See which players we think will start for their clubs this weekend
Football writer Ben Bloom is predicting how every Premier League team will line up in Matchweek 9.
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See: Injury updates for every club and player
See: Who’s suspended or close to a ban?
Chelsea v Man Utd predicted line-ups
Chelsea:Maxence Lacroix and Jorrel Hato have joined a lengthy list of absentees, but manager Xabi Alonso confirmed Pep Chavarria “is back in the squad” and Moises Caicedo has “no issue” after the midweek EFL Cup defeat. Chavarria could take Hato’s place if able, otherwise Marco Palestra or Malo Gusto might be deployed on the left. Alonso must also decide whether to start Danny Welbeck or deploy one of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers or Pedro Neto as a “false nine”.
Man Utd: Captain Bruno Fernandes was an unused substitute last weekend, but surely returns to the starting line-up here as head coach Michael Carrick seeks to halt his side’s poor run of form. Kobbie Mainoo is back in training. It would help matters if he could start straight away, but whether he is capable of doing so is uncertain. Benjamin Sesko has likely been ruled out until the new year, while Marcus Rashford is also still not back.
Bournemouth v Leeds predicted line-ups
Bournemouth:Junior Kroupi continues to get minutes off the bench, but is not yet ready to start, while Alex Scott remains unavailable. AFC Bournemouth have won their last three matches 3-0 while rotating players across various competitions. Expect little to change from their last Premier League game, with Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie fighting for one spot and Ben Gannon-Doak pushing for a start.
Leeds:Noah Okafor was only fit enough for the bench last week, but is fully available now, while Nico Elvedi is also back in training after missing the match through illness and will hope to replace Jaka Bijol. Anton Stach did not feature last weekend and is “struggling a bit” with a foot injury. If he does not make it then Okafor’s likely return should mean that spot is between Brenden Aaronson and Harry Wilson.
Brentford v Nott’m Forest predicted line-ups
Brentford: Keith Andrews will return to his strongest XI here after rotating his side for the EFL Cup. Vitaly Janelt has served his ban – and will expect to start – but Yehor Yarmoliuk remains suspended, while Rico Henry is out until after the international break. Sepp van den Berg and Dango Ouattara will expect to keep Jannik Schuster and Jaidon Anthony out respectively.
Nottingham Forest:Neco Williams is fine after a whack on his elbow, but there is a doubt over Dan Ndoye, who is battling a hamstring problem. Nicolas Dominguez is yet to return to team training so seems likely to remain out until next weekend. If Ndoye and Dominguez both miss out, Callum Hudson-Odoi could be in line for his first start of the season, with Arnaud Kalimuendo providing an alternative option.
Coventry v Sunderland predicted line-ups
Coventry:Head coach Frank Lampard will make a late decision on Bobby Thomas, who has a calf injury but “not a terrible one”. Stephen Mfuni will step in if required. Coventry City suffered from a lack of attacking potency in defeat last weekend, so Lampard may opt for changes. Frank Onyeka could well come in for Caleb Yirenkyi, Ephron Mason-Clark will battle Brandon Thomas-Asante on the left wing, and it is a toss up between Taiwo Awoniyi and Sidiki Cherif up top.
Sunderland:Striker Wilson Isidor “should be” available for this, but expect Brian Brobbey to lead the line. There are slight doubts over Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete, both of whom have minor issues. Kevin Danso is back from suspension, but will have to displace Luke O’Nien, who helped keep a clean sheet last weekend. Habib Diarra and Chris Rigg played a half each on Wednesday and could be fighting for one spot.
Hull v Ipswich predicted line-ups
Hull:Head coach Sergej Jakirovic dismissed concerns about Oli McBurnie and Lewie Coyle, so both should be fine to start here. Nobel Mendy has returned to training, but a bench spot appears likely after a few weeks out, while Jack Butland may come into contention. There is every chance Jakirovic sticks with the same XI as last weekend, which would see Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Sorba Thomas and Matt Crooks remain among the substitutes.
