Predicted line-ups for Premier League teams in Matchweek 27
Find out which players we think will start for their Premier League clubs this weekend
Football writer Ben Bloom has provided the predicted line-ups for all 20 Premier League teams taking part in Week 27.
See: Injury updates for every club and player
See: Who is suspended or about to be banned?
Aston Villa vs Leeds predicts line-ups
Villa Aston: Matty Cash is expected to be back after missing Aston Villa’s last two games through injury, while everything else remains largely the same in terms of availability. Tyrone Mings will compete with Pau Torres at centre-back, Jadon Sancho will face Leon Bailey on the right flank and Unai Emery will have to decide whether to go with Ollie Watkins or Tammy Abraham up front.
See: Aston Villa team news
Leeds: Anton Stach, Pascal Struijk and Daniel James are all fit and available, although it remains to be seen which of this returning trio are deemed capable of starting. Noah Okafor was injured last weekend and will be out for at least the next two games. Lukas Nmecha scored in both outings as he led the line during Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s recent illness, but could well lose his place here.
See: Leeds team news
Brentford vs Brighton predicted line-ups
Brentford: Aside from a few long-term absentees, Brentford are in a “pretty good place” with availability, according to Keith Andrews. A number of first-choice players skipped last week’s FA Cup match but will return for it. The main question is whether Kevin Schade will directly replace Keane Lewis-Potter after serving his three-match suspension.
See: Brentford team news
Brighton: Brighton are winless in their last six Premier League matches and haven’t scored in three games in all competitions, so don’t be surprised to see Fabian Hurzeler turn things around. Yasin Ayari is still yet to return from a shoulder problem, while Yankuba Minteh is an attacking option for his first start of the calendar year.
See: Brighton team news
Chelsea vs Burnley predict line-ups
Chelsea: The absence of Marc Cucurella due to a hamstring injury means Liam Rosenior must choose between switching Malo Gusto to the left or starting Jorrel Hato. Cole Palmer is set to return after an FA Cup rest last week, with Rosenior confirming that Palmer and Reece James are “in great shape” despite managing their minutes of late. Pedro Neto scored a hat-trick in that cup win over Hull City and will be hoping to get the nod against Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho.
See: Chelsea team news
Burnley: Armando Broja will not be fit to face his former club, with Scott Parker confirming the Albanian is out for “a few weeks”. Other than that, it’s as you were in terms of availability, with none of the much-changed starting eleven in last weekend’s humiliating FA Cup defeat to League One Mansfield pushing their cause. Expect a return to a very similar side that beat Crystal Palace in Burnley’s last Premier League outing.
See: Parker press conference
West Ham vs Bournemouth predicted line-ups
Western ham: Jean-Clair Todibo is available following his suspension, but Nuno Espirito Santo may well be tempted to keep things the same in defense, having remained unbeaten and conceded just once in three games in the Frenchman’s absence. Pablo Felipe remains injured, while Freddie Potts begins a suspension for his red card in last weekend’s FA Cup win over Burton Albion. Callum Wilson is another option in attack.
See: West Ham team news
Bournemouth: Marcus Tavernier is back in training, but it would be a surprise if he was thrown straight in. Bournemouth are unbeaten in six Premier League matches, so Andoni Iraola is onto a good thing. Expect Rayan to retain his place after scoring in back-to-back matches, while Eli Junior Kroupi is expected to return. Tyler Adams will need some time off the bench before forcing his way back into the starting lineup.
See: Bournemouth team news
Predicted line-ups for Man City vs Newcastle
Man City: Pep Guardiola nodded when asked if Erling Haaland was fit after missing out on last weekend’s FA Cup victory. He also confirmed that Savinho is ready to return, but the Brazilian is unlikely to start after almost two months out. As always, there are plenty of offensive talents fighting for a few precious spots. Rayan Cherki could well enter by force.
