Chelsea host West Brom in an early kick-off today with Semi Ajayi doubtful if he will be in action despite not injured. The Nigerian featured prominently in the Baggies’ opening 24 games of the season but his team coach, Sammy Allardyce has relegated him to the bench in the last few games after his red card of 20th February 2021 against Burnley at Turf Moor. Allardyce had stuck to the partnership of Kyle Bartley and Dara O’ Shea since after that fiasco. It is unknown if Allardyce will give the Super Eagles midfielder a chance knowing that he has contributed two crucial goals despite playing in defence. West Brom lost their last game against Crystal Palace before the international break. They are 19th with 18 points on the log after 29 matches and need a positive result against in-form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Still smartling from their 5-0 thrashing of Shefield United and their striker, Kelechi Iheanacho being named the EPL Player of the Month for March, Leicester City will trade tackles with the runaway league leaders, Manchester City at the King Power Stadium tonight. The Foxes are third on the log with 56 points from 29 games and will overtake Manchester United in the second spot with a home win but they are up against Josep Guardiola’s men who have only lost a game in over 20 matches.
Wilfred Ndidi just returned from the Super Eagles camp after he and his teammate, Iheanacho help their nation to pick the 2021 AFCON ticket with vital wins over Benin Republic and Lesotho. Ndidi with 17 games and a goal is expected to start while in-form Iheanacho could be up against his former club too having scored five goals in his last three games. He has featured in 16 games with six goals in the league alone.
At the Villa Park, Aston Villa will be eyeing a home win against relegation-haunted Fulham tomorrow. Fulham with the duo of Ola Aina and Josh Maja who are players of the Super Eagles and Tosin Adarabioyo and Ademola Lookman who are Nigeria eligible will hope to return to winning ways after their 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United. Aina, Adarabioyo, Lookman, and Maja are expected to start against Aston Villa with over 80 matches under their belts and eight goals too as they continue their push towards EPL retention at the end of the season.
At the Goodison Park, Alex Iwobi will be eyeing his 26th game of the season for Everton who host Crystal Palace on Monday night after a dramatic week for him during his sojourn with the Super Eagles in the AFCON qualifiers. Iwobi was alleged to have contracted Covid-19 on Saturday in Porto Novo against Benin Republic but he made a miraculous recovery and was on the start list of Nigeria in their 3-0 home win over the Crocodiles of Lesotho. The Toffees need a home win after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Burnley before the break. Iwobi was available for the whole duration of that game.
