A busy day of press conferences is ahead: we’ll be getting Gameweek 8 team news from 14 Premier League managers on Friday.
That includes Mikel Arteta, who will hopefully provide us with the latest on Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) and Kai Havertz (£8.3m).
We’ll bring you the key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) updates on this page.
This is a ‘live’ article, so it’ll be updated as and when manager quotes become available. Keep refreshing for the latest news!
For the headlines from the six pressers held already, read our Thursday round-up here.
GAMEWEEK 8: FRIDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES
GAMEWEEK 8: FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
Times in BST
ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta is hopeful of having Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee) fit for the trip to Bournemouth.
Saka hobbled out of England’s clash with Greece a week ago and didn’t feature against Finland on Sunday. Havertz meanwhile withdrew from the Germany squad with an ongoing issue.
“It is not a serious injury. He is evolving really well. He has done a few things in the last two days. Obviously he wasn’t fit enough to play with the national team in the second game but yeah, we are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon, he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time.” – Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka
“He had a few issues and we have been dealing with that. He has been absolutely brilliant. He has very good communication with the national team, with the manager. In the end, they understood the situation. We modified everything we could do here and again, if he trains well today he has a good chance to be fit and available.” – Mikel Arteta on Kai Havertz
Gabriel Martinelli will also have to be assessed. The winger complained of calf discomfort after Brazil’s win over Chile last Friday, with scans revealing a “small area of muscle oedema”. He did go on to train, however, and was an unused substitute on Wednesday morning.
“Gabi landed yesterday afternoon here so it is a very short time to be with him. Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he is feeling and today will be another step. [We will see] if we want to take the risk if he is fit because I know what the player is going to say.” – Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Martinelli
Elsewhere, Martin Odegaard (ankle) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Arteta also confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu is injured again but that it’s not a serious issue.
Thomas Partey has recovered from illness, however.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), Jurrien Timber (muscle) and Ben White (groin) are also said to be “quite close”.
“They are quite close the three of them. Again today we are going to have to try and push and see. We have been struggling for numbers, especially in our right side. But hopefully, we have some positive news today and we have some players back tomorrow.” – Mikel Arteta on his injured full-backs
“I think he’s not going to be fit for this game. Next week will be a different story, but again, in that later stage of rehab where he is at the moment, because he’s doing already a lot of the stuff, he needs to clear some markers, he needs to clear certain things, he needs to be comfortable doing especially with the ball. I think next week will be crucial to understand how close he is.” – Mikel Arteta on Martin Odegaard
MANCHESTER CITY
The trip to Wolves looks like it will come too soon for Nathan Ake (hamstring) and Kevin De Bruyne (thigh).
Ake was seen in training on Thursday, so could potentially travel to Molineux, but won’t be in contention for a start.
“I don’t think so. No [setback] but not ready. They are in training, they are in the last part. Yesterday Nathan was [doing] the first training with the team, so maybe can travel, but I think to start is not ready.” – Pep Guardiola on the prospect of Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake returning in Gameweek 8
De Bruyne wasn’t seen on the grass on Thursday – and neither were Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ederson and Savinho.
The latter three were referenced by Pep Guardiola.
“Some of them, Brazilian(s), Manu [Akanji], today was a day off, so today we’ll see how they feel. We’ll see. Today, tomorrow, we’ll know exactly”. – Pep Guardiola when asked if there were any fresh fitness issues
Rodri (knee) and Oscar Bobb (leg) are long-term absentees.
LIVERPOOL
Arne Slot confirmed that Alisson (hamstring) would be out for “weeks” after he hobbled out of the win at Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.
“Alisson is for sure not with us in the upcoming weeks, that’s clear. That’s a blow for him and for us.” – Arne Slot
The Liverpool boss otherwise didn’t mention too much on the team news front. There was no update on Harvey Elliott (foot) and Federico Chiesa (unknown injury), for instance.
As for his returning internationals, Slot said assessment would continue today. Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Kostas Tsimikas were namechecked.
“We’ve got quite some issues from players coming back from the national teams, we can only judge that perfectly today. Today is the first time that they’re all in and the first time that they’re all training together again. So, let’s see after the session where everybody is.
“Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] missed one game [for Argentina], he played the second one. Kostas [Tsimikas] missed out in the first game against England so I can name them all but we’ve got a few issues going on and let’s wait and see where we are after today. [Wataru] Endo as well was also sick.” – Arne Slot
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Alexander Isak (toe) looks set to return in Gameweek 8 but fellow striker Callum Wilson (back) may need more time.
Both have trained this week, with Isak “in contention”.
“Alex has trained and trained well. He trained the start of this week and has looked good, so at this moment in time he would be in contention.
“Callum has also trained but with Callum, we’ll continue assessing him day by day. We’ve got to try and make the right decision as to when we enter him into the group.
“Possibly [Wilson might need more time], it’s a day-by-day thing and we’re obviously in communication with him. The big thing with Callum, when we get him back we want to try and keep him back for as long as possible. So we’ve got to make the right call.” – Eddie Howe
Kieran Trippier (hamstring) meanwhile will be out for “a few weeks”.
“Kieran will miss out from this game. He has picked up a hamstring problem. We don’t think it’s necessarily too serious but probably enough to keep him out for a few weeks.” – Eddie Howe
Jamaal Lascelles (knee) and Sven Botman (knee) remain out long term, while Matt Targett hasn’t been spotted since an eczema flare-up in late September.
Martin Dubravka (knee) has been seen back on the grass, however, while Lewis Miley (back) – like Wilson – will face late assessment ahead of Gameweek 8.
The Magpies appear to have avoided any serious injuries over the international break. Miguel Almiron, in action for Paraguay in midweek, will return on Friday.
“The only one we haven’t seen yet is Miguel Almiron.
“Everyone else is good, has come back in good fettle.” – Eddie Howe
CHELSEA
Enzo Maresca passed Reece James (hamstring) fit for the trip to Liverpool after his return to training.
“He’s available. Finally he’s back, he worked with us all the international break. It’s good news especially for him because being injured is not a good feeling.
“It’s complicated when you get injury, injury, injury again, it’s not easy, so you are always looking for a solution. Probably the solution with Reece is the same solution we are using with Romeo [Lavia] and Wes [Fofana] in terms of using them just once a week, one game. Probably at this moment, for different reasons, Reece’s body cannot play, for instance, twice a week.” – Enzo Maresca on Reece James
Carney Chukwuemeka, struggling with illness before the domestic hiatus, has also been back on the grass.
That leaves the Blues injury-free, according to Maresca, although he may have forgotten about poor old Omari Kellyman (hamstring).
The Blues will be without two suspended players this weekend, however: Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are banned for yellow card accumulation.
“Finally, we have all the squad available [apart from] the suspended ones.” – Enzo Maresca
MANCHESTER UNITED
Amad Diallo (illness), Alejandro Garnacho (knee) and, surprisingly, Noussair Mazraoui have all returned to training following their withdrawals from international duty.
Mazraoui had to have minor heart surgery after experiencing palpitations.
“Mazraoui, the good news: he faced an illness but he returned on the training pitch and he’s available for selection for tomorrow.” – Erik ten Hag
Gameweek 7 starters Kobbie Mainoo (hamstring) and Harry Maguire are now sidelined, however.
“Kobbie and Harry are out for a couple of weeks.” – Erik ten Hag
Leny Yoro (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Luke Shaw (calf) aren’t ready to return, either.
Manuel Ugarte (muscle), who limped out of Uruguay’s clash with Ecuador on Wednesday morning, Mason Mount (knock/head) should be available for the weekend, however.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Hwang Hee-chan has been added to the injury list after sustaining an ankle problem on international duty.
“It’s not nothing, there’s something there. He’s injured a ligament on the inside of his ankle. From now, probably a couple to a few weeks, nothing overly long.” – Gary O’Neil on Hwang Hee-chan
Yerson Mosquera, Sasa Kalajdzic and Enso Gonzalez are at various stages of recovery from serious ACL injuries. They remain firmly out.
So does Boubacar Traore (knee), who will be sidelined until around Christmas.
Bastien Meupiyou (unknown injury) was the one player that Gary O’Neil was hoping to have back after the break. He has since been pictured doing some ball work but we have yet to get an update from his manager.