Who's Missing: Doku 'out for several weeks' in blow to City's season opener

Manchester City open against Bournemouth without Jeremy Doku, out for several weeks with a calf problem, although the Cherries are not without their own issues with last season's breakthrough star Eli Junior Kroupi ruled out for a lengthy spell.

Liverpool feel it as much as anyone, with Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez all missing the trip to Newcastle. 

Elsewhere, Manchester United travel to Hull without Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte, while Mason Mount is a doubt. Arsenal lose William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, a back four rebuilt on the hoof against Coventry in Friday's curtain raiser.

Tottenham face Brentford without Xavi Simons, Aston Villa visit Brighton without ACL-stricken Amadou Onana, and both Nottingham Forest and Leeds arrive at the City Ground with issues of their own. 

See who's missing as the Premier League 2026/27 season kicks off:

Arsenal v Coventry (Friday, 20:00)

WON'T PLAY

Arsenal: William Saliba (back injury), Jurrien Timber (ankle injury)

Coventry: Haji Wright (muscle injury)

DOUBTFUL

Ephron Mason-Clark (muscle injury), Jack Rudoni (shoulder injury)

Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres could be in line for a start against his old side after scoring six times in five league matches against promoted teams last term, four of which came in his two such starts at the Emirates. Coventry's Ellis Simms ended last season with a hat-trick and netted in both of his pre-season games, with his only Premier League goal coming away at Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea.

Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are sidelined by long-term issues, while Coventry look to boast a relatively clean bill of health other than Haji Wright's absence.

Hull v Man Utd (Saturday, 12:30)

WON'T PLAY

Hull: Jack Butland (arm injury), Joe Gelhardt (ankle injury), Darko Gyabi (groin injury), Charlie Hughes (groin injury), Eliot Matazo (knee injury), Hidemasa Morita (calf injury), Oscar Zambrano (hamstring injury)

Man Utd: Karl Darlow (surgery), Matthijs de Ligt (back injury), Manuel Ugarte (knee injury)

DOUBTFUL

Cody Drameh (muscle injury), Matty Jacobs (hip injury), Tom Heaton (injury), Mason Mount (foot injury)

Hull's top scorer last season and play-off final hero Oli McBurnie has scored in his last two top-flight games against United, while three of his last four goals came beyond the hour mark. Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes was crowned Premier League player of the season for 2025/26 after setting a new record of 21 assists in a single campaign - his first six assists last term all came in away games.

Hull have endured a rotten pre-season that has seen them collect an eye-watering amount of injuries, while United have injury concerns over Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount.

Everton v Crystal Palace (Saturday, 15:00)

WON'T PLAY

Everton: James Garner (groin injury), Tim Iroegbunam (muscle injury), Christian Norgaard (injury)

Crystal Palace: None confirmed

DOUBTFUL

Dean Henderson (ankle injury)

It's an opening day game against former clubs for Everton's Brennan Johnson and Palace's Dwight McNeil, with the pair involved in a summer swap deal. Johnson was on target on opening weekend last season while playing for Spurs, with his last five club goals all coming in wins to nil, while McNeil has seen nine of his last 11 strikes arrive after half-time.

Everton still wait for James Garner to return after he sat out of all of their pre-season friendlies, but Palace seemingly have a full contingent to choose from.

Ipswich v Sunderland (Saturday, 15:00)

WON'T PLAY

Sunderland: Simon Adingra (foot injury)

Ipswich: None confirmed

DOUBTFUL

Azor Matusiwa (injury), Jack Taylor (knee injury)

New Ipswich recruit Saša Lukić has received the second-most yellow cards of any player in the Premier League over the last two seasons (21). Enzo Le Fée registered 11 Premier League goal involvements for Sunderland last season (G5, A6), nine of which came in the second half.

Ipswich are sweating over the fitness of Azor Matusiwa, Jack Taylor and Christian Walton after all three sat out most of pre-season. Sunderland hope to have Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele available for this opener.

