Late Fitness Check - GW33
In a truncated set of Premier League fixtures this weekend Saturdays’ match-up between Chelsea and Manchester United is arguably the pick. Anything less than a win for Louis van Gaal will extinguish any lingering hopes of an unlikely title but if his side are to secure 3-points then he will have to do it the hard way with a number of key players missing the trip to Stamford Bridge.
An FA Cup semi-final tie against Aston Villa will keep Liverpool busy on Sunday and Pellegrini must seize the opportunity to extend the gap having dropped to fourth following back-to-back defeats. City have endured a terrible 2015 and would sit in 9th place if the league had started on New Year’s Day.
Newcastle are looking to avoid their sixth consecutive defeat - equalling their worse run in Premier League history - this weekend as Tottenham arrive on Tyneside. The Geordie faithful are planning to boycott the match with as many as 16k supporters expected to protest against the Mike Ashley regime. A win for the away side will keep their European aspirations alive as they battle it out with Southampton and Liverpool.
Game week 33 promises to deliver yet another fabulously entertaining set of match-ups and with nine teams still teetering below the magical ‘40’ point mark the season run-in will be anything other than a formality.
Crystal Palace – vs – West Brom
Alan Pardew is expecting to have the same squad which travelled to the Stadium of Light last time out although James McArthur [illness] and Pape Souare [dead leg] will be checked. Martin Kelly is an option at left-back but don’t expect too many changes following the emphatic win against Sunderland. Joe Ledley continues to manage an ongoing hip complaint while Jordon Much and Fraizer Campbell [both hamstring] are closing in on a return.
West Brom are at risk of being dragged into the relegation dog-fight having lost 3-games on the bounce whilst conceding 10-goals in the process; Tony Pulis will be looking to go back to basics in an attempt to strangle the Palace attack. Boaz Myhill hasn’t enjoyed the best of times since replacing the injured Ben Foster but the Baggies’ back-up stopper is usually pretty solid while defensively there are lots of options from the bench. Chris Baird and Jonas Olsson were frozen out on GW32 while Andre Wisdom has been nothing more than spectator for the past two months. Callum McManaman will be hoping for some game time after stepping up his recovery from a foot injury by playing for the under-21s on Wednesday. Victor Anichebe is on standby should Brown Ideye fail to recover from a training ground knee injury "Browny has got a little bit of a knock so we're not sure if he will be fit to start or not. We're hoping that he will be.” Youssouf Mulumbu begins his 2-match ban for accumulating ten cautions.
Everton – vs – Burnley
Romelu Lukaku joined the main group this week and providing the striker does not suffer any reaction he will “play against Burnley." Aiden McGeady has also recovered from a minor back issue but Bryan Oviedo is taking longer than expected; the defender will target a return in early May. Leon Osman "may be fit" after limping off at the Liberty, a scan earlier this week came back positive and his groin injury is not as bad as originally feared. Steven Pienaar could be introduced onto the left hand side of midfield or Martinez may consider a reshuffle with Kevin Mirallas making a start following his recover from injury “I’ve been working hard with the physio, I feel really fit 100%. I feel good for the next six games and I hope to play a lot.” Darron Gibson and Tony Hibbert remain sidelined.
Burnley are “more or less” at full strength minus long term absentees Kevin Long and Dean Marney [both ACL] who won’t return until later this year. Sean Dyche made it 4-games unchanged against Arsenal and the Clarets displayed enough for the manager to keep faith. Matty Taylor, Ross Wallace and Steven Reid will all be considered for the squad adding a wealth of experience to the bench. With no clean-sheets in 13 on the road Burnley will need to improve if they hope to secure a win away from Turf Moor.
Leicester City – vs – Swansea City
Two consecutive wins have given Leicester a lifeline but Nigel Pearson admits “We've got to keep producing. Home form must improve.” Squad-wise only Zoumana Bakayoko [ACL] and Conrad Logan [toe] are ruled out; Anthony Knockaert and Liam Moore played for the under-21s against Everton on Thursday afternoon as they build their fitness. Dean Hammond and Matthew Upson are available despite not making the match-day squad in recent weeks. One potential change could see Riyad Mahrez return for Marc Albrighton who was a surprise inclusion for the win at the Hawthorns.
Nelson Oliveira has overcome a minor ankle injury and the Benfica loanee is favourite to spearhead the Swansea attack with Bafetimbi Gomis out for a month although Marvin Emnes may feel a little aggrieved following his introduction from the bench against Everton "Everyone needs to take their opportunity. They are all playing for their positions, that's what I want. If Nelson gets his chance, as Marvin did last weekend, then hopefully he takes it." Jefferson Montero is back amongst the ranks leaving Tom Carroll and Kyle Naughton in the treatment room. Garry Monk has a decision to make as Neil Taylor starts a 2-game ban; Jordi Amat could slot in at right-back with Angel Rangel moving onto the left or Swansea could adopt a 3-5-2 which has been worked on in training this week.
