FPL 2026/27 – Predicted Line-ups

Latest News: Jurrien Timber (groin) and long-term absentee William Saliba (back) remain out, while Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt for Friday’s clash with Coventry. The Brazilian came off at half-time in Sunday’s Community Shield and was later spotted with an ice pack on his thigh, with Mikel Arteta saying on Friday that he was "evolving really well" but not confirming either way whether he would be fit. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, late back from World Cup duty and emerging as substitutes last weekend, are fit, although Arteta would only say "ready to be involved" when asked if they were able to start. Rice would seem to be the likeliest to feature from kick-off, having replaced Bruno at half-time at Wembley. Arteta does have plenty of alternatives to Rice if he doesn't want to risk the England international, however, such as Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze (themselves all late back from the Americas) and even Kai Havertz. The Arsenal boss played Havertz in midfield and Viktor Gyokeres up top in the recent friendly against Borussia Dortmund. Speaking of Gyokeres, he was only a substitute against Man City, but Premier League minnows are his speciality, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him here. The back four looks settled for the time being, with Ezri Konsa not arriving in time for Friday's match.

Latest News: There was a double blow after last week’s Super Cup when it was reported that Brian Madjo (unknown) and Joao Gomes (calf) would miss the start of the season. Gomes will miss 2-4 weeks, while Madjo “could be out until at least September”. The issues get worse up top, as Tammy Abraham limped out of Aston Villa’s final pre-season friendly on Saturday. We await an update on him. There’s still no sign of Johan Manzambi (knee), meanwhile. He suffered an injury in the World Cup and hasn’t featured in pre-season, and still seems to be in the rehab stage. Alejandro Garnacho should be back this week, however, having served a concussion protocol. He suffered a head injury during Villa’s pre-season match against BG Pathum on August 4. Amadou Onana (knee) is expected to miss most, if not all, of 2026/27. Away from injuries, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez have yet to kick a ball since the World Cup. Martinez and Konsa have been heavily linked with moves away recently, too. Ross Barkley or Lamare Bogarde are options to come in for Gomes in midfield, while there’s a possible headache in attack, with Madjo out, Abraham a concern, and Watkins short of match sharpness. After signing in midweek, it remains to be seen if incoming goalkeeper Zion Suzuki is deemed ready to start in Gameweek 1. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Amine Adli (calf), Eli Kroupi (foot), Veljko Milosavljevic (knee) and Julian Araujo (thigh) are on the medium-term injury list, while Ryan Christie is suspended. Of the six other players who sat out Bournemouth’s final pre-season friendly, four of them are in contention this weekend. Alex Scott, who was suspended for that kickabout, is now available for competitive action, while Tyler Adams, Juanlu Sanchez and Alvaro Rodriguez are back in training after fitness issues. However, it sounds like Julio Soler and David Brooks, who picked up injuries in pre-season, remain out. The predicted line-up here is the one that Marco Rose sent out on Saturday, with one exception: Scott in for Alex Toth.

Latest News: It’s all been a bit quiet on Sepp van den Berg, except for a local media report this summer suggesting the centre-back will be out for three months. Adding fuel to that fire is the fact that the Dutchman hasn’t featured in any of Brentford’s friendlies. Antony Milambo (knee), absent since last October, hasn’t kicked a ball either. Assuming the rumours are true about van den Berg, we can probably expect the same team that demolished Eintracht Frankfurt to be sent out against Tottenham Hotspur. That's the side you see here, with Kristoffer Ajer partnering Nathan Collins at the back. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Yankuba Minteh (leg), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring) and Stefanos Tzimas (knee) are all out, while even if Carlos Baleba (ankle) is fit, it sounds like he's destined for Manchester United. There were two boosts on Thursday, however. Pascal Struijk – who didn't kick a ball in pre-season – made the matchday squad to face Tromso, while Diego Gomez, who limped down the tunnel after his withdrawal last Saturday, started for the Seagulls. This predicted XI is the one that beat Bologna at the weekend, and is almost identical to the one that defeated Roma a week earlier (the only change replaced the now injured Minteh). So, is this Hurzeler's strongest side? Thursday's Conference League tie may be a complicating factor, as he made only two changes for that game - Maxim De Cuyper and Jack Hinshelwood rested - and you wonder if he'll further freshen things up against Aston Villa. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Wesley Fofana will miss the first two Gameweeks through suspension after his red card late last season but Danny Welbeck, who was not part of Chelsea’s squad to face Real Sociedad on Saturday because of a “small issue”, should be fit. He is already training individually. Away from injuries, Xabi Alonso said that his late returnees to pre-season training "maybe [need] a little bit more time" to get back to full match fitness "but they are for sure selectable for the line-up". Three of them, Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Reece James, even started the final pre-season friendly. Last weekend's line-up to face Sociedad looked quite ‘Gameweek 1’, although Alonso will be forced into at least one change with Fofana out. That could see Reece James move back from midfield to centre-half, with Romeo Lavia coming into midfield. We could, of course, see Enzo Fernandez from the start, but ongoing speculation over his future and only half an hour of pre-season game-time places that in some doubt. Another option is to not replace Fofana at centre-half at all and instead move to a 4-2-3-1, a formation that Alonso started the summer with.

