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• Granit Xhaka to miss three more weeks due to ankle injury

  Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka is set to miss three weeks of action due to an ankle injury, ruling him out of key Premier League fixtures against Burnley, Arsenal, and Liverpool. ​Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris has confirmed that captain Granit Xhaka will be sidelined for approximately three more weeks following an ankle injury. The 33-year-old midfielder missed last weekend’s defeat to West Ham and is now expected to sit out crucial upcoming matches. Le Bris provided an update on Friday, stating: “Granit (Xhaka) is doing well. We will assess him in the next week, but it will probably be three more weeks.” ​Xhaka has been instrumental for the promoted side, starting every league game prior to his injury. His absence leaves a significant void in the midfield as the club navigates a challenging fixture list. Teammate Luke O’Nien acknowledged the impact of the captain’s absence, noting: “Of course (he’s a miss), he’s a massive player and character… he still travelled down with us to West Ham and was in the dressing room.”

• UCL: Premier League clubs learn potential round 16 opponents

  Five English teams have earned automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16, underscoring the Premier League’s dominance in the competition’s revamped league phase.

  ​Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City have successfully secured top-eight finishes, bypassing the congested play-off round.

  This direct progression allows the English giants to avoid two additional fixtures in February’s busy schedule.

  Newcastle United could join them as the sixth Premier League representative if they overcome either Monaco or Qarabag in their upcoming two-legged play-off tie.

  ​The draw for the knockout stages has already outlined potential paths for the English qualifiers. Arsenal could face the winner of Borussia Dortmund versus Atalanta, while Manchester City may meet either Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

  Reflecting on the difficult route ahead for play-off teams, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said he was “content to go down play-off path” following their draw in Paris.

• Auto Draft

  Strasbourg fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the club’s multi-club ownership structure with Chelsea, particularly following Liam Rosenior’s move to Stamford Bridge. The situation highlights the potential downsides of MCOs, where clubs can feel like ‘feeder’ teams for larger entities.

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• Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie suffers injury against Liverpool

  Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie was forced off with an injury during Thursday’s 0-0 draw against Liverpool, further depleting Mikel Arteta’s defensive options.  

  Arsenal’s Premier League title charge suffered a significant setback on Thursday night as defender Piero Hincapie was forced off during their high-stakes encounter against Liverpool.

  With the score deadlocked at 0-0, the summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen hobbled off the pitch in the 57th minute.

  He was replaced by youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, leaving Mikel Arteta to manage yet another defensive vacancy during a crucial period of the season.

  The injury further depletes an Arsenal backline already missing key personnel.

  Before kickoff, Arteta confirmed that defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori remained unavailable for selection.

  Discussing their recovery, the manager stated: “I think pretty soon [they will return]. They have to go through the last stage of the rehab, and if everything goes well, hopefully soon they will be available for selection.”

  Despite the mounting injury list, Arsenal entered the match seeking to extend their lead at the top of the table following dropped points by Manchester City and Aston Villa.

  Facing the reigning champions, Arteta remained defiant about his team’s ambitions at the Emirates.

  He emphasized the importance of the fixture, saying, “We are top of the table, we play at home against a really good opponent. We want to maintain our position.”

• Arne Slot reveals hamstring issue for star after Liverpool’s draw with Leeds

  Arne Slot has revealed that Florian Wirtz is managing a hamstring injury that limited his training and impacted his performance during Liverpool’s scoreless draw with Leeds United.

  Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed that summer signing Florian Wirtz is struggling with a hamstring injury following the club’s 0-0 draw against Leeds United.

  The £100 million midfielder, who recently scored his first goal for the Reds against Wolves, appeared subdued before being substituted in the 66th minute.

  The stalemate at Anfield was marked by a lack of clinical finishing, leaving Liverpool frustrated as they opened their 2026 campaign.

  The German international was a doubt ahead of the fixture, having completed only a single training session during the week.

  Slot admitted the decision to play Wirtz was a calculated risk aimed at balancing immediate results with long-term fitness.

  Slot told LFCTV: “Florian only trained once this week because two days after the game, he felt his hamstring still a bit. You try to be as careful as you can without ruining your chances.”

  Liverpool’s injury crisis shows little sign of abating, with Cody Gakpo’s return providing a rare boost to a depleted squad.

  With Joe Gomez the only other player nearing a return, Slot emphasized the need for caution during a congested schedule.

  He warned: “Missing out on another one would be an even bigger problem if that’s going to take five, six or seven weeks or longer.” The Reds now prepare for Sunday’s trip to Fulham.