Club-by-Club News Ahead of 2026-27

With the new Premier League season kicking off on August 21, preseason has become just as much about fitness updates as it is about friendlies and transfers. World Cup fatigue, long-term recoveries, and fresh setbacks are already shaping how clubs approach the opening weeks of the campaign. Here’s a club-by-club look at the biggest injury storylines heading into the new season.

Liverpool

Liverpool head into preseason managing three significant long-term absences. Conor Bradley is recovering from surgery on a serious knee injury suffered during Liverpool’s away trip to Arsenal back in January, while Hugo Ekitike is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained in April. Giovanni Leoni, meanwhile, is still recovering from the ACL tear he suffered on his debut earlier last season.

Head coach Andoni Iraola has been clear that patience is the priority. Leoni is reportedly closest to a return, with Bradley and Ekitike still described as “way off,” likely months rather than weeks away. Players who took part in the World Cup are now linking up with the squad on their preseason tour in the United States, arriving in staggered groups to manage recovery time.

Manchester City

Manchester City are facing an early-season absence at the heart of midfield. Rodri is expected to undergo surgery following the World Cup for an undisclosed injury, a setback that will rule him out for the opening weeks of the 2026-27 campaign. It’s an unwelcome complication for new manager Enzo Maresca as he looks to build his first City side around a settled midfield, and it comes alongside ongoing uncertainty over Rodri’s contract situation.

Manchester United

Manchester United’s summer has been complicated by a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte, who damaged knee ligaments while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup in a defeat to Spain. Ugarte described it as one of the most serious injuries a footballer can face, and while further testing was still being carried out, reports have suggested the damage could include a cruciate ligament tear, a setback that would likely rule him out for several months.

For a United squad already undergoing major changes in midfield this summer, losing Ugarte for an extended period adds pressure on the club’s other summer additions to step in early.

Newcastle United

Newcastle have a more encouraging outlook, at least in terms of timing. Defender Tino Livramento withdrew from England’s World Cup squad with a calf injury and has since undergone minor surgery. The club has expressed confidence that he’ll return during preseason and be available for the start of the Premier League campaign, making his case one of the more positive injury stories among the league’s bigger clubs this summer.

The Bigger Picture

A recurring theme across several clubs this preseason is World Cup-related fatigue and injury risk. With players returning from international duty at different times and in different physical states, managers across the league are being deliberately cautious about integration timelines rather than rushing recovering players back into full training. Expect further updates as preseason friendlies continue and squads get a clearer picture of who’ll be available for the August 21 kickoff.

This is a fast-moving list, and we’ll keep updating it as fresh injury news breaks across the rest of the league in the final weeks before the season starts.