27/12/2023 Football
27/12/2023 Football – plenty of games are being played today. In the Premier League, there are games, including Everton vs. Manchester City.
27/12/2023 Football – Premier League – Brentford v Wolves
- Brentford Team Challenges:
- Defender Ben Mee starts a three-game suspension after a red card against Aston Villa.
- Frank Onyeka out due to accumulating five yellow cards.
- Brentford could miss up to 10 players due to suspension or injury.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Concerns:
- Craig Dawson’s fitness is uncertain after a knee injury against Chelsea.
- Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Boubacar Traore, and Fabio Silva are doubtful because of illness.
- Pedro Neto is nearing a return from a hamstring strain and might play.
- Match Facts and Statistics:
- Brentford’s only recent win against Wolves was in September 2021.
- Brentford’s struggle at home against Wolves, winless in their last four home league fixtures.
- The Bees’ risk of losing four consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since early 2022.
- Brentford’s issue with dropping points from winning positions, the highest in the top-flight.
- Wolves’ challenge in London, winless in 14 Premier League matches.
- Wolves’ poor away record, with only one clean sheet in 24 away league fixtures.
- Matheus Cunha’s notable performance, scoring four goals in his last seven Premier League away appearances.
27/12/2023 Football – Premier League – Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Chelsea Team News:
- Moises Caicedo might recover from illness in time for the match.
- Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer are suspended.
- Enzo Fernandez and Lesley Ugochukwu are injured and unavailable.
- Crystal Palace Updates:
- Forward Odsonne Edouard could return from a knee injury.
- The team is without Sam Johnstone, Joel Ward, Rob Holding, Cheick Doucoure, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi due to injuries.
- Match Facts and Statistics:
- Crystal Palace’s 11 consecutive league defeats against Chelsea, their longest losing streak against any opponent.
- Chelsea’s recent improvement at home, winning consecutive league matches.
- Chelsea’s challenge in London derbies, winless in four Premier League home London derbies since beating Crystal Palace in January.
- The possibility of Chelsea’s 24th competitive defeat in 2023, the most since 1978.
- Chelsea’s record of not trailing at half time in any Premier League game this season.
- Mauricio Pochettino’s past success against Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace, winning all five Premier League fixtures.
- Crystal Palace’s struggle in recent league fixtures, with only one win in their past 11 league games.
- Crystal Palace’s poor performance in midweek Premier League matches in 2023, winless in all six.
- Odsonne Edouard’s performance, scoring six goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season.
27/12/2023 Football – Premier League – Everton v Manchester City
- Everton Team News:
- Idrissa Gueye’s fitness is being monitored after an early exit in the match against Tottenham.
- Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman are fitness doubts.
- Abdoulaye Doucoure is set to miss out again.
- Manchester City Updates:
- Midfielder Rodri hopeful of being fit after an injury in the Fifa Club World Cup final.
- Top scorer Erling Haaland likely to be unavailable due to a foot problem.
- Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have resumed training but might not be ready for this match.
- Match Facts and Statistics:
- Manchester City’s pursuit of an eighth consecutive away win against Everton.
- Everton’s struggle against City, with 11 losses in their past 12 league and cup matches.
- Everton’s aim for a ninth league win of the season, surpassing their total in 2022-23.
- Everton’s attempt to win three consecutive Premier League home games, last achieved in September 2021.
- Everton’s winless streak in Premier League fixtures against reigning champions since 2012.
- Sean Dyche’s record of not winning any of his 16 league and cup fixtures against Pep Guardiola.
- Seamus Coleman approaching a club record of 354 Premier League appearances for Everton.
- Manchester City’s recent league form, with only one victory in their past six league fixtures.
- City’s challenge in maintaining a clean sheet, currently on a seven-match streak without one.
- Jack Grealish’s achievement of scoring in three consecutive top-flight appearances for the first time in his career.
- Edinburgh Derby Anticipation:
- Described as “hectic” and “unpredictable”, the Edinburgh derby is a highly anticipated fixture.
