GW9 Injury Updates: Pedro Out for Weeks, Arsenal’s Three Doubts, and Palmer Is Back

The most-owned injury of the season so far belongs to Joao Pedro, who hurt his thigh in training before the Tottenham match and is in 62.4 percent of squads. Xabi Alonso has ruled him out for a few weeks. Arsenal went out of the League Cup at Fleetwood on Wednesday without Riccardo Calafiori or Noni Madueke, and Declan Rice came off against Everton feeling a problem, so three of their regulars carry 75 percent flags into Anfield. Every status below was checked against Thursday morning’s official FPL flags and this week’s press conferences. Bruno Fernandes, dropped last week, is listed here only because he is back in contention. Cole Palmer is not listed at all, because his ban was served in the cup.

“A few weeks” and “probably after the break” mean the same thing. One of them is easier to plan around.

Chelsea: Pedro Out, Palmer Back

Pedro’s injury came in training on the Friday before Gameweek 8, and tests this week came back worse than hoped. Alonso said he will be out for a few weeks, and when asked whether that meant after the November international break, he said it probably does. That rules him out of Manchester United at home and Sunderland away at the least. He has been sold by more than 1.1 million managers, the most of any player this week, and his price has dropped.

Palmer is available. He was sent off against Tottenham, but domestic bans carry across competitions and he served it in Wednesday’s League Cup defeat at Anfield. Moises Caicedo played 68 minutes there, and Alonso said afterwards that Caicedo had a couple of small problems, without saying how small. Maxence Lacroix carries a 75 percent hamstring flag. Pep Chavarria is due back this weekend, Malo Gusto is over his illness, and striker Emmanuel Emegha is fit after a hamstring problem. Mike Penders stays in goal while Emiliano Martinez recovers from his jaw injury, and Reece James is not expected back until January.

Arsenal: Three Doubts for Anfield

Calafiori came off the bench against Everton and was seen holding his hip after a collision. He missed the Fleetwood tie and is rated 75 percent. He is owned by 50.9 percent of managers, and 346,000 have sold him this week. Rice was taken off late against Everton after feeling a problem, but trained with the squad on Monday, and reports expect him to be available. Madueke played 90 minutes against Everton and then missed the cup tie with an ankle problem. Mikel Arteta has called all three doubts. Bukayo Saka remains out with his thigh injury and has no return date, and William Saliba is still out with a back problem. Christos Tzolis is listed as returning on 1 November, and Piero Hincapie is back from his ankle injury if Calafiori misses out.

Liverpool: Wirtz Likely, Szoboszlai Not

Florian Wirtz picked up an ankle problem in Gameweek 8, but Andoni Iraola said he was quite optimistic about him. He was less optimistic about Dominik Szoboszlai, whose hamstring has kept him out again and who is now listed with no return date, and about Victor Munoz, whose knee problem leaves him at 25 percent. Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain out. Iraola has also said that sides playing every three days have to rotate, which matters more for Liverpool, who are still in the League Cup, than for Arsenal, who are not.

Doubts Worth Watching

The one owners may have missed is Coventry defender Bobby Thomas, owned by 9.2 percent at 4.0m and rated 75 percent with an unspecified problem, ahead of Sunderland at home. Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes is 75 percent and was expected to miss out again. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (hip) is 75 percent and a game-time decision, and Kobbie Mainoo is listed by the official game as due back on 8 November, though one preview has him as a game-time call. Tottenham’s James Maddison carries a 75 percent flag. Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams (arm) and Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko are 75 percent, and Jack Grealish has been ill.

At Brighton, Ferdi Kadioglu and Chema Andres have hip problems and were due to be assessed, though neither is thought to be serious. Crystal Palace’s Jorgen Strand Larsen is 75 percent with an ankle injury, Ismaila Sarr has a groin problem, and Quinten Timber’s hamstring is still flagged. Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor was described as on the edge for this weekend. Leeds’ Nico Elvedi has been ill and is 75 percent. Hull’s Nobel Mendy is listed as due back on Saturday.

Good News: Returns and Near-Returns

Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson and Gianluigi Donnarumma were all left out of City’s cup tie on Wednesday, and Enzo Maresca made clear it was rest rather than injury. Palmer is back for Chelsea. Fernandes held clear-the-air talks with Michael Carrick on Tuesday and is back in contention. Brighton’s Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh were back in contention for the cup tie at the Etihad. Sunderland have Kevin Danso back from suspension, and Brentford have Vitaly Janelt back from his. Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi is fit again, though Marco Rose says he needs more training before he starts.

Team news keeps moving until the 11:00 GMT deadline on Saturday, 31 October, ninety minutes before Chelsea host Manchester United. Most clubs hold their press conferences on Thursday and Friday, so check back before locking in any transfer built around a fitness call.