See: Man City team news
Newcastle: Eddie Howe has confirmed that Sven Botman could be available after missing the last two games, but results show there is no need to rush him. Joelinton returned from the bench in midweek and could well start here, but Yoane Wissa is almost certainly out with a knock. Anthony Gordon has been deployed as a central striker of late – scoring four goals against Qarabag on Wednesday – with Nick Woltemade playing deeper. The German could miss out, while Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey provide alternative options.
See: Newcastle team news
Lineups planned between Crystal Palace and Wolves
Crystal Palace: Problems continue to pile up for Crystal Palace, who lost Maxence Lacroix to injury in a midweek UEFA Conference League match, while Chadi Riad left with cramps. With Jefferson Lerma still out, that leaves a defensive headache. Oliver Glasner suggested that Tyrick Mitchell could be an option to replace or that he could bring back Jaydee Canvot. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah remain a few weeks away from their return.
See: Crystal Palace team news
Wolves: Angel Gomes lasted just 22 minutes against Arsenal on Wednesday after suffering a back spasm. He’s back in training, but he might not take risks again so quickly. Rob Edwards says Toti Gomes could be involved, although it seems likely after such a long absence. The official also confirmed that there were a few “walking wounded” who needed to be examined. Tolu Arokodare could well return alongside Adam Armstrong in the lead.
See: Wolves team news
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool predicted line-ups
Nottingham Forest: Vitor Pereira enjoyed the perfect start to his reign at Nottingham Forest with a brilliant midweek UEFA Europa League win at Fenerbahce. Expect the new manager to change very little for the visit of Liverpool, unless someone needs a rest. Nicolas Dominguez and Lorenzo Lucca seem the most likely candidates to come forward if Pereira wants to change anything.
Liverpool: Arne Slot has provided a pre-match update on a number of potential right-backs, confirming that Joe Gomez is available to start and Jeremie Frimpong should be back next week, but Wataru Endo will be out “for a long time”. If Gomez makes Slot’s XI, the question becomes where Dominik Szoboszlai will play, having been deployed in all sorts of different positions in recent weeks.
See: Liverpool team news
Predicted line-ups for Sunderland vs Fulham
Sunderland: The big news for Sunderland is the potential return of captain Granit Xhaka, who has “more or less fully trained this week”. We’ll have to see if he starts after a month out, but he’s definitely missing Reinildo, who was ruled out for a month. Trai Hume or Dennis Cirkin will likely take his left-back spot. Nilson Angulo made his first start in Sunderland’s last Premier League game – he could compete with Chemsdine Talbi for a place.
See: Sunderland team news
Fulham: Marco Silva has plenty of defensive options, with several players competing for three of the four back spots (only Joachim Andersen appears to be a certain starter). Samuel Chukwueze has been excluded, which opens up a place on the left. Kevin looks most likely to fill it, while Oscar Bobb made his first start in last weekend’s FA Cup win at Stoke City.
See: Silva’s pre-match preview
Predicted line-ups Spurs vs Arsenal
Spurs: A new manager but the same injury problems for Spurs. Igor Tudor is known to favor a 3-4-2-1 system, but a series of absentees leaves him with few players to fill these places. Tudor must choose between Archie Gray and the inexperienced Souza as one of his full-backs, while he knows Randal Kolo Muani from their time together at Juventus last season. Yves Bissouma could come into the equation for a manager who prefers a combative style.
See: Spurs team news
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta has said there is a “big possibility” that Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz will be available for this match. It remains to be seen whether it will be from the start or on the bench. The Arsenal manager also confirmed there were no new injuries during the midweek draw against Wolves, suggesting Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka are knock-out shakes.
See: Arsenal team news
Everton vs Man Utd predicted line-ups
Everton: With Seamus Coleman fit again, Everton’s only absentees are the long-term injured Jack Grealish and the suspended Jake O’Brien. Nathan Patterson looks most likely to come in at right-back, with the choice between Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong for a place on the wing.
See: Everton team news
Man Utd: Manchester United go into this match looking to extend their unbeaten streak under Michael Carrick with the same players at their disposal as their last outing almost a fortnight ago. Expect few, if any, changes to a team that has been settled under the caretaker manager.
See: Man Utd team news