Brighton & Hove Albion

Roberto De Zerbi on the milestone of a 50th Premier League game in charge of Brighton when they visit derby rivals Crystal Palace:

"Tomorrow is the best game for us to celebrate this - I'm really proud and I've been lucky to stay here.

"We have a big motivation to win the game for the table but especially for our fans because we know the importance of the game and the level of difficulty of the game.

"It should be an honour to play in this atmosphere, for us it is a motivation - the dream to win away in a derby game is a big motivation to not sleep tonight.

"We have to be focused on the pitch, playing our style, keeping our eye on the ball and being focused on what we have to do."

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking about injuries in the squad before Thursday's game at Crystal Palace:

On Joel Veltman, who came off with a knee problem against Arsenal at the weekend: "The injury is not so big but I think he will be out for a couple of months."

On the possibility of Danny Welbeck starting after he came off the bench at Emirates Stadium: "Not yet but it's important for us if he is just available to play part of the game. He changed the game on Sunday and we know the importance of Danny in the team."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police are continuing to work together to try and identify the supporter who went onto the pitch to confront Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka at Stamford Bridge last night.

As yet, no arrests have been made.

It probably goes without saying that the normal club punishment in situations like these would be a stadium ban.

We're expecting to hear from new Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo in the next hour.

No sign of him yet in the press room but he has been spotted posing for pictures out on the pitch at the City Ground so it may not be long.

In the meantime, we've got an update on the pitch invader at Stamford Bridge last night and then words from Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, who has been speaking to the media ahead of the Seagulls clash with Crystal Palace tomorrow night...

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "I think there is still a lot more to come from us with the ball. We need to be better and will be better the more work we do on the training ground.

"It is getting that balance right so we need to work on both aspects of the game. If we sit back on the edge of the box or on the crossbar then we're going to get down, it's going to come whatever time it happens. It's going to happen.

"The attitude and approach is key for me and I've been delighted with that from the players.

"It's difficult learning on the job in the Premier League, it's a young group but no excuses, we're in the arena and we've got to compete.

"I'm learning by the day, I'm a sponge looking at people and different situations and scenarios, reflecting about the group."

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder on Rhys Norrington-Davies: “Hopefully we'll try to get him some more game time but he's hitting full speed on the training ground. It's just the match fitness that he is short of.

"He might have to get that in the first team. But all credit to the medical team and the boy because it was a serious injury and there was some real concern for Rhys' future.

"People should never be critical because players never go out to be injured. It is the worst situation they can have when they're out injured.

"I don't think people realise how tough it is. Their love is football and they're getting restricted through injury and it is no fault of their own.

"They deserve a slice of luck and hopefully Rhys will have that and Rhian [Brewster] will have that, too."

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder on transfers: “If we have to, the recruitment department is there and has options.

"We've talked about it and the board are on the same page: there are certain areas that we'd like to improve on and there are certain layers who are surplus and are really not going to play a part in the second part of the season.

"Let's be decisive, let's be front foot and make those decisions.

"There are a lot of players that I'm still getting to know now and that will only expand in time but there are certain ones that when you're a football manager close to January, you have to make quick decisions on based on what you feel and what you see.

"There will be opportunities in the next three or four weeks. January window doesn't shut until the end of the month and players who may think they're out of the picture will get an opportunity."

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder on Cameron Archer: “He's available.

"You know more than me and I'm not getting involved in that [buyback clause]. I'm committing my time and energy into the short-term tactical stuff.

"But he is available and that is good news."

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "We've got to keep improving. We're learning on the job in the hardest league in the world.

"That's the hardest part of it. I'm sure they'll be some leeway towards myself and the staff because of the lack of time we've got on the training ground with all the games.

"You've got to cram as much in as possible but don't overdo it so they're not spent. You need their energy on the pitch.

"They've got to take in a lot of information because we've had a change in formation to have they're used and a different approach."

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder on injuries: "There are a couple of reoccurring injuries that players have got that have resurfaced so that's disappointing because we need everybody available.

"We've just got to pick the right team, look at it and we can't risk players coming back and re-injuring themselves so we have to a sensible approach.

"We'll look at it from a tactical point of view and see what is the best way of getting a result at Villa Park. From a personnel point of view, slot those players into that formation.

"There are plenty of games and we'll approach every game on its merit, firstly Villa on Friday night. That has to be our 100% focus.

