchester United.
Manchester United vs Tottenham (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Huge news: Kane will not play on Saturday after suffering a hamstring strain against Liverpool.
He was pictured clutching his leg at the end of his side’s 4-1 win over Liverpool, and he was absent from the midweek defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup. Assuming that Mauricio Pochettino isn’t guilty of a clever bit of fake news, the England international will not travel with the squad to Manchester.
Otherwise it’s as you were for the Spurs boss, with Victor Wanyama still on the treatment table.
There are no new injury concerns for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United, although Marcus Rashford (hamstring) and Ander Herrera (ankle) may not be 100%. Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini are still a few weeks from returning.
Arsenal vs Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)
Arsenal came through their Carabao Cup tie with Norwich unscathed, so Arsene Wenger has the same squad available as that which beat Everton 5-2 on Sunday. Danny Welbeck, Shkodran Mustafi, Callum Chambers and Santi Cazorla are the absentees.
It’s a troubling time for Swansea, with summer signings Wilfried Bony, Renato Sanches and Martin Olsson all missing this weekend with thigh injuries.
Crystal Palace vs West Ham (Saturday, 3pm)
James McArthur may be able to take his place for Crystal Palace, although Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham are still some weeks away from a return.
Michail Antonio is a high-profile absentee for West Ham; he has bruised ribs and will not be risked at Selhurst Park. Diafra Sakho and James Collins will also watch on from the stands.
West Brom vs Manchester City (Saturday, 3pm)
Craig Dawson has damaged his knee and faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines. That’s bad news for West Brom, who may also be without Jonny Evans for this game as he struggles to regain full fitness. Gareth Barry should be fit to start.
Manchester City have a trip to Napoli in the Champions League next week, which may inform Pep Guardiola’s thinking, but his only confirmed absentees are the usual suspects: Benjamin Mendy, Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.
Watford vs Stoke City (Saturday, 3pm)
The same four defensive players – Prodl, Kaboul, Cathcart and Chalobah – remain sidelined for Watford, and they have since been joined in the stands by Isaac Success. Roberto Peyrera will also miss the Stoke game with a thigh injury.
Mark Hughes should be able to welcome back Xherdan Shaqiri, although he will need convincing about the fitness of Peter Crouch (back). Bruno Martins-Indi continues his rehab from a calf strain.
Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town (Saturday, 3pm)
Gigi Wijnaldum should have recovered from a knock in time to take his place in the Liverpool starting line-up, while Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana have upped their rehab from their respective injuries. They are expected to return after the next international break.
Steve Mounie makes his long-awaited return for Huddersfield, and he might be joined in the squad by Collin Quaner and Elias Kachunga. Michael Hefele and Kasey Palmer are out until mid-November, while Phillip Billing’s ankle surgery means early 2018 is his likely return date.
Bournemouth vs Chelsea (Saturday, 5:30pm)
Late fitness tests will determine whether Jermain Defoe and Josh King are fit to return for Bournemouth, although Ryan Fraser and Brad Smith will miss out.
Danny Drinkwater provided Antonio Conte with a timely boost in midweek by featuring in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win over Everton, and depending on his reaction he could well be in the squad for Saturday. N’Golo Kante could return against Manchester United next week.
Brighton vs Southampton (Sunday, 1:30pm)
It’s good news for Brighton: they have no new injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s south coast derby. Steve Sidwell, Sam Baldock and Beram Kayal still occupy the treatment table.
Despite their issues on the pitch, Southampton have little to worry about as far as injuries are concerned: only Jeremy Pied is absent from action at the moment.
Leicester vs Everton (Sunday, 4pm)
Claude Puel has inherited a Leicester squad in decent shape fitness-wise: only Matty James and Robert Huth are keeping the physio busy at present.
Morgan Schneiderlin has picked up a sickness bug this week and will need to be checked before David Unsworth names his starting eleven, while Idrissa Gueye is suspended after his red card against Arsenal last time out.
Otherwise, it is just the four long-term absentees causing the Toffees concern: Ross Barkley, Seamus Coleman, Yannick Bolasie and Bruno Funes-Mori.