Football writer Ben Bloom has predicted how Premier League clubs will line up this weekend.

More teams will be added after managers hold their pre-match press conferences on Friday.

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Everton: Jarrad Branthwaite is a doubt for this after picking up a knock last weekend, but Vitalii Mykolenko has “got a chance” to return having missed that match. Michael Keane is poised to fill in again if necessary. Brennan Johnson has started the last four Premier League games on the right, but Tyrique George continues to provide David Moyes with an alternative there if he wants it.

Chelsea: Chelsea will be without Reece James for around three months after he underwent knee surgery. That should mean Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson continue in central midfield, although Romeo Lavia is another option. Few changes appear necessary from last weekend’s victory over Bournemouth, although who will miss out in Xabi Alonso’s centre-back lottery is difficult to predict. Right wing-back Marco Palestra made his debut off the bench last weekend.

Brentford: There are plenty of unknowns regarding player limitations for this. Keith Andrews said “we’ll have to see how much” Kevin Schade and Jannik Schuster can play after picking up injuries last weekend. He also said he is “fully anticipating” the returning Sepp van den Berg, Nathan Collins and Mikkel Damsgaard “being involved” in some capacity. Mathias Jensen came back off the bench last time out, while Dango Ouattara is always an option.

Liverpool: None of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai have been fit for Liverpool’s last two games. Andoni Iraola suggested he will “leave the chance open” for their return here, but that he will “have to wait and see”. Ryan Gravenberch will certainly miss out as he serves a one-match ban. Should Szoboszlai not make it, Trey Nyoni could retain his spot in central midfield, while Lewis Koumas will hope to lead the line if neither Isak nor Gakpo are fit. Jeremie Frimpong impressed against LASK and is a potential alternative in defence or midfield.

Fulham: Antonee Robinson missed the defeat at Ipswich last time out. He may well be fit to return here, but Ryan Sessegnon impressed in his absence so will hope to retain his spot. On the other side of defence, Timothy Castagne could well replace Kenny Tete. Alvaro Arbeloa has attacking options at his disposal, should he want them, from the likes of Kevin, Emile Smith Rowe and Cesar Palacios. Hugo Larsson is a major doubt due to a groin issue.

Hull: Mohamed Belloumi unexpectedly started on the bench last weekend after reporting fatigue from international duty, but the Algerian still scored and should start here. There is a fair chance that his return for Joe Gelhardt is one of two changes to the side that drew against Everton, although Gelhardt also scored in that game so may be accommodated in some other way. The other should see Lucas Herrington come back in place of Nobel Mendy, who has been ruled out with a groin problem. Tim Iroegbunam is a central midfield option having built up fitness.

Man City: Man City have an entirely clean bill of health, plus Phil Foden available again after serving a ban. Josko Gvardiol or Nico O’Reilly is a regular left-back dilemma for Enzo Maresca, while it will be interesting to see if Ayyoub Bouaddi has played himself into a midfield starting spot after impressing in midweek. If he has then Enzo Fernandez could potentially play higher up the pitch, with Rayan Cherki vulnerable. Player rotation is highly likely.

Ipswich: Gary O’Neil said some players need “checks” but he “envisages being at full strength” with Abdul Fatawu back from suspension. The manager may well stick with the same side that beat Fulham, but he did suggest “we’re considering moving a few bits around” for this Etihad trip, which could mean a first switch to a back three this season. That would mean the likes of Fatawu, Julio Enciso, Daizen Maeda, Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene potentially battling for two No 10 spots.

Newcastle: It was a disastrous result last time out against Coventry and Matthias Jaissle may consider some changes. On the injury front, Jaissle said Bazoumana Toure will “hopefully” be fit, but Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey and Tino Livramento remain out. He also suggested Joelinton is closer to a start than Dan Burn as they both work towards full fitness. Amar Dedic could return at right-back, which means Lewis Miley will join Sean Steur and, potentially, Joelinton as central midfield options. William Osula could challenge Matias Fernandez-Pardo's place in attack after returning from injury against Coventry.

Aston Villa: Ibrahim Mbaye was handed a first Villa start in the midweek win over Fenerbahce and he delivered a strong performance. The question now is whether he can keep Emi Buendia out of the starting XI. Ross Barkley experienced “some pain” in midweek and will be checked ahead of this. Joao Gomes could take his place regardless, while it is the usual coin toss between Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres at the back. George Hemmings faces a late fitness test.

