We have the latest Premier League team news
We have the latest Premier League team news

Boxing Day Premier League Team News


It's a bumper festive round of Premier League action on Boxing Day, with nine games. We wrap up all of the team news for each game, with the hope of some Christmas crackers.

Fulham v Wolves

Diogo Jota scores against Newcastle
Diogo Jota could miss out for Wolves on Boxing Day

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri has no fresh injury problems ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Wolves.

Winger Ryan Sessegnon missed Saturday's goalless Premier League draw at Newcastle with a groin strain and could return as the Londoners attempt to build upon a first Premier League clean sheet of the season on Tyneside.

There was no place either for midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa as he recovers from a knock, but Ranieri reported an otherwise clean bill of health after the 90 minutes at St James' Park.

Diogo Jota is likely to miss out for Wolves as he continues to battle a hamstring injury. Boss Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed the forward remains a doubt having missed Friday's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Conor Coady and Ryan Bennett are one caution away from a suspension ahead of the yellow card amnesty.

Burnley v Everton

Aaron Lennon has undergone knee surgery
Aaron Lennon has undergone knee surgery

Burnley are likely to host Everton on Boxing Day with the same squad which fell to defeat at Arsenal on Saturday.

Midfielder Robbie Brady recovered from a knock to start at the Emirates Stadium, where Sean Dyche's side lost 3-1.

Winger Aaron Lennon (knee), goalkeeper Nick Pope (shoulder) and left-back Stephen Ward (knee) will be absent - with midfielder Steven Defour unlikely to be back having missed out on the squad over the weekend with a calf complaint.

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye could return to the squad for the trip.

The Senegal international has missed the last two matches with a groin problem, but is closing in on a comeback, while Yerry Mina could replace Kurt Zouma in defence after the on-loan Chelsea centre-back's poor performance at the weekend.

Gueye's return could be timely as fellow midfielder Andre Gomes was forced off with a knee injury against Tottenham on Sunday.


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Crystal Palace v Cardiff City

Christian Benteke celebrates
Christian Benteke remains sidelined for Palace

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (back) and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate are expected to return for Crystal Palace's Boxing Day Premier League clash against Cardiff.

Full-back Martin Kelly (adductor) is doubtful but has not yet been ruled out by manager Roy Hodgson and will be assessed.

Striker Christian Benteke (knee) remains on the sidelines but is making encouraging progress and could return in the coming weeks.

Joe Bennett could be back in the mix for Cardiff.

The full-back missed Saturday's 5-1 home defeat against Manchester United after being forced off at Watford the previous weekend, but Cardiff boss Neil Warnock says that he has returned to training.

Danny Ward is out, though, while Jazz Richards has been battling to overcome a hamstring problem.


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Leicester City v Manchester City

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Leicester will make a late decision on whether to hand striker Jamie Vardy a second start in five days in the Boxing Day clash with Manchester City.

Former England star Vardy netted the winner in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Chelsea, having now fully recovered from previous groin issues.

Foxes boss Claude Puel will leave it late to gauge Vardy's readiness for another start though, with Matty James and Daniel Amartey still long-term absentees.

Manchester City will check on midfielder Fernandinho after the Brazilian missed Saturday's loss to Crystal Palace with a thigh problem.

The game may come too soon for David Silva (hamstring), although the playmaker has returned to light training, while defenders Vincent Kompany and Danilo are again doubtful.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy (knee) and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo (Achilles) are long-term absentees.

Liverpool v Newcastle

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Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return for the Boxing Day visit of Newcastle after missing the last two matches with a foot injury.

Naby Keita is expected to resume training ahead of the game after sustaining a foot injury and bruised ribs at Wolves on Friday.

Centre-backs Joe Gomez (fractured leg) and Joel Matip (broken collarbone) remain sidelined for another three to four weeks.

Newcastle will be without Ki Sung-yueng for the Boxing Day trip to Anfieldd after as he heads off to the Asian Cup.

Central midfielder Ki was required to meet up with the South Korea squad in Abu Dhabi ahead of next month's tournament by December 26 and with Jonjo Shelvey struggling to shake off a thigh injury, Isaac Hayden could come into contention.

Defender Ciaran Clark missed Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham because of an ankle problem, although Federico Fernandez was included among the substitutes after recovering from a calf injury, but keeper Karl Darlow (elbow) is still out.

Manchester United v Huddersfield Town

Romelu Lukaku celebrates his goal against Fulham
Romelu Lukaku remains unavailable for Manchester United

Romelu Lukaku looks likely to miss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first home match as caretaker manager as Manchester United face Huddersfield on Boxing Day.

The Belgium international was given time off due to a private matter and missed the trip to Cardiff, where fellow forward Alexis Sanchez was absent through injury.

Defenders Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian were also missing in the Welsh capital, as were full-back Antonio Valencia and midfielder Scott McTominay.

Huddersfield boss David Wagner is hopeful midfielder Jonathan Hogg will be available for the Boxing Day trip to Old Trafford.

Hogg missed last weekend's loss to Southampton after taking a knock to his knee. Fellow midfielder Rajiv Van La Parra could also return nearly three months after suffering a back injury.

Tommy Smith (hamstring), Aaron Mooy (knee), Danny Williams (knee) and Abdelhamid Sabiri (collarbone) definitely remain sidelined.

Tottenham v Bournemouth

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Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli is a doubt for the visit of Bournemouth.

The England international was forced off at half-time of Sunday's 6-2 win over Everton with a minor hamstring problem and may not be risked.

Fellow midfielder Moussa Sissoko could be rested after playing all but seven minutes of the last five matches.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has no fresh injury concerns.

Captain Simon Francis (groin) and striker Callum Wilson (hamstring) each played the full 90 minutes against Albion and will be available again, while winger Ryan Fraser is pushing for a start after being restricted to a substitute appearance in that match because of a calf problem.

Defender Adam Smith and central midfielders Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling (all knee) remain sidelined ahead of the game at Wembley.

Watford v Chelsea

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Watford will have an unchanged squad for the Boxing Day visit of Chelsea.

Will Hughes (hip), Andre Gray (leg), Sebastian Prodl (knee) and Adalberto Penaranda (foot) remain sidelined for the Hornets.

Boss Javi Gracia must decide whether to rotate his squad or stick with the side which beat West Ham 2-0 on Saturday.

Alvaro Morata should be fit for Chelsea's Premier League trip to Watford on Boxing Day.

The Spain striker has been struggling with a knee problem, but is back in full training and Blues boss Maurizio Sarri is hopeful he will be ready to take on the Hornets.

Andreas Christensen may miss out again with a hamstring injury.

Brighton v Arsenal

Arsenal's Nacho Monreal
Nacho Monreal is one of many missing for Arsenal

Shane Duffy will replace Lewis Dunk in central defence when Brighton host Arsenal.

Duffy is available after a three-match ban and steps in for his usual defensive partner Dunk, who is now suspended following his red card against Bournemouth.

Wingers Alireza Jahanbakhsh (hamstring) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) are still out injured.

Arsenal's defensive injury crisis is set to continue on Boxing Day with Unai Emery likely to be without as many as five players.

Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Nacho Monreal (muscular) and Hector Bellerin (calf) are definitely out.

Emery will be hopeful that Shkodran Mustafi can shake off a hamstring issue but playing him would be a risk, while playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) will also be assessed and striker Danny Welbeck (ankle) is a long-term absentee.

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