See who we think will start for their Premier League clubs on the opening weekend of 2026\/27<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
This can be particularly helpful for Fantasy Premier League<\/a> managers as they pick their squads for Gameweek 1, ahead of the deadline at 18:30 BST today.<\/p>\n See: Injury updates for every club and player<\/a> Arsenal v Coventry predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n 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,\u201d he said. \u201cHe is evolving really well.\u201d Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are, however, \u201cready to be involved\u201d after starting on the bench during last weekend\u2019s Community Shield win against Manchester City. Jurrien Timber is still a \u201cfew weeks\u201d away from returning. William Saliba remains a long-term absentee.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Arsenal team news<\/a><\/p>\n Coventry: Frank Lampard will be without last season\u2019s top scorer Haji Wright after the striker was ruled out for up to 12 weeks. \u201cHe won\u2019t be available for a little while, he\u2019s got a very serious quad injury which is disappointing for Haji and for us,\u201d Lampard said. \u201cIt\u2019s certainly going to be a number of weeks.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Coventry team news<\/a><\/p>\n Hull v Man Utd predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Watch:\u00a0Sergej Jakirovic’s press conference<\/a><\/p>\n Man Utd:\u00a0After a strong pre-season, Mason Mount is \u201ctouch and go for the weekend\u201d, though manager Michael Carrick insisted \u201cthere are no dramas\u201d and the midfielder won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n See: Man Utd team news<\/a><\/p>\n Everton v Crystal Palace predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Everton team news<\/a><\/p>\n Crystal Palace:\u00a0Crystal Palace are hopeful goalkeeper Dean Henderson will be fit to start, despite twisting his ankle in the club\u2019s final pre-season friendly against Freiburg. \u201cWe want him to play,\u201d new manager Pierre Sage said. \u201cBut we gave him a few days of treatment to allow him to be in his best shape.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Crystal Palace team news<\/a><\/p>\n Ipswich v Sunderland predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n Ipswich: New signing Abdoul Ouattara is fit enough to make the squad but is unlikely to start, after manager Gary O\u2019Neil said the midfielder\u2019s 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\u2019Neil plenty of decisions to make.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Ipswich team news<\/a><\/p>\n Sunderland:\u00a0All Sunderland\u2019s 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. \u201cWe\u2019ll see for the game time because they are not all at the same stage, but they are available,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Sunderland team news<\/a><\/p>\n Nott’m Forest v Leeds predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n Nott’m Forest: Captain Ryan Yates and Nicolo Savona have both been ruled out. Yates was absent from the club\u2019s 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. \u201cWe had to take a step back, so he\u2019s 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,\u201d manager Oliver Glasner said. All other players are available for the matchday squad.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Nott’m Forest team news<\/a><\/p>\n 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. \u201cIt\u2019s my responsibility to see if it makes sense and we\u2019ll take some late decisions,\u201d Farke said. Willy Gnonto is out with a hamstring injury. \u201cWe hope to have him back in team training soon.\u201d While Gabriel Gudmundsson is also \u201cstill out\u201d. The rest of the squad are in good shape and available.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Leeds team news<\/a><\/p>\n Brentford v Spurs predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u201cneeds a little bit more rest\u201d. While Milambo is \u201ca few weeks behind\u201d in his recovery from a knee problem. Andrews confirmed that Mamadou Sangar\u00e9, who signed from Lens in the summer, will make his debut. He also suggested other new signings were ready to start. \u201cI have no doubt you\u2019ll see some of them,\u201d Andrews said.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Brentford team news<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Spurs team news<\/a><\/p>\n Brighton v Aston Villa predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s game. New signing Promise David has a chance to be involved, but that will likely be from the bench.<\/p>\n Watch:\u00a0Fabian Hurzeler’s press conference<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Aston Villa team news<\/a><\/p>\n Man City v Bournemouth predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s only unfit player. Matheus Nunes is back available \u201cand the rest they are all okay\u201d, 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Man City team news<\/a><\/p>\n Bournemouth:\u00a0Marco Rose is contending with a series of injuries to his squad as he prepares for his first official match as Bournemouth\u2019s manager. It includes last season\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Watch:\u00a0Marco Rose’s press conference<\/a><\/p>\n Newcastle v Liverpool predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n Newcastle: Midfielder Joelinton is out \u201cfor a couple of weeks\u201d and will miss the opening weekend, manager Matthias Jaissle revealed. \u201cI’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. \u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Newcastle team news<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n See:\u00a0Liverpool team news<\/a><\/p>\n Fulham v Chelsea predicted line-ups<\/a><\/p>\n Fulham:\u00a0Defender 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.<\/p>\n
See: Who’s suspended or close to a ban?<\/a><\/p>\n