EPL Updates: Palmer Ready for Chelsea Comeback; Gueye's Unsuccessful Red Card Appeal Mystery
First Story: Key Player Palmer Ready for Important London Derby with The Gunners
The Blues head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that Cole Palmer is ready to play for the team's important top-flight encounter against local opponents Arsenal.
The young England midfielder was unavailable due to a broken toe incurred after an unfortunate occurrence.
“He is available to start and to play,” Maresca commented. “All involved are pleased.”
In the current campaign, Palmer has made only four appearances in all tournaments, scoring twice.
After joining from Manchester City in the previous year, he has notched 45 scores and 29 helpers in 101 games for Chelsea.
“He is our most valuable asset, we are pleased he is back, we need to provide him with time to be completely ready,” Maresca noted. “He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do exceptionally well for this club in the future.”
2. The Toffees Get No Explanation for Rejected Idrissa Gueye Red Card Appeal
The Merseyside club have failed in their appeal against Idrissa Gueye's sending off for an on-field altercation with fellow player Michael Keane during the squad's single-goal triumph at Manchester United.
The 36-year-old Senegalese player was dismissed only early on into the match after hitting Keane during a disagreement over a poor pass.
Gueye quickly said sorry, and the pair appeared making up afterwards in a light-hearted social media post.
However, the appeal against the dismissal was rejected, and Gueye must serve a three-match suspension, making Everton depleted for their upcoming fixture against Newcastle United.
“We challenged the decision and it was rejected,” manager David Moyes said. “We haven’t been given any reason why it was turned down but we did appeal it.”
Inquired about any further fallout from the event, Moyes added: “It ended right away, it was done, that was it, we progressed rapidly and it was all sorted within the team environment.”
3. Wissa Trains with Newcastle for First Time since Setback
Newcastle United's new signing Yoane Wissa has practiced with his squad for the initial occasion since suffering a knee injury soon after his arrival from Brentford in the autumn.
Manager Eddie Howe announced the development on Friday but did not disclose a potential comeback timeline for the 29-year-old.
Newcastle brought in the striker for a significant fee to replace Alexander Isak, who moved to Liverpool for a record-breaking sum.
Unfortunately, Wissa was injured while on international duty before he could play his first game for his new club.
“He is progressing nicely, he trained with us for the first time on midweek, so I was really pleased with how he looked,” Howe said. “This marked his debut in a competitive setting with the squad. Let’s see how he reacts today.”
The manager added: “We have a target return date, but it’s probably best if I withhold that information. We wish to prevent any disappointment. Naturally, we want to include him as soon as possible.”
Additionally, Kieran Trippier will be sidelined for a four-week period with a hamstring injury.
4. The Reds' Poor Form ‘Doesn’t Matter’, Says West Ham Manager Nuno
The Hammers head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has claimed that Liverpool' dip in performance “is largely irrelevant” as his team gets ready to face the ailing Premier League champions.
The Liverpool manager's team has suffered six losses in seven recent Premier League matches, dropping out of the top 10 of the standings.
Nevertheless, Nuno emphasized that there can be no complacency when the teams clash on the weekend at the London Stadium.
“The Reds are a strong team and in football, what matters is what you do on the day,” Nuno said. “We anticipate facing the league champions, players that are talented and capable of doing good things, so we have to be ready.
“The past of the outcomes before, the performance of the teams, doesn’t really matter. It is about the day. Aware that we are going to face a very good team, that has players capable of doing wonderful things, so we have to prepare thoroughly, to perform.”
West Ham 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 Could Feature for Forest against Brighton
The club's manager Sean Dyche is hopeful that Morgan Gibbs-White will be available for the side's home fixture against Brighton on Sunday.
The English international was absent for the midweek European game against the Swedish side due to a back injury.
“Hopefully it’s settling down,” Dyche commented as he prepared to face the Brighton manager's side, who have secured a decent haul from their last three matches.
“It’s comparable to back pain, but a morning sort of injury, one where you just sleep funny or twist funny. So we’re not anticipating, at this point anyway, that it’s too serious and it’s improving already. So we’re hopeful that it’ll be right for the weekend.”
The defender was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring after the comfortable Europa League victory, but Dyche indicated the player “should be fine”.
Meanwhile, Ola Aina (thigh injury), Douglas Luiz (thigh), the winger (hamstring), the striker (knee), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip) are likely to be unavailable.
Sixth Story: Oliver Glasner: European Loss Will Not Hinder Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner feels that the disappointment of Thursday's European defeat to the French side is a sign of how far the team has come in competing on multiple fronts.
The FA Cup holders went ahead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's first-half goal but were equalized against by the opposition manager's side, who moved up to second in the table.
The Eagles now switch focus to domestic competition with a at Selhurst Park match against Manchester United, and Glasner is optimistic his team can maintain their challenge for a top four spot.
“Comparable to the recent setback at Goodison Park, it just feels that it was totally avoidable and it is our fault,” Glasner said. “Alternatively, we have to accept it. The commitment was there but it is a game we could have avoided losing.”
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 opening period against the opponents, is expected to be in the team selection.