Latest News: Haji Wright (quad) is out but Jack Rudoni (shoulder) and Ephron Mason-Clark (hamstring) are "in contention". Meanwhile, there was nothing in Frank Lampard's presser on Frank Onyeka, who hobbled out of last Friday’s friendly win over Monaco. While Lampard did hint at “a couple of issues”, Onyeka was seen running at the training ground this week. The concluding pre-season line-up looks like a big help but it's possible that Lampard was setting up a red herring or two, particularly as there was also a behind-closed-doors friendly with Nottingham Forest in midweek. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto could very well feature on the right wing, for instance. Victor Torp or Gus Hamer are options if there is any issue still affecting Onyeka, as it's probably too soon for Rudoni to start after so long out. Ellis Simms likely keeps his place up top for the moment but he now has new signings Sidiki Cherif and Taiwo Awoniyi breathing down his neck.

Latest News: Palace almost have a fully fit squad, with their one concern being Dean Henderson (ankle). The goalkeeper limped out of the Eagles’ final pre-season friendly but Pierre Sage says he’ll train on Thursday and will be assessed thereafter, calling the England international's issue "a little twist" and that "he was able to play but we preferred him in recovery". Walter Benitez will be on standby if Henderson doesn't recover. Jean–Philippe Mateta and Yeremy Pino didn’t play a part in any of the Eagles’ pre-season friendlies, following a late return from the World Cup. While Sage said he'd hopefully "give them more minutes" this weekend, bench duty surely beckons for them. Daniel Munoz similarly only had 43 minutes of pre-season action. With rumours linking him with an exit, and Palace recruiting right-sided defensive options Oscar Mingueza and Anan Khalaili, the future looks uncertain for him at Selhurst Park. Still, on Thursday, Sage said Munoz was "happy to be with us". Another new signing, Dwight McNeil, was thrown straight in last weekend. It’s likely between him and returning loanee Evann Guessand for a starting spot, with Pino short on minutes.

Latest News: Everton were without three central midfielders for Saturday’s draw with Lille. James Garner underwent successful surgery to address a groin issue in July, with a return to first-team training “being targeted around the opening week of the Premier League season”. Tim Iroegbunam, heavily linked with a move to Hull City, is out with a groin problem of his own, while new boy Christian Norgaard has not featured at all since signing from Arsenal. There was a suggestion he was nursing an injury in his final days with the Gunners. It may have to be the rookie pairing of Hayden Hackney and Harrison Armstrong in midfield again, then, should all of the above fail to recover in time. There are decisions to be made in one of the wide-midfield slots and at right-back, too. Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling have impressed in pre-season and one of them could get their chance on the wing. Dibling, indeed, started the final pre-season friendly, with Merlin Rohl at right-back. But would you be at all surprised if David Moyes went for the more conservative option of Jake O’Brien at full-back and Rohl further up the wing? Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Joachim Andersen will miss Gameweek 1 as he completes a three-match ban carried over from last season, while Tom Cairney (knee) will be out until after the September international break. Those two are the only absentees for the clash with Chelsea on Monday. This predicted XI was the side that Alvaro Arbeloa sent out for the final pre-season friendly against Stuttgart, although there was a behind-closed-doors match featuring other squad members on the same day. Probably the main question mark is over the exciting Cesar Palacios, who is very inexperienced at senior level but who was thrust straight into the starting XI for what looked like the last two first-team friendlies. He is Arbeloa’s boy, however, having worked with him in Spain. Kevin is, of course, an alternative. Gonzalo Garcia has gone straight in as a starting forward in the last three warm-up matches, so he looks set to get the nod over Rodrigo Muniz.

Latest News: Jack Butland (shoulder), Elliot Matazo (knee), Charlie Hughes (groin) and Darko Gyabi (thigh) are all on the medium-to-long-term injury list, while Joe Gelhardt (ankle), Oscar Zambrano (hamstring) and Matty Jacob (hip) remain out. Hidemasa Morita (calf) and Cody Drameh (hamstring) have returned to training this week, at least, although it'll be bench duty at best at the weekend. While the Hull squad is slowly evolving as more and more new signings arrive, eight of the 11 starters in the final pre-season friendly came up from the Championship in 2025/26. There does look like there’s a slow changing of the guard, however. At centre-half, for instance, John Egan and Semi Ajayi got the nod to start Saturday’s draw with Nice but new captures Lucas Herrington and Nobel Mendy got gentle introductions off the bench. The latter especially, as the club record signing, surely threatens the starting XI imminently. Defensive shield Lucas Gourna-Douath could also replace fellow new boy Jens Hjerto-Dahl, who still looks a little raw. A change to a wing-back system (something Sergej Jakirovic occasionally did last season) is a possibility, but we didn't see that tactic once in pre-season.

