See who we think will start for their Premier League clubs on the opening weekend of 2026/27
With the 2026/27 season now upon us, football writer Sam Cunningham has predicted how all 20 Premier League teams could line up in Matchweek 1, following a busy summer of transfers
This can be particularly helpful for Fantasy Premier League managers as they pick their squads for Gameweek 1, ahead of the deadline at 18:30 BST today
See: Injury updates for every club and playerSee: Who’s suspended or close to a ban?
Arsenal v Coventry predicted line-ups
Arsenal:New signing Bruno Guimaraes is a major doubt, though manager Mikel Arteta will leave it until the last minute to make a final decision. “Let’s see how it is,” he said. “He is evolving really well.” Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are, however, “ready to be involved” after starting on the bench during last weekend’s Community Shield win against Manchester City. Jurrien Timber is still a “few weeks” away from returning. William Saliba remains a long-term absentee
Coventry:Frank Lampard will be without last season’s top scorer Haji Wright after the striker was ruled out for up to 12 weeks. “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,” Lampard said. “It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks.” Ellis Simms is in line to replace him. In better news, Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni have shrugged off pre-season injuries and are in contention to face Arsenal, though are unlikely to be risked from the start. Frank Onyeka will require a late fitness test.
See: Coventry team news
Hull v Man Utd predicted line-ups
Hull: Hull are missing a whole host of first-team players due to injury. Six, including Jack Butland and Darko Gyabi, are out until at least next month. The absence of Joe Gelhardt is also a big blow. Hidemasa Morita will return to training after the Man Utd game, and Cody Drameh is likely to join him. With Charlie Hughes out, it leaves big shoes to fill in the centre of defence and new signing Nobel Mendy is poised to step in. Expect them to play the tight, five-at-the-back formation that saw them them through the playoffs.
Watch: Sergej Jakirovic’s press conference
Man Utd: After a strong pre-season, Mason Mount is “touch and go for the weekend”, though manager Michael Carrick insisted “there are no dramas” and the midfielder won’t be out for long. Matthijs De Ligt is back in training, though not quite ready to be involved. Benjamin Sesko has also returned with the squad, but this weekend is likely to be too soon for him to start, so Carrick will have decisions to make up front
Everton v Crystal Palace predicted line-ups
Everton:David Moyes said it will be a difficult first match after first-team regulars James Garner and Christian Norgaard were ruled out with injuries. Garner had groin surgery in July but is not ready yet. Norgaard’s injury is described as small but will prevent him playing. Moyes also said that Tim Iroegbunam is not fit enough to make the squad. The rest are ready for selection
See: Everton team news
Crystal Palace: Crystal Palace are hopeful goalkeeper Dean Henderson will be fit to start, despite twisting his ankle in the club’s final pre-season friendly against Freiburg. “We want him to play,” new manager Pierre Sage said. “But we gave him a few days of treatment to allow him to be in his best shape.” Everyone else is available, Sage said, including forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is unlikely to start as he returns to fitness but will be in the matchday squad and could get some minutes.
Ipswich v Sunderland predicted line-ups
Ipswich:New signing Abdoul Ouattara is fit enough to make the squad but is unlikely to start, after manager Gary O’Neil said the midfielder’s pre-season had been disrupted by problems. Injury doubts Abdul Fatawu and Florentino Luis have both recovered and will be involved. Ipswich have welcomed a host of new players over the summer, giving O’Neil plenty of decisions to make
See: Ipswich team news
Sunderland: All Sunderland’s players are available apart from Simon Adingra, who has not fully recovered from an ankle problem, though manager Regis Le Bris will have decisions to make around who starts. “We’ll see for the game time because they are not all at the same stage, but they are available,” he said. New signing Thomas Meunier had been struggling with back pain, but the right back trained this week, will be in the squad and could get some minutes. Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele will also return from injuries.
See: Sunderland team news
Nott’m Forest v Leeds predicted line-ups
Nott’m Forest:Captain Ryan Yates and Nicolo Savona have both been ruled out. Yates was absent from the club’s final pre-season friendly, against Stade Brestois, and has not recovered in time for the season opener. Defender Savona missed the end of last season due to surgery and has had a minor setback in his recovery. “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 said. All other players are available for the matchday squad.
