EPL Week 3: Latest Updates on Inactives and Injuries for This Week's Fixtures

The Premier League campaign rolls on with another stacked weekend of action. The top matches of the week take place on Sunday as Liverpool host defending champions Manchester United and Arsenal go up against Tottenham.

As usual, there's a wide range of injury concerns clubs are dealing with heading into the third set of fixtures. Every type of player from key pieces like Stevan Jovetic and Jack Wilshere to role assets such as Darron Gibson are fighting to get on the pitch.

The ability of those players, and others, to reach full fitness in time will have an impact on the outcome of matches. With that in mind, let's examine some of the top injury concerns for the week, followed by updates for each match.

Injury Issues to Watch (via PhysioRoom.com)

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City)

City are still waiting for one of their key summer additions to make his competitive debut. Jovetic has been working to reach match fitness after suffering a knock. The club may decide to work him in slowly until he gets back to full strength.

Status: Available off bench

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Wilshere is one of several players on a mounting injury list for Arsenal. The talented midfielder, who's battled injury issues throughout his career, is dealing with a lower leg injury. The Gunners could certainly use him for a high-profile clash with Tottenham.

Status: Starting

Ashley Williams (Swansea)

A stalwart member of the Swansea back line for the past handful of seasons, Williams is dealing with a bothersome knee injury. The ailment kept him out of the club's midweek Europa League clash, leaving him as a question mark for the West Brom clash.

Status: Starting

Loic Remy (Newcastle)

Newcastle brought Remy in on loan from Queens Park Rangers to bolster their attack. Unfortunately, the striker has been dealing with a calf injury in the early going. Getting him back would provide an instant boost to a side that hasn't scored in its two matches.

Status: Available off bench

Darron Gibson (Everton)

Everton have struggled with consistency in the midfield during the first few matches. Gibson is a player who could help provide some stability once healthy. He'll have to pass a late fitness test to prove he's recovered from a knee injury to play this week, though.

Status: Out

Game-by-Game Lineup Information

Updates will be made as news becomes available.

Manchester City vs. Hull City

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:45 a.m. ET (12:45 p.m. BST)

Manchester City lineup:

Jovetic is active for the match, but he's not in the starting lineup. He could come off the bench to provide an attacking boost. Vincent Kompany and Micah Richards both remained sidelined, presenting some problems for the City back line.

Hull lineup:

Like Jovetic, Hull midfielder Stephen Quinn was deemed fit enough to earn a place on the bench after fighting off a hamstring issue. Abdoulaye Faye remains out, likely for a few more weeks, with a calf injury.

Cardiff City vs. Everton

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. ET (3 p.m. BST)

Cardiff lineup:

As expected, Andreas Cornelius misses the clash due to an ankle injury he picked up in the club's midweek Capital One Cup victory over Accrington Stanley. Cardiff had no other major injury concerns.

Everton lineup:

Gibson isn't in the starting lineup or available off the bench as he continues to recover from the aforementioned knee injury. Antolin Alcaraz isn't fully prepared for action after a hamstring issue.

Newcastle United vs. Fulham

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. ET (3 p.m. BST)

Newcastle lineup:

Remy continues to make progress in his return from a calf injury, but he's not ready to go the full 90 quite yet. He's available off the bench. Goalkeeper Tim Krul is ready to roll after a minor groin issue left his status in question leading up to the clash.

Fulham lineup:

All of Fulham's injury issues are of the longer-term variety. Maarten Stekelenburg, Kieran Richardson and Fernando Amorebieta were all expected to miss the match and none made shock returns to the lineup.

Norwich City vs. Southampton

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. ET (3 p.m. BST)

Norwich lineup:

Ryan Bennett wasn't able to make a quick enough recovery from a knee injury and is unavailable. Gary Hooper should be back from a shin problem within a couple weeks while there's no clear timetable on the return of Elliott Bennett.

Southampton lineup:

Luke Shaw was the only serious injury question mark heading into the match. He's available as a substitute after suffering a knock against Sunderland last week.

West Ham United vs. Stoke City

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. ET (3 p.m. BST)

West Ham lineup:

Andy Carroll continues to deal with a heel problem and isn't going to be in action against Stoke. Alou Diarra will be out for an indefinite period of time after suffering a knee injury against Cheltenham Town.

Stoke lineup:

Jamie Ness, Stoke's only injury concern, remains out. Mark Hughes had an otherwise healthy group to choose from to face West Ham.

Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland

Saturday, Aug. 31 at 12:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. BST)

Crystal Palace lineup:

Even though Palace have a growing number of injury issues to overcome, none of them were of the short-term variety. Every player currently sidelined, including Paddy McCarthy and Jonathan Parr, were not expected to be ready for today's clash.

Sunderland lineup:

Sunderland were in much the same boat as their opponents. The injured players, led by Wes Brown, are still recovering from their ailments heading into the international break.

Liverpool vs. Manchester United

Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. BST)

Liverpool Lineup:

Aly Cissokho (ankle), Joe Allen (hamstring), Kolo Toure (pelvis) and Sebastian Coates (knee) are out for Liverpool. Martin Skrtel will get his first start of the season in central defense. 

Manchester United Lineup: 

The big news is that Wayne Rooney was left off the squad with a head injury he picked up in training. Rafael remains unavailable with a hamstring injury. Ryan Giggs gets the start out wide, with Antonio Valencia and Nani available as subs on the wing. 

West Bromwich Albion vs. Swansea City

Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. BST)

West Bromich Albion Lineup:

Nicolas Anelka returns for West Brom after being given compassionate leave following the death of his agent, Eric Manasse. Matej Vydra (hamstring), Ben Foster (ankle), Steven Reid, George Thorne (ACL) and Zoltan Gera (ACL) remain out for West Brom.

Swansea City Lineup: 

Six players—Michel Vorm, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Jose Canas, Jonjo Shelvey and Wilfried Bony—return to the starting lineup for Swansea. Nathan Dyer (hamstring) and Neil Taylor (hip) remain sidelined.

Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday, Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. ET (4 p.m. BST)

Arsenal Lineup:

Carl Jenkinson slots into right back and Laurent Koscielny returns to centre-back after serving his one-match Premier League ban. Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Mikel Arteta (hip), Thomas Vermaelen (back) and Abou Diaby (knee) remain out for a thin Arsenal squad.

Tottenham Lineup: 

Spurs will roll with a standard lineup once more. Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee), Aaron Lennon (ankle) and that Gareth Bale fellow are unavailable, while new man Erik Lamela will start this one on the bench as a substitute.