Premier League news: Palmer available again for Chelsea, Moyes targets Bridge bonus

1. Maresca ‘relaxed’ about Chelsea’s wobble

Enzo Maresca said he will not let a disappointing run of results force him into ripping up his plans for the season. The head coach’s team have stumbled into December with two defeats and a draw that have brought about a frank reassessment of the team’s Premier League title credentials, as well as denting their European ambitions. A strong run last month had lifted them to second. But the euphoria created by the stunning 3-0 win over Barcelona and brave resistance with 10 men when drawing 1-1 with the Gunners has evaporated.

Maresca’s team are winless in the league since 22 November and after taking one point from games away against Leeds and Bournemouth, there is a nervousness surrounding Saturday’s meeting with Everton at Stamford Bridge. With the deteriorating mood around the club, the Italian insisted now is not the time to overreact.

“For us, November was fantastic but we haven’t started December the way we would like,” he said. “Nine days ago we played Leeds. We’ve had three games in a row where we didn’t get the results that we expect. It’s football. It’s completely normal. We’re always looking for problems. Leeds was eight-nine days ago. In nine days we’re not going to change our season because we didn’t get the points we expect. I’m completely relaxed. We dropped points because it’s football.”

Cole Palmer is available to start on Saturday having been left out of the squad for the midweek defeat to Atalanta, while Wesley Fofana has recovered from the knock to the face he received in Bergamo and is also fit. Maresca, though, was unable to say how long Liam Delap will be out with the shoulder injury he sustained in the goalless draw with Bournemouth. PA Media

2. Moyes targets Stamford Bridge breakthrough

David Moyes admitted he could only have dreamed Everton would be riding so high in the table at this stage of the season, but accepted the challenge now is to maintain their lofty position. Four wins out of five have moved Everton to within a point of Manchester United and Saturday’s opponents Chelsea in seventh and a rare win – they have not been victorious at Stamford Bridge since 1994 – would briefly lift them into fourth.

“We are on a good run and we know it could easily change. We’ve won four out of five, but it could go the other way and it wouldn’t necessarily mean that you are doing that badly, I just think the league is that tight. But if we want to keep ourselves in and around it we are going to have to keep picking up big results like we did at Old Trafford, like we did at Bournemouth, winning a home game against Nottingham Forest.”

Everton manager David Moyes wants his team to maintain their good form. Photograph: David Blunsden/Action Plus/Shutterstock

Moyes believes a key component of their success has been not only retaining the core of their senior players, but bringing in proven talent in players such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The duo, together with Iliman Ndiaye, have been vital to their success.

“We were desperate for Premier League experience, players who could play in the league, players who could make sure we were keeping away from the wrong end,” the Scot added. “Even now going into future windows we still need that as we are not ready yet to go and pluck out the best youngsters. We want to now build on that and use it as the building blocks to get better and I think with the likes of Kiernan, Jack, Thierno and Tyler [Dibling], I hope those boys all go on to be good players in the future.” PA Media

3. Arteta says Jesus will stay

Mikel Arteta has insisted Gabriel Jesus will not be sold and can be Arsenal’s first-choice No 9. Jesus made his injury comeback as a second-half substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Club Brugge on Wednesday after 11 months away. The Brazil international, 28, brings an extra dimension to Arteta’s frontline but he has just 18 months to run on his contract.

After splashing out £64m on Viktor Gyokeres and with Kai Havertz, albeit sidelined with a knee injury, another striking option, Arsenal could be tempted to cash in on Jesus before his deal expires. However, speaking before Arsenal’s match against Wolves at the Emirates on Saturday, Arteta said: “No, I don’t consider that [selling him], especially with the situation that we have right now.

“Gabriel has a lot to offer to the team and he’s proven that straight away in the first minute that he was available to play. He’s put so much to be in this position again and now the focus is to be with us.”

Gabriel Jesus after Arsenal’s midweek win in Bruges. Photograph: David Winter/Shutterstock

Arteta was without eight players for their midweek Champions League clash. The Spaniard would not comment on whether any of Declan Rice, who missed out on the trip to Belgium through illness, and some of the other shorter-term absentees such as William Saliba, Leandro Trossard and Jurriën Timber would be available to face Wolves. PA Media

4. Frank hopes for some Solanke ‘good news’

Thomas Frank is bored of questions about the fitness of injured forward Dominic Solanke, but hopes for “good news” on him soon. Solanke’s fitness has been a regular topic of discussion in Tottenham head coach’s press conferences this season given the £65m striker has only made three appearances.

Pushed further on if he had kicked a ball yet, Frank smiled: “I’m happy to answer all these questions. I’m just a little bit bored of it because let’s talk about Forest, it’s much more interesting.” PA Media

5. Bowen crucial to Nuno’s escape plan

Nuno Espírito Santo is hopeful a fit Jarrod Bowen can help propel his team away from the Premier League relegation zone. Bowen has been the Hammers’ best player of a tough season so far and scored a brilliant goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw away at Brighton. Nuno’s team are in the relegation zone and two points adrift of safety before Sunday’s meeting at home to Aston Villa.

“I hope [Bowen] can be involved in every minute because what he gives to the team is huge,” said Nuno. “He leads by example, but if the situation comes (that he gets injured), I have a group of players who I believe can contribute in the aspect of leadership.”

Nuno said he was hoping for an improve defensive showing for the visit of Unai Emery’s team. With 29 goals conceded, West Ham have the joint-third worst defensive record in the league. “We haven’t achieved a clean sheet yet,” said Nuno. “That is something we need to do. There is improvement. But not total improvement.” PA Media

6. Forest double down on Aina’s availability

Nottingham Forest are standing firm in their stance that full-back Ola Aina was not fit enough to go to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria. The right-back has not played since suffering a serious thigh injury in a World Cup qualifier for his country in September. He is nearing a return to fitness after surgery and the Nigeria Football Federation repeatedly asked Forest whether he was fit enough to be included in their squad for the tournament in Morocco.

However, Forest insisted the player would not be able to go and he was subsequently left out of the Super Eagles squad. Sean Dyche said: “It’s just that he’s not fit. He hasn’t been fit, he’s still not fit. He hasn’t played any football yet. So, that’s all we can offer to that situation, that he’s still not fit. We’ve made that very clear.”

Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina. Photograph: Andrew Kearns/CameraSport/Getty Images

Forest will lose Ibrahim Sangaré to the competition, though, as he has been named in the Cote d’Ivoire squad. “He’s done well since we got to the club and he’s kind of earned his place back into the side because when we came in it was like a fresh set of eyes for me and my staff,” Dyche added. “That’s the way it goes, these are the sort of challenges we’ve got as a club.” PA Media