1. ‘Best player’ Palmer to return against Arsenal

Cole Palmer is available for Chelsea’s Premier League top of the table meeting with Arsenal, Enzo Maresca said on Friday, with the midfielder’s return providing a boost as the Blues look to close a six-point gap on their London rivals at the top of the table.

The 23-year-old England international stubbed his toe on a door, fracturing it and further delaying his return after a groin injury had already limited his availability this season. “He is available to start and to play,” Maresca said. “Everyone is happy.”

Palmer has made only four appearances for Chelsea across all competitions this campaign, scoring twice. Since joining from Manchester City in 2023, he has recorded 45 goals and 29 assists in 101 matches for the Blues. “He is our best player, we are happy he is back, we need to give him time to be 100% fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very good for this club in the future,” Maresca said. Reuters

2. ‘No reason’ given for Gueye’s failed red-card appeal

Everton have failed with an appeal against Idrissa Gueye’s red card for fighting with his teammate Michael Keane in Monday night’s 1-0 win at Manchester United. Gueye saw red 13 minutes into the match at Old Trafford, slapping Keane as they argued over a misplaced pass, and then needed to be hauled away by Jordan Pickford before the referee Tony Harrington sent off the veteran midfielder for violent conduct.

Gueye immediately apologised and it was all smiles during training this week as he and Keane staged a mock boxing match on social media, but the 36-year-old Senegal midfielder must still serve a three-match ban which leaves Everton shorthanded for Saturday’s match against Newcastle.

“We have appealed it and our appeal was turned down,” Moyes said. “We haven’t been given any reason why it was turned down but we did appeal it.” Asked if there had been any further fallout this week, Moyes added: “It was over immediately, it was done, that was it, we moved on quite quickly and it was all sorted within the dressing room.” PA Media

3. Wissa trains for first time at Newcastle

Yoane Wissa, who suffered a knee injury days after his arrival at Newcastle from Brentford in September, has trained with his new club for the first time, Eddie Howe said on Friday, without disclosing a possible return date.

Newcastle signed the striker for £55m to replace Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for a British record transfer fee. But the 29-year-old was injured on national duty before he was due to make his Newcastle debut.

“He is doing well, he trained with us for the first time on Wednesday, so I was really pleased with how he looked. That’s his first time competitively with the group. Let’s see how he responds today,” Howe said in the buildup to Saturday’s game at Everton. “We’ve got [a return date] in mind, but it’s probably best if I keep that to myself. We don’t want to disappoint anyone. Of course, we want to involve him as soon as possible.”

Kieran Trippier, however, will be sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury. PA Media

4. Liverpool slump ‘doesn’t matter’, insists Nuno

Nuno Espírito Santo insists Liverpool’s poor form “doesn’t really matter” as West Ham prepare to take on the ailing Premier League champions. Arne Slot’s side may have lost six of the last seven in the Premier League to drop out of the top 10, but the Hammers’ head coach maintains there can be no sense of complacency on Sunday at the London Stadium.

“Liverpool is a good team and in football, what matters is what you do on the day,” Nuno said. “So what we expect is the champions of the Premier League, players that are talented and capable of doing good things, so we have to get ready.

“The history of the results before, the form of the teams, doesn’t really matter. It is about the day. Knowing that we are going to face a very good team, that has players capable of doing fantastic things, so we have to get ready, to compete.”

West Ham will have Lucas Paquetá available after suspension, while Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos are stepping up their recovery from injury. PA Media

5. Gibbs-White in frame to face Brighton

Sean Dyche hopes Morgan Gibbs-White will be fit for Nottingham Forest’s home match against Brighton on Sunday. The England international missed Thursday’s Europa League saunter against Malmö with a back injury. “Hopefully it’s settling down,” the Forest manager said as he prepared to face Fabian Hürzeler’s side, who have taken seven points from their past three matches.

“It’s like a bad back, but a waking-up sort of injury, one where you just sleep funny or twist funny. So we’re not expecting, 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 3-0 European win and Dyche said the defender “should be fine”. Ola Aina (thigh injury, Douglas Luiz (thigh), Dilane Bakwa (hamstring), Chris Wood (knee) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip) are expected to miss out. PA Media

6. Glasner: European loss will not peg back Palace

Oliver Glasner feels the disappointment of Thursday night’s Conference League defeat in Strasbourg is a sign of how far Crystal Palace have come in looking to be challenging on two fronts. The FA Cup winners went ahead at Stade de la Meinau through Tyrick Mitchell’s first-half goal, only to be pegged back by Liam Rosenior’s side, who moved up to second in the table.

The Eagles return to the Premier League at home against Manchester United and Glasner is confident his side can keep themselves in contention for the top four. “Maybe like the late defeat at Everton, it just feels that it was completely unnecessary and it is our fault,” Glasner said. “On the other side, we have to accept it. The effort was there but it is a game we shouldn’t definitely lose. It just shows how much it means for this club and then of course everybody is playing on their top level, highly motivated.”

Glasner confirmed Borna Sosa would not be available for Sunday’s game after he did not travel to France, but Will Hughes, who went off during the first half against Strasbourg, should be in the matchday squad. PA Media