FPL Team News + Predicted Line-ups

Latest News: Ben White (hamstring), Max Dowman (ankle) and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) remain out, while Gabriel Magalhaes (knee) was yet to resume training as of Tuesday. Kai Havertz (knee) had, and his manager described him as "a matter of days [away], if not weeks" in midweek. Arteta did give us a couple of updates straight after full-time against the Eagles, saying that Gabriel Martinelli picked up "a knock.... and wasn’t comfortable to carry on after the second half", while Piero Hincapie missed out entirely in midweek "because he picked up an injury against Everton". Reports suggest it's a shoulder injury for Hincapie but he at least completed the match against the Toffees and wasn't pictured in a sling when he was on the sidelines against Palace. If he is out, the same back four (with Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back and Riccardo Calafiori at centre-half) likely takes to the field. Arteta rotated his entire front six in the EFL Cup quarter-final, heavily suggesting that most/all of the regulars will return on Saturday. Martinelli impressed in the cup and could put pressure on Leandro Trossard but it remains to be seen how much the fresh knock affects his match-time prospects in Gameweek 18.

Latest News: We have yet to hear from Unai Emery ahead of the deadline but Tyrone Mings (hamstring) and Ross Barkley (knee) will remain out. Evann Guessand is now away to the Africa Cup of Nations, too. Pau Torres (calf) should be nearing a return, having been 1-2 weeks away before Gameweek 17, while Harvey Elliott only missed out due to illness against Manchester United - not that the surplus-to-demands loanee would have featured anyway. Jadon Sancho is at least back, having been ineligible to face his parent club. The league's form team is unsurprisingly quite settled right now, with the only changes being injury-related (Pau out, Emiliano Martinez returning) over the last three Gameweeks.

Latest News: Andoni Iraola said he was expecting it to be a “very similar picture” in terms of squad availability this week, although he did remind us that his pre-match presser came four days before the Cherries' Gameweek 18 fixture - so plenty could change in the interim. As it stands, however, it's only Tyler Adams (knee), Veljko Milosavljevic (knee) and Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring) on the sidelines. Most of the press conference was not about team news, unsurprisingly, instead concentrating on the future of Antoine Semenyo, who is being heavily linked with a move away. Iraola, however, said that the Ghanaian winger is "very committed to the team" and is "going to continue playing for us". As for the Gameweek 18 XI, this might be the match in which Iraola finally moves away from playing Marcus Tavernier in a deeper role. Alex Scott or, if he's fit enough after a month out, Ryan Christie could come in alongside Lewis Cook. If Tavernier is moved further forward, that would see David Brooks or a sub-par Justin Kluivert drop out of the side. At the rear, the only real feasible alteration is Adam Smith coming in for Alex Jimenez, but the latter is really starting to flourish for the Cherries.

Latest News: Dango Ouattara and Frank Onyeka are at the Africa Cup of Nations with their respective countries, while long-term absentees Josh Dasilva (knee), Fábio Carvalho (knee) and Antoni Milambo (knee) are still unavailable. Brentford could have one body back in Gameweek 18, however: Reiss Nelson (knock) is back in training and should return to the squad against Bournemouth. We're not expecting much to change from Gameweek 17, especially not in the front three after Keane Lewis-Potter's brace against Burnley. At the back, the only element of doubt comes at left-back, where Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer have traded starts. So, it's in midfield where the main source of debate is. Vitaly Janelt has deputised very well for Jordan Henderson in the 'six' of late (the former Liverpool midfielder missed out in the EFL Cup quarter-final and then was only a substitute last weekend) but it's not necessarily an 'either/or', with both players starting in Gameweek 16. An either/or is probably the case with Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard, however: only once have both players started in the same Premier League XI this season, and that was at home to relegation fodder Burnley. Bournemouth are a step up from the Clarets, so it'd be a surprise to see Keith Andrews use both from kick-off in Gameweek 18. Another option in the engine room, Yehor Yarmolyuk, is likely competing with Janelt and Henderson for minutes.

