🔗 Share this article

1. Top Talent Palmer Available for High-Stakes London Clash with The Gunners

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on the final weekday that Cole Palmer is set to return for the team's vital Premier League encounter against local opponents Arsenal.

The young England midfielder was unavailable due to a fractured toe incurred after an accidental incident.

“He is available to start and to play,” Maresca said. “The whole team is delighted.”

In the current campaign, Palmer has featured in just four games in all tournaments, netting two goals.

Since his arrival from Manchester City in 2023, he has achieved 45 goals and 29 assists in 101 appearances for the London club.

“He is our most valuable asset, we are happy he is back, we need to provide him with time to be 100% fit,” Maresca noted. “He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do great things for this club in the future.”

Second Story: Everton Receive No Explanation for Rejected Idrissa Gueye Dismissal Appeal

Everton were unsuccessful in their challenge against Idrissa Gueye's sending off for a physical confrontation with fellow player Michael Keane during the squad's narrow win at Old Trafford.

The veteran Senegalese player was dismissed just 13 minutes into the game after slapping Keane amid a dispute over a misplaced pass.

Gueye immediately apologized, and the teammates appeared making up afterwards in a light-hearted social media video.

However, the appeal against the dismissal was rejected, and Gueye must serve a three-match ban, leaving Everton shorthanded for their upcoming match against Newcastle.

“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” coach the manager revealed. “We haven’t been given any reason why it was turned down but we did appeal it.”

When asked about more issues from the event, Moyes continued: “It ended right away, it was done, that was it, we moved on swiftly and it was all sorted within the team environment.”

3. Wissa Trains with Newcastle for First Time since Setback

The club's recent signing Yoane Wissa has trained with his squad for the initial occasion since suffering a knee problem soon after his arrival from Brentford in the autumn.

Head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the news on Friday but kept private a potential return date for the player.

Newcastle brought in the forward for £55m to replace Alexander Isak, who moved to Liverpool for a record-breaking transfer fee.

Unfortunately, Wissa was hurt while on international service before he could make his debut for his new club.

“He is progressing nicely, he trained with us for the first time on Wednesday, so I was really pleased with how he looked,” Howe stated. “It was his initial competitive session with the team. Let’s see how he reacts today.”

The manager added: “We’ve got [a return date] in mind, but it’s likely best if I withhold that information. We aim to avoid letting people down. Of course, we want to utilize him as quickly.”

In other news, Kieran Trippier will be out of action for a four-week period with a hamstring injury.

4. The Reds' Slump ‘Doesn’t Matter’, Insists West Ham Manager Nuno

The Hammers manager Nuno Espírito Santo has claimed that the reigning champions' current slump “doesn’t really matter” as his team prepares to face the struggling Premier League champions.

Arne Slot's team has lost six of the last seven Premier League matches, dropping out of the top 10 of the table.

However, Nuno stressed that there can be no taking it easy when the sides meet on Sunday at the London Stadium.

“Liverpool is a good team and in football, what matters is what you do on the day,” Nuno commented. “So what we expect is the champions of the Premier League, players that are skilled and capable of doing good things, so we have to be ready.

“The history of the outcomes before, the form of the teams, doesn’t really matter. It is about the match day. Aware that we are going to face a high-quality team, that has players capable of doing amazing feats, so we have to get ready, to challenge.”

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

Fifth Story: Gibbs-White in Contention for Nottingham Forest against The Seagulls

The club's boss Sean Dyche is hopeful that Morgan Gibbs-White will be available for the team's home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on the weekend.

The England international missed the midweek Europa League game against the Swedish side due to a back injury.

“Hopefully it’s settling down,” Dyche commented as he prepared to face Fabian Hürzeler's team, who have secured seven points from their past three matches.

“It’s similar to a sore back, but a waking-up sort of injury, one where you just sleep funny or twist funny. So we’re not expecting, at this point anyway, that it’s very severe and it’s settling down already. So we’re confident that it’ll be right for the weekend.”

Murillo was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring muscle after the comfortable Europa League win, but Dyche indicated the player “should be fine”.

Meanwhile, Ola Aina (thigh injury), Douglas Luiz (thigh), Dilane Bakwa (hamstring), the striker (knee), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip) are expected to be unavailable.

Sixth Story: Glasner: European Defeat Won't Set Back Palace

The Eagles head coach Oliver Glasner believes that the disappointment of Thursday's European defeat to the French side is a sign of how much progress the team has come in challenging on two fronts.

The domestic cup holders went ahead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's first-half goal but were equalized against by Liam Rosenior's side, who climbed to second in the group standings.

The Eagles now return to domestic competition with a home match against the Red Devils, and Glasner is optimistic his side can maintain their challenge for a top four place.

“Comparable to the recent setback at Goodison Park, it just feels that it was totally avoidable and it is our fault,” Glasner commented. “On the other side, we have to take it on the chin. The effort was there but it is a game we ought not to have lost.”

Glasner stated that Borna Sosa would be absent for the weekend's match after he did not travel to Strasbourg, but Will Hughes, who was substituted during the first half against the opponents, is expected to be in the matchday squad.