Leeds:Noah Okafor, who scored six goals in his last 10 games last season, has been back training with the team for a fortnight, though manager Daniel Farke is loathe to risk him. “It’s my responsibility to see if it makes sense and we’ll take some late decisions,” Farke said. Willy Gnonto is out with a hamstring injury. “We hope to have him back in team training soon.” While Gabriel Gudmundsson is also “still out”. The rest of the squad are in good shape and available
See: Leeds team news
Brentford v Spurs predicted line-ups
Brentford:Sepp van den Berg and Antoni Milambo have been ruled out of the match by head coach Keith Andrews. Van den Berg has a groin injury and “needs a little bit more rest”. While Milambo is “a few weeks behind” in his recovery from a knee problem. Andrews confirmed that Mamadou Sangaré, who signed from Lens in the summer, will make his debut. He also suggested other new signings were ready to start. “I have no doubt you’ll see some of them,” Andrews said
See: Brentford team news
Spurs:The defence will be significantly affected after new club captain Micky van de Ven and vice-captain Pedro Porro were ruled out. Archie Gray is expected to deputise at right back, while Marcos Senesi, who signed from Bournemouth this summer, could start at centre-back. Pape Matar Sarr is also not fit enough to play. Manager Roberto De Zerbi said that James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes and Destiny Udogie are all available
See: Spurs team news
Brighton v Aston Villa predicted line-ups
Brighton:Manager Fabian Hurzeler is contending with a series of injuries to key players. 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 ahead of Sunday’s game. New signing Promise David has a chance to be involved, but that will likely be from the bench
Watch: Fabian Hurzeler’s press conference
Aston Villa:Unai Emery has a big call whether to play Emi Martinez or Zion Suzuki in goal, following the latter’s arrival from Parma. Other than that, Emery was very coy on team news in his pre-match press conference. It will be a fresh squad with several high-profile departures over the summer. Teenager Brian Madjo, who had a strong preseason, is expected to miss out with an ankle injury
Man City v Bournemouth predicted line-ups
Man City:Jeremy Doku is out for around two weeks after picking up a calf injury against Arsenal last weekend. But he is Enzo Maresca’s only unfit player. Matheus Nunes is back available “and the rest they are all okay”, the Man City manager said. Who fits behind Erling Haaland will be the key questions for Maresca. We could see a Premier League debut for new signing Elliot Anderson
See: Man City team news
Bournemouth: Marco Rose is contending with a series of injuries to his squad as he prepares for his first official match as Bournemouth’s manager. It includes last season’s breakout star Junior Kroupi, who required surgery on a foot injury and will not be back until around November. Tyler Adams is being assessed and remains in contention, but with Ryan Christie ruled out through suspension, it may open a spot in central midfield. David Brooks is also being monitored
Watch: Marco Rose’s press conference
Newcastle v Liverpool predicted line-ups
Newcastle: Midfielder Joelinton is out “for a couple of weeks” and will miss the opening weekend, manager Matthias Jaissle revealed. “I’m really confident that he will be back as soon as possible.” Expect summer signing Aladji Bamba to come into central midfield. Amar Dedic, who only just joined the club, could also be thrown straight into action at right back. “He got some minutes in friendlies there, I am confident that he’s ready and we need him,” Jaissle said. Tino Livaremento is on the cusp of a return, but still needs more time after only taking part in one training session.
See: Newcastle team news
Liverpool:Hugo Ekitike is not expected back until October after undergoing surgery back in April. Alexander Isak appears back to full fitness after missing several months last season and will likely start up front. Conor Bradley is another long-term absentee as he continues his long recovery from a knee injury. Expect new signing Ronald Araujo, on loan from Barcelona, to slot in alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence
See: Liverpool team news
Fulham v Chelsea predicted line-ups
Fulham: Defender Joachim Anderson will miss the start of the season due to suspension, while Tom Cairney will not be available until October after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa has plenty of decisions to make across the pitch for his first match as Fulham manager. Expect to see new signing Gonzalo Garcia, who joined from Real Madrid in the summer, start up front
See:Fulham team news
Chelsea:Danny Welbeck, signed this summer from Brighton, is managing his fitness in training, but could still feature, most likely from the bench. “We are expecting him back on Saturday,” manager Xabi Alonso said. “We need to go day by day but that’s the plan at the moment.” Jordan Henderson’s wrist injury will keep him out until September. Alonso said that players who went deep in the World Cup “may need a bit more time” but none are injured and all are available
See: Chelsea team news
