The 2025/26 Premier League season is here, with Gameweek 1 kicking off at 8pm BST (3pm ET), tonight. Champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield. The FPL deadline is 90 minutes earlier at 6:30pm BST, so managers must lock in their squads, captains, and transfers before then. This preview contains all the key points from each manager's press conference.
Arne Slot (Liverpool)
Alexis Mac Allister’s fitness:
“Alexis missed a lot of pre-season with an injury. He’s fit now, but he’s still building up his match fitness. It’s not ideal when a key player misses so much time, but he’s available and we’ll see how we use him.”
Joe Gomez’s injury status:
“Joe is a doubt. He only trained twice now and missed a lot of pre-season with that Achilles issue from the Asia tour. We’ll see if he can be on the bench, but it depends on how many players we have available.”
Dominik Szoboszlai’s role and versatility:
“What stands out with Dominik is the way he can press. His intensity is incredible. In the No. 10 role, he’s great, but he can also play deeper. We’re working with him on playing between the lines and delivering those through balls when he’s in a more advanced position. He’s got the quality to do both.”
Jeremie Frimpong and his role at right-back:
“Jeremie is a fantastic attacking full-back. He’s similar to Conor[Bradley] in how he can create space for Mo [Salah] with his runs. Both of them give us a lot going forward, and it’s great to have that kind of competition and quality in that position.”
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)
New signing Bafode Diakite
He is "physically ready" after training for two days with the squad but Iraola has yet to decide whether the centre-back will feature on Friday.
Injury updates on key players
Ryan Christie has been in training this week after "two or three set-backs" from a groin injury but Liverpool comes too soon, meanwhile Justin Kluivert is still recovering from a calf injury and is also out of contention alongside Lewis Cook.
Future of Ouattara and Sinisterra
Dango Ouattara is likely to travel to Merseyside but his future at the club remains doubtful while Luis Sinisterra's expected move away to Brazil is "more advanced" but neither deal is closed.
Graham Potter (West Ham)
Update on Crysencio Summerville
Crysencio Summerville "is in the last stages of his rehab" but is unavailable for the season opener and so is midfielder George Earthy who "sustained an injury early in pre-season."
On new signing Callum Wilson
"He brings experience, a know-how and a quality which isn't easy to find. He's a proven Premier League striker with fantastic mentality. We have to help him enjoy his football and be on the pitch. That's what we are confident about."
Use of Academy players
"What you have to understand about West Ham - and every Premier League club - is that we're not development clubs, we're here to win and be competitive. The academy is an important part of our club, and we want to give opportunities if it's right and the players are ready to take them."
Regis le Bris (Sunderland)
Availability of latest signings
Le Bris confirmed that a decision will be made on Friday as to whether latest signings Omar Alderete and Arthur Masuaku are available to start Saturday's match or use as an option later in the game.
On the decision to make Xhaka captain
"It's really natural because of Granit's level and his experience, leadership and understanding of the game. It's really easy after 10 minutes on the pitch to know that he will be our captain."
Describing his summer at the club
"Busy. Interesting. The workflow was really positive. You can feel it in the building. Lots of work to do as it is a massive change. We reinforce everything in the club to be competitive at that level, so challenge is there but it's very positive the way we solve different problems and it has been a very positive experience."
Eddie Howe (Newcastle)
Speaking on Alexander Isak's situation
"I've had a great relationship with him, you need that partnership with every player. I have to work really closely with the player for his benefit, to try and improve them. I always want to be there for him.
"I don't think Isak would have done as well without that, his team mates, the supporters - he recognises that, he's an intelligent person."
Injury updates on key players
"Everyone is available apart from Joe [Willock], and he’s not too far away himself. We have a relatively good looking squad in terms of injury news. Malick [Thiaw] will be part of the squad, he has trained two days, never easy coming in at the end of pre-season, but he’s doing well."
Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton)
An update on Carlos Baleba
"I didn't see any change, he's only changed his hair. I think that's the change he's made in the last two weeks.
"But overall he seems to be in a really good place, he's enjoying it with his team-mates, he's enjoying being a Brighton player.
"I didn't see any big changes and he's an option to start tomorrow".
Thomas Frank (Tottenham)
No new injury concerns for Thomas Frank
"Every player who was available [on Wednesday] is available for the team. Destiny [Udogie] is progressing but it's too early for him to be involved in the squad."
"I think Richy [Richarlison] was really phenomenal [against PSG], his hold-up play, his intensity, his arriving in the box was top. Of course we’re aware of his fitness situation, that is why we have monitored him closely – that’s why he didn’t play in the first [pre-season] game at Reading, but he is on it."
