MATCHDAY: Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Spurs play on Boxing Day

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday with Premier League only major competition in action with its Boxing Day program:

ASTON VILLA vs CHELSEA

Aston Villa manr Steven Gerrard is hoping to have eugh players available after last match against Burnley was postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak. Keinan Davis, Marvelous Nakamba, Morgan Sanson, Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Leon Bailey were all unavailable with a variety of problems, but Gerrard confirmed “a couple” of players were back in contention. Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi can return for Chelsea. forwards were two of eight Chelsea players out with COVID-19 but y are back in training. Defender Andreas Christensen is also in contention after a back injury. Blues were angry ir match at Wolverhampton last weekend, which y drew 0-0, was t postponed like six or Premier League games were. Thomas Tuchel's team has slipped to six points behind leader Manchester City in third place after drawing its last two games.

BRIGHTON vs BRENTFORD

Striker Danny Welbeck is poised to end a three-month injury absence for Brighton. Midfielder Pascal Gross and forward Neal Maupay are also expected to be available after missing Brighton's loss to Wolverhampton but defender Lewis Dunk is out. Adam Webster has returned to training after injury and could be in contention and ar defender, Shane Duffy, returns after serving a one-match ban but midfielder Yves Bissouma is suspended. Brentford striker Ivan Toney is pushing for a starting spot having returned to action against Chelsea in midweek League Cup loss after a spell out with COVID-19. Bees have t played in Premier League for two weeks after matches against Manchester United and Southampton were postponed.

MAN CITY vs LEICESTER

Jack Grealish and Phil Foden could return for leader Manchester City after being left on bench at Newcastle last week for disciplinary breaches. Defender Kyle Walker will hope to return after a fitness issue while forward Ferran Torres, currently sidelined with a broken foot, looks to have played his final game for club as he nears a move to Barcelona. Leicester manr Brendan Rodgers is hoping his players will bounce back quickly from losing on penalties to Liverpool in quarterfinals of League Cup. More injuries were sustained in process — striker Jamie Vardy played last 20 minutes with a tight hamstring while defenders Caglar Soyuncu and Ricardo Pereira were forced off — which does t make task any easier against champions. Leicester has a decent recent record against City, with two wins in last four meetings. But after two successive fifth-placed finishes, Rodgers’ FA Cup winners have lacked ir usual spark this season, winning just six of ir 16 Premier League matches to sit in ninth approaching midway point.

RWICH vs ARSENAL

rwich manr Dean Smith is again dealing with coronavirus concerns, with last-place club waiting on PCR results to determine who will be available having seen previous game at West Ham called off. Milot Rashica (groin) is t yet back in contention, while Mathias rmann (pelvis) is set for an extended spell on sidelines. Arsenal is expected to be without foward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a fifth consecutive match following recent internal disciplinary action. Sead Kolasinac (ankle) is also absent while Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and Albert Sambi Lokonga have all tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days. Arsenal strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, who have scored nine goals between m this season, are out of contract next summer and free to talk to overseas clubs in January. Arsenal travels to rwich in fourth place with Emile Smith Rowe its leading scorer this season with eight goals in all competitions.

TOTTENHAM vs CRYSTAL PALACE

Tottenham manr Antonio Conte has new injury concerns, although Ryan Sessegn misses out again with a muscular problem. Crystal Palace will be without James McArthur due to a hamstring injury. south London club has t played for 10 days after last weekend’s match at Watford was postponed due to opposition dealing with a coronavirus outbreak and w Palace has infections in squad. Tottenham is in seventh place, six points behind fourth-place Arsenal but with three games in hand, while Palace is 11th.

WEST HAM vs SOUTHAMPTON

West Ham is set to be without Michail Antonio after he tested positive for coronavirus. Aaron Cresswell (ribs) remains doubtful while Vladimir Coufal serves a one-game ban for his recent dismissal at Arsenal. Southampton manr Ralph Hasenhuttl has a decision to make over his goalkeeper after Fraser Forster returned to training, with Willy Caballero deputizing in last two games. Stuart Armstrong, Che Adams and Adam Armstrong have recovered from recent injuries so are back in contention.

POSTPONEMENTS

Three of nine matches scheduled for Sunday were postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks: Burnley vs. Everton, Liverpool vs. Leeds and Wolverhampton vs. Watford.