EPL News Roundup: Cole Palmer Poised for The Blues Return; Idrissa Gueye's Failed Appeal Lacks Explanation
First Story: Star Player Palmer Ready for Important Capital Derby with The Gunners
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca announced on Friday that Cole Palmer is set to return for the team's important top-flight fixture against London rivals Arsenal.
The 23-year-old England international was unavailable due to a broken toe suffered after an accidental occurrence.
“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 all tournaments, scoring twice.
Since his arrival from Manchester City in 2023, he has notched 45 scores and 29 helpers in 101 games for Chelsea.
“He is our best player, we are happy he is back, we need to allow him time to be fully fit,” Maresca continued. “His past performances have been excellent and no doubt he is going to do exceptionally well for this club in the future.”
2. The Toffees Get No Reason for Failed Idrissa Gueye Dismissal Challenge
The Merseyside club have failed in their challenge against Idrissa Gueye's sending off for a fight with fellow player Michael Keane during the squad's single-goal triumph at Manchester United.
The veteran Senegalese midfielder was sent off just early on into the match after striking Keane during a argument over a misplaced pass.
Gueye promptly expressed regret, and the teammates were seen reconciled later in a mock social media video.
However, the challenge against the red card was denied, and Gueye must complete a three-game ban, leaving Everton short-staffed for their next match against Newcastle.
“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” coach the manager revealed. “We haven’t been given any reason why it was turned down but we did appeal it.”
Inquired about additional consequences from the incident, Moyes remarked: “It ended right away, it was done, that was it, we moved on swiftly and it was all sorted within the dressing room.”
3. Wissa Practices with The Magpies for First Time since Setback
The club's recent signing Yoane Wissa has practiced with his new teammates for the first time since sustaining a knee injury soon after his move from Brentford in September.
Manager Eddie Howe confirmed the news on the end of the week but withheld a possible return date for the 29-year-old.
Newcastle signed the forward for a significant fee to fill the void left by Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for a record-breaking sum.
Unfortunately, Wissa was hurt while on national team duty before he could make his debut for Newcastle.
“He is progressing nicely, he trained with us for the first time on Wednesday, 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.”
Howe continued: “We have a target return date, but it’s likely best if I withhold that information. We wish to prevent any disappointment. Of course, we want to utilize him as promptly.”
In other news, Kieran Trippier will be out of action for a month with a hamstring issue.
4. The Reds' Poor Form ‘Irrelevant’, Insists Hammers Boss Nuno
The Hammers head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has claimed that the reigning champions' recent poor form “should not be a focus” as his team prepares to face the ailing Premier League champions.
The Liverpool manager's side has been defeated in six of their previous seven Premier League matches, falling out of the upper half of the table.
However, Nuno stressed that there can be no complacency when the teams meet on the weekend at the their home ground.
“Liverpool are a quality side and in football, what matters is what you do on the day,” Nuno said. “We are preparing to play the title winners, players that are skilled and able of doing good things, so we have to get 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 high-quality team, that has players capable of doing wonderful things, so we have to be fully prepared, to perform.”
West Ham will have available Lucas Paquetá after his suspension, while Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos are stepping up their return from injury.
5. Morgan Gibbs-White Could Feature for Forest against The Seagulls
The club's manager Sean Dyche is hopeful that Morgan Gibbs-White will be ready for the team's at home match against Brighton on the weekend.
The English player was absent for the midweek Europa League game against the Swedish side due to a back injury.
“Hopefully it’s settling down,” Dyche said as he got ready to face the Brighton manager's side, who have taken seven points from their past three matches.
“It’s like a bad back, but a morning sort of injury, one where you just sleep funny or move improperly. So we’re not anticipating, at this point anyway, that it’s very severe and it’s improving already. So we’re hopeful that it’ll be okay for the weekend.”
The defender was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring after the 3-0 European win, but Dyche indicated the player “should be fine”.
However, Ola Aina (thigh injury), the midfielder (thigh), the winger (hamstring), Chris Wood (knee), and the defender (hip) are likely to be unavailable.
Sixth Story: Glasner: Conference League Defeat Will Not Hinder Crystal Palace
The Eagles manager Oliver Glasner feels that the setback of midweek's Conference League defeat to the French side is a indication of how much progress the team has come in challenging on two fronts.
The FA Cup winners went ahead at the away ground through Tyrick Mitchell's opening period goal but were equalized against by Liam Rosenior's team, who moved up to runner-up in the group standings.
The Eagles now return to domestic competition with a at Selhurst Park match against Manchester United, and Glasner is confident his team can keep up 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. “On the other side, we have to take it on the chin. The effort was there but it is a game we shouldn’t definitely lose.”
Glasner confirmed that Borna Sosa would be absent for the weekend's game after he did not travel to Strasbourg, but Will Hughes, who was substituted during the first half against Strasbourg, is expected to be in the matchday squad.