CHELSEA WILL BID to put the Diego Costa crisis behind them when the Premier League leaders host Hull, with the Spanish international and manager Antonio Conte now best of friends again.
Costa reportedly clashed with Conte last week over the club’s treatment of his back injury and missed the 3-0 victory over Leicester, prompting reports that he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge.
Conte kept his players focused as they went on to crush the champions despite the absence of their prolific striker and now it appears the Blues boss has smoothed any troubled waters ahead of Sunday’s visit of Hull.
Conte has refused to acknowledge there was even a dispute with Costa, but it will be instructive to see if he restores the notoriously volatile star to his starting line-up with so much at stake in the title race.
“Yes, I think the player wants to stay at Chelsea. This idea (to move) is far from his mind,” Conte said on Friday when asked if Costa was available to face Hull.
“Diego is a good player. He’s a good person. Now he’s only focused on Chelsea.
“I’m sure about his commitment, his will to fight with this team to try to win the title.”
2. All eyes on Pep and City
Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
With Chelsea not playing until Sunday evening, second-placed Tottenham could close the seven-point gap on their London rivals when they travel to Eastlands on Saturday.
City’s 4-0 thrashing at Everton last Sunday was the heaviest league loss of Pep Guardiola’s glittering managerial career and left them languishing 10 points behind Chelsea after a second defeat in their last three league games.
That prompted Guardiola to write off City’s title hopes and led critics to question whether the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona chief can succeed in England.
Advertisement
Tottenham pose another threat to Guardiola’s equilibrium after reeling off a six-game winning run.
But Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, who handed Guardiola his first defeat as City boss in October, is certain his rival will eventually make his mark.
“Guardiola is one of the best managers. It is difficult to come to a new club and bring a new philosophy but he is doing very well. I am sure he will be a success,” Pochettino said.
With his squad short on energy and inspiration in recent weeks, Guardiola could freshen up his attack by giving a debut to teenage Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, who officially completed his move from Palmeiras this week.
“I’ve watched the Premier League and I noticed it’s very hard, intense style of play,” Jesus said.
“I hope to adapt as quickly as possible in the first contact I have with the game.”
3. Liverpool’s chance to apply the pressure
Dave Thompson
Dave Thompson
They may have faced a 293 mile round-trip to Plymouth mid-week but Liverpool should have few problems of accounting for bottom of the table Swansea at Anfield in the weekend’s early kick-off.
The Reds can keep the pressure on Chelsea with Jurgen Klopp’s side sitting seven points behind the leaders in third place after losing ground in the title race following a frustrating 1-1 draw at bitter rivals Manchester United last weekend.
Liverpool are targeting their first Premier League win of 2017 by exacerbating Swansea’s struggles and you can’t see anything but a home win.
The division’s bottom club travel to Anfield with new manager Paul Clement admitting that the encounter provides a bigger obstacle than lining up against Arsenal last time out, which ended in a 4-0 defeat.
“We are away from home against title contenders who play good football and defend with a lot of energy,” was his assessment and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to see his side return to their devastating best on Saturday.
The Reds are looking to record their fourth league double over the Swans following their 2-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium back in October.
4. The ultimate test for Mourinho’s United
Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
Manchester United’s visit to Stoke offers the chance to exorcise some bad memories as Jose Mourinho’s side target a push towards the top four.
United’s lowest point of last season came in this fixture when, amid fevered speculation about Louis van Gaal’s future as manager, they performed woefully and slipped to a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat.
United have made slow progress since Mourinho replaced Van Gaal in the close-season, but a 12-match unbeaten run in the league has moved them within four points of the Champions League places.
“Stoke have got some very good players and we know it’s probably not the same going there now as it was seven or eight years ago,” United midfielder Michael Carrick said.
5. Long needs to seize his chance
Petr David Josek
Petr David Josek
After netting his second goal of the season against Norwich in the FA Cup midweek, Shane Long needs to use the confidence boost to kick on and return to his prolific best during the second half of the campaign.
The Ireland international has struggled in front of goal this term and has been in and out of Claude Puel’s side, unable to secure his starting position for any extended period.
Southampton welcome Leicester to St Mary’s on Sunday and having proved to be the match-winner on Wednesday, Long will be pushing for a start.
With Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales fast approaching, it’s important the striker is firing on all cylinders and that’ll only happen if he’s playing regular football.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Costa, Pep and Shane Long - 5 talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend
1. Costa and Conte are friends again (apparently)
CHELSEA WILL BID to put the Diego Costa crisis behind them when the Premier League leaders host Hull, with the Spanish international and manager Antonio Conte now best of friends again.
