EPL News Roundup: Cole Palmer Poised for The Blues Comeback; Idrissa Gueye's Failed Red Card Appeal Mystery
First Story: Key Player Palmer Ready for High-Stakes London Clash with The Gunners
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca announced on Friday that Cole Palmer is available for selection for the team's important Premier League match against local rivals Arsenal.
The 23-year-old English international was unavailable due to a broken toe suffered after an accidental incident.
“He is available to start and to play,” Maresca commented. “Everyone is happy.”
In the current campaign, Palmer has featured in just four games in every contest, scoring twice.
Following his transfer from City in 2023, he has recorded 45 scores and 29 helpers in 101 matches for the London club.
“He is our best player, we are happy he is back, we need to allow him time to be fully fit,” Maresca continued. “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 Red Card Appeal
The Merseyside club were unsuccessful in their challenge against Idrissa Gueye's sending off for a physical confrontation with fellow player Michael Keane during the team's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
The veteran Senegal midfielder was dismissed only early on into the match after hitting Keane amid a argument over a poor pass.
Gueye immediately apologized, and the teammates were seen making up later in a light-hearted online video.
However, the challenge against the dismissal was turned down, and Gueye must complete a three-match suspension, making Everton depleted for their next fixture against Newcastle.
“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” coach David Moyes stated. “We received no rationale for the denial but we did appeal it.”
Inquired about additional consequences from the event, Moyes added: “It was over immediately, it was done, that was it, we progressed rapidly and it was all sorted within the dressing room.”
3. Yoane Wissa Trains with Newcastle for First Time since Setback
Newcastle United's new acquisition Yoane Wissa has trained with his new teammates for the initial occasion since suffering a knee problem shortly after his arrival from his former club in the autumn.
Head coach Eddie Howe announced the development on Friday but withheld a possible comeback timeline for the player.
Newcastle brought in the forward for £55m to replace Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for a British record sum.
Regrettably, Wissa was injured while on national team duty before he could make his debut for his new club.
“His recovery is going smoothly, he trained with us for the first time on midweek, so I was really pleased with how he looked,” Howe commented. “That’s his first time competitively with the group. Let’s see how he reacts today.”
The manager continued: “We have a target return date, but it’s probably best if I do not share it publicly. We don’t want to disappoint anyone. Of course, we want to involve him as soon as possible.”
In other news, the defender will be out of action for a month with a hamstring injury.
4. Liverpool' Slump ‘Irrelevant’, Insists Hammers Manager Nuno
The Hammers manager Nuno Espírito Santo has stated that Liverpool' current slump “doesn’t really matter” as his team gets ready to take on the ailing Premier League title holders.
The Liverpool manager's team has been defeated in six of their previous seven Premier League matches, falling out of the upper half of the table.
Nevertheless, Nuno emphasized that there can be no taking it easy when the teams meet on the weekend at the their home ground.
“Liverpool are a quality side and in football, what counts is what you do on the day,” Nuno commented. “We anticipate facing the league champions, players that are talented and capable of doing great things, so we have to prepare.
“The past of the results before, the performance of the teams, doesn’t really matter. It is about the match day. Knowing that we are going to face a excellent team, that has players able of doing wonderful things, so we have to get ready, to compete.”
The Hammers will welcome back Lucas Paquetá after his suspension, while Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos are stepping up their recovery from fitness issues.
5. Morgan Gibbs-White Could Feature for Nottingham Forest against Brighton
Nottingham Forest's boss Sean Dyche is hopeful that Morgan Gibbs-White will be available for the team's at home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
The English international was absent for Thursday's European match against Malmö due to a back issue.
“Fortunately, it seems to be calming down,” Dyche stated as he prepared to face Fabian Hürzeler's team, who have secured a decent haul from their past three matches.
“It’s like a bad back, but a morning sort of injury, one where you just rest awkwardly or twist funny. So we’re not anticipating, at this stage anyway, that it’s too serious and it’s settling down already. So we’re hopeful that it’ll be right for the weekend.”
Murillo was feeling his hamstring after the comfortable European victory, but Dyche said the player “will likely be available”.
Meanwhile, Ola Aina (thigh injury), the midfielder (thigh), Dilane Bakwa (hamstring), Chris Wood (knee), and the defender (hip) are expected to miss out.
Sixth Story: Glasner: European Defeat Will Not Set Back Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner feels that the setback of midweek's Conference League defeat to Strasbourg is a indication of how far the team has advanced in competing on two fronts.
The domestic cup winners took the lead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's opening period 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 Premier League action with a at Selhurst Park fixture against Manchester United, and Glasner is confident his team can keep up 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. “On the other side, we have to accept it. The commitment was there but it is a game we shouldn’t definitely lose.”
Glasner confirmed that Borna Sosa would miss out for Sunday's game after he stayed behind to Strasbourg, but Will Hughes, who was substituted during the opening period against Strasbourg, should be in the team selection.