🔗 Share this article

1. Top Player Palmer Ready for Important London Derby with The Gunners

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on the final weekday that Cole Palmer is available for selection for the team's vital top-flight match against local opponents Arsenal.

The young English midfielder was out of action due to a broken toe incurred after an unfortunate incident.

“He is ready to start and participate,” Maresca declared. “The whole team is delighted.”

This season, Palmer has featured in just four games in all tournaments, scoring twice.

Following his transfer from Manchester City in 2023, he has achieved 45 scores and 29 helpers in 101 games for Chelsea.

“He is our top performer, we are pleased he is back, we need to allow him time to be completely ready,” Maresca added. “He has been brilliant historically and no doubt he is going to do very good for this club in the future.”

2. The Toffees Get No Explanation for Failed Idrissa Gueye Red Card Appeal

Everton were unsuccessful in their appeal against Idrissa Gueye's dismissal for a fight with fellow player Michael Keane during the team's narrow win at Manchester United.

The 36-year-old Senegalese midfielder was shown a red card only early on into the match after striking Keane amid a dispute over a poor pass.

Gueye promptly expressed regret, and the teammates appeared reconciled later in a light-hearted online post.

However, the challenge against the red card was rejected, and Gueye must serve a three-game ban, making Everton short-staffed for their next fixture against Newcastle United.

“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” manager David Moyes stated. “We received no rationale for the denial but we did appeal it.”

Inquired about any further fallout from the incident, Moyes remarked: “It ended right away, it was done, that was it, we moved on rapidly and it was all sorted within the team environment.”

3. Wissa Practices with The Magpies for First Time since Injury

Newcastle United's new acquisition Yoane Wissa has trained with his squad for the initial occasion since sustaining a knee injury shortly after his move from his former club in September.

Head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the news on the end of the week but did not disclose a possible return date for the 29-year-old.

Newcastle brought in the striker for £55m to fill the void left by Alexander Isak, who moved to Liverpool for a record-breaking sum.

Regrettably, Wissa was injured while on national team duty before he could play his first game for his new club.

“He is doing well, he trained with us for the first time on midweek, so I was extremely satisfied with how he looked,” Howe commented. “This marked his debut in a competitive setting with the squad. Let’s see how he reacts today.”

Howe added: “We have a target return date, but it’s probably best if I withhold that information. We aim to avoid letting people down. Of course, we want to include him as soon as possible.”

Additionally, the defender will be out of action for a month with a hamstring issue.

Fourth Story: The Reds' Slump ‘Doesn’t Matter’, Insists Hammers Boss Nuno

The Hammers head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that the reigning champions' current slump “should not be a focus” as his team gets ready to face the struggling top-flight title holders.

The Liverpool manager's side has been defeated in six of their previous seven Premier League matches, dropping out of the upper half of the table.

However, Nuno emphasized that there can be no complacency when the sides meet on Sunday at the London Stadium.

“Liverpool are a quality side and in football, what counts is what you do on the day,” Nuno remarked. “We anticipate facing the league champions, players that are talented and capable of doing good things, so we have to get ready.

“The history of the results before, the performance of the teams, doesn’t really matter. It is about the match day. Aware that we are going to face a very good team, that has players able of doing amazing feats, so we have to prepare thoroughly, to challenge.”

The Hammers will welcome back Lucas Paquetá after his ban, while Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos are stepping up their recovery from fitness issues.

5. Gibbs-White in Contention for Nottingham Forest against The Seagulls

The club's boss Sean Dyche is optimistic that Morgan Gibbs-White will be ready for the team's home fixture against Brighton on Sunday.

The England player was absent for the midweek Europa League match against the Swedish side due to a back injury.

“Fortunately, it seems to be calming down,” Dyche commented as he prepared to face Fabian Hürzeler's team, who have secured a decent haul from their last three matches.

“It’s similar to a sore back, but a morning sort of injury, one where you just sleep funny or twist funny. So we’re not anticipating, at this stage anyway, that it’s too serious and it’s improving already. So we’re confident that it’ll be fine for the weekend.”

Murillo was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring after the comfortable Europa League victory, but Dyche indicated the player “will likely be available”.

Meanwhile, Ola Aina (thigh injury), the midfielder (thigh), Dilane Bakwa (hamstring), the striker (knee), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip) are expected to miss out.

6. Oliver Glasner: European Loss Won't Set Back Palace

The Eagles manager Oliver Glasner believes that the disappointment of midweek's Conference League defeat to Strasbourg is a sign of how much progress the club has come in challenging on two fronts.

The FA Cup holders took the lead at Stade de la Meinau through Tyrick Mitchell's opening period goal but were equalized against by Liam Rosenior's team, who moved up to second in the table.

Crystal Palace now return to domestic competition with a at Selhurst Park match against the Red Devils, and Glasner is confident his side can maintain their challenge for a top four spot.

“Maybe like the late defeat at Everton, it just feels that it was totally avoidable and it is our fault,” Glasner remarked. “On the other side, we have to acknowledge it. The commitment was there but it is a game we ought not to have lost.”

Glasner stated that Borna Sosa would be absent for Sunday's match after he did not travel to France, but Will Hughes, who went off during the opening period against Strasbourg, should be in the team selection.