Premier League 2026/27 Matchweek 1 Team News and Injury Updates

With the 2026/27 Premier League season finally kicking off, managers are juggling new signings, late fitness tests and some brutal early injury blows as they lock in their XIs for Matchweek 1 – and Fantasy Premier League squads with them.

The deadline is looming at 18:30 BST. Here’s how the opening weekend is shaping up across the grounds.

Arsenal v Coventry: Arteta waits on Guimaraes

At Arsenal, the big question hangs over Bruno Guimaraes. The marquee summer signing is a “major doubt”, but Mikel Arteta will push the decision right up to the wire.

“Let’s see how it is. He is evolving really well,” the Arsenal manager said, refusing to rule him out.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, benched for the Community Shield win over Manchester City, are “ready to be involved” and should come back into the starting XI. Jurrien Timber remains “a few weeks” away, while William Saliba is still out long term, keeping the back line short on its first-choice anchors.

Coventry arrive without their main goal threat. 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,” Frank Lampard said. “It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks.”

Ellis Simms is expected to step in up front. Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni have shaken off pre-season knocks and are in contention, though Lampard is unlikely to risk them from the start. Frank Onyeka faces a late fitness test.

Hull v Manchester United: patched-up Tigers face reshaped United

Hull head into the opener stripped of depth. Six first‑team players, including Jack Butland and Darko Gyabi, are sidelined until at least next month. Joe Gelhardt’s absence removes another attacking option.

Hidemasa Morita and Cody Drameh are pencilled in to return to training only after the Manchester United clash, leaving Sergej Jakirovic short of experience in key areas. With Charlie Hughes out, new signing Nobel Mendy is poised to plug the gap at centre-back. Expect Hull to lean again on the tight, five-at-the-back structure that carried them through the playoffs.

United, under Michael Carrick, have their own selection puzzles but from a stronger base. Mason Mount, sharp in pre-season, is “touch and go for the weekend”, though Carrick played down any concern.

“There are no dramas,” he insisted, suggesting the midfielder’s lay-off will be brief.

Matthijs De Ligt is back in training but not yet ready for competitive minutes. Benjamin Sesko has rejoined the squad, though this opener likely comes too early for him to start, leaving Carrick with choices to make at centre-forward.

Everton v Crystal Palace: Henderson race against time

Everton’s team news is still under wraps, but Crystal Palace have made their intentions clear. They want Dean Henderson in goal.

The new No 1 twisted his ankle in the final pre-season friendly against Freiburg, yet Pierre Sage is determined to give him every chance.

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

Sage confirmed the rest of his squad is available. Jean-Philippe Mateta is unlikely to start as he builds fitness but will make the matchday squad and could feature from the bench.

Ipswich v Sunderland: Le Bris spoilt for choice

Ipswich’s line-up remains under wraps, but Sunderland arrive close to full strength.

Only Simon Adingra is missing, still short of full recovery from an ankle problem. Regis Le Bris, though, has a broad group to pick from.

“We’ll see for the game time because they are not all at the same stage, but they are available,” he said.

New right back Thomas Meunier, who had been troubled by back pain, trained this week and will be in the squad, with the possibility of minutes. Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele also return from injuries, giving Sunderland fresh options across the back line.

Nottingham Forest v Leeds: Forest lose captain, Farke treads carefully

Nottingham Forest must start without their captain. Ryan Yates has been ruled out after missing the final pre-season friendly against Stade Brestois and failing to recover in time.

Defender Nicolo Savona is also sidelined. He ended last season after surgery and 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,” manager Oliver Glasner explained.

Aside from those two, Glasner has a full squad to choose from.

Leeds travel with most of their firepower intact but face a delicate call on Noah Okafor. The forward, who hit six goals in his last 10 games of last season, has been back in full training for a fortnight, yet Daniel Farke is wary of rushing him.

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

Willy Gnonto misses out with a hamstring injury – “We hope to have him back in team training soon,” Farke added – while Gabriel Gudmundsson is also “still out”. The rest of the squad is fit and available.

Brentford v Spurs: De Zerbi’s defence already stretched

The focus around Spurs is on a back line already under strain. New club captain Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro are both ruled out through injury, ripping out two first-choice defenders before a ball is kicked.

Archie Gray is expected to step in at right back. Marcos Senesi, signed from Bournemouth this summer, could go straight into the heart of defence.

Pape Matar Sarr is not fit enough to feature, thinning the midfield options. Roberto De Zerbi at least has attacking quality to call on: James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes and Destiny Udogie are all available.

Bournemouth’s specific team news for this fixture is still to come.

Brighton v Aston Villa: Hurzeler juggling injuries

Fabian Hurzeler’s first league line-up at Brighton will be shaped heavily by the treatment room.

Yankuba Minteh is out 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.

New signing Promise David has a chance to be involved, but Hurzeler is expected to ease him in from the bench rather than throw him straight into the XI.

Aston Villa’s detailed team news is yet to be confirmed.

Manchester City v Bournemouth: Rose hit by early setbacks

Manchester City’s selection picture remains to be revealed, but Bournemouth’s situation under new boss Marco Rose is already complicated.

Last season’s breakout star Junior Kroupi is out until around November after foot surgery, a major blow to Rose’s attacking plans. Tyler Adams is being assessed and remains in contention, yet Ryan Christie’s suspension removes another midfield option and could open a central berth for someone else to stake a claim.

David Brooks is also being monitored, adding another layer of uncertainty ahead of Rose’s first official match in charge.

Newcastle v Liverpool: Jaissle turns to Bamba

Newcastle’s midfield will look different without Joelinton. The Brazilian is out “for a couple of weeks” and will miss the opening weekend, Matthias Jaissle confirmed.

“I’m really confident that he will be back as soon as possible,” the manager added, but for now he must improvise.

Summer signing Aladji Bamba is expected to slot into central midfield. At right back, Amar Dedic could be thrown straight in despite only just joining the club.

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

Tino Livramento is edging closer to a return but has taken part in only one training session and still needs more time.

Liverpool’s team news is yet to be released.

Fulham v Chelsea: Arbeloa era begins, Alonso shuffles pieces

At Fulham, Alvaro Arbeloa starts his tenure without key defender Joachim Anderson, suspended for the opener, and without Tom Cairney, who is out until October after knee surgery earlier this month.

Arbeloa still has attacking decisions to make, and one feels straightforward: new signing Gonzalo Garcia, recruited from Real Madrid this summer, is expected to lead the line from the start.

Chelsea arrive with their own balancing act. Danny Welbeck, a summer signing from Brighton, is being carefully managed in training but could still feature, most likely from the bench.

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

Jordan Henderson will miss the start of the season with a wrist injury and is not expected back until September. Alonso also warned that players who went deep into the World Cup “may need a bit more time”, though none are injured and all are available for selection.

Squads are taking shape, fitness calls are going down to the last session, and the first teamsheets of the new campaign will reveal who has judged the balance right – and who is already scrambling from behind.