Stoke City – vs – Southampton
A freaky Friday at Stoke has left three players nursing injury; Marc Muniesa is definitely out because of a slight issue with his hamstring. Marc Wilson took “a knock to his wrist but hopefully that will settle down overnight,” while Erik Pieters “is a little bit sore too, but he should be okay.” Peter Odemwingie has been with the group for two sessions now “and came through everything, we will bide our time but we do want to get him on the pitch before the end of the season." On-loan winger Victor Moses has returned to Chelsea for treatment on his hamstring strain which could end his campaign "It may well be his is over unfortunately because of the type of injury he has got. It's a shame because Victor has done really well since he's been with us. He was our shining light in the early part of the season.”
Maya Yoshida was preferred to Nathaniel Clyne against Hull City and Ronald Koeman cited fatigue as the reason behind his decision "It's about freshness. It's just a rest for the player," although the rumour mill remains in overdrive as the defender delays a contract extension with Manchester United allegedly winning the race for his signature. Victor Wanyama picked up his tenth yellow of the season handing James Ward-Prowse an opportunity while Graziano Pelle grabbed his first competitive goal since December in last weekends’ win and the Italian will want to build upon that as the Saints realistically “Focus on fifth, sixth and seventh." Filip Djuričić [ankle] is still out but Florin Gardos will be added to the squad. Koeman is hopeful Jay Rodriguez will join the first team in training from next week with a view to featuring in the final game of the season at Manchester City.
Chelsea – vs – Manchester United
Jose Mourinho "doesn't know" if Loic Remy will be fit to face Manchester United "but he has a chance; better than 50/50.” The French striker picked up a knock prior to the trip to Loftus Road in GW32 but the issue is only considered to be minor meaning he should make the squad; whether Remy is utilised from the bench or starts is another question. Diego Costa is recovering well with a return to training pencilled in for next week; the Spanish striker could in theory make GW34 but Chelsea will err on the side of caution and keep Costa for the following weekend. No other fitness concerns.
Last weekends’ derby win came at a cost for United as no fewer than four players picked up problems ruling the quartet out of the trip to Stamford Bridge. Daley Blind [ankle] was left feeling the after-effects of a reckless Vincent Kompany challenge while Michael Carrick has not recovered the calf problem which meant van Gaals’ men finished the game with ten men. Phil Jones [ankle] and Marcos Rojo [abdominal] are also out which means a major reshuffle. In defence the fit-again Luke Shaw is likely to come in on the left but centrally van Gaal may go for someone like Paddy McNair who hasn’t started a game since mid-February. However it’s the loss of Carrick that will cause the biggest headache as without Blind United lack a holding midfielder; Wayne Rooney playing in a deeper role is an option which would open the door for Radamel Falcao as Robin van Persie builds his fitness. Juan Mata will play against his former employers. Jonny Evans is suspended.
Manchester City – vs – West Ham
City look to have suffered a similar fate to their red counterparts after Sundays’ bruising local derby with Pellegrini also confirming that three of his players picked up problems during the mauling at Old Trafford. Vincent Kompany pulled “a muscle injury” following his reckless challenge on Blind, which in truth could’ve easily been a red “We don’t know if he will be fit before the end of the season." Gael Clichy and James Milner are also ruled out but Dedryck Boyata has been passed fit. Wilfried Bony and Stevan Jovetic are still not ready; Aguero will be deployed as the lone striker.
Enner Valencia has recovered from a foot problem and with Diafra Sakho ruled out – possibly for the season with a thigh strain - Carlton Cole could partner the Ecuadorian. A last minute Arnautovic strike denied West Ham victory last weekend; the Hammers’ lead the division with the most points lost [7] from goals scored in the 90 [+] minute. With only 1 win from 10 Sam Allardyce will be hoping his side can complete their first ever Premier League double over Manchester City following their [2-1] win earlier this season to help ease the pressure and mounting unrest at the club.
Newcastle United – vs – Tottenham
Fabricio Coloccini will return to the Newcastle squad after missing the previous 3-games through suspension and the Argentine is likely to partner Mike Williamson in the heart of defence with Vernon Anita dropping out. Yoan Gouffran or Sammy Ameobi could come in for the suspended Moussa Sissoko but Carver will consider his options before any the decision is made. Newcastle may choose a diamond formation with Jack Colback acting as the shield with Remy Cabella at the point or United may adopt a more orthodox 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1. Siem de Jong played 45 minutes for the development side this week but Sunday is likely to come too soon while Paul Dummett has also stepped up his rehab following knee surgery. Rolando Aarons has been sent to see a specialist after suffering a "reaction" during his recovery from a hamstring injury “We weren’t quite sure, so we scanned him, and have referred him to a specialist for a third opinion." The Magpies are aiming to avoid six straight defeats.
Mauricio Pochettino will hand Hugo Lloris [knee], Jan Vertonghen [illness] and Kyle Walker [ankle] late fitness tests but all are considered “doubtful.” If the trio do miss out then Michel Vorm will continue to deputise in goal with Vlad Chiriches forcing Eric Dier out onto the right and Fazio covering centrally. DeAndre Yedlin played 90 minutes for the USA on Wednesday and the full-back will be assessed ahead of the trip to St James’ Park. Tottenham drew a blank last week against Aston Villa and have went over 200 minutes without a goal away from White Hart Lane.
