The Premier League is back this weekend.
But in what state will managers find their playing squads? And how will that influence which teams get picked in our Selector game in the coming weeks?
After an international break that saw more games crammed into an already jammed schedule, we’ve done our own analysis to work out which sides will be most hamstrung (sorry) by injuries.
Contrasting fortunes on Merseyside then.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees sit clear at the top, with just three injuries to Seamus Coleman, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.
Even those three aren’t definitely out for the weekend, and as such they’ll go into their trip to struggling Fulham with added buoyancy.
As for Liverpool, the news gets worse by the week.
First it was Virgil van Dijk, and since then Fabinho, Thiago, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah have all been sidelined.
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With Andy Robertson and skipper Jordan Henderson also doubts, it’s not the best time to welcome pace-setters Leicester City to Anfield.
The Foxes aren’t in great shape either though.
They could well be missing arguably their entire first-choice back five – Kasper Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Wesley Fofana and Timothy Castagne – and with Liverpool’s own well-documented defensive absentees, it could be goals galore.
Aston Villa’s excellent start to the season has certainly been helped by their relatively clean bill of health.
As it stands, only Wesley is out for the long-term – and with Ollie Watkins’ goals, the 23-year-old Brazilian has barely been missed.
With Jack Grealish also in such searing form for club and now country, the Villans look well-placed to see off Brighton on Saturday and maintain their lofty position.
In total, a whopping 107 players could potentially be ruled out of the weekend’s action.
With more injuries undoubtedly to come, the league promises to continue being one of the most unpredictable and exciting in years. Could it be the fewest ever number of Gameweeks in our Selector game?
*Data from premierinjuries.com and correct at time of publication
*‘Big player’ defined as one that would usually be in the club’s starting XI. 0.5 points added per ‘big player’ absent.
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