EPL adopts Marseillaise in tribute

‘La Marseillaise’ will drift out across Premier League stadiums this weekend as English football continues its show of solidarity with France over last week’s devastating terror attacks in Paris.

Fans of France and England united for a moving rendition of the French national anthem prior to Tuesday’s Wembley friendly and the rousing battle hymn is to be played again before each of this weekend’s 10 games.

With the English top flight’s French contingent — 72 players and two managers — still reeling from the shock of the attacks, which left 129 people dead and over 350 injured, it is a move that has been widely welcomed.

“I think it’s a nice gesture of solidarity,” said Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger, whose side, co-leaders with Manchester City, visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez, whose team host Frenchman Remi Garde’s Aston Villa, said: “I think we all experienced the feelings surrounding the game between England and France on Tuesday.

“It was a fantastic vehicle for showing solidarity and what the game of football can do, and I think this weekend would be exactly the same.”

On the pitch, the weekend’s stand-out fixture is Liverpool’s meeting with joint-leaders City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Liverpool went six games unbeaten following Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as manager, but fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace prior to the international break that left them in 10th place.

City remained top of the table after a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa, but their lead over Arsenal has been whittled down to goal difference.

Both sides could welcome back their key strikers, with City talisman Sergio Aguero and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge both in contention after absences of seven weeks with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be back in the dug-out for his side’s home game with Norwich City, having been banned from the stadium as the champions crashed 1-0 at Stoke City on their previous outing.

Chelsea go into the weekend just three points above the relegation zone in 16th place and Mourinho will find himself pining for the tranquility of the international break if his team misfire again.