Speaking on the Tel abuse
"I think it's terrible what happened to Mathys. We're doing everything to support him in this situation. He's a strong person. He will have support from family and friends as well as us."
"There's no real Tottenham supporter that would do that [to him]. You'll see the real Tottenham supporters at the stadium tomorrow backing him. I expect big cheers for him tomorrow."
Update on Bissouma
"Bissouma was a situation. I addressed it, there was a consequence. He will be in the squad tomorrow," Frank said.
Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)
Speaking on Levi Colwill's recent injury
"He is okay now. We are aware that he has to be out for a long time and it is a big loss for us.
"We know how important Levi was for us last season and for the way we want to play. We are able to create chances in attack if we can build in the right way and Levi was a huge part of that. Now he is out and we will try to find a different solution."
"We are trying to find a solution internally, but the club know exactly what I think - we need a central defender - but we are looking internally."
When asked about the defensive situation
"We have the Premier League and Champions League. These kind of players, the rest can adapt. We have [Jorrel] Hato but he never played as the guy in the middle last season. It is not about central defenders. Yes he is a central defender, but what does he have to do? Can he do that? It is different.
"We also have Benoit [Badishille] and Wes [Fofana] who have problems, and this is why the club know exactly what I think about central defenders."
Availability of defenders
"[Wesley] Fofana could be available - we will see.
"Benoit [Badiashille] is in the process of coming back and Romeo [Lavia] is exactly the same.
"Trevor [Chalobah] is okay."
Ruben Amorim (Manchester United)
Availability of Benjamin Sesko
"We didn’t have a lot of time but he is ready," said Amorim. "Physically he is ready, that is a big component in our league, then he is really smart, he is ready to play, we will see if he is going to start."
Injury updates
Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui are both out injured, but Benjamin Sesko is in line for a place in the squad.
When asked about Sesko joining
"I am really happy, I think he has great potential, he can play different types of football. I can see Ben being a striker for Man Utd for long period, that is why we paid so much money to have a striker who has a history at this club."
Bruno Fernandes' role
"Even last season when he played as a midfielder, he had more shots near the box.
"I think it is a good thing for Bruno to stay in one position. Then he is winning a lot of things. I want Bruno near the ball and that is really important for our team, but sometimes we need Bruno near the goal. We will try to arrange game by game the best players in the best positions."
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
Arsenal's captaincy conundrum
"My opinion is clear, and it is the same as all the staff and the players. I asked them to vote [for] the captain yesterday and by a mile, by a mile, they all choose the same person, Martin Odegaard. Which is the most clear sign you can have of how the squad feel we can improve."
When asked about Gyokeres joining
"I can just talk about Viktor and how happy we are to have him. He is going to have a tremendous impact in the team and his adaptation has been really, really good and we are happy to have him.
"Many strikers have come from different leagues and being successful and it's on us to create the right conditions for him [Gyokeres] to be successful."
Player availability
"He [Gyokeres] is getting better and better everyday. He is normally a really fit player and he has had the small moments in two games [in pre-season] with us so let's see what he brings on Sunday."
"Martin [Zubimendi] has had a great integration in to the team and we are really happy with him. He will be fit for Sunday."
Daniel Farke (Leeds United)
The impact Calvert-Lewin will have
"We haven't officially announced it yet, but he is more or less with us right now. He has just agreed his terms so he will be supporting us in our first match and he will be a member of our squad from this afternoon.
"We are all pretty happy and delighted that he will wear a Leeds shirt from now on. He is obviously a proven player at Premier League level. As a newly-promoted side, we want to sign players that have already delivered at the top level but are still at a good age and on the way up in their career. These boxes are all ticked by him."
Striker options
Leeds' other first-team striking options are Joel Piroe - who scored 19 goals in their Championship-winning campaign last season - and Lukas Nmecha, a summer signing from Wolfsburg.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin adds Premier League experience to Leeds' front line, but it does not look like he will be an automatic starter at Elland Road.
Patrick Bamford is also still at Leeds, but has been told he is "not part" of manager Daniel Farke's plans this season. Fellow senior forward Mateo Joseph has joined Mallorca on loan.
Injury updates
"There will be a late decision made on Jayden Bogle. He has been out for two and a half weeks now with this injury, but he was part-integrated into team training on Wednesday. He will join us for a full training session this afternoon and then it depends on how his body will react. There is still a chance for him to get minutes on Monday."
David Moyes (Everton)
Speaking on Calvert-Lewin's exit
"I am pleased for Dom, I have had a really good relationship with him. I didn't really get a chance to deeply work with him because of injuries, I only had one or two games with him.
"We just found the financials to be too much at the time and we chose to move on. It might have been the right time for Dom as well and I'm really pleased that he has sorted himself out. He has gone to a really good club."
