Premier League returns with FIFA Cup hangover as a factor

• Premier League returns to action on Boxing Day.
• Arsenal’s clash with West Ham is the standout fixture of festive schedule.
• Alexis Mac will miss Brighton’s south-coast derby with Southampton.

Premier League resumes play on December 26 for the customary Boxing Day matches. Just eight days after the FIFA World Cup final in Qatar. This will have an impact on the team decisions made by various coaches in the following days.

The most important matchup is between Arsenal and West Ham at home, and all eyes will be on Mikel Arteta’s dynamic team to see whether they can maintain the form that saw them lead Manchester City by five points going into the World Cup break.

The primary cause of concern for Arteta is the World Cup knee injury sustained by striker Gabriel Jesus, which will keep him out for an extended amount of time.

William Saliba, a defender who was a member of the France team that competed in the World Cup final on December 18, is currently questionable.

As a result of Emiliano Martinez’s heroics for Argentina over the previous month, Villa’s starting goalkeeper is unavailable for Liverpool’s match against Aston Villa due to the World Cup.

While Philippe Coutinho and Jacob Ramsey are both questionable for the encounter, the team is hopeful that Martinez will be available for their upcoming fixture. After his World Cup success, Ibrahima Konate is expected to be absent for Liverpool.

With the announcement that Thomas Frank, the Brentford coach, has extended his contract through 2027, the match between Brentford and Tottenham will get underway on Monday. The southwest London team is anxious to find out whether Ivan Toney will be suspended for breaking the law on sports betting.

Richarlison is out with an injury he sustained in Qatar, so Tottenham will likely be without the World Cup winner Cristian Romero as well. The team will also wait to see how Croatian forward Ivan Perisic is feeling after a month away.

Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina will be unavailable for Brighton’s South Coast Derby matchup against Southampton, who is currently in last place with only one point from their last four games.

Frank Lampard, the coach of Everton, made it through the World Cup break, but his team is currently 17th in the league following three losses in their last five games. Wolves, who are currently in last place, are now led by former Sevilla, Spain, and Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui.

The two teams in form entering the extra period were Newcastle United and Leicester City, with Newcastle winning their past five games and Leicester winning four of their last five.

With Manchester City not playing until Wednesday, a victory for Newcastle would move them up to second. Callum Wilson, who returned from the World Cup in fine shape, will spearhead their assault.

Tuesday features two games, including Chelsea hosting Bournemouth, who appointed Gary O’Neil as their permanent manager during the World Cup break.

Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Forest had two victories and two draws in their previous five games after a sluggish start to the season before the break. The final game of the round will be played on Wednesday at Elland Road between Manchester City and Leeds United.

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