Premier League team news: Saka awaits MRI verdict, Emi Martinez out after jaw surgery, Szoboszlai sidelined
Friday's press conferences brought injury news before Gameweek 8. Saka is waiting on scans, Chelsea lose their goalkeeper and Liverpool are without Szoboszlai.
Premier League managers held their pre-match press conferences on Friday, and several big names will miss the Gameweek 8 weekend or are doubts. Arsenal are still waiting for a clear diagnosis on Bukayo Saka. Chelsea have lost goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for several weeks after jaw surgery, and Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai. Here is the main team news, with kick-off times in Malaysia time (UTC+8).
Arsenal: Saka has another scan as Hincapie returns
Saka went off within the first ten minutes of Arsenal's 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Mikel Arteta said afterwards that the thigh injury did not look good. On Friday he said the winger had undergone another MRI scan and that there was still no timeline for his return. Arteta expects more information within a day.
William Saliba (back) and Christos Tzolis (hamstring) are also out of Saturday's home game against Everton. There was better news on Piero Hincapie, who is back in training after an ankle problem. Arteta also said Riccardo Calafiori is ready to play.
Everton manager David Moyes would not give any team news and did not comment on Jarrad Branthwaite. He did say Christian Norgaard is further from fitness than hoped. Arsenal v Everton kicks off at 10pm on Saturday, Malaysia time.
Chelsea and Tottenham both have long injury lists
Chelsea face Tottenham at Stamford Bridge at 12.30am on Sunday, Malaysia time. Xabi Alonso confirmed Martinez will miss "weeks" after his jaw operation, so Mike Penders is expected to start in goal. Reece James, Jamie Gittens, Emmanuel Emegha and Pep Chavarria are also out. Malo Gusto is available again after illness.
Roberto De Zerbi gets Pedro Porro back for Tottenham, and Andy Robertson, Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke are all fit. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie, Xavi Simons, Savinho and Wilson Odobert are unavailable. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been training on their own and are doubts, and De Zerbi said he does not want to take risks with them.
Liverpool without Szoboszlai against in-form Brighton
New Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said Szoboszlai has a hamstring problem and is doing individual work, but will miss Sunday's home game against Brighton. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are also out. Victor Munoz is a doubt after a knock, and Iraola said it would be difficult for him to be ready. Bradley Barcola is fine.
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler said Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are close to returning but will more likely be back for the following round. Pascal Struijk is being assessed. Brighton have won their last four matches. The game kicks off at 10pm on Sunday, Malaysia time.
Leeds sweat on three forwards; Bournemouth lose Toth
Leeds boss Daniel Farke said Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor are all major doubts for Sunday's trip to Sunderland. If the game were being played that day, he said, none of them would be available. Daniel James is back in contention.
Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose said midfielder Alex Toth will be out for some weeks with a hamstring injury. Alex Scott and Julian Araujo remain out, but Eli Junior Kroupi is back in training before Sunday's game at Manchester United. Fulham coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he has a fully fit squad for the trip to Coventry City, although Ryan Sessegnon starts a suspension.
The weekend at a glance (Malaysia time)
- Saturday 3am: Ipswich v Nottingham Forest (Friday night in England)
- Saturday 7.30pm: Aston Villa v Manchester City
- Saturday 10pm: Arsenal v Everton, Coventry v Fulham
- Sunday 12.30am: Chelsea v Tottenham
- Sunday 10pm: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Hull v Brentford, Liverpool v Brighton, Manchester United v Bournemouth
- Monday 12.30am: Sunderland v Leeds
The UK clocks go back early on Sunday, so the gap to Malaysia time grows from seven hours to eight for Sunday's matches.
Key takeaways
- Saka has had another MRI scan on his thigh injury, and Arsenal expect more information within a day.
- Emiliano Martinez will miss several weeks after jaw surgery, and Mike Penders is expected to start in goal for Chelsea against Tottenham.
- Szoboszlai will miss Liverpool's game against Brighton, and Victor Munoz is a doubt.
- Leeds may be without Calvert-Lewin, Stach and Okafor for their trip to Sunderland.
FAQ
Will Bukayo Saka play against Everton? No. Arsenal have ruled him out. He has had another MRI on his thigh, and Arteta has not given a timeline for his return.
Who will start in goal for Chelsea against Tottenham? Mike Penders is expected to start. Xabi Alonso said Emiliano Martinez will be out for weeks after jaw surgery.
Why are Sunday's kick-offs later in Malaysia time? Britain moves from summer time (BST) to GMT early on Sunday 25 October. A 2pm kick-off in England on Sunday is therefore 10pm in Malaysia, not 9pm.
Sources: Fantasy Football Scout, Dave Sport, Yahoo Sports, The False 9, Liverpool FC