Latest News: Adam Webster (knee), Solly March (knee) and Stefanos Tzimas (knee) remain unavailable, while Carlos Baleba is on international duty with Cameroon. However, it's otherwise good news from the Albion camp. Lewis Dunk and Diego Gomez return from suspension this week after missing out in Gameweek 17, while Danny Welbeck (back) and Jan Paul van Hecke (illness) had returns to training pencilled in when Fabian Hurzeler faced the media on Tuesday. Mats Wieffer, taken off at half-time on Saturday, is also expected to be fit, although his manager said the Seagulls would "have to wait day by day and follow the procedure". The expectation (if not guarantee) is that we'll see van Hecke, if fully fit, and Dunk reclaim their places despite Gameweek 17 starters Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli helping Brighton to a clean sheet against Sunderland. That might not be the case with Welbeck, who could be held back for upcoming contests against West Ham and Burnley, given the amount of off-the-ball work likely needed at Arsenal. Joel Veltman will also be on standby if Wieffer needs replacing. The fit-again Kaoru Mitoma and James Milner are inching closer to starts after successive appearances off the bench, while the versatile Gomez is another alternative (to Maxim De Cuyper) on the left flank and more centrally after his ban. Charalampos Kostoulas is another possibility up top.

Latest News: Having unexpectedly missed Gameweek 17 with a minor injury, Maxime Esteve was back on the grass and running on Tuesday. Despite that, Scott Parker said that he would "have to see a little bit later on in the week whether he makes the weekend" and that "there is a little something there". Jordan Beyer (hamstring), Connor Roberts (Achilles) and Zeki Amdouni (knee) are the long-term absentees, while Lyle Foster, Hannibal Mejbri and Axel Tuanzebe are at the Africa Cup of Nations. As well as Esteve, Quilindschy Hartman missed out at Bournemouth - but not through injury, merely tactical choices. Esteve could come in for Josh Laurent at centre-back if fit, while Marcus Edwards - yet to start a league game this season - is "knocking on the door" after assisting off the bench last time out. Jaidon Anthony, in a poor run of form, would make way if Parker deems that now is the time to give Edwards his opportunity. The most likely change, however, is probably Armando Broja for Zian Flemming up top, after the former's equaliser at Bournemouth and much-improved all-around performances of late.

Latest News: Dario Essugo (thigh), Romeo Lavia (quad), Levi Colwill (knee) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended) remain out this weekend but Estevao (muscle) and Liam Delap (shoulder) are newly available to face Aston Villa. The other major line of note from Enzo Maresca's Christmas Eve presser was that he believes Cole Palmer is "ready for 90 minutes", although that's not to say he is fit enough to start two games in 72 hours, which is the case in Gameweeks 18 and 19. Expect a start against Villa, with a possible benching at Bournemouth. Enzo Fernandez for Malo Gusto was a change we saw made early in the second half against Newcastle (after a poor opening 45 minutes), and it's possible we see that alteration exacted from the off against the Villans, with James returning to the right-back role he hadn't featured much in recently until post-interval on Tyneside. Alternatively, with the middle of the park a key battleground against Villa, Alejandro Garnacho may be the makeweight, with Enzo in the '10' and Palmer drifting infield from the right.

Latest News: Oliver Glasner's Gameweek 18 presser was held in the aftermath of Tuesday's EFL Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. The Palace boss said then that Eddie Nketiah (knock) would "be back for the Tottenham game" but that he "didn't know" whether Chris Richards (foot) would recover after being stretchered off against the Gunners. While the injury isn't as serious as first feared, it's looking increasingly likely he won't be involved in Gameweek 18. Jaydee Canvot would seem to be the natural replacement but after he had a torrid evening at right wing-back in the EFL Cup, it's also possible that Glasner takes him out of the firing line and opts for Jefferson Lerma at centre-half. Justin Devenny and Christantus Uche are options to fill in for Nketiah, if needed. Daniel Munoz (knee), Rio Cardines (groin), Daichi Kamada (hamstring), Ismaila Sarr (international duty), Cheick Doucoure (knee) and Caleb Kporha (back) remain out, while Chadi Riad (knee) had only partly reintegrated into team training the last we heard.

Latest News: David Moyes said Everton are “just about the same” as they were last week in terms of team news, although there was no specific update on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (hamstring). Even the Everton website didn’t mention Dewsbury-Hall, only confirming that Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Seamus Coleman (hamstring) remain sidelined. Are the Toffees trying to hide something? There are two other players not available for selection, of course: Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Given the dearth of alternatives, and assuming there are no late-breaking injuries/returns, the only real questions are over the Dewsbury-Hall/Ndiaye deputies and whether Beto is going to break Thierno Barry's eight-game starting run up top. Tyler Dibling and Merlin Rohl are the alternatives to Dwight McNeil and Charly Alcaraz but the two rookies have combined for just one Premier League start this season, and even that was curtailed after 45 minutes. Don't be surprised to see Moyes tread conservatively with the more Premier League-experienced McNeil and Alcaraz, then.