- The last meeting between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian ended in a dramatic draw after Hibs staged a comeback from a 2-0 deficit.
- Current Standings and Stakes:
- Hearts are currently third in the league, five points and three places above Hibs.
- Hibs have finished below Hearts in the past two seasons, adding pressure to reverse this trend.
- Hibernian’s Perspective:
- Hibs goalkeeper David Marshall emphasizes the importance of the derby, noting it’s not a defining game but a significant one for setting up the second half of the season.
- Marshall highlights the desire to give fans a good feeling heading into the winter break.
- Heart of Midlothian’s Outlook:
- Hearts striker and captain Lawrence Shankland, who has scored 16 goals this season, speaks about the unpredictable nature of derby matches.
- Shankland looks forward to the game, especially with it being a night fixture under floodlights.
- Hearts aim to rectify the outcome of the last derby, coming off two good results.
- Match Details:
- The match is set to take place at Easter Road, Edinburgh.
- Scheduled for Wednesday, 27 December, with a kick-off at 20:00 GMT.
27/12/2023 Football – Other Games
OTHER FOOTBALL – WEDNESDAY 27 DECEMBER
10:00am UK / 5:00am ET
FOOTBALL – LaLiga Futures
UK – Viaplay Online / LaLiga TV
South Africa – Supersport LaLiga
2:30pm UK / 9:30am ET
INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE – Mohun Bagan v Karala Blasters
UK – OneFootball
India – Sports18
4:30pm UK / 11:30am ET
FOOTBALL – LaLiga Futures
UK – Viaplay Online / LaLiga TV
South Africa – Supersport LaLiga
5:30pm UK / 12:30pm ET
SOUTH AFRICAN PREMIERSHIP – Sundowns v Swallows
South Africa – Supersport PSL
7:45pm UK / 2:45pm ET
BELGIAN PRO LEAGUE – Anderlecht v Cercle Brugge
Canada – DAZN
South Africa – ESPN Africa
USA – ESPN+
27/12/2023 Football Gossip & News
- Manchester City’s New Signing:
- Close to signing Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate.
- The 17-year-old is likely to be loaned back to River Plate until the end of the Premier League season. (Source: ESPN)
- Arsenal’s Transfer Target:
- Best positioned to sign 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.
- Inacio, who has a 60m euro release clause, is also of interest to Liverpool. (Source: A Bola)
- Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres:
- Linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, but the 25-year-old Sweden international intends to stay with Sporting Lisbon for the rest of the season. (Source: Record via 90 Min)
- Tottenham’s Potential Acquisition:
- Ready to pay £25m for 18-year-old Belgium midfielder Arthur Vermeeren from Royal Antwerp.
- The deal includes a significant upfront fee and a loan back agreement for the rest of the season. (Source: Sun)
- Jesse Lingard’s Next Move:
- Offered as a free agent to Ligue 1 side Lille.
- Brexit regulations could impact his move due to limits on non-EU state player signings. (Source: Mirror)
- Manchester United’s Interest in Joshua Zirkzee:
- Considering a move for the £26m-rated Netherlands striker, who has scored seven goals in 17 games for Serie A side Bologna. (Source: Sport1 via Metro)
- Inter Milan’s Transfer Options:
- Keen on Iran international Mehdi Taremi from Porto.
- Alternatives include Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Chelsea’s Armando Broja. (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport)
- Atletico Madrid and Juventus:
- Atletico Madrid rejected Juventus’ approach for Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul. (Source: Mundo Deportivo)
- Paris Saint-Germain’s New Signing:
- Agreed on a deal worth 20m euros for 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Moscardo from Corinthians. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)
- Raphael Varane’s Potential Return to Lens:
- The former France defender is open to leaving Manchester United to return to his starting club, Lens. (Source: L’Equipe)
- Vitor Roque’s Move to Barcelona:
- The 18-year-old former Athletico Paranaense forward has begun his contract at Barcelona after signing a seven-year deal in July. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)
Wednesday’s gossip: Echeverri, Inacio, Gyokeres, Vermeeren, Lingard, Taremi – BBC Sport
