Liverpool blow
Fantasy Premier League managers were put on alert after Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho (£9.0m) was ruled out of a weekend visit to Watford.
Sitting in 10% of FPL squads, the Brazilian joins team-mate Adam Lallana (£7.5m) on the sidelines.
The pair’s absence could allow James Milner (£6.5m), who is classfied as a defender, to move into midfield at Vicarage Road.
Sadio Mane (£9.5m) and Mo Salah (£9.0m) are expected to take the wide roles on either side of Roberto Firmino (£8.5m).
No Sanchez
Last season’s top scoring FPL player Alexis Sanchez (£12.0m) will miss Arsenal’s home encounter with Leicester City.
However, playmaker Mesut Ozil (£9.5m) could be in contention and may partner Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) in the central support roles in the Gunners’ 3-4-2-1 formation.
Boasting a 3% ownership, Iwobi has started three of his side’s final four summer friendlies.
McAuley missing
West Bromwich Albion will be without the influential Gareth McAuley (£5.0m) for a home encounter with AFC Bournemouth.
Scorer of six goals last season, the centre-back's absence looks set to hand new arrival Ahmed Hegazi (£4.5m) his first Premier League start.
The Egyptian offers the cheapest route into head coach Tony Pulis’ back four.
Trippier out
Tottenham Hotspur will be without both first-choice full-backs Kieran Trippier (£5.5m) and Danny Rose (£6.5m) for the visit to Newcastle United.
But Son Heung-min (£8.0m) could be available.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino may start the South Korean in a wide role in a 4-2-3-1 set-up or switch to wing-backs with Ben Davies (£5.5m) and Moussa Sissoko (£5.5) on the flanks.
Chelsea hazard
Injured Chelsea wingers Eden Hazard (£10.5m) and Pedro (£8.0m) are ruled out of Saturday’s home meeting with Burnley.
This could allow new arrival Alvaro Morata (£10.0m) a place in the front three along with in-form pair Michy Batshuayi (£8.5m) and Willian (£7.0m).
Mendy delay
Manchester City’s summer signing Benjamin Mendy (£6.5m) sits out the weekend trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.
But fellow new arrivals Kyle Walker (£6.5m) and Danilo (£5.5m) look set to be unleashed as wing-backs against the Seagulls.
Owned by 21.7% of FPL managers, Walker is the fourth-most popular defender after supplying six assists in 2016/17.
Danilo has also impressed in pre-season and, with an ownership of just 4.1%, looks to be an effective Gameweek 1 differential.