Latest News: Marco Silva is set to face the media on Boxing Day, which will hopefully lead to an update on Harry Wilson (knock). The in-form midfielder limped out of Monday's win over Nottingham Forest but Silva said after the match that it "looks like he's going to be okay", so positive news is expected. As for the rest of the Cottagers' team news, Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) and Rodrigo Muniz (hamstring) are expected to remain out, while Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze are away at the Africa Cup of Nations. With a thin squad and off the back of a win, little will likely change with Fulham's starting XI. Joshua King continues to be kept out of the side by a resurgent Emile Smith Rowe, although there is the possibility of both playing together, with Smith Rowe off the left flank. Most of the side otherwise picks itself at present, with Tom Cairney (for Sander Berge or Sasa Lukic) perhaps the main challenger after his influential appearance off the bench against Forest. Adama Traore, heavily linked with a move to opponents West Ham in the last few days, and Timothy Castagne are possible deputies for Wilson if he does miss out.

Latest News: Daniel James (hamstring) and Sean Longstaff (calf) are still unavailable, while Lukas Nmecha (hamstring) has only a "small chance" of being fit. Otherwise, Daniel Farke said that he had no new concerns for the trip to Sunderland. Leeds are in a good bit of form at present and, unsurprisingly, Farke has kept a very settled side of late, with nine players ever-present starters over the last four Gameweeks. Even one of the positions that has seen change, up top alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was enforced due to Nmecha's injury. Brenden Aaronson, Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka have traded starts in the other spot, with Aaronson getting the nod last time out against Crystal Palace.

Latest News: Alexander Isak faces a long spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on Monday. The Swedish striker had an operation on an ankle injury, which included “a fibula fracture”, that he sustained in Gameweek 17, and joins Joe Gomez (muscle), Wataru Endo (ankle) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) on the sidelines. Mohamed Salah is also away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Dominik Szoboszlai has to serve a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation. It doesn't end there: Conor Bradley (unspecified) and Cody Gakpo (muscle) are only “50/50” for the Wolverhampton Wanderers game and hadn't trained before Christmas Day, while Ibrahima Konate was mysteriously absent from training ground images in the run-up to the Wolves fixture. Florian Wirtz is fine, at least: he was only suffering cramp when hobbling out of the Tottenham Hotspur match. Andrew Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch or rookie Wellity Lucky will have to fill in for Konate if there is any medical reason behind the defender's absence, while Jeremie Frimpong may be pressed into action at right-back (Slot doesn't really seem to fancy him there!) if Bradley joins Gomez and Szoboszlai on the unavailable list. We're down to such bare bones that we may even see Federico Chiesa get a rare league start, either out wide or alongside Hugo Ekitike in a 4-4-2 diamond.

Latest News: Jeremy Doku (leg), Mateo Kovacic (ankle), Oscar Bobb (hamstring) and John Stones (thigh) remain out but Rodri (muscle) is closing in on a return and could feature. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are on international duty. While we're entering silly season when it comes to teamsheets, fatigue and rotation, City's line-up has been remarkably settled in recent times. In fact, over the last eight Gameweeks, Pep Guardiola has used fewer players (12) in his starting XI than any other Premier League manager. One of those, Doku, is now injured. Savinho coming in out wide is a possibility against Forest's low block, with one of Tijjani Reijnders or Bernardo Silva perhaps dropping out and Rayan Cherki or Phil Foden moving back into midfield.

Latest News: As you'll no doubt be aware by now, Bruno Fernandes (hamstring) has joined Kobbie Mainoo (calf), Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Harry Maguire (hamstring) on the sidelines for the Boxing Day match with Newcastle United. While he didn't give an exact timeline, Ruben Amorim hinted that we may not see Fernandes again till mid-January. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are also still at the Africa Cup of Nations, so it's a pretty threadbare squad set to face the Magpies. Casemiro returns from a ban, at least, so he'll slot straight back into midfield. Who joins him is another question, with Manuel Ugarte having a bit of a stinker on a rare start against Aston Villa. Lisandro Martinez impressed as a 'six' upon his half-time introduction, so he is an alternative, but the question is, will he be able to last a full game in that position after so long out? Starting Jack Fletcher or dropping Mason Mount back into central midfield are other options, with Joshua Zirkzee the likely beneficiary if Mount is redeployed. Elsewhere, thanks to unavailability, the team almost picks itself at present.

