Premier League injury round-up: Arne Slot undecided on Trent Alexander-Arnold involvement, Pep Guardiola sheds light on Rodri return
Updated 23/05/2025 at 17:02 GMT+1
Arne Slot was coy on whether Trent Alexander-Arnold would feature against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday, in what would be his final game for Liverpool. Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola revealed whether Ballon d'Or winner Rodri would return for Manchester City this weekend against Fulham, and Enzo Maresca provided an update on his team's fitness ahead of their encounter against Nottingham Forest.
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Plenty is left to be decided in the Premier League's European race on the final day of the season.
There are also farewells in store for some superstar players, while others are raring to return from injury.
Ahead of the finale Sunday, here is a round-up of what Premier League managers had to say on the availability of their players.
Slot: 'I haven't decided' if Alexander-Arnold will play
As Premier League champions Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Anfield for the last game of the season, much of the talk ahead of kick-off has been regarding the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold and whether he will feature for The Reds.
"I haven't decided on that one yet", manager Arne Slot admitted. "But I think this should be a day that everybody is going to enjoy.
"It's been 35 years, everybody is waiting for this moment – [not] everybody but the Liverpool fans are waiting for this moment – and I think we've set the example against Tottenham.
"I don't think I've ever been part of seeing celebration done in a nicer way than that day. And one of the two things that made me emotional was how we arrived at the stadium when the fans were singing for us.
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"And the second one is that I've met in the last few weeks multiple people telling me, 'I'm going to Anfield now for all my life but I've never felt a day that was more special than that one, Tottenham at home.'
"So, I am hoping that we can add a moment like this to it. And I think everybody that's in the stadium deserves to be there – the fans, the staff, but also the players.
"One of my players is Trent, so he definitely deserves to be there as well, because he's been part of an incredible, successful season and incredible, successful years at this club.
"I can only hope that we do it one more time over what we did against Tottenham and I have a lot of trust in our fans to do the same again."
Moreover, on the fitness of Joe Gomez, Slot added: "Last weekend he was there with the team but was not able to play yet.
"He didn't tick all the boxes yet, but I think there was a spot open, so it was for me a moment where I could show my gratitude towards him to show what he's done on the pitch for us, but also off the pitch for us.
"It's also something I want to address with Trent because for a fan, these players are all professionals… but for me, as a manager, they are not only a player, but they are also a human being.
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"Like you say, that's what you know and maybe the fans as well, but Joe Gomez is indeed one of the nicest people you can meet. But he's also inspiring his teammates when he's not playing.
"He has had more impact on our success than the outside world might probably know. I am hoping he can make some minutes [on Sunday] if he ticks all the boxes this week."
Wharton and Guehi out, says Glasner
Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner admitted that Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton, who were both injured in last Saturday’s FA Cup final, will not feature in Palace’s final game of the season.
"Marc can't play and he's also not called up for England", Glasner said. "His eye needs a rest. He can't do anything at the moment. Adam definitely cannot play because of his concussion.
"[Ben] Chilwell and [Nathaniel] Clyne have illness [says that he will see if they are available]."
Timber and Saliba out, Arteta confirms
Mikel Arteta revealed that both Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are injured for Arsenal’s last game of the season against Southampton.
Arteta said: "Jurrien had surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle. He's been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks.
"He's been navigating through the season with that issue and it needed to be resolved, so he's going to be out for a while.
"And Saliba, he felt something in his hamstring in the first half [against Newcastle], just before half-time. And again, he's going to be out for a few weeks."
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Maresca to rotate before Conference League final?
Ahead of Chelsea’s crucial encounter with Nottingham Forest, Enzo Maresca confirmed Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu will both be available in the absence of the suspended Nicolas Jackson.
The Italian also provided an update on Reece James, who played 90 minutes against Manchester United last week.
On James’ fitness, Maresca said: "He is okay. He has his own programme. We said already that we try to protect him, so we are managing him."
Maresca added that he may rotate ahead of the UEFA Conference League final next week.
"Now the focus is on Sunday's game", he explained. "The next one is the most important one and then after that we can focus on Wednesday's game.
"I said this the other day - we don't have enough time to recover the energy so, for sure, we need to rotate and change things. We need to make some changes."
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Pedro to miss Spurs game for disciplinary reasons
Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Joao Pedro will miss Brighton & Hove Albion’s last game of the season at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday for disciplinary reasons.
He explained: "With Joao, we had a small issue in training, a type which isn’t uncommon from time to time at all football clubs. We dealt with it internally and the matter is closed.
"Joao is an incredible football player, he is a match-winner for us and he is a great player and that’s why we invested in him. But there are principles, there are values that are non-negotiable that count for everyone. I don’t make any compromises.
"I am sure that Joao is still a young player [and] there is still a lot of potential where he will grow. I am sure that he will learn from this and come back stronger next season.
"I am really looking forward to seeing him renewed and reinvigorated at his highest peak into our team.
"That is all I would say to this. The only thing is how we dealt with it as a football club, how we dealt with it as a team."
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Guardiola: Rodri will not start against Fulham
Pep Guardiola played down talk that Rodri could return to the Manchester City line-up against Fulham.
With Mateo Kovacic suspended, there had been talk the Ballon d’Or winner would be back in contention.
Guardiola said: "He's not going to start. He's not ready to start. He's a long way to be what Rodri was.
"I guess it will be next season when he will start to be the Rodri – and not in the way we have seen before the injury, playing 70 games, playing every three days, I think it will take even longer for that.
"Because of the experience in this surgery, we have to always be careful, otherwise you have muscular problems and this kind of stuff.
"But it is the first kind of step, for his mind, for his knee, but still is not the Rodri we know."
Howe confirms Isak return
When asked if Sweden international Alexander Isak would return for Newcastle United’s last game of the season against Everton, Eddie Howe said: "For sure there’s one left in him.
"We’d love him to be fit and available for the game. He has to be fit to give his best, though.
"I think that’s clear and we wouldn’t risk him being not able to deliver what he needs to do.
"He has to be free in his movement and everything because he’s that kind of player, he’s electric at his best. So let’s see."
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Murillo of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Selhurst Park on May 05, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
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Murillo doubtful for Chelsea clash
Nottingham Forest are sweating on Murillo's fitness ahead of their win-or-bust UEFA Champions League qualification showdown with Chelsea.
The Brazilian twisted his ankle in last Sunday's 2-1 win away at West Ham United, and Nuno Espirito Santo said a late decision will be made on the centre-back.
When asked about Murillo's availability, he replied: "We are still assessing. He twisted his ankle and has not been able to train. Let's see tomorrow.
"We have some more [injury concerns]. But let's leave it this way."
Striker Taiwo Awoniyi will also miss the game as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious abdominal injury from the 2-2 draw with Leicester City two weeks ago, and has since undergone surgery.
Santo provided a positive update regarding the Nigerian, who Forest hope will be at the City Ground to watch Sunday's match from the stands.
"He's much better. He's already been able to walk. The doctor has informed us that he's starting his normal life in terms of food, so he's much better," Nuno said of Awoniyi.
"I cannot answer whether he will be at the City Ground. I don't know. It's about the medical [information], so I'm not sure. But he’s okay."
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