Key events
Anyway, some collected team news. Matthijs de Ligt is missing with illness for Manchester United for whom Joshua Zirzkee replaces Rasmus Hojlund as the central striker. Chelsea have dropped Noni Madueke for Pedro Neto. Aaron Ramsdale, who made that disastrous choice to be a pundit on Saints’ game v Spurs last week, is fit to start.
Dear, departed Russell Martin had the look of an indie-rocker, in one of those bands like Biffy Clyro or Foals. But the new man, Ivica Juric, well he’s into the real stuff.
“I started at 14 years old with Metallica and Megadeth, then I moved on to more aggressive things. Death metal is my passion, bands like Napalm Death, Obituary and Carcass.”
From playing the ball out the back to the equivalent of this? Yes, please. The vocals sound a bit like Sean Dyche, actually.
Will Unwin, who is our reporter at Leicester today, tells me that “Pereira makes his mark by starting eight native Portuguese speakers” in the Wolves team.
Leicester v Wolves teams
Leicester: Ward, Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Soumare, Skipp, El Khannous, Ayew, Mavididi, Vardy. Subs: Iversen, Faes, Okoli, Winks, De Cordova-Reid, Choudhury, Daka, Thomas, Buonanotte.
Wolves: Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Bueno, Toti Gomes, Doherty, Joao Gomes, Andre Trindade, Rodrigo Gomes, Goncalo Guedes, Cunha, Larsen. Subs: Johnstone, Hwang, Dawson, Doyle, Forbs, Bellegarde, Meupiyou, Cundle, Pedro Lima.
Everton v Chelsea teams
Everton: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye. Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Beto, O’Brien, Chermiti, Coleman, Lindstrom, Armstrong.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson. Subs: Jorgensen, Madueke, Joao Felix, Nkunku, Casadei, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Veiga.
Fulham v Southampton teams
Fulham: Leno, Robinson, Bassey, Diop, Castagne, King, Berge, Wilson, Cairney, Iwobi, Muniz. Subs: Benda, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Lukic, Godo, Jimenez, Traore, Vinicius.
Southampton: Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Wood, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Sugawara, Fernandes, Downes, Aribo, Dibling, Armstrong. Subs: McCarthy, Ugochukwu, Manning, Lallana, Sulemana, Bree, Fraser, Onuachu, Archer.
Man Utd v Bournemouth teams
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia, Mainoo, Ugarte, Amad, Fernandes, Zirkzee. Subs: Bayindir, Yoro, Evans, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund, Collyer.
Bournemouth: Kepa, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Christie, Adams, Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara, Evanilson. Subs: Travers, Aarons, Cook, Billing, Brooks, Hill, Kinsey, Winterburn, Unal.
Rashford not named in Manchester United squad
That’s the word ahead of the teams being named at 2pm. The romance is at an end.
Some EFL news, per PA Media: Fleetwood sack Adam
Fleetwood have sacked boss Charlie Adam with the club 18th in the Sky Bet League Two table. The 39-year-old former Scotland midfielder, appointed last December, departs the Cod Army after Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Barrow.
Owner Jamie Pilley said in a statement on the club’s official website on Sunday: “I’d like to personally thank Charlie for his commitment and professionalism over the last 12 months. He’s been a pleasure to work with, but recent results meant we felt a change was necessary. I wish him well for the future.”
That managerial news this weekend.
Preamble
Sunday, it’s the new Saturday. Get more used to this, especially with next year’s TV deal. Anyway, on with this season, where Chelsea are the team chasing down Liverpool, up against Everton, under new ownership. Talking of which, there’s new management in at Southampton, who go to Fulham and Wolves, who host Leicester. Plus the Manchester United living soap to watch through the fingers as they take on Bournemouth.
So, it all kicks off at 2pm but team news and news to follow soon. Join me.
