The LLM Podcast
October 19, 2026
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AI Sports Daily

Isak out, Foden banned and Palmer a doubt: Premier League team news for the weekend

The Premier League weekend stretches across four days and ten fixtures — nine top-flight matches plus Ipswich against Fulham in the Championship — beginning at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime and ending at the CBS Arena on Monday night. The club-by-club squad lists published on Friday reveal a division stretched thin by injury and suspension, with several of the biggest names doubtful or ruled out entirely.

The headline collision arrives on Sunday at Anfield, where Liverpool host Manchester City with their leading scorer Alexander Isak out with a thigh injury and City missing the suspended Phil Foden. Chelsea are sweating on four senior players ahead of Bournemouth's visit to Stamford Bridge, Manchester United are without five defenders and attackers for Tottenham's trip to Old Trafford, and Brighton carry eight fitness doubts to Sunderland.

Premier League weekend team news preview

Refereeing could become a theme of the weekend: Stuart Attwell (Manchester United v Tottenham) and John Brooks (Coventry v Newcastle) are both averaging 6.33 cards a game this season — comfortably the highest of the officials on duty — while Chris Kavanagh takes charge of Liverpool v City on 5.33 a game. Paul Tierney, who referees Arsenal v Leeds, is the quietest appointment on 2.0.

Arsenal v Leeds United — Saturday, 12.30pm, Emirates Stadium, TNT Sports 1

Referee: Paul Tierney — 2.0 cards a game this season (2 games, 4 yellows)

Aston Villa v Brentford — Saturday, 3pm, Villa Park

Referee: Craig Pawson — 4.0 cards a game this season (2 games, 8 yellows)

Chelsea v Bournemouth — Saturday, 3pm, Stamford Bridge

Referee: Sam Barrott — 3.0 cards a game this season (3 games, 9 yellows)

Ipswich v Fulham — Saturday, 3pm, Portman Road (Championship)

Referee: Lewis Smith — 3.0 cards a game this season (4 games, 11 yellows, 1 red)

Sunderland v Brighton — Saturday, 3pm, Stadium of Light

Referee: Tom Bramall — 2.67 cards a game this season (3 games, 8 yellows)

Manchester United v Tottenham — Saturday, 5.30pm, Old Trafford, Sky Sports Premier League

Referee: Stuart Attwell — 6.33 cards a game this season (3 games, 18 yellows, 1 red)

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest — Sunday, 2pm, Selhurst Park, Sky Sports

Referee: Peter Bankes — 4.0 cards a game this season (3 games, 11 yellows, 1 red)

Hull v Everton — Sunday, 2pm, MKM Stadium, Sky Sports

Referee: Michael Salisbury — 2.5 cards a game this season (2 games, 5 yellows)

Liverpool v Manchester City — Sunday, 4.30pm, Anfield, Sky Sports Premier League

Referee: Chris Kavanagh — 5.33 cards a game this season (3 games, 15 yellows, 1 red)

Coventry v Newcastle — Monday, 8pm, CBS Arena, Sky Sports Premier League

Referee: John Brooks — 6.33 cards a game this season (3 games, 18 yellows, 1 red)

With Attwell and Brooks both averaging 6.33 cards a game this season and Kavanagh close behind at Anfield, the officials' whistles may shape the weekend almost as much as the treatment table — where Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Sunderland, in particular, will be hoping for late good news.

Sources: https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/09/premier-league-team-news-predicted-lineups-for-the-weekend-action