"We can do something about the injuries medium-to-long term but at the moment I'm really relying on what the physios tell me in terms of who is and isn't available."

Sheffield United

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder on injuries: "It does effect the window. There are issues we need to resolve medium to long term, short term as well because we've got a few issues leading up to that game.

"It's not ideal because you want your strongest team going to Villa Park and we're not going to have all our players.

"It's still a young and naive group in terms of Premier League experience and age as well. Whoever we pick we expect and a demand a committed, together performance because, if not, you can get pulled apart at places like Villa Park.

"You get exposed against Liverpool at home, Brentford at home if you're not together. So we need to produce one of those Sheffield United performances that helps us to be competitive."

Sheffield United

More from Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: “[Unai Emery] has got a great squad to work with but he is obviously a world-class operator in terms of what he's won and achieved in Europe.

"He's moved that work into Villa very quickly. The majority of us are not surprised by the effect he's had on that team."

Sheffield United

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: “What is it, 15 wins out of 15 at home [for Aston Villa]? It's a tough place to go but I've always loved going there, both as a player and a manager. I've had some good experiences there.

"It doesn't come much tougher. They're on a fabulous run and are an incredibly well coached team with outstanding individuals and a chance for them to go top of the division on Friday night.

"We've got a lot of issues that we've got to solve on the night but there's no point getting on the bus if you don't believe. You've got to have confidence in your own ability and your team's ability to get a result."

Next up for Villa, of course, is a Friday night game at home to Sheffield United as Unai Emery's side bid to extend their remarkable 15-match Premier League winning streak at Villa Park.

And Blades boss Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media about the challenge of ending that run...

A quick bit of breaking news that will come as little surprise to those who witnessed the final few minutes of Aston Villa's 2-1 win at Brentford on Sunday.

Brentford and Aston Villa have both been charged with breaches of FA Rule E20.1 following their Premier League meeting.

Brentford allegedly failed to ensure that their players did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way during the 85th minute. It’s further alleged that the club failed to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way during the 98th minute.

Villa face the same charges but that they additionally failed to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or violent way during the 98th minute.

Both clubs have until Friday, 22 December, to provide their respective responses.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace

Finally from Roy Hodgson, a few words on goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who made only his second Palace start against Manchester City after club and international team-mate Sam Johnstone's injury:

"We are very pleased with his performance and it was a tough ask because he didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.

"It was a case of Sam getting injured during the course of the game against Liverpool and then another game coming up not much longer after that.

"So everyone was delighted with him, and delighted for him, and he did extremely well - how the competition between the two will pan out time will tell but one should never complain about having two really good goalkeepers."

Crystal Palace

On the importance of the home derby against the Seagulls, Palace boss Roy Hodgson said:

"We are aware of the extra expectation the fixture against Brighton brings.

"The players are very much aware, even the ones who came into the club late - everyone knows this is a big game, Palace v Brighton, and it’s one where we have to step up and give our best performance.

"I know they will be well prepared and the way they play causes every team problems but it is up to us to make sure we are as prepared as we can possibly be when the referee blows his whistle."

Crystal Palace

Eagles boss Roy Hodgson on the confidence boost from Saturday's 2-2 comeback draw at Treble winners Manchester City:

"I think it’s a double boost because I would link back to the Liverpool game as that was a good performance too – a performance that should have given us something to take away from the game.

"But certainly the way the players performed in that game was very consoling and gave us a lot of hope and expectation that we would come out of this bad period as the players come back from injury.

"I think the Man City game just confirmed that really and even had we lost that game 2-1 I would still have been feeling pretty good about the way the team is performing, the spirit, the energy the determination."

Crystal Palace

Palace boss Roy Hodgson on taking the positives from a six-game winless run that has coincided with a spate of injuries:

“We have had a real boost with the emergence of some of the younger players coming through when they have been given a chance to get on to the field - which has happened a lot with the number of injuries we’ve had.

"It also gives us cause for great hope and belief that the future is going to be bright for the club and the team.

"But of course it’s the immediate future that is the most concerning and tomorrow night we want to get back to winning ways if we can."

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has provided an injury update on his squad before the Eagles' visit to Brighton.

He says Jefferson Lerma is making much quicker progress than expected from a hamstring injury suffered against Liverpool on 9 December but Joel Ward will definitely remain sidelined "for a while".

Hodgson added that Eberechi Eze is "on the cusp" of returning and the manager will have to decide "whether to start him or protect him".

Image source, Getty Images