🔗 Share this article

1. Star Player Palmer Fit for Important London Derby with Arsenal

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that Cole Palmer is ready to play for the squad's important top-flight fixture against local opponents Arsenal.

The young England international was out of action due to a fractured toe incurred after an accidental occurrence.

“He is fit to begin and feature,” Maresca declared. “The whole team is delighted.”

In the current campaign, Palmer has featured in just four games in every contest, scoring twice.

After joining from Manchester City in 2023, he has recorded 45 goals and 29 assists in 101 games for Chelsea.

“He is our best player, we are pleased he is back, we need to allow him time to be 100% fit,” Maresca added. “His past performances have been excellent and no doubt he is going to do great things for this club in the future.”

Second Story: Everton Get No Reason for Rejected Idrissa Gueye Red Card Appeal

Everton have failed in their protest against Idrissa Gueye's sending off for a fight with teammate Michael Keane during the squad's single-goal triumph at Old Trafford.

The 36-year-old Senegalese midfielder was dismissed only 13 minutes into the contest after hitting Keane amid a disagreement over a misplaced pass.

Gueye quickly said sorry, and the teammates appeared reconciled later in a mock online video.

However, the appeal against the red card was rejected, and Gueye must complete a three-game suspension, leaving Everton depleted for their upcoming fixture against Newcastle United.

“We lodged an appeal and it was unsuccessful,” coach the manager said. “We received no rationale for the denial but we did appeal it.”

Inquired about additional consequences from the incident, Moyes continued: “The matter was resolved instantly, it was done, that was it, we progressed quite quickly and it was all sorted within the team environment.”

Third Story: Wissa Trains with The Magpies for First Time since Injury

Newcastle United's new signing Yoane Wissa has practiced with his new teammates for the initial occasion since suffering a knee injury soon after his arrival from his former club in the autumn.

Head coach Eddie Howe announced the news on Friday but kept private a potential comeback timeline for the player.

The team brought in the forward for a significant fee to replace Alexander Isak, who moved to Liverpool for a record-breaking sum.

Regrettably, Wissa was injured while on international duty before he could make his debut for his new club.

“He is doing well, he trained with us for the first time on midweek, so I was really pleased with how he looked,” Howe said. “That’s his first time competitively with the group. Let’s see how he responds today.”

The manager continued: “There is a planned comeback timeline, but it’s probably best if I do not share it publicly. We aim to avoid letting people down. Naturally, we want to involve him as quickly.”

In other news, Kieran Trippier will be sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.

Fourth Story: Liverpool' Poor Form ‘Irrelevant’, Insists Hammers Boss Nuno

West Ham United head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has insisted that the reigning champions' recent poor form “should not be a focus” as his team gets ready to take on the struggling Premier League champions.

The Liverpool manager's team has been defeated in six of their previous seven Premier League games, dropping out of the top 10 of the table.

However, Nuno emphasized that there can be no complacency when the teams 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. “So what we expect is the champions of the Premier League, players that are talented and able of doing fantastic things, so we have to get ready.

“The past of the outcomes before, the form of the teams, is not that important. It is about the day. Knowing that we are going to face a high-quality team, that has players able of doing fantastic things, so we have to prepare thoroughly, to challenge.”

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

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

Nottingham Forest's boss Sean Dyche is optimistic that Morgan Gibbs-White will be fit for the side's at home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on the weekend.

The English international missed Thursday's Europa League match against Malmö due to a back injury.

“Hopefully it’s settling down,” Dyche commented as he got ready to face Fabian Hürzeler's side, who have secured a decent haul from their last three outings.

“It’s like a bad back, but a waking-up sort of injury, one where you just rest awkwardly or twist funny. So we’re not expecting, at this point anyway, that it’s too serious and it’s easing already. So we’re confident that it’ll be okay for the weekend.”

Murillo was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring after the comfortable European victory, but Dyche indicated the player “is expected to be okay”.

However, Ola Aina (thigh injury), the midfielder (thigh), the winger (hamstring), Chris Wood (knee), and the defender (hip) are likely to miss out.

6. Oliver Glasner: Conference League Defeat Will Not Hinder Palace

The Eagles manager Oliver Glasner feels that the disappointment of Thursday's Conference League loss to the French side is a sign of how much progress the team has come in challenging on two fronts.

The domestic cup winners took the lead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's first-half goal but were pegged back by Liam Rosenior's team, who moved up to runner-up in the group standings.

The Eagles now return to Premier League action with a home match against Manchester United, and Glasner is optimistic his team can maintain their push for a top four spot.

“Maybe like the late defeat at Everton, it just feels that it was entirely needless and it is our fault,” Glasner remarked. “However, we have to take it on the chin. The commitment was there but it is a game we ought not to have lost.”

Glasner confirmed that Borna Sosa would be absent for the weekend's match after he stayed behind to Strasbourg, but Will Hughes, who went off during the first half against Strasbourg, is expected to be in the team selection.