Latest News: Tino Livramento (knee), Dan Burn (rib), Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Emil Krafth (knee) and Will Osula (ankle) remain out, while Sven Botman (back) had yet to train at the point of Eddie Howe's press conference on Tuesday morning. Neither had Nick Pope (groin) but Howe was hopeful that he would do so later that day, adding that "there’s a chance" he could subsequently feature against Manchester United. Elsewhere, Howe said that Joelinton (groin), who has only been on the bench in recent weeks for emergencies, is "getting closer... to being able to participate", while Lewis Hall suffered "no ill effects" on his return from a minor hamstring issue in Gameweek 17. With nearly a week between this match and the last, we can likely save the rotation talk for Gameweek 19 onwards. What's more, Newcastle served up one of their better displays of the season against Chelsea, especially in the first half, so Messrs Murphy, Gordon and Ramsey will expect to get the nod over Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes and Joelinton again. Lewis Miley also looks set to continue at right-back. The only change, indeed, could come in goal, with Pope closing in on a return and potentially reclaiming his spot from Aaron Ramsdale, who hasn't really impressed in his fellow goalkeeper's absence.

Latest News: Ola Aina (hamstring) is nearing a return from injury and played for the B team this week but Chris Wood (knee) and Ryan Yates (hamstring) are thought to remain out, while Sean Dyche confirmed after the defeat to Fulham that Gameweek 17 absentee Dan Ndoye wouldn’t be back for the visit of Manchester City. The Tricky Trees are also down two players due to Africa Cup of Nations involvement: Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are away with the Ivory Coast. Matz Sels might come back into the side here (Dyche explained that a lack of training for the Belgian, plus John Victor's Gameweek 17 clean sheet, were reasons for his benching at Fulham), while it's possible we see Nicolas Dominguez brought in, either in central midfield or out wide in a conservative move due to the calibre of opposition. Oleksandr Zinchenko is back fit and pushing for a start, too.

Latest News: Reinildo Mandava, Arthur Masuaka, Noah Sadiki, Bertrand Traore, Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi are all at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Luke O’Nien is still suspended. Regis Le Bris at least reported no fresh injuries in his Christmas Eve presser. The main question mark is over who starts out wide, with Romaine Mundle, Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda all alternatives to Gameweek 18 starters Chris Rigg and Simon Adingra. Isidor and Mayenda are also options up top, of course, where Bryan Brobbey has started three of the last four matches. Lutsharel Geertruida stepped in for Sadiki at the Amex, as expected, in the latest slap in the face for Dan Neil.

Latest News: Thomas Frank said Spurs don’t have any new fitness concerns after last weekend. However, Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons will be suspended for this game. Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are both at the Africa Cup of Nations, too, while Destiny Udogie (hamstring), Dominic Solanke (ankle), James Maddison (knee) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) remain out. Kevin Danso will come in for Romero at centre-back, while Randal Kolo Muani, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson are options to come in for Simons on the left. Expect Richarlison to get a recall following his goal off the bench in Gameweek 17.

Latest News: The broadcast section of Nuno Espirito Santo’s presser may have set new records for quickness, being little more than two minutes in length. Unsurprisingly, there were no team news updates within that brief presser but we do know that the Hammers’ first-choice full-backs, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf, are still at the Africa Cup of Nations. Elsewhere, Oliver Scarles came off in Gameweek 17, with Nuno saying he was “worried” after full-time. The supposedly exit-bound Niclas Fullkrug wasn’t involved ahead of the defeat at the Etihad but had partly trained before that game. Ezra Mayers and Igor Julio are possible understudies for Scarles if needed, while with this being a winnable home game, Nuno may turn to a 'proper' striker (ie Callum Wilson) having gone without one in the last three Gameweeks.

Latest News: Toti Gomes is the latest addition to the Wolves injury list. Having missed out in Gameweek 17, the centre-back will now be out for a “significant” period of time. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (hamstring), Marshall Munetsi (calf), Rodrigo Gomes (groin) and Leon Chiwome (knee) also remain sidelined, while Emmanuel Agbadou and Tawanda Chirewa are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Wolves at least get Yerson Mosquera back from suspension (and he could step in for Toti) while Hugo Bueno (knock) was back in training as of Tuesday. Tolu Arokodare is pushing for a start as Jorgen Strand Larsen continues to draw a blank up top, while Rob Edwards said that rookie Mateus Mane is getting closer and closer to "earning his start".