An update on Branthwaite's injury
"Jarrad picked up an injury in training so unfortunately we are going to miss him.
"I wouldn't give [a time frame], but I'm sure the insider inside the club will give that out.
"We've got to find out who is giving that news out. I am unhappy with it and I think all managers don't like it. It's coming from inside the building and we will find out."
On latest signing Grealish
"He looks the same - big calves! You will have to turn up on Monday [to see if he will be involved against Leeds].
"I think Jack can play in several positions, as a midfielder [as well as a winger]. My aim is to get Jack in a creative postion where he can score and assist goals."
Explaining his recent comments about Beto
"I disagree with what you said [the journalist claimed Moyes had said he wasn't completely satisfied about Beto]. I don't think I did say that about Beto. But what I would say is that I want more goals from my centre-forwards and we have not scored enough in pre-season. We want him to score more goals."
Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest)
Concerns about transfers
"The same, concerned. Especially about the game on Sunday, we are going to play a tough game against a good team and we are short on options to give solutions that the game might need, which is our major concern."
"We need players."
Where the squad needs strengthening
"I think we weed another option for the goalkeeper situation, on the defensive line full backs. I think we are OK in the centre halves.
"Dominguez is injured, Danilo is not here so we need midfielders, on the wings also. In front we have Igor [Jesus], Chris [Wood] and [Taiwo Awoniyi] but maybe another body would be good because of the amount of games."
Wanting as many options as possible
"The concern is the same. The points we are going to fight for are the same for round one and round 13. The first points are always vital. How we can go game by game on our approach, that we are comfortable, that we have options.
"Dealing with doubts are the worst thing you can have in football. We have doubts, who is going to be, when are they going to come? All these things create doubts. Not only me but in the club."
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Discussing Savinho's future
"I don't know. If Tottenham, or any other club, wants a player, you should call the club, right? It's the same like we do!
"The only thing I'm concerned about today is that Savinho will be with us all the season, and hopefully for many, many years."
Updates on Savinho and Ederson
Pep Guardiola confirmed Savinho will not travel to Wolves as he is injured and will be out for "a few weeks" and neither will goalkeeper Ederson.
On whether he has spoken to Savinho or Ederson on their futures at the club, Guardiola said: "If they want to leave then they will come to me. I'm working with them because I'm here. If they want to leave then they will knock on my door.
"All the players that are here are our players and I will work with them. Nobody knows what is going to happen over the next two weeks."
Fitness of Rodri
"He is so soon to be coming back. Importantly, his knee is perfect.
"Now he needs to bring minutes into training sessions and a few into games when possible. We don’t want him to come back and then step back because it’s not dynamic when you can’t get rhythm."
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace)
Injury updates
"So not Eddie Nketiah, not Matheus Franca because he can't train with the team at the moment, not Caleb Kporha.
"Of course, Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are out for the next couple of months. The group we have is not the biggest one [in terms of numbers
Transfer rumours surrounding Guehi and Eze
"Marc trains the entire week with us, every single session - the same with Eze - so they prepare in the best way for the Chelsea game on Sunday."
Commenting on Palace's appeal to UEFA that was rejected
"Everyone related to Palace was disappointed. But by Monday evening disappointment was gone.
"No point taking mood into week, and after winning penalty shootout in Community Shield. We knew we could face this verdict, but this week we are focused on preparing for Chelsea and Conference League qualifying."
Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
Competing with spending power
"We are starting more or less like when I arrived here. We are not a contender to be in the top seven for this reason."
"Of course we have the capacity to build a strong team, but not with the same budget [as the big clubs]. We have to be competitive with our players and keep working hard as well as staying motivated. We are going to start tomorrow and there 38 matches in the Premier League but we are not contenders to be in the top seven."
An update on Jacob Ramsey
"We are playing three matches with the transfer window open [at the start of the season] and things can change for us as well as other teams."
"Of course Jacob Ramsey is not with us today and if he is leaving we are going to continue our work [here]. I was happy working with him but now we focus on the players we have and keep going forward."
Vitor Pereira (Wolves)
Commenting on the return of Hoever
"I like him. It was a good surprise for me because I didn't know that he was our player."
"I was looking for a wing back. Luis called me, we have a player there in France. It's important to see him in pre-season."
"He has the technique that I like. He's fast, attacking the space, very calm, good decisions."
On new signing Jhon Arias
"He's working with us, trying to work hard to be in the best level.
"He was in Fluminense for a long time, and now it's time to play in our way.
"He has quality. He comes from a different league, and this league is a special league, and he needs to first understand what we want. He needs to understand everything tactically and what we demand from him.
"We need to help him to be the best version of himself, giving the time that he needs to feel comfortable."
