Dis weekend Premier League action go hot like fire, as Chelsea go face Manchester City for Stamford Bridge on Sunday. But di big news wey dey make wave na say Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez no go play for di match. Di Argentine wey be second captain for di club don get suspension from di team after im talk say e dey consider move to Real Madrid during international break.
Liam Rosenior, Chelsea head coach, confirm say Fernandez no go feature against City. Im talk say di player don apologise to im and di club, but di sanction still dey stand. “E no go play on Sunday,” Rosenior yarn. “But hopefully after dat, e go be massive part of di group wey dey move forward.”
Di coach add say still get some “hurdles” wey need to overcome before Fernandez fit return fully. When dem ask am if di hurdles fit affect im return against Manchester United next weekend, Rosenior simply answer: “Not for dis moment.”
Meanwhile, for injury news, Chelsea go miss plenty players. Reece James, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen all dey out. James don start to run again after hamstring problem, but e still need more time. Colwill don return to full training after serious ACL injury wey e get since August, but Chelsea dey careful with im comeback.
For Manchester City side, dem get injury wahala too. John Stones dey doubt for calf problem, while Josko Gvardiol and Rúben Dias dey out with broken leg and hamstring injury respectively.
Di match go be crucial for both teams. Manchester City dey nine points behind Arsenal for table, with one game wey dem never play. Pep Guardiola men dey look to start dia traditional strong finish for end of season. Statistics show say City don win 28 of dia last 31 Premier League games for April month.
Chelsea form dey give concern. After winning dia first four Premier League games under Rosenior, dem only win one of dia last six. Dem don lose four straight games across all competitions. Di Blues no beat Man City for dia last nine Premier League meetings – dia last win na May 2021.
Erling Haaland recent form dey give City hope. Di Norwegian striker score hat-trick against Liverpool for FA Cup, show say im don regain sharpness. Before Christmas, Haaland score 19 goals for 17 Premier League appearances. After Christmas, im only score three for 12 games.
For Saturday early kick-off, Arsenal go host Bournemouth for Emirates Stadium. Victory go make Gunners open 12-point gap at top of table before City match. Mikel Arteta side dey come from win over Sporting CP for Champions League.
Arsenal get injury concerns too. Bukayo Saka dey manage issue wey make am miss Carabao Cup final and England duty. Martin Ødegaard return from knee injury but go off against Sporting. Jurriën Timber no play since groin problem against Everton last month.
Arteta talk say some players fit return against Bournemouth, but e no sure. “I no know, some of dem,” im answer when dem ask about Saka, Ødegaard, Timber and Riccardo Calafiori availability.
Di predicted Arsenal lineup show Cristhian Mosquera fit start at right-back to help manage Ben White workload. Myles Lewis-Skelly fit play left-back if Calafiori and Piero Hincapié no fit play. Noni Madueke fit start if Saka no dey ready.
For other weekend fixtures, Liverpool go host Fulham as dia title defence don turn shambles. Arne Slot men fit be mathematically out of race by time dem kick off. Manchester United go face Leeds United on Monday after 24 days without playing.
Di Chelsea vs Man City match go kick off 4.30 p.m. BST on Sunday April 12, 2026. Referee na Chris Kavanagh with VAR Paul Howard. Di game go show on Sky Sports for UK, USA Network for US, JioHotstar for India and Stan Sport for Australia.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