Nottingham Forest v Leeds (Saturday, 15:00)

WON'T PLAY

Nottingham Forest: Nicolo Savona (knee injury), Ryan Yates (injury)

Leeds: Gabriel Gudmundsson (hamstring injury), Mateo Joseph (knee injury)

DOUBTFUL

Wilfried Gnonto (hamstring injury)

Morgan Gibbs-White scored 15 Premier League goals for Forest last term, including one against Leeds here in November, finishing his campaign with eight goal contributions in five fixtures (G6, A2). Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in three of Leeds’ last four games, with 10 of his 14 league goals last term arriving after half-time, including one against Forest in February.

Nicol Savona was absent throughout Forest’s pre-season, while Leeds’ Gabriel Gudmundsson and Wilfried Gnonto are also doubtful.

Brentford v Tottenham (Saturday, 17:30)

WON'T PLAY

Brentford: Benjamin Fredrick (knee injury), Sepp van den Berg (injury)

Tottenham: Wilson Odobert (knee injury), Xavi Simons (knee injury)

DOUBTFUL

Mohammed Kudus (muscle injury), Dejan Kulusevski (knee injury)

Igor Thiago put Brentford up 1-0 in eight Premier League games last term, converting 26 per cent of his shots into goals. Tottenham's Tonali has scored three goals in his last four games against Brentford, and his last 14 goalscoring appearances for any club all ended in victory.

Brentford appear set to begin the season with a relatively clean bill of health, but Spurs are reportedly sweating over the likes of Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke. 

Brighton v Aston Villa (Sunday, 14:00)

WON'T PLAY

Brighton: Evan Ferguson (ankle injury), Yankuba Minteh (injury)

Aston Villa: Joao Gomes (calf injury), Brian Madjo (injury), Amadou Onana (knee injury)

DOUBTFUL

Carlos Baleba (ankle injury), Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring injury), Stefanos Tzimas (knee injury), Leon Bailey (muscle injury), Johan Manzambi (knee injury), Emiliano Martinez (finger injury)

Lewis Dunk could become the first player to reach 300 Premier League appearances for Brighton here, and that milestone could well be marked with a booking, as only four players picked up more than his 10 yellow cards last term. Aston Villa's John McGinn has contributed to goals in four of his last six league starts (G2, A2) and boasts a career-high nine H2H wins against Brighton, though he's never scored in this fixture.

Yankuba Minteh is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury for Brighton in pre-season, while Villa lost Joao Gomes and Brian Madjo to injuries in their UEFA Super Cup loss to PSG. 

Man City v Bournemouth (Sunday, 14:00)

WON'T PLAY

Man City: Jeremy Doku (calf injury), Ryan McAidoo (injury), Savinho (illness)

Bournemouth: Julian Araujo (thigh injury), Ryan Christie (red card), Eli Junior Kroupi (foot injury)

DOUBTFUL

Matheus Nunes (injury), Tyler Adams (injury), Amine Adli (injury), David Brooks (injury), Veljko Milosavljevic (injury)

City's Erling Haaland has scored 22 goals across 14 Premier League appearances in the month of August, while four of his last five club goals arrived after the hour mark. Rayan struck five league goals after his move to Bournemouth in January, all of which arrived in the second half.

City will be without Jeremy Doku, while Bournemouth have an extensive injury list which is headlined by Junior Kroupi.

Newcastle v Liverpool (Sunday, 16:30)

WON'T PLAY

Newcastle: None confirmed

Liverpool: Conor Bradley (knee injury), Hugo Ekitike (achilles tendon injury), Joe Gomez (injury), Isaac Mabaya (achilles tendon injury)

DOUBTFUL

Curtis Jones (hip injury), Giovanni Leoni (knee injury)

Newcastle's Nick Woltemade could get his second Premier League season off to a great start, as five of his last six goals have come before half-time. Ex-Newcastle superstar Alexander Isak returns to St. James' Park for the first time since his controversial departure last summer - he scored the opener in all four of his goalscoring appearances for Liverpool last term.

Newcastle duo Tino Livramento and Joelinton could be absent here, while Liverpool remain without Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, with both nursing long-term injuries.

Fulham v Chelsea (Monday, 20:00)

WON'T PLAY

Fulham: TBC

Chelsea: TBC

DOUBTFUL

TBC