Latest News: Central midfielders Jack Taylor (knee) and Azor Mutisawa (muscle) haven’t played a part in any of Ipswich’s friendlies, having undergone post-season surgery. Boss Gary O’Neil said two weeks ago that the pair “have a chance” for Sunderland in Gameweek 1 but having not featured in the win over Union Berlin on Saturday, that looks doubtful. Abdul Fatawu and Luis Florentino mysteriously both missed out on that victory, too, with local media reporting that Fatawu wasn’t risked because of a “knock”. There was no reason given for Florentino’s unavailability. Marcelino Núñez was the beneficiary of Florentino’s absence in midfield, and would make way if the latter is 100% fit. Meanwhile, if Fatawu is available and new signing Julio Enciso is deemed ready to start, that could spell trouble for Jack Clarke and Sindre Walle Egeli. Both players started the final pre-season friendly but are likely on borrowed time. O’Neil’s ‘three into two’ dilemma at centre-half has, for the time being, been solved by sticking Dara O’Shea at right-back. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Gabriel Gudmundsson (hamstring) and Wilfried Gnonto (hamstring) are out but Daniel Farke said on Thursday that everyone else is fit to play. It’s not clear if that includes long-term absentee Ilia Gruev (knee), who is partly reintegrating into training. Noah Okafor was Leeds’ last outfielder back from the World Cup and his pre-season involvement extended to just two brief run-outs, so no surprise that Farke hinted that he'd be on substitute duty at Forest. So too, almost certainly, will be new defender Nico Elvedi, who will have to bide his time at centre-half. As was the case with many Premier League clubs, Leeds’ final pre-season line-up looked very much like what we’d expect to see in Gameweek 1. James Justin continued at left wing-back in the absence of Gudmundsson, while Brenden Aaronson was the placeholder for Okafor.

Latest News: Long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Conor Bradley (knee) and Giovanni Leoni (knee) remain out. Leoni is the closest to a recovery, but even that is likely over a month away. Joe Gomez (muscle) isn’t expected to be sidelined for too much longer, while Curtis Jones‘ hip issue is thought to be minor in nature - but it sounds like he's on the way out anyway. Andoni Iraola sent out what looked very much like a first XI for their win over Como. The key question mark is probably over how ready Jeremie Jacquet is to start a competitive match. He was impressive on Sunday but that was his first action since February due to injury, and he was limited to 45 minutes. Ronald Araujo is the deputy, if needs be. Cody Gakpo continues to be linked with a move elsewhere but keeps starting for the Reds regardless, while Rio Ngumoha may have to start on the right, as he did against Como. There is the alternative option of moving Dominik Szoboszlai there and bringing in Alexis Mac Allister – if he’s fit enough after a late return from the World Cup – in the middle, of course. Victor Munoz is another option on the right but his manager’s limited use of him in pre-season suggests bench duty for now. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Matheus Nunes is one of the new concerns from Wembley. Named on the bench in the Community Shield, he suffered an injury in the warm-up and had to withdraw from the squad. It’s not yet clear what the issue is, as Enzo Maresca did not discuss the problem post-game. Jeremy Doku is another concern, having been pictured with an ice pack on his calf after being hooked at half-time. Reports suggest he will be out for “several weeks”, although that is yet to be verified by Maresca. The new City boss did, at least, say that Omar Marmoush “looks okay” after landing awkwardly in the defeat to Arsenal. Forgotten man Jack Grealish, interestingly, came on for Doku at the interval on Sunday, so he is a possibility to deputise. Rayan Ait-Nouri is also a left-wing option, if needed. Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson and Erling Haaland got their first post-World Cup starts on Sunday, with none of them lasting more than an hour - but this was planned. Marc Guehi may have to miss out again, given that a) Maresca likes an inverting full-back and b) Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias seem to be their new boss’s trusted lieutenants. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.

