Estêvão’s Stardust Gives Maresca Dilemma
Chelsea fans have fallen hard for Estêvão Willian. They want the Brazilian prodigy to play as much as possible but Enzo Maresca has tried not to rush him.
The head coach has handed the 18-year-old four league starts this season and could put him back on the bench when Chelsea host Arsenal on Sunday. The more exciting move, though, would be to throw Estêvão in from the start after his wonder goal against Barcelona. The youngster is fearless.
There is a logic to going with more experience against Arsenal, however, and Estêvão is one hell of an impact player to bring off the bench. It is easy to envisage Maresca bringing João Pedro back into the team and starting with Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho on the flanks. But Estêvão has the Stamford Bridge crowd drooling over his every move.
Maresca has a tricky decision to make as he plots how to help Chelsea cut Arsenal’s six-point lead at the top.
*Chelsea v Arsenal, Sunday.
Nuno Needs New Strategies Vs Wounded Liverpool
Nuno Espírito Santo’s defensive substitutions during West Ham’s draw with Bournemouth did not go down well. West Ham had no outlet and blew a 2-0 lead after following up Luis Guilherme’s half-time removal by replacing Callum Wilson with Tomas Soucek early in the second half.
In fairness to Nuno, he is not working with a deep squad. The absence of Lucas Paquetá and Crysencio Summerville limited his attacking options and it is worth pointing out that bringing Soucek on for Wilson, who is yet to complete 90 minutes this season, had worked during recent wins over Burnley and Newcastle.
However, the Soucek-Wilson swap probably has a limited shelf life. Opponents will work it out. Nuno needs to find alternative ways to put his bench to use when West Ham host wounded Liverpool on Sunday.
*West Ham v Liverpool, Sunday.
Palace No Longer Fear Man U
There was a time when the prospect of facing Manchester United at Selhurst Park sent shivers down the spines of Crystal Palace fans.
Between 1991 and 2021, United won nine and drew four of their 13 league visits to south London, having previously lost on only a handful of occasions – albeit including a famous 5-0 thrashing inspired by two goals from Don Rogers in 1972.
How times have changed. Palace haven’t lost to United at home since July 2020 and have won three of their last four Premier League games against them, including two victories at Old Trafford and a 4-0 annihilation inspired by Michael Olise in May 2024.
United face the prospect of failing to score against the same opponents in five consecutive league games for only the third time in their history if they can’t find a way to break down Oliver Glasner’s watertight defence.
Ruben Amorim will be hoping his side can take advantage of any tiredness in Palace’s legs after their Conference League exertions on Thursday.
*Crystal Palace v Manchester United, Sunday.
City Must Get Title Challenge Back On Track
On Tuesday night Pep Guardiola was contrite after his 10-man reshuffle of Manchester City backfired in the dire 2-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen.
Expect, then, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias and other frontline acts to be restored against visitors who won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in April 2021 but have lost the four games since by a 16-2 combined margin.
Leeds arrive third-bottom with 11 points from 12 games and City, despite losing two in a row for a second time this term after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, really should win. If not then their title credentials really will be questioned.
*Manchester City v Leeds, Saturday.
Shaky Trust In Iroegbunam As Gueye’s Gaffe Could Hurt Everton
Everton’s lenient treatment of Idrissa Gueye after his extraordinary red card at Manchester United does not cloud the fact that the experienced and influential 36-year-old has cost his team at a point when momentum appears to be building.
It is unlikely he would have received applause from teammates or been spared a public admonishment from David Moyes had Everton’s heroic efforts at Old Trafford gone unrewarded.
Everton may be without Gueye until the new year, depending on when he is called up by Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations. His absence could be felt immediately, with Newcastle, despite failing to win on the road in the league this season, not exactly short of high-calibre midfielders and runners able to break the lines that Gueye usually protects.
With the summer signing Merlin Röhl recovering from a hernia operation, Tim Iroegbunam appears best placed to benefit from the veteran’s prolonged absence.
The 22-year-old has impressed in spells and must seize the chance for a consistent run.
*Everton v Newcastle, Saturday.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Pep Guardiola will hope to feel happier in the camera’s glare at home to Leeds on Saturday.
