English Premier League Headlines: Palmer Ready for Chelsea Return; Gueye's Unsuccessful Red Card Appeal Lacks Explanation
1. Top Player Palmer Fit for Crucial London Derby with The Gunners
The Blues manager Enzo Maresca announced on Friday that Cole Palmer is set to return for the squad's important Premier League match against London opponents Arsenal.
The young England international had been sidelined due to a fractured toe suffered after an unfortunate occurrence.
“He is ready to start and participate,” Maresca said. “Everyone is happy.”
This season, Palmer has featured in just four games across all competitions, finding the net on two occasions.
After joining from Manchester City in the previous year, he has achieved 45 strikes and 29 setups in 101 games for the London club.
“He is our most valuable asset, we are happy he is back, we need to allow him time to be 100% fit,” Maresca added. “He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do great things for this club in the future.”
2. Everton Get No Explanation for Failed Gueye Dismissal Challenge
Everton were unsuccessful in their protest against Idrissa Gueye's red card for an on-field altercation with teammate Michael Keane during the team's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
The 36-year-old Senegal midfielder was shown a red card only early on into the game after slapping Keane during a argument over a poor pass.
Gueye promptly expressed regret, and the pair appeared making up later in a mock online post.
However, the challenge against the red card was rejected, and Gueye must complete a three-match suspension, making Everton shorthanded for their upcoming fixture against Newcastle.
“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” coach the manager said. “We haven’t been given any reason why it was turned down but we did appeal it.”
Inquired about additional consequences from the event, Moyes continued: “It ended right away, it was done, that was it, we progressed rapidly and it was all sorted within the team environment.”
3. Wissa Practices with Newcastle for First Time since Injury
The club's new acquisition Yoane Wissa has trained with his new teammates for the first time since sustaining a knee injury soon after his arrival from Brentford in September.
Head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the news on Friday but did not disclose a possible return date for the player.
The team signed the forward for a significant fee to fill the void left by Alexander Isak, who moved to Liverpool for a record-breaking sum.
Unfortunately, Wissa was injured while on international duty before he could make his debut for Newcastle.
“He is doing well, he trained with us for the first time on Wednesday, so I was very happy with how he looked,” Howe commented. “This marked his debut in a competitive setting with the squad. Let’s see how he responds today.”
Howe added: “We’ve got [a return date] in mind, but it’s likely best if I do not share it publicly. We aim to avoid letting people down. Of course, we want to utilize him as soon as possible.”
Additionally, 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
West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo has claimed that the reigning champions' recent poor form “doesn’t really matter” as his team gets ready to take on the struggling Premier League champions.
The Liverpool manager's side has been defeated in six of their previous seven league games, falling out of the upper half of the table.
However, Nuno stressed that there can be no room for overconfidence when the sides clash 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. “We anticipate facing the league champions, players that are talented and able of doing fantastic things, so we have to be ready.
“The past of the results before, the performance of the teams, is not that important. It is about the day. Aware that we are going to face a excellent team, that has players able of doing fantastic things, so we have to get ready, to challenge.”
West Ham will welcome back Lucas Paquetá after his ban, while Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos are progressing in their recovery from injury.
Fifth Story: Morgan Gibbs-White in Contention for Nottingham Forest against Brighton
The club's boss Sean Dyche is optimistic that Morgan Gibbs-White will be available for the team's at home match against Brighton on Sunday.
The English international missed the midweek European match against the Swedish side due to a back injury.
“We hope it is improving,” Dyche stated as he prepared to face the Brighton manager's side, who have secured seven points from their last three outings.
“It’s comparable to back pain, but a waking-up sort of injury, one where you just rest awkwardly or move improperly. So we’re not expecting, at this point anyway, that it’s very severe and it’s easing already. So we’re confident that it’ll be fine for the weekend.”
The defender was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring after the comfortable European victory, but Dyche indicated the player “will likely be available”.
Meanwhile, the full-back (thigh injury), the midfielder (thigh), the winger (hamstring), the striker (knee), and the defender (hip) are expected to miss out.
6. Oliver Glasner: European Defeat Won't Hinder Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner feels that the disappointment of midweek's European defeat to the French side is a sign of how far the club has come in competing on two fronts.
The domestic cup winners took the lead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's first-half goal but were equalized against by the opposition manager's team, who climbed to runner-up in the group standings.
Crystal Palace now return to domestic competition with a home match against the Red Devils, and Glasner is optimistic his team can keep up their push for a Champions League spot.
“Comparable to the recent setback at Goodison Park, it just feels that it was totally avoidable and it is our fault,” Glasner commented. “Alternatively, we have to take it on the chin. The commitment was there but it is a game we ought not to have lost.”
Glasner stated that Borna Sosa would miss out for Sunday's match after he did not travel to France, but Will Hughes, who went off during the first half against Strasbourg, should be in the matchday squad.