Premier League Team News for Matchweek 1: Key Updates

With the 2026/27 Premier League season finally here, managers are scrambling, Fantasy Premier League deadlines are looming, and team news is already shaping the opening weekend.

Sam Cunningham has mapped out how the clubs are likely to line up in Matchweek 1 after a frantic summer of transfers and late fitness calls.

Arsenal v Coventry

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s first team sheet of the season may go right to the wire. New marquee signing Bruno Guimaraes is a major doubt, but the manager is refusing to close the door.

“Let’s see how it is. He is evolving really well,” Arteta said, hinting that the Brazilian will be given every possible minute to prove his fitness.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, both benched for the Community Shield win over Manchester City, are “ready to be involved” and should come back into the XI. At the back, Jurrien Timber is still “a few weeks” away, while William Saliba remains a long‑term absentee, leaving Arsenal to lean again on familiar defensive options.

Coventry

Frank Lampard’s Premier League return starts with a major setback. Last season’s top scorer Haji Wright has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a serious quad injury.

“He won’t be available for a little while, he’s got a very serious quad injury which is disappointing for Haji and for us,” Lampard admitted. “It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks.”

Ellis Simms is in line to step in up front. Coventry do have brighter news elsewhere: Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni have shaken off pre-season knocks and are in contention, though Lampard is unlikely to risk either from the start. Frank Onyeka faces a late fitness test as Lampard juggles his midfield options.

Hull v Man Utd

Hull

Hull limp into opening weekend with a lengthy injury list. Six first‑team players, including goalkeeper Jack Butland and midfielder Darko Gyabi, are sidelined until at least next month. The absence of Joe Gelhardt strips away a key attacking outlet.

Hidemasa Morita and Cody Drameh are expected back in training only after the Manchester United match, so they will not feature. With Charlie Hughes out, the heart of defence needs patching up and new signing Nobel Mendy is poised to take on a big role immediately.

Given the personnel issues, Hull are likely to stick with the tight, five-at-the-back system that carried them through the playoffs, banking on structure over flair to survive United’s firepower.

Man Utd

Michael Carrick has enjoyed a strong pre-season but will start the campaign with a few delicate calls. Mason Mount is “touch and go for the weekend”, though Carrick stressed “there are no dramas” and expects the midfielder to be back soon even if he misses out here.

Matthijs De Ligt has returned to training but is not yet ready for competitive minutes. Up front, Benjamin Sesko is back with the squad, though this opener looks too early for him to start, leaving Carrick with big decisions over his centre-forward and how aggressively he can set up away from home.

Everton v Crystal Palace

Everton

Team news to follow, but the Goodison crowd will expect a strong, functional XI with minimal surprises on opening day.

Crystal Palace

Pierre Sage’s first Premier League outing as Palace manager hinges on his goalkeeper. Dean Henderson twisted his ankle in the final pre-season friendly against Freiburg, but the club are optimistic he will be fit.

“We want him to play,” Sage said. “But we gave him a few days of treatment to allow him to be in his best shape.”

The rest of the squad is available. Jean-Philippe Mateta is back in the matchday group as he builds fitness and, while he is unlikely to start, he could be unleashed from the bench if Palace need a goal late on.

Ipswich v Sunderland

Ipswich

Team news to follow, with promoted Ipswich set to reveal how bold they intend to be at this level.

Sunderland

Regis Le Bris arrives at the opener with a largely clean bill of health. The only absentee is Simon Adingra, still not fully over an ankle problem.

“All Sunderland’s players are available apart from Simon Adingra,” Le Bris confirmed, though he admitted he still has calls to make on who starts. “We’ll see for the game time because they are not all at the same stage, but they are available.”

New right back Thomas Meunier had been troubled by back pain but trained this week, will make the squad and could see minutes. Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele also return from injury, giving Le Bris options across the back line.

Nott'm Forest v Leeds

Nott'm Forest

Oliver Glasner’s plans have been hit in midfield and defence. Captain Ryan Yates misses out after failing to recover from the issue that kept him out of the final pre-season friendly against Stade Brestois.

Nicolo Savona, who ended last season on the treatment table following surgery, has suffered a minor setback.

“We had to take a step back, so he’s working in the gym again and working on his knee to get back on the grass. I think it will take a couple of weeks,” Glasner said.

