A busy day of press conferences is ahead: we’ll be getting Gameweek 7 team news from 14 Premier League managers on Friday.
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.
And for everything else you may need ahead of Saturday’s deadline, there’s our FPL Gameweek 7 guide.
GAMEWEEK 7: FRIDAY’S KEY TEAM NEWS UPDATES
- Tottenham Hotspur: Son “unlikely” to play, Udogie set to recover
- Liverpool: Chiesa remains a doubt, Elliott still out
- Newcastle United: Isak misses out again, Pope, Trippier + Schar should be fine
- Brighton and Hove Albion: Pedro + van Hecke still out, three in contention
- Bournemouth: No fresh worries, Adams close to a return to full training
GAMEWEEK 7: FRIDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE TIMES
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Richarlison (muscle) and Wilson Odobert (hamstring) remain out for Spurs.
There’s mixed news on Son Heung-min (hamstring) and Destiny Udogie (quad), who sat out Thursday’s UEFA Europa League tie with Ferencvaros.
Son was injured a week ago against Qarabag, while Udogie came off at half-time in Gameweek 6. The former is the biggest concern.
“First thing’s first, last night all good. The boys are fairly tired, but physically, no issues from last night’s game.
“Of the guys who stayed back… Destiny, we think will be okay. Obviously we’ve got training today and tomorrow, so he has got to get through that. Sonny unlikely, again he’s pushing hard, but I just don’t think the turnaround will be quick enough for him to be available at this stage.
“That’s it, the others are long term.” – Ange Postecoglou
Away from injuries, Dejan Kulusevski, joint-second for chances created in the Premier League this season, was praised by his manager.
“Yeah, Deki has been brilliant, out of this world in many respects, in terms of what he’s able to do in that central role. Obviously, we used him more as a wide player last year because we didn’t have too many options out there.
“When we started using him inside, he felt that it unshackled him a little bit. He has got an unbelievable capacity to run with and without the ball. His physical numbers are ridiculous. He has the quality to hurt teams with that. I think at times maybe playing out wide he felt a bit suppressed because especially in our system, there are a lot of times when you have got to hold your position and just do the thing for the team but not be involved. He’s the kind of player who wants to be involved.
“Obviously, we brought a couple of wide players in this year. I really sort of thought, ‘Let’s go with him inside’. Obviously, preseason played him as a nine because we didn’t have a nine and even there he made an impact.
“The beauty of Deki is that I think he’s sort of just getting started. I think he enjoys the role, I think he can make an impact and it just adds a different dimension to us because there aren’t many players like him.” – Ange Postecoglou on Dejan Kulusevski
LIVERPOOL
Harvey Elliott remains sidelined with a fractured foot.
Having missed out in midweek, Federico Chiesa is an ongoing concern. He sat out Wednesday’s win over Bologna with what Arne Slot said were “some problems” and he remains a doubt for Gameweek 7.
“Wait and see. He didn’t train the last two days, he came in today to see if he could train. If he can, I still have a decision to make because we can only select 20 and he hasn’t trained for a few days. But first of all, we have to wait and see if he can even train.” – Arne Slot on Federico Chiesa
NEWCASTLE UNITED
As expected, Alexander Isak (toe) will miss the trip to Everton.
Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Sven Botman (knee), Callum Wilson (back) and Lewis Miley (back) also remain unavailable for the Magpies.
Eddie Howe is hopeful that Isak will follow Wilson in being fit for Gameweek 8.
“No, unfortunately not, he won’t make the game. We hope he will be back with Callum for the game after the international break. That’s the plan at the moment, so fingers crossed both players continue to do well.” – Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak
There is positive news elsewhere.
Fabian Schar (ankle) and Martin Dubravka (knee) both hobbled out of the midweek cup win over Wimbledon, a match that Nick Pope (knee) and Kieran Trippier (muscle) also missed.
But Schar and Pope “should” be available, while there is hope for Trippier. Dubravka could miss out but his issue is also not serious.
“Yeah, [Nick Pope] should be OK. Yeah, we hope [Kieran Trippier will be fit], yeah. [Fabian Schar] should be OK.
“Martin took a nasty whack to his knee. He had a scan, the scan showed just bruising – hopefully. Whether he’s fit for this game or not, I’m not sure. But it won’t be a serious injury.” – Eddie Howe
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
Jan Paul van Hecke (groin), Matt O’Riley (ankle) and Joao Pedro (ankle) remain out for the Seagulls.
Fabian Hurzeler interestingly grouped the three as “long-term” injuries.
James Milner (hamstring), Brajan Gruda (unknown injury) and Solly March (knee) are all closing in on comebacks, however.
“Let’s start with the positive things. Brajan Gruda and Solly March, they trained really good this week. They might be an option for the weekend.
“The others, the long-term injuries, Matt O’Riley, Joao Pedro, JP and… I forgot someone… not James Milner, he’s also an option for this weekend.
“So, there is positive and negative news but in general we see more positive that the players come back.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Van Hecke himself suggested earlier in the week that he would be out for around six weeks.
Hurzeler didn’t offer a timeline – but did compare it to Pedro’s injury.
“I don’t know, we have to go week for week. I think that it’s not that bad, like for example the issue for Joao, but let’s see and go week for week.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Jan Paul van Hecke
Joel Veltman (illness) returns but Simon Adingra remains a doubt. The winger missed out in Gameweek 6 as a “precaution” but Hurzeler has hinted he may not be risked this weekend.
“Simon, we have to be careful. Joel will be back. Simon, we have to look how it’s going and then we have to make a decision.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Aside from injuries, Hurzeler reflected on last week’s loss at Chelsea.
“In the end, we have to learn from it, I have to learn from it, because I was a responsible person for this match plan. The match plan was not good enough and therefore I also have to learn from it. Now we try to show a reaction.
“[We have to try to beat Spurs by] trying to to defend better than against Chelsea, I think that’s the main thing, but on the other side, it’s also [about] being brave in possession. So, I think in possession we made a good game against Chelsea and we have to continue doing this, being brave with the ball, trying to bring our identity on the pitch.
“I think it’s also a priority from us to defend as whole team better, we are talking a lot about the high line. For me, it’s not a high line – it’s more like an active line. But how do we get to these moments, it’s also the responsibility from the offensive player to defend the lines [so] that the opponent can’t break the lines that easily and their players can play a ball behind our line.” – Fabian Hurzeler
BOURNEMOUTH
There are no fresh injury concerns for the Cherries ahead of their trip to Leicester City.
Tyler Adams (back) is on the only player on the sidelines but even he is close to a return.
The American midfielder will return to full training during the international break.
2 hours, 2 mins agoWhen J. Pedro became long term injury??