The new Premier League season is just around the corner. Here at PhysioRoom we are preparing for another exciting season, and another year of our famous Premier League Injury Table. On the topic of Premier League Injuries, let’s take a look at some of the most famous, or infamous, Gameweek 1 injuries in Premier League history. Will anyone be unfortunate enough to get injured in their 2024 opening fixture?
2014 – Jesse Lingard’s Premier League Debut
In 2014, Manchester United youngster Jesse Lingard injured his right leg in a challenge with Swansea City’s Ashley Williams. This was his Premier League debut, and it ended with him on crutches, and with his leg in a knee brace. Not the ideal debut he would have had in mind. Luckily for Lingard, this did not stop him from going on and achieving great things in his career. He would go on to score the winner for Manchester United in the 2016 FA Cup final, as well as representing England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring against Panama in the Group Stage.
2016 – Hugo Lloris Hamstring Injury
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris suffered a hamstring injury on the opening day of the 2016/17 season. He would go on to miss their next 2 games, a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, and a 1-1 draw vs Liverpool, before coming back into the Tottenham side for their 4-0 Win vs Stoke in September. Spurs would go on to finish 2nd that season, 7 points off winners Chelsea. Lloris’ injury did not affect matters too much though, as Chelsea ran out comfortable winners that season.
2017 – The Start of Izzy Brown’s Injury Nightmare
Izzy Brown and injuries. Many football fans will know that these two go hand in hand, but when did this actually all begin? On the opening day of the 2017 season, Brighton’s newest signing, Chelsea loanee Izzy Brown, was forced off with a hamstring injury after just 20 minutes against Manchester City. A sign of things to come for his career, unfortunately. Plenty of lower league loans followed, including to Leeds, Rotherham, and Luton. Injuries followed Brown wherever he went, and in 2023, aged just 26, Izzy Brown announced his retirement from football. A heartbreaking end to a career plagued by injury.
2018 – Ainsley Maitland-Niles Fractured Leg vs Man City
The 2018/19 season would see Arsenal line up without Arsene Wenger in charge for the first time since 1996. His successor would be Spaniard Unai Emery, who’s first game in charge ended in defeat to Manchester City. In that game, 20 year old Ainsley Maitland-Niles suffered a broken fibula which would rule him out for 2 months. Thankfully for Maitland-Niles though, this would not end his season as he may have initially thought. Following an injury to Hector Bellerin later in the season, Maitland-Niles would go on to establish himself as Emery’s first choice right back for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. He would then go on to start in an FA Cup final victory, and a Community Shield victory in the coming years, before his Arsenal career would come to an end in 2023 following a succession of loans away.
2019 – Alisson Injury Fails To Halt Liverpool’s Title Charge
Liverpool’s 4-1 opening day victory over Norwich in 2019 was overshadowed by the calf injury to Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. The injury occurred after he slipped taking a quick free-kick, and would end up ruling him out until late October. Thankfully for Liverpool fans, Adrian successfully stepped in, performing well and preserving their unbeaten record. Liverpool would eventually go on to win their first ever Premier League title in this COVID-hit season. Thankfully for Liverpool fans, Alisson’s opening day injury would not end up costing them.
2022 – Ben Godfrey Fractured Leg Ends His World Cup Hopes
In 2022, Everton defender Ben Godfrey suffered a horrifying fractured leg after just 10 minutes on the opening day of the season against Chelsea. Having recently made his England debut, this injury was extra heartbreaking for him, as it would rule him out for months, ending his chances of making it into England’s World Cup 2022 Squad for the Winter Qatar World Cup. Everton went on to narrowly escape relegation this season, finishing 17th. As for Godfrey, he managed to recover well and make 12 Premier League appearances in the second half of the season, helping Everton achieve this.
2023 – Tyrone Mings & Jurrien Timber ACL Injury Nightmare
In 2023, ACL’s were the talk of the opening day. Both Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings, and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber suffered an ACL injury, often described as the ‘worst injury in football’. Both players would go on to miss the majority of the campaign, as well as the 2024 European Championships. For Mings, he would have to watch from the sidelines as his Aston Villa teammates qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, Timber would heartbreakingly watch his Arsenal teammates just fall short of the title on the final day.
2024 – An Injury Free Opening Day?
The opening weekend of the 2024/25 season is fast approaching. Fans and FPL managers alike will be keeping a keen eye on injury news and updates. Hopefully every player can come through unscathed. For all the latest, up to date injury news be sure to keep checking out our Premier League Injury Table. We will be updating this as the season goes on, with a whole host of injury statistics and news.
Additionally, if you, or anyone you know is suffering from an injury we are here to help. Visit the PhysioRoom website for all things injury related. We stock high quality knee supports, ankle supports, and supports and braces for all other body parts and muscles. We also stock a wide range of physiotherapy and rehabilitation equipment to help you manage your injury recovery. For sports injury news and advice, also be sure to check out our other blogs. We post regularly covering the latest sports injury news, and advice on how to manage different injuries.