With both early games postponed on Boxing Day, we can only hope that players stay COVID-free nineteen before game week to keep those remaining games intact. My biggest concern is the game at Turf Moor as Everton is at full capacity. As always, plan your transfers carefully and try to have a starter bank. Good luck, stay safe and have a merry Christmas!
arsenal
Mikel Arteta did not update on Takehiro Tomiyasu who was not “100 percent confident” of finishing the game in Leeds due to a calf problem. Hopefully his withdrawal was a precautionary measure and he can be accepted into Norwich. Cedric Soares is his likely replacement if he doesn’t recover. Ghana arranged a pre-tournament meeting in Doha ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, but it looks like Thomas Partey won’t be there until after Boxing Day. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be decided game by game and he could be out again after a hat-trick by Eddie Nketiah in the Carabao Cup. Sambi Lokonga, Calum Chambers and Pablo Marí are confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Aston Villa
Steven Gerrard told reporters they were “wasting their time” getting team news before Sunday. “I don’t know myself,” he mused. The situation with COVID is changing by the hour, although Villa will welcome back some of her most recent absentees. Keinan Davis, Anwar El Ghazi and Morgan Sanson could be among them, while Ashley Young and Emiliano Buendia shook off the blows. Marvelous Nakamba will be on hiatus for up to four months after knee surgery.
Brentford
Thomas Frank assumes that he has more or less the same squad that faced Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. No one is expected to recover, which means the bees could miss up to six players. However, the situation has improved dramatically since the 13 positive COVID cases that resulted in the Southampton game being postponed. Rico Henry needs to be checked after complaining of a tight hamstring and a decision on Ivan Toney will be made shortly before kick-off to see if the striker is ready to start.
The story goes on
Brighton and Hove Albion
Graham Potter says Danny Welbeck, Neal Maupay and Pascal Gross are all in the running, and thanks to the recent mini-break, several other players are on the verge of returning. Adam Webster trained and got a setback; he is recorded. There is also hope for Joel Veltman, who was deposed at West Ham. His hamstring spasm was due to fatigue which gave him a chance, and Shane Duffy is back for a game after being suspended. However, the Seagulls lose Yves Bissouma after receiving his fifth campaign warning. Lewis Dunk is currently wearing a knee brace and is receiving injections to return before January’s winter break.
Burnley
A positive COVID test has hampered Maxwel Cornet’s recovery, and Sean Dyche rates his chances of returning only as “maybe” from the hamstring injury he sustained at St James’ Park. Dale Stephens is “back” but the Clarets will be without Connor Roberts and Ashley Barnes after a “nasty infection”, who are “making good progress” after a setback last month.
Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi were able to submit consecutive negative lateral flow tests to allow a return to Cobham on Thursday, and both players should make the trip to Villa Park. Thomas Tuchel is still waiting for Kai Havertz and Timo Werner to be released, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek (ankle) and Hakim Ziyech (calf) are taking a late-night fitness test. Andreas Christensen is over the nagging back ailments that kept him away from the last two, and Ben Chilwell is hoping he doesn’t need knee surgery. A decision will be made next month.
Crystal palace
After a minute off the bench, Joachim Andersen is in the last race for the start. The center-back formed an excellent partnership with Marc Guéhi earlier this season and James Tomkins could lose his place. James McArthur is training with the group and Jordan Ayew’s status remains unclear as Ghana arranged a training camp ahead of the tournament in Doha, which started on Wednesday. The Eagles may have made an arrangement so he can join later. So expect an update from Patrick Vieira to clarify the situation on Friday.
Everton
Rafa Benitez told reporters he was “really surprised” that the game at Turf Moor was going on after his request to postpone the game was denied. The Toffees have had five positive COVID cases after beating Chelsea 1-1 and, given current injuries, Everton are struggling to name a team with just nine senior outfield players and three goalkeepers. Available players also include Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was sidelined for almost four months, and Rafa admits it is a “massive risk” as he may be forced to play against players who are not fully fit. Lucas Digne is also making a comeback after illness, but the numbers are likely to be bolstered by development players, most of whom are under the age of 21. Richarlison (calf), Yerry Mina (thigh) and Andros Townsend (foot) are among those expected to be sidelined.
Leicester City
The loss of three injured players compounded their penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool on Wednesday and all three are considered doubts for the trip to The Etihad. Ricardo Pereira was caught by Tyler Morton, a tough challenge that would likely have earned him a red card had VAR been used in the competition. The full-back didn’t make it at halftime. Returning Çaglar Soyuncu held out until the hour after complaining of an Achilles tendon problem and Jamie Vardy’s absence from the point kick was explained when Brendan Rodgers confirmed his lead shooter “couldn’t really move” due to muscle tension. Daniel Amartey moved to Ghana before the Africa Cup of Nations and overtaxed the Foxes squad after the recent COVID outbreak. Kelechi Iheanacho and Jannik Vestergaard have just got back into training and Jonny Evans’ status remains unclear after the limp against Newcastle.
Manchester city
Pep was in a great mood on Thursday and he wasn’t ready to reveal too much about his squad. It is likely that Kyle Walker will be absent again as he is “no longer fully fit”, although no specific details have been given. Guardiola also chose not to clarify the decision to bench Phil Foden and Jack Grealish in Newcastle after the couple spent a night out. “In our career, work on and off the pitch is equally important,” he said. “It’s so physically and mentally exhausting – you have to live for your job. Always, every single second. “
Manchester united
Ralph Rangnick confirms that for the past three days after Carrington reopened, his team has been training normally after a thorough cleanup. United were down to seven first-team players last weekend but now that their period of self-isolation is over, everyone is back and doing well. Paul Pogba is the only absentee who continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained on the national team. That could mean a potential return for several players: Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Victor Lindelof, who was replaced on Carrow Road due to breathing difficulties. “From what I saw in training today, I can say that most, if not all, will be available, although I may have to make other decisions about who will be in the squad and starting XI.”
Newcastle United
Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo are supposed to recover from their illness. At the same time, Eddie Howe is hoping Jonjo Shelvey can overcome the minor muscle problem that prevented him from playing Manchester City on Sunday. “He has not yet trained with the group. We hope to have him back very soon. He is such an important player for us in many ways.” Frederico Fernandez, Jamal Lewis, and Paul Dummett are all off the celebratory schedule and likely with muscle injuries for most of January. The Tynesiders are forced to make at least one move after Isaac Hayden receives his fifth warning of the season.
Norwich City
Dean Smith will speak at his scheduled press conference on Friday. Team news will follow.
Southampton
After returning to the training grounds, Ralph Hasenhüttl reveals that Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong are in the running. Adams (thigh) has missed the last two while Armstrong has spent most of the season battling a persistent calf discomfort. Willy Caballero appears to be keeping his place in goal without speaking about Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy’s fitness until mid-January. Adam Armstrong is the only other cause for which no COVID cases have been reported at the Southampton warehouse.
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte will speak on Friday after Spurs advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a win over West Ham. Team news will follow.
West Ham United
On Friday, David Moyes will hold a media briefing with updates on Michail Antonio (COVID-19) and Aaron Cresswell (rear) who are high on the agenda. Team news will follow.
