Premier League Midweek Preview – Diego Costa May Return

With two Premier League games to be played this midweek Co-Editor Kevin Kelly gives you a quick preview of both with team news for each team on show. 

Hull City vs. Liverpool

Team News: Mohamed Diamé who has made two appearances from the bench in April since returning from four months’ absence with a knee injury, is in contention to start but Nikica Jelavic (knee), Andrew Robertson (ankle) and Curtis Davies (thigh) are all expected to miss out.

Liverpool are again without striker Daniel Sturridge and are unsure when he will be fit to return. Adam Lallana (groin) returned as a substitute in the goalless draw at West Brom on Saturday but defender Mamadou Sakho (thigh) and midfielder Lucas Leiva (thigh) are not expected to be in contention until Saturday when QPR visit Anfield.

More from Chelsea FC

• Tuchel has eyes on Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah
• Permanent move of Cobham graduate Lewis Hall to Newcastle United
• Chelsea are not pleased with the Lukaku-Vlahović swap deal
• Chelsea joins the race against Liverpool for Romeo Lavia
• Blues select Reece James as captain and Chilwell is new vice-captain

Insight: Liverpool’s trips to the KC Stadium have become wrought with frustration in recent years, with the Yorkshire club’s ability to catch out an often ponderous Liverpool becoming a source of much ire for Liverpool fans. Hull’s home record against The Reds includes the 0-0 draw in May 2010 after their relegation had been confirmed and which turned out to be Rafa Benítez’s last match as Liverpool’s manager and last season’s 3-1 defeat in December.

The most recent meeting, a 0-0 draw at Anfield in October, preceded three defeats for Liverpool, when City had their third-string keeper Eldin Jakupovic to thank for the point. Tonight’s game will be marked by a largely absent Liverpool away end, who are protesting against rising ticket prices.

Leicester City vs. Chelsea

Team News: Nigel Pearson confirmed on Monday that he would field his strongest available side instead of resting some players with Saturday’s visit of Newcastle in mind. There are doubts over Jeff Schlupp and David Nugent who missed the victory over Burnley with calf injuries while Jamie Vardy had to take a painkilling injection on the weekend, so may not be risked either.

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Chelsea on the other-hand are likely to be able to call upon Oscar, despite suffering a strong blow to the head on Sunday from Arsenal keeper David Ospina. Diego Costa may be fit to return but Jose Mourinho is not certain to risk him: “I have to think about if it deserves a gamble or we wait a few more days to be really sure.” Loic Remy should miss the trip but is in contention for the squad to play Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Insight: Victory would mean only Arsenal could conceivably catch them and three points from their remaining four games would seal the title. The Blues have won on four of their last eight visits to Leicester and lost only twice, while pertinently Jose Mourinho’s side have lost only two games all season.

Diego Costa may return, alleviating the pressure on an inconceivably stretched Chelsea squad, given their resources. Leicester on the other hand have won four successive Premier League games, lifting out of the bottom three for the first time since October, and will be buoyed by recent form. Nevertheless the prospect of racing a revitalised Diego Costa will surely put hope of a surprise result for Leicester on the backburner, given the Brazilian-born striker’s undeniable skill.