Ipswich:With few changes expected, Gary O’Neil’s two main conundrums are in central midfield and on the left wing. Regarding Sasa Lukic, Gary O’Neil said he would “love to have him in the starting XI” but a decision will be taken on Saturday morning. If not then Florentino Luis and Exequiel Palacios can continue their partnership. Jaden Philogene underwhelmed on the left last weekend and could well be replaced by either Daizen Maeda or Jack Clarke.
Man City v Brighton predicted line-ups
Man City: Marc Guehi was taken off at half-time last weekend and could be benched for this despite captaining the side in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, with Abdukodir Khusanov starting at centre-back. Matheus Nunes has missed the last two games but should return as manager Enzo Maresca suggested Antoine Semenyo is the only player unavailable. Further forward, there is the usual competition for attacking places.
Brighton: Ferdi Kadioglu and Chema Andres should both be fit after missing Wednesday’s defeat with hip injuries, but Costinha and either Jack Hinshelwood or Malick Yalcouye can fill in if required. Charalampos Kostoulas was rested for that game, but should also return here, while Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer gained minutes off the bench. All being well, head coach Fabian Hurzeler could stick with the same XI that has started Brighton’s last two Premier League matches.
Spurs v Crystal Palace predicted line-ups
Spurs:Head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed James Maddison is available despite an early departure last weekend, but “we have to analyse if we take a risk or not”. Conor Gallagher can occupy the No 10 position if needed. Pedro Porro should be ready to reclaim his right-back spot, while little else appears in need of change given the performance in victory at Chelsea last weekend. The possible exception is up front where Omar Marmoush and Dominic Solanke are both fighting to start.
Crystal Palace: Head coach Pierre Sage made 10 changes to his team for Wednesday’s EFL Cup victory, which means he has plenty of fresh legs here. Ismaila Sarr remains out with a groin issue, Jorgen Strand Larsen could return to the squad and Quinten Timber will “maybe have some minutes” after injury. Dwight McNeil will hope to keep his place in the XI until Timber is ready to start.
Aston Villa v Fulham predicted line-ups
Aston Villa: It all went wrong for Villa’s vastly changed line-up in midweek, but head coach Unai Emery may well revert to the same XI that beat Man City in the Premier League last weekend. The only possible exception would be if Emiliano Buendia or Ross Barkley earn a call up, perhaps in place of Alysson.
Fulham: There must be a fair chance head coach Alvaro Arbeloa reverts to the same XI that won their last Premier League outing, with David Affengruber and Shea Charles returning after resting for midweek duties. The one potential change concerns Sander Berge and Hugo Larsson, who seem to be fighting for one spot, while Arbeloa also has a decision to make about whether to stick with Gonzalo Garcia as his starting striker or opt for Rodrigo Muniz.
Liverpool v Arsenal predicted line-ups
Liverpool:Head coach Andoni Iraola confirmed Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz both “have a chance” of making this game after missing the last two, although there does not appear to be a great need to risk them. The same XI that won Liverpool’s last Premier League match remain available and may well be called upon again.
Arsenal:There are plenty of unknowns for Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta saying “we do not know yet” if Noni Madueke will be able to play, while Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis are training and should be available “if everything is ok”. Madueke’s potential absence would be a headache given Max Dowman is suspended. Kai Havertz could be reinstated for Viktor Gyokeres, and Ben White versus Jurrien Timber is a toss up.
Newcastle v Everton predicted line-ups
Newcastle: After defeat against the same opposition on Thursday, it will be interesting to see how much head coach Matthias Jaissle changes here. Joelinton will come back in after a rest, while Anthony Elanga played a half and must now be pushing for a start. William Osula seems highly unlikely to play after suffering an ankle injury, which could see Yoane Wissa lead the line, with Matias Fernandez-Pardo absent of late. Lewis Miley has also missed the last two games.
Everton:Jack Grealish was omitted from Thursday’s EFL Cup match due to a “breach of club discipline” and manager David Moyes refused to confirm his availability for this. Everton triumphed without him and it looks like Brennan Johnson, Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling will fight for the two wing spots. Jarrad Branthwaite “should have recovered” after missing the last two games due to concussion protocols. Jake O’Brien can deputise if required. Hayden Hackney will challenge Harrison Armstrong’s place.