Costa reportedly clashed with Conte last week over the club’s treatment of his back injury and missed the 3-0 victory over Leicester, prompting reports that he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge.
Conte kept his players focused as they went on to crush the champions despite the absence of their prolific striker and now it appears the Blues boss has smoothed any troubled waters ahead of Sunday’s visit of Hull.
Conte has refused to acknowledge there was even a dispute with Costa, but it will be instructive to see if he restores the notoriously volatile star to his starting line-up with so much at stake in the title race.
“Yes, I think the player wants to stay at Chelsea. This idea (to move) is far from his mind,” Conte said on Friday when asked if Costa was available to face Hull.
“Diego is a good player. He’s a good person. Now he’s only focused on Chelsea.
“I’m sure about his commitment, his will to fight with this team to try to win the title.”
2. All eyes on Pep and City
With Chelsea not playing until Sunday evening, second-placed Tottenham could close the seven-point gap on their London rivals when they travel to Eastlands on Saturday.
City’s 4-0 thrashing at Everton last Sunday was the heaviest league loss of Pep Guardiola’s glittering managerial career and left them languishing 10 points behind Chelsea after a second defeat in their last three league games.
That prompted Guardiola to write off City’s title hopes and led critics to question whether the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona chief can succeed in England.
Tottenham pose another threat to Guardiola’s equilibrium after reeling off a six-game winning run.
But Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, who handed Guardiola his first defeat as City boss in October, is certain his rival will eventually make his mark.
“Guardiola is one of the best managers. It is difficult to come to a new club and bring a new philosophy but he is doing very well. I am sure he will be a success,” Pochettino said.
With his squad short on energy and inspiration in recent weeks, Guardiola could freshen up his attack by giving a debut to teenage Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, who officially completed his move from Palmeiras this week.
“I’ve watched the Premier League and I noticed it’s very hard, intense style of play,” Jesus said.
“I hope to adapt as quickly as possible in the first contact I have with the game.”
3. Liverpool’s chance to apply the pressure
They may have faced a 293 mile round-trip to Plymouth mid-week but Liverpool should have few problems of accounting for bottom of the table Swansea at Anfield in the weekend’s early kick-off.
The Reds can keep the pressure on Chelsea with Jurgen Klopp’s side sitting seven points behind the leaders in third place after losing ground in the title race following a frustrating 1-1 draw at bitter rivals Manchester United last weekend.
Liverpool are targeting their first Premier League win of 2017 by exacerbating Swansea’s struggles and you can’t see anything but a home win.
The division’s bottom club travel to Anfield with new manager Paul Clement admitting that the encounter provides a bigger obstacle than lining up against Arsenal last time out, which ended in a 4-0 defeat.
“We are away from home against title contenders who play good football and defend with a lot of energy,” was his assessment and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to see his side return to their devastating best on Saturday.
The Reds are looking to record their fourth league double over the Swans following their 2-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium back in October.
4. The ultimate test for Mourinho’s United
Manchester United’s visit to Stoke offers the chance to exorcise some bad memories as Jose Mourinho’s side target a push towards the top four.
United’s lowest point of last season came in this fixture when, amid fevered speculation about Louis van Gaal’s future as manager, they performed woefully and slipped to a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat.
United have made slow progress since Mourinho replaced Van Gaal in the close-season, but a 12-match unbeaten run in the league has moved them within four points of the Champions League places.
“Stoke have got some very good players and we know it’s probably not the same going there now as it was seven or eight years ago,” United midfielder Michael Carrick said.
5. Long needs to seize his chance
After netting his second goal of the season against Norwich in the FA Cup midweek, Shane Long needs to use the confidence boost to kick on and return to his prolific best during the second half of the campaign.
The Ireland international has struggled in front of goal this term and has been in and out of Claude Puel’s side, unable to secure his starting position for any extended period.
Southampton welcome Leicester to St Mary’s on Sunday and having proved to be the match-winner on Wednesday, Long will be pushing for a start.
With Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales fast approaching, it’s important the striker is firing on all cylinders and that’ll only happen if he’s playing regular football.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Liverpool target €15m-rated Joe Hart, Ashley Young to get €18m and all today’s transfer gossip
Is 23-year-old Paul Pogba really to blame for other people’s expectations of him?
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Analysis Barclays Premier League Premier League Talking Points