EPL Headlines: Cole Palmer Ready for The Blues Comeback; Gueye's Failed Red Card Appeal Lacks Explanation
1. Top Player Palmer Fit for Crucial London Derby with Arsenal
The Blues head coach Enzo Maresca announced on Friday that Cole Palmer is set to return for the team's important top-flight encounter against local rivals Arsenal.
The young England midfielder was unavailable due to a fractured toe incurred after an unfortunate occurrence.
“He is ready to start and participate,” Maresca declared. “All involved are pleased.”
In the current campaign, Palmer has featured in just four games across all competitions, finding the net on two occasions.
Since his arrival from City in the previous year, he has achieved 45 strikes and 29 setups in 101 matches for Chelsea.
“He is our best player, we are happy 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 Receive No Explanation for Failed Idrissa Gueye Dismissal Appeal
Everton were unsuccessful in their challenge against Idrissa Gueye's red card for an on-field altercation with fellow player Michael Keane during the team's 1-0 victory at Manchester United.
The 36-year-old Senegal player was shown a red card only 13 minutes into the game after striking Keane during a disagreement over a misplaced pass.
The player immediately apologized, and the teammates were seen reconciled later in a light-hearted online video.
However, the challenge against the dismissal was denied, and Gueye must serve a three-game ban, making Everton short-staffed for their upcoming match against Newcastle United.
“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” coach the manager revealed. “No explanation was provided for the rejection but we did appeal it.”
When asked about more issues from the incident, Moyes added: “It was over immediately, it was done, that was it, we progressed rapidly and it was all sorted within the team environment.”
Third Story: Yoane Wissa Practices with Newcastle for Initial Session since Injury
The club's new signing Yoane Wissa has trained with his new teammates for the initial occasion since suffering a knee injury shortly after his arrival from his former club in the autumn.
Head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the development on the end of the week but withheld a potential comeback timeline for the 29-year-old.
Newcastle brought in the forward for £55m to fill the void left by Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for a British record transfer fee.
Unfortunately, Wissa was injured while on international service before he could make his debut for Newcastle.
“He is progressing nicely, he trained with us for the first time on midweek, so I was really pleased with how he looked,” Howe commented. “It was his initial competitive session with the team. Let’s see how he responds today.”
Howe added: “We have a target return date, but it’s likely best if I keep that to myself. We aim to avoid letting people down. Naturally, we want to include him as promptly.”
In other news, the defender will be sidelined for a four-week period with a hamstring issue.
Fourth Story: Liverpool' Poor Form ‘Doesn’t Matter’, Insists West Ham Boss Nuno
The Hammers manager Nuno Espírito Santo has insisted that the reigning champions' dip in performance “should not be a focus” as his team prepares to take on the struggling top-flight champions.
The Liverpool manager's team has been defeated in six of their previous seven league matches, dropping out of the upper half of the standings.
However, Nuno stressed that there can be no room for overconfidence when the sides meet on Sunday at the London Stadium.
“Liverpool is a good team and in football, what counts is what you do on the day,” Nuno remarked. “We are preparing to play the title winners, players that are talented and able of doing great things, so we have to prepare.
“The past of the results before, the performance of the teams, is largely insignificant. It is about the match day. Aware that we are going to face a high-quality team, that has players capable of doing fantastic things, so we have to prepare thoroughly, to challenge.”
West Ham will welcome back Lucas Paquetá after his suspension, while Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos are progressing in their recovery from fitness issues.
Fifth Story: Gibbs-White Could Feature for Forest against Brighton
Nottingham Forest's boss Sean Dyche is optimistic that Morgan Gibbs-White will be fit for the side's home match against Brighton & Hove Albion on the weekend.
The English international missed Thursday's European match against Malmö due to a back issue.
“We hope it is improving,” 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 morning sort of injury, one where you just sleep funny or move improperly. So we’re not expecting, at this point anyway, that it’s too serious and it’s settling down already. So we’re hopeful that it’ll be okay for the weekend.”
Murillo was feeling his hamstring after the 3-0 European victory, but Dyche indicated the player “should be fine”.
Meanwhile, the full-back (thigh injury), Douglas Luiz (thigh), the winger (hamstring), Chris Wood (knee), and the defender (hip) are expected to be unavailable.
Sixth Story: Glasner: European Loss Won't Set Back Crystal Palace
The Eagles manager Oliver Glasner feels that the disappointment of midweek's European defeat to Strasbourg is a sign of how far the club has come in challenging on multiple fronts.
The FA Cup holders took the lead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's opening period goal but were pegged back by the opposition manager's team, who climbed to second in the table.
The Eagles now return to Premier League action with a home fixture against Manchester United, and Glasner is optimistic his team can maintain their challenge for a Champions League spot.
“Maybe like the late defeat at Everton, 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 effort was there but it is a game we could have avoided losing.”
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, should be in the matchday squad.