There have been a huge number of injuries in the Premier League this season, leading to many top managers criticising the busy schedule of fixtures.
But there are some clubs who have no doubt been, and continue to be, hit especially hard, which has impacted their hopes in the Premier League and elsewhere.
We assess how each of the title and main Champions League contenders are managing with injuries and suspensions ahead of the busy festive fixture list, with a rating out of ten for each club of how likely their current situation could impact results…
Arsenal
Embed from Getty ImagesThe midfield area is undoubtedly a concern for Arsenal heading into the festive fixtures, with a trip to Liverpool up next followed by games against West Ham and Fulham before the new year. Mikel Arteta’s injury list stands at a fairly modest six but in midfield, Jorginho is currently struggling with a foot injury, Fabio Vieira is set to be out for an extended period of time after having surgery, Mohamed Elneny is also out with a hamstring problem and Thomas Partey is continuing to recover from his thigh injury.
The lack of depth could be problematic and Arteta will have to hope that the starting midfield of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz can continue to deliver while their team-mates recover. Jorginho’s foot issue, which forced him to miss the win over Brighton, is not thought to be serious so Arteta will be hoping he can soon make a return to bolster his options in the middle of the park.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is still set to be out for sometime yet because of a calf injury, meaning along with long-term absentee Jurrien Timber, Arteta has two versatile defensive options unavailable to him which is another blow heading into such a busy period.
Seriousness rating: 6/10
Liverpool
Embed from Getty ImagesJurgen Klopp will be hoping he has no fresh injury doubts following their 5-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham on Wednesday night. In defence, Joel Matip will not be back for a long time because of a ruptured ACL while Andy Robertson is expected to return sometime in the new year following shoulder surgery. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister likely will not be back until the new year also but Klopp will be hoping Ryan Gravenberch is back sooner. Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago remain longer term, though. Diogo Jota’s injury has taken away a valuable attacking option for Klopp but he is getting closer to a return and the Reds are well stocked in the attacking areas anyway.
It is not an ideal situation by any means but in the grand scheme of things, Liverpool look pretty well placed to deal with the festive fixture list. They host Arsenal next followed by a trip to Burnley on Boxing Day before hosting Newcastle on New Year’s Day. It’s not an easy run by any means and the number of games they have played due to the Europa League and Carabao Cup means tiredness and the risk of further injuries will be a concern.
Seriousness rating: 4/10
Aston Villa
Embed from Getty ImagesThe festive fixture list is likely to be a defining period for Aston Villa’s Champions League qualification and possibly even title hopes. The heated win over Brentford last time out came at a cost, with Boubacar Kamara suspended for the next three games following a straight red card and key man Pau Torres also forced off with injury. Boss Unai Emery will hope Torres can make a quick return given his importance to the team and with fellow defender Tyrone Mings also remaining out for the long-term.
Youri Tielemans missed the win over Brentford and it is yet unclear whether he will be fit enough to return for their next game against strugglers Sheffield United, which is followed by a trip to Manchester United on Boxing Day and a home clash with Burnley on December 30. Emi Buendia remains a long-term absentee but should Tielemans and Torres make quick returns, Villa look well placed to go into the new year in a great position despite Kamara’s certain absence.
Seriousness rating: 5/10
Man City
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester City are currently away in Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup but will return to Premier League action on December 27 with a trip to Everton before taking on Sheffield United on December 30. Travelling to and playing in the middle east before two Premier League games in quick succession will no doubt pose difficulties for boss Pep Guardiola but the squad currently looks in good shape to deal with the challenge.
City were handed a boost this week with midfielder Kevin de Bruyne returning to training following a long injury lay off and Guardiola will hope to have him back in the side soon. But the biggest concern remains around the fitness of Erling Haaland, who continues to be sidelined with a foot injury but could return for the trip to Everton after Christmas having trained with the side in Saudi Arabia. Jeremy Doku is also struggling with a muscular issue picked up in the win over Luton Town earlier this month and it is not yet clear when he will be able to return. The trio’s absence no doubt weakens City but all could be back in the team in the near future in a huge boost for their title hopes.
Seriousness rating: 3/10
Tottenham
Embed from Getty ImagesSpurs continue to be plagued by injuries this season but it speaks to the job Ange Postecoglou has done that his side sit only six points behind league leaders Arsenal. Key duo Micky Van de Ven and James Maddison are not expected to be back until the new year and Postecoglou was dealt a further blow when Yves Bissouma was sent off for the second time this season against Nottingham Forest, meaning he won’t be seen again until after the African Cup of Nations which starts next month. Destiny Udogie will also miss the upcoming clash with Everton after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season.
Meanwhile, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to miss the next couple of months with an ankle injury having only returned from his long injury lay off earlier this season, and Giovani Lo Celso missing the game with Forest due to a “slight injury” means Postecoglou has very limited options in the middle of the park should he need to miss more game time. Wide players Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon and Ryan Sessegnon are continuing to work their way back from more serious injuries but Postecoglou will be hoping to have Brennan Johnson back on Saturday after he was forced off against Forest with a head injury. It is going to be a big challenge for Spurs to get through the festive fixtures given their injury list and January doesn’t get any easier, with Heung-Min Son, Pape Matar Sarr and Bissouma joining up with their national teams for the Asian Cup and AFCON respectively.
Seriousness rating: 8/10
Newcastle United
Embed from Getty ImagesOther than Brentford, Newcastle have statistically been the team worst impacted by injuries this season. That list has gotten slightly better recently with the returns of Dan Burn and Sven Botman but the Magpies remain without Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett and Javier Manquillo for the longer term. Sandro Tonali is also suspended after breaching Italian betting rules while with AC Milan.
Doubts for the weekend’s clash with Luton also include Anthony Gordon, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Joelinton and Aleksandar Isak, meaning Eddie Howe could once again be left with a threadbare squad to choose from for the visit to the Premier League strugglers. Howe will desperately be hoping at least some of them are able to pass fitness tests, or at least be back for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest, which is followed by a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on New Year’s Day. For Newcastle, it is about trying to stay in the mix for Champions League qualification over the festive period before January hopefully sees the return of several key players as they look to repeat last season’s achievements.
Seriousness rating: 9/10
Manchester United
Embed from Getty ImagesErik ten Hag’s side have struggled to match their performances last season so far this campaign and while there are other issues at the club, injuries have no doubt played a part in that. Among those expected to miss the festive period altogether are Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Mason Mount, while Diogo Dalot is suspended for their next game against West Ham after being sent off against Liverpool.
The United boss will hope to welcome back Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial back to his squad soon but whether that will be in time for the trip to West Ham remains to be seen. Jadon Sancho also remains out of the first-team picture completely after falling out with ten Hag. United sit six points off rivals Man City in fourth and five behind Tottenham in fifth heading into the festive fixtures and risk falling away if they cannot pick up points over the busy schedule of games, but injuries are certainly making that trickier for ten Hag.
Seriousness rating: 7/10