Latest News: Manuel Ugarte (knee) is out long term, while Matthijs de Ligt (back) isn't ready for a playing comeback despite a return to training and Mason Mount (knock) is "touch and go". Benjamin Sesko (calf) and Karl Darlow (post-season surgery), like de Ligt, also haven't kicked a ball all in pre-season but are closer to involvement. Both players have trained this week, with Michael Carrick saying he was "looking forward to... getting [Sesko] some minutes as well". Unlike some other Premier League managers, Carrick actually might make a tweak or two from the final pre-season friendly line-up. Bryan Mbeumo, surely, comes back; he was benched at the weekend, no doubt because he had already played twice in the previous seven days. Matheus Cunha, who looked off the pace up top, may miss out, unless he displaces Patrick Dorgu on the left. The central midfield looks fairly settled with Mount a big doubt and Kobbie Mainoo short on post-World Cup minutes, while you'd imagine Ayden Heaven will get the nod over Lisandro Martinez given the Argentine's own shortage of pre-season game-time. At right-back, however, it could be any one of Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui or, less likely, Leny Yoro; the latter has featured there this summer.

Latest News: Joelinton (unspecified injury) is out, while Matthias Jaissle said this game comes too soon for Tino Livramento (calf), as the defender has only partly returned to training. There was nothing, however, from the new Newcastle boss on Joe Willock, who seemed to be nursing a groin complaint when coming off against Strasbourg on Sunday. In Livramento’s absence, it sounds like we will be seeing a debut at right-back for new boy Amar Dedic, with Jaissle saying "he's ready" and highlighting not just his pre-season work at Benfica but also his previous experience with his 'new' manager at Salzburg. Elsewhere, Eddie Howe's successor hinted that he wouldn't take any chances with Lewis Miley and Dan Burn, who have both only had 45 minutes of pre-season action. It looks like at least one of the new boys, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, will have to start in midfield, with Jacob Ramsey taking the other spot to add some experience in the engine room. Bamba and Ramsey were the pairing last weekend, indeed. While there's little question about the back four, there's plenty of doubt further forward. Jacob Murphy and Bazoumana Traore are the alternatives to the two we have here but, in the case of the latter, you wonder if Jaissle will side with the more experienced Harvey Barnes initially. It'll be two from three of Will Osula, Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade up top; the German continues to struggle for the Magpies regardless of position, so you wonder if the Newcastle head coach will use the pairing that looked quite lively against Everton in a recent friendly. Wissa took the deeper role then.

Latest News: Ryan Yates (minor issue) and Nicolo Savona (knee) are the only two absentees for Oliver Glasner’s first competitive match in charge. The starting XI that Glasner sent out in the Bayer Leverkusen game last Wednesday looked very ‘first team’, and is the one you see here. Chris Wood returned from injury in what was more of a second-string XI on Saturday, so he could feasibly threaten a start up top. We saw him play together with Igor Jesus in a friendly against Sporting in late July, so it’s not necessarily an either/or with the Brazilian. James McAtee, who has featured in central midfield this summer, is a possible alternative to Xaver Schlager.

Latest News: Simon Adingra (ankle) is the only confirmed absentee for Saturday's clash with Ipswich Town. Thomas Meunier (back) missed out on last Saturday's win over Stade Rennais, while Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete have both had “minor injuries” over the summer. However, all three are available for Gameweek 1 – albeit with the caveat that they’re at different stages of match fitness. Regis Le Bris had already said a fortnight ago that Mukiele and Alderete would likely be on the bench at Portman Road, and their lack of involvement in the final warm-up games certainly points to substitute duty. Luke O'Nien has a stay of execution for now, then. Meunier is a different prospect, however, having played in the penultimate friendly against Lens. If the Belgian full-back is fit, we could see Trai Hume push forward to a right-wing role and one of Nilson Angulo or Chemsdine Talbi drop out. Otherwise, this is the same XI that has played the final two pre-season friendlies for the Black Cats.

Latest News: The absences of Xavi Simons (knee), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Wilson Odobert (knee) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee) stretch back into last season, and not one of these players has featured for Spurs in pre-season. Pedro Porro, Destiniy Udogie and Micky van de Ven haven’t played for the Lilywhites this summer, either. While Porro’s no-shows are down to a deep run in the World Cup, van de Ven had a relatively early exit with the Netherlands. The sight of the Dutchman not even in training gear in recent footage from Hotspur Way does suggest there is some fitness issue, while Udogie has been nursing what Roberto De Zerbi called a “small problem” for not far off a month. Up top, Dominic Solanke has featured in two friendlies but not since a 45-minute run-out against Chelsea on August 1. De Zerbi went with a distinct ‘first team XI’ and ‘reserve side’ for Spurs’ two friendlies last weekend. Matheus Fernandes, in the ‘B’ team on Sunday, could be the one to get into the Gameweek 1 XI. He has had his own fitness problems this summer but got through 90 minutes and may oust Lucas Bergvall. And unless Savinho signs quickly and is deemed match-ready, it may have to be Mikey Moore on the right wing. Further updates to follow after the pre-match press conferences.