Yaya Toure looks set to miss City’s Champions League encounter with Real Madrid. Leonardo Ulloa is forced off during Leicester’s win over Swansea with a back problem, whilst Gary Cahill misses Chelsea’s win at Bournemouth due to illness.
Bournemouth
Assistant manager Jason Tindall confirmed that Max Gradel sat out Bournemouth’s defeat to Chelsea because of a dead leg:
“We’re hoping it is not too serious, we will have to assess it as the days go by”
Chelsea
Guus Hiddink revealed that Gary Cahill missed the Cherries encounter due to illness:
“Gary Cahill was with us. He was vomiting and had a problem with his stomach. He was rather weak physically.”
Looking ahead to the Blues’ double Gameweek 37 (sun & liv), Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic represent the safest routes into their rearguard right now. That being said, Chelsea recorded a solitary clean sheet in their last ten outings, with the absence of John Terry forcing Ivanovic to play at centre-half. With the Blues skipper not ruling out a return in time for next Monday’s clash with Spurs, though, Ivanovic’s prospects of attacking returns will surely take a turn for the better if he’s unleashed from right-back once again.
Leicester City
Leonardo Ulloa revealed that he suffered back spasms in the final stages of Leicester City’s win over Swansea City. The centre-forward – who was forced off in the latter stages of the 4-0 triumph – will need to be assessed ahead of a trip to Manchester United:
“In the last play I felt it a little in my back and so I will wait and see. But I feel it a little bit still.”
Having netted three goals in two appearances, Ulloa has proved pivotal to the Foxes recent displays. After missing out through suspension against the Swansea, Jamie Vardy is now set for an FA hearing on his improper conduct charge later today and any possible extension to his ban looks likely to hand Ulloa the chance to retain his starting berth, providing he overcomes his back issue.
Liverpool
Mamadou Sakho has been rendered unavailable for selection by Liverpool pending an investigation by UEFA regarding his failed drugs test. Presenting his thoughts on the situation, Jurgen Klopp said that he’s not spoken to the Frenchman since the news broke:
“I’m really limited in what I can say. There is an official statement from the club and there’s nothing else to say in this moment. I’ve had no chance (to speak to him). I’ve known since yesterday when we went to the hotel. It’s not the easiest situation that’s for sure but all we could say about this we will say next week when we know more probably. I heard about it before I made the line-up so I’ve no idea. We changed a lot of players in the last few games. There’s nothing to say about us missing Mama today.”
Nathaniel Clyne was not in contention for Liverpool’s home clash against Newcastle United due to illness.
By virtue of the Reds’ success in the Europa League, domestic fixtures have taken a back seat of late, making it exceedingly difficult to accurately predict their team sheets. Ironically, this has come at a time where Alberto Moreno has delivered his best displays of the season – the left-back has started four of the last five and has delivered one goal and three assists in his previous trio of appearances, compared to a single assist in the first 31 Gameweeks. Given that the first of their double Gameweek 37 matches – at home to Watford – takes place just three days after their second leg against Villarreal, though, investment in Liverpool remains fraught with rotation risks.
Manchester City
Both Fernando (knee) and Yaya Toure (muscular) were withdrawn against Stoke City after picking up knocks. Whilst the latter is available for tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Read Madrid, Toure – as revealed by Manuel Pellegrini earlier today – looks set to miss out and is a major doubt for the weekend visit to St Mary’s.
Pellegrini understandably rotated Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany on the weekend and looks likely to do the same at Southampton this Sunday, considering that the second leg in Spain takes place three days later. With the likes of David Silva and Raheem Sterling both recently returning from injury, the Sky Blues’ midfield is somewhat of a minefield at present, ensuring that Sergio Aguero remains the only sure-fire path into their high-powered attack.
Stoke City
Mark Hughes admitted that Ibrahim Afellay faces a nine-month spell on the sidelines following a cruciate knee ligament injury in training:
“Unfortunately, in one moment he just brought down a ball from a high position. As he came down, he landed on his knee, twisted his knee and unfortunately it looks like he’s snapped his cruciate. No one was around him, it was an innocuous moment. He’s going to be out for nine months which is a real shame for the kid because he’s had an outstanding season. He’s had difficulties in the past with injuries but this year he’s played almost every game week-in, week-out. It’s a real shame for him and us.”
Elsewhere, Hughes said that Shay Given suffered a groin injury in the first half at the Etihad:
“He felt his groin about 20 minutes in. He felt he could get to half-time, but couldn’t continue after that.”
Nonetheless, reports suggest that the Irish shot-stopper’s problem is not serious as the Potters prepare for the visit of Big Sam’s Sunderland.
Watford
Etienne Capoue had to be stretchered off at the 32-minute mark of Watford’s FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace due to a knee injury. Quique Sanchez Flores conceded that the prognosis doesn’t look great for the French enforcer:
“We’re not sure but it’s serious. It was impossible for us to keep him on the pitch, which was a pity because he is one of our main players. It is his knee but we don’t know exactly what the injury is. I imagine he’ll have a scan tomorrow.”
