The unpredictable league fresh from the grill

By Edwin Emeanua

In the English premier league (EPL), nothing is given. Rather, everything is up for grabs as teams aim to secure their premiership status for the next season. The EPL Festivities Grill serves the final chapter of our palatable post Xmas football dish.

With the awareness that demotion to the league below comes with a huge financial cost and the loss of bragging rights, the EPL has arguably become one of Europe’s most competitive and unpredictable leagues.

The first lesson learned in the premiership is that though money can make a great team of expensive stars, shrewd but precise spending at the shark-infested transfer by poorer groups often nullifies the huge disparities between the rich and the poor teams of the EPL.

The two games on the slate today-Chelsea versus Bournemouth and Manchester United versus Nottingham Forest- are typical examples of two teams in EPL’s poor cadre roster on an away mission against two of the league’s highly prosperous sides.

Yet, it will be inconceivable that Chelsea and Manchester United will underrate their visitors when they clash later today at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford.

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Chelsea 17:30 Bournemouth
Man Utd 20:00 Nottm Forest

Chelsea versus Bournemouth

Chelsea manager Graham Potter during a press conference at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will attempt to start saving his side’s season on Tuesday as his team entertains AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League as the Blues were woefully inconsistent before the World Cup, reports Online Editors for independent.ie.

Bournemouth comes into the game with a new owner and a new permanent manager, following Gary O’Neil getting the reins after an impressive spell as caretaker.

They beat Everton in their last league outing to sit 14th before kick-off, despite losing four on the bounce before that game.

What is the team news?

The Blues have real concerns over their squad for many reasons. Wesley Fofana picked up a short-term injury in a friendly recently, so they will miss out – while Armando Borja picked up an ACL injury so he will miss the rest of the season.

N’Golo Kante is still sidelined with the issue which saw him miss the World Cup, while Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech probably won’t play as they returned late from Qatar after runs to the final weekend. Finally, there are doubts over Carney Chukwuemeka, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Ben Chilwell – but Reece James should be fit to return.

As for the Cherries, they are missing Neto and David Brooks until January, but Jefferson Lerma and Marcus Tavernier are among the key players hoping to return after illness. Lloyd Kelly is back in training after the injury.

Predicted lineups

Chelsea – Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly, James, Jorginho, Gallagher, Cucurella, Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling

Bournemouth – Travers, A Smith, Stephens, Senesi, Zemura, Christie, Cook, Billing, Anthony, Moore, Solanke

Manchester United versus Nottingham Forest

Marcus Rashford (right) scored in Manchester United’s 2-0 EFL Cup win over Burnley on Wednesday.

TEAM NEWS

The BBC reports that Manchester United is without defender Lisandro Martinez, who is still celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win.

Fellow World Cup finalist Raphael Varane could return, and Harry Maguire faces a fitness test after missing the midweek EFL Cup match with illness.

Full-back Diogo Dalet is doubtful to feature today due to a hamstring injury, while winger Jadon Sancho remains unavailable.

Nottingham Forest’s Wayne Hennessey is set to start in goal as Dean Henderson is ineligible to face his parent club.

Serge Aurier struggles to overcome a calf complaint, and Cheikhou Kouyate is out with a hamstring problem.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Manchester United has won the past six meetings in all competitions.
This is the first clash between the sides since the Red Devils won 8-1 at the City Ground in February 1999.
Forest have lost four of their five Premier League away games against Manchester United, except for a 2-1 win in December 1994 as a newly-promoted side.

Manchester United

Manchester United have won four of their past five Premier League home games, drawing the other.
Their only defeat in the previous 19 top-flight matches against newly-promoted opposition came away at Watford in November 2021 (W12, D6).
The Red Devils have lost 11 of their 34 league fixtures in 2022. They have not fared worse in a calendar year since losing 12 times in 1990.
Erik ten Hag’s side has conceded four Premier League goals at home this season, the fewest of any side.
Ten different players scored United’s last ten league goals.
Marcus Rashford needs one goal to move level with Eric Cantona on 64 in the Premier League for Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest has earned just two points from seven top-flight away games this season, and Brennan Johnson scored their only away goal in a 1-1 draw with Everton in August.
Since that draw at Goodison Park, Forest has failed to score in five Premier League away fixtures – their worst league run without a goal on the road since a seven-match goalless streak in 1970.
Jesse Lingard is set to face his former side for the first time – he scored 20 goals in 149 Premier League appearances for Manchester United between 2014 and 2022.
Morgan Gibbs-White is vying to become the first Forest player to score in three successive Premier League games since Dougie Freedman in March 1999.
Wayne Hennessey is set to make his Forest league debut. His last four top-flight appearances have come in four different years: 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Please follow and like us: