Influential Absences Hit Premier League Clubs

16 January 2026at21:20

Premier League clubs are preparing for an upcoming round of matches, facing significant challenges due to the absence of several prominent players for various reasons.

Tottenham Hotspur will be without their striker Richarlison for several weeks after he sustained an injury in the FA Cup match against Aston Villa, ruling him out of Saturday's clash with West Ham United. Richarlison joins a list of absentees that includes Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is grappling with a widespread illness that could lead to the absence of Liam Delap and Malo Gusto from their match against Brentford.

In Manchester, Manchester City will be without key defenders, including Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol, for their Saturday match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Manchester United will also be missing Matthijs de Ligt.

Many other Premier League clubs are also experiencing significant player absences due to injuries, suspensions, and international duties ahead of the anticipated round of fixtures.

Q&A

Why is Richarlison unavailable for Tottenham's upcoming matches?

Richarlison sustained an injury during the FA Cup match against Aston Villa, ruling him out of Tottenham's clash with West Ham United and expected to sideline him for several weeks.

Which key defenders will miss the Manchester Derby?

Manchester City will be without Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol, while Manchester United will miss Matthijs de Ligt for their Saturday match at Old Trafford due to various reasons.

English Premier League