Bournemouth: Marco Rose delivered promising news on Alex Scott, whose injury is not as bad as first feared, but the midfielder will still miss the next couple of weeks. Rose’s side are yet to win in the Premier League this season, but triumphed in their first European home game on Thursday with a somewhat rotated side. Justin Kluivert and Amine Adli both returned off the bench in that match and should be in line for more minutes here. Ben Gannon-Doak has impressed in recent games and is challenging for his first Premier League start. That could leave Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie fighting for one spot.

Sunderland: The big unknown is who will lead the line for Sunderland here. Wilson Isidor did not travel for Thursday’s European fixture and is being assessed “day by day” for a “minor injury”. Brian Brobbey stayed on the bench during that game but is “ready”, according to Regis Le Bris. Thomas Meunier has been ruled out, which could see Trai Hume deployed higher or Malick Fofana start. Habib Diarra should be fit for his first minutes since August.

Brighton: Pascal Struijk’s ban has been overturned, but he has been managing a hamstring injury so Lewis Dunk could take his place. Thursday’s UEFA Conference League win came with a much changed side, so expect the bulk of the team that saw off Sunderland last weekend to return here. Jack Hinshelwood started against Kaunas in midweek, but a bench spot looks likely here. Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are getting closer to fitness, but are not yet available.

Crystal Palace: Pierre Sage was not particularly illuminating in his pre-match press conference, stating “I don’t know” if Dean Henderson will be fit to return in goal, and “it’s the same” for Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Jefferson Lerma was preferred to Honest Ahanor at centre-back last weekend with Axel Disasi suspended. Ismaila Sarr played 62 minutes on Thursday, but consecutive starts so quickly after injury might prove tricky.

Leeds: It was a decent performance in defeat at Arsenal last weekend and, barring any late injuries, Daniel Farke must be tempted to retain the same starting XI here. That would mean Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson continuing to make do with places on the bench alongside the out-of-favour Jaka Bijol. Daniel James has a chance of making the squad after returning to training.

Man Utd: Michael Carrick revealed little regarding the fitness of Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo, simply saying “we’ll see” if they are available after missing the midweek defeat at Atletico Madrid. He also confirmed centre-back Lisandro Martinez is available for selection after the Argentinian publicly apologised for criticising the club's recruitment in an interview following the loss in Spain. Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans or Andrey Santos can step up if Mainoo does not make it, while Shaw’s absence would necessitate a reshuffle unless Noussair Mazraoui is fit to start. Benjamin Sesko and Patrick Dorgu remain out.

Nott'm Forest: Forest could be without Morgan Gibbs-White for this, with Oliver Glasner suggesting his captain is “doubtful” after picking up a minor muscle injury last weekend. However, Glasner said “it’s not serious so he will have a chance”. His absence would create a major headache. Callum Hudson-Odoi could come in, or else James McAtee could be pushed higher up with Ibrahim Sangare starting in central midfield. Nicolas Milenkovic has returned to training so “could be involved”, but a start seems unlikely. Jair Cunha is an option to replace Ola Aina.

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack for midweek UEFA Champions League duty and could revert to the same XI that beat Leeds last weekend. That would mean Bruno Guimaraes, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber returning to the bench, although it would be little surprise if any of that trio did retain their places, especially the Brazilian central midfielder. There are no fresh injury concerns, with Martin Zubimendi potentially fit to make the squad here.

Spurs: Roberto De Zerbi will not hold his pre-match press conference until Sunday morning, following Spurs’ training camp in Spain, so team news is in short supply. Rodrigo Bentancur is out through suspension. James Maddison could make his first Premier League start since April 2025, while Mateus Fernandes is another option. Pedro Porro might be fit to return after a thigh injury, but a spot on the bench appears likely. He could be joined there by Dejan Kulusevski, who might make a matchday squad for the first time in over 500 days. Omar Marmoush and Conor Gallagher offer alternative attacking options.

Coventry: Frank Lampard deployed a back four against Newcastle and was treated to a glorious 4-1 triumph. He may well stick with the same shape here, or else revert to the three-man defence that has been evident in most away games. A change would likely see Stephen Mfuni come in, with one of the front four making way. Ephron Mason-Clark could be the man to miss out, while Lampard must decide whether to keep faith in young striker Sidiki Cherif or recall Taiwo Awoniyi who is available after suspension. Frank Onyeka and Caleb Yirenkyi continue to fight for one spot.