Key events
Billy’s back at his former stomping ground, this afternoon. He always felt a little hastily discarded by Chelsea. He wasn’t alone in that.
These four fixtures feel like a test for the Premier League’s oft-fabled competitiveness. How big is the gulf between the haves and the havenots? If so, in which group do Chelsea belong? I believe we’ve seen enough of Unai Emery’s Villa to know they’re justifiably placed in the upper echelons of the league. Can Bournemouth and Fulham prove a point today?
Chelsea could sure do with a win today but the wait for Christopher Nkunku to make his debut lingers on. He’s still not fit enough to make the squad, while Cole Palmer has been restricted to bench duty after picking up a knock in the week. Thiago Silva, the club’s oldest ever outfielder, keeps his spot despite a disasterclass at St James’ Park last time out.
Back to these games and it’s six changes for Liverpool from the side that beat Lask in the Europa League on Thursday. Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Núñez all come back into the equation, with the Reds looking to continue their positive form of late. They face a Fulham side whose only previous away league win this season came on Merseyside – at Everton on the opening weekend.
There are some pretty tasty ties in that FA Cup third round, the draw for which is now concluded. Sound the Tyne-Wear derby klaxon!
West Ham v Crystal Palace lineups
West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Soucek; Kudus, Paqueta; Bowen
Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Cornet, Fornals, Benrahma, Mubama, Ings.
Crystal Palace: Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Richards, Lerma; Olise, Hughes, Ayew; Edouard
Subs: Whitworth, Tomkins, France, Clyne, Matthews, Riedewald, Ebiowei, Ahmada, Mateta
Liverpool v Fulham lineups
Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Núñez, Díaz
Subs: Adrián, Gomez, Endo, Konate, Jones, Gakpo, Elliott, Doak, Quansah
Fulham: Leno; Tete, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Pereira, Iwobi, Wilson; Jimenez
Subs: Rodak, Tosin, Ballo-Toure, Castagne, Cairney, Decordova-Reid, Willian, Lukic, Vinícius
Chelsea v Brighton lineups
Chelsea: Sánchez; Disasi, T. Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Fernández, Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Jackson, Mudryk
Subs: Bergström, Petrović, Gilchrist, Maatsen, Matos, Madueke, Palmer, Broja, Washington
Brighton: Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Baleba; Hinshelwood, Gilmour; Buonanotte, Lallanga, Adingra; Ferguson
Subs: Verbruggen, Milner, Moder, Gross, O’Mahony, Kavanagh, Boaitey, Mitoma, Pedro
Bournemouth v Aston Villa lineups
Bournemouth: Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Kluivert, Semenyo, Tavernier; Solanke
Subs: Travers, Mepham, Rothwell, Billing, Traorè, Brooks, Dango, Sinisterra, Moore.
Aston Villa: Martínez; Carlos, Torres, Konsa, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans, Luiz; Zaniolo, Watkins, Bailey
Subs: Olsen, Cash, Moreno, Lenglet, Diaby, Durán, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Iroebgunam
Before we get to team news, the FA Cup third round is about to be drawn and you can follow it with John Brewin:
Preamble
Hello and welcome to a bumper Sunday clockwatch, which comes with special thanks to the Europa League, Conference League and modern football’s insistence that dozens of games are played relentlessly on Thursday nights. Is Sunday at 2pm the new Saturday at 3pm? Sshhh. Don’t tell the traditionalists.
Anyway, we’ve got Bournemouth v Aston Villa, Chelsea v Brighton, Liverpool v Fulham and West Ham v Palace as the significant hors d’oeuvres to Manchester City v Tottenham’s main course later on. Liverpool and Villa can go to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal if they win while Chelsea can close the gap to underperforming Manchester United to just five points if they can chalk up a victory. Imagine being eight points behind this Manchester United side …
We’ll run through the teamsheets next. Do stay tuned.