All other players are available, giving Forest depth in most areas despite the two key absentees.

Leeds

Daniel Farke must weigh risk against reward with Noah Okafor. The forward, who finished last season with six goals in his final 10 games, has been back in full training for two weeks, but the manager is wary.

“It’s my responsibility to see if it makes sense and we’ll take some late decisions,” Farke said.

Willy Gnonto is out with a hamstring injury, though Leeds “hope to have him back in team training soon”. Gabriel Gudmundsson is also “still out”. The rest of the squad is fit and available, leaving Farke with plenty of choices in attack and midfield.

Brentford v Spurs

Bournemouth

Team news to follow for Bournemouth in this fixture listing error, with final calls still to be confirmed.

Spurs

Roberto De Zerbi’s defensive plans have been ripped up before a ball is kicked. New club captain Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro are both ruled out, stripping Spurs of pace and leadership at the back.

Archie Gray is expected to fill in at right back, while summer signing Marcos Senesi, brought in from Bournemouth, could go straight into the side at centre-back. Pape Matar Sarr is also not fit enough to feature, forcing a reshuffle in midfield.

De Zerbi can at least lean on his attacking core. James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes and Destiny Udogie are all available, giving Spurs enough firepower to play on the front foot despite the defensive disruptions.

Brighton v Aston Villa

Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler starts his Premier League tenure with a headache. Key attacking pieces are either out or in doubt.

Yankuba Minteh is sidelined for at least a couple of weeks. Carlos Baleba, Kaoru Mitoma and Stefanos Tzimas are all doubts and will be assessed closer to Sunday’s kick-off, leaving Hurzeler to juggle both his shape and his substitutions plan.

New signing Promise David has a chance of involvement, but that is likely to come from the bench as Brighton look to manage his integration carefully.

Aston Villa

Team news to follow as Villa prepare for another push towards the European places.

Man City v Bournemouth

Man City

Team news to follow, with Pep Guardiola’s selection always under the microscope, especially for Fantasy managers.

Bournemouth

Marco Rose’s first official match in charge of Bournemouth arrives with a cluster of injuries. The most damaging is to last season’s breakout star Junior Kroupi, who required foot surgery and is not expected back until around November.

Tyler Adams is being assessed and remains in contention, but Ryan Christie is ruled out through suspension, potentially opening a slot in central midfield. David Brooks is also being monitored as Rose pieces together his first competitive XI.

Newcastle v Liverpool

Newcastle

Matthias Jaissle’s opening weekend plans are already altered by the loss of Joelinton. The midfielder is out “for a couple of weeks” and will miss the Liverpool clash.

“I'm really confident that he will be back as soon as possible,” Jaissle said, but for now he must reconfigure his engine room.

Summer signing Aladji Bamba is expected to come into central midfield. At right back, new arrival Amar Dedic could be thrown straight into the starting XI.

“He got some minutes in friendlies there, I am confident that he's ready and we need him,” Jaissle explained.

Tino Livramento is on the brink of a return but has only completed one training session and still needs more time.

Liverpool

Team news to follow, with eyes on how Liverpool balance freshness and continuity for a demanding opener at St James’ Park.

Fulham v Chelsea

Fulham

Alvaro Arbeloa’s first Premier League team sheet as Fulham manager will be without a key defender. Joachim Anderson is suspended and misses the start of the season, while Tom Cairney is out until October after knee surgery earlier this month.

Arbeloa still has decisions to make all over the pitch, but one call looks straightforward: expect new signing Gonzalo Garcia, recruited from Real Madrid in the summer, to lead the line from the start.

Chelsea

Xabi Alonso begins his Chelsea reign managing both expectation and fitness. Danny Welbeck, signed from Brighton, is being handled carefully in training but could still feature from the bench.

“We are expecting him back on Saturday,” Alonso said. “We need to go day by day but that's the plan at the moment."

Jordan Henderson is ruled out until September with a wrist injury. Several players who went deep into the World Cup “may need a bit more time”, according to Alonso, but none of them are injured and all are available for selection.

The new season starts with patched‑up back lines, star names racing the clock and fresh managers staking out their identities. By tonight’s deadline, Fantasy squads will be locked. By full-time this weekend, we’ll know whose gambles paid off.