Saturday, November 13
Aston Villa (10) v Man Utd (2)
Aston Villa are likely to have eight first-team squad members unavailable. Carlos Cuellar (calf) is definitely out while fellow defender Habib Beye is also struggling after twisting his ankle in the warm-up against Blackpool. Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew, Emile Heskey, Steve Sidwell and Fabian Delph are out, while striker Gabriel Agbonlahor could come into the starting line-up after making his comeback from groin surgery as a substitute against Blackpool.
Manchester United are hopeful of having Patrice Evra available. The France full-back limped out of Wednesday’s Manchester derby with an ankle injury, which it was felt would keep him out of the Villa Park encounter. However, Evra trained today and could be involved, unlike Rafael who is sidelined by a dead leg, and Paul Scholes, who is suspended.
Last season: Aston Villa 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 0 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L D D W; Man Utd D W W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 5; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 7
Match odds: H 7-2 A 5-6 D 12-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Man City (4) v Birmingham (17)
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is preparing to make changes. With such great depth to his squad, the City chief is keen to use it as the Blues tackle their third game in a week, having collected four points from their meetings with West Brom and Manchester United. Mario Balotelli serves the second game of a three-match ban but Adam Johnson and Emmanuel Adebayor are amongst those who will hope for a recall.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has no fresh injury concerns with James McFadden (knee ligament) the only long-term absentee. Colin Doyle is expected to again deputise as back-up keeper to Ben Foster while Maik Taylor recovers from a shoulder problem. Full-back David Murphy could be in contention for a place amongst the substitutes after returning to training following a hamstring injury. McLeish has to decide whether to restore playmaker Alexander Hleb to the starting line-up after leaving him out for the midweek defeat at Stoke.
Last season: Man City 5 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 0 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City W L L W D; Birmingham L W D D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 7; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 4
Match odds: H 4-9 A 6-1 D 10-3
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
Newcastle (5) v Fulham (15)
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton begins a three-match ban. Ryan Taylor, who would have been one of the candidates to replace Barton, is out with an ankle injury. Shola Ameobi (hamstring) faces a late fitness test and James Perch (ankle) could be available. Leon Best (ankle) is back in training but Steve Harper (shoulder), Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Dan Gosling (knee) remain on the casualty list.
Fulham have no fresh injury concerns. Carlos Salcido remains sidelined for more than a fortnight with ankle ligament damage and fellow defender Chris Baird (thigh) is also missing, although he could return for next weekend’s match against Manchester City.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Newcastle D W W W L; Fulham L L W D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Andy Carroll & Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 7; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 5
Match odds: H 10-11 A 16-5 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Stoke (16) v Liverpool (9)
Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross is back in contention after serving a suspension following his red card at Sunderland. Manager Tony Pulis will assess Ricardo Fuller having hinted the striker, only recently returned from a shoulder injury, could be rested. Tuncay is in the squad after being rested for the 3-2 win over Birmingham on Tuesday.
Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole and defender Glen Johnson have both been ruled out. Cole has missed the last three matches with a hamstring problem while Johnson has been sidelined for two games with a groin injury. Centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos is set to return after missing matches against Chelsea and Wigan with tonsillitis while goalkeeper Brad Jones (shoulder) is fit to take his place on the bench. Midfielder Raul Meireles will be assessed after being forced off at half-time with sickness against Wigan in midweek.
Last season: Stoke 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 4 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Stoke L L L L W; Liverpool L W W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 5; Steven Gerrard & David Ngog (Liverpool) 7
Match odds: H 11-4 A 1-1 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Tottenham (7) v Blackburn (13)
Tottenham could have an entire team out injured and only one fit striker to face Eight players are definitely sidelined, with a further three rated doubtful, including Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Roman Pavlyuchenko (back) and David Bentley (calf). Robbie Keane (ankle) and Aaron Lennon (hamstring) remain sidelined, and Giovani dos Santos (groin) is also out, joining captain Ledley King (groin), Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) in the treatment room.
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns, although Benjani Mwaruwari, Martin Olsson, Steven Nzonzi, Keith Andrews and Vince Grella are yet to regain full fitness. Striker Jason Roberts is pushing for a start having come off the bench to score the winner in Rovers’ last two games.
Last season: Tottenham 3 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches: Tottenham W D L L D; Blackburn D L L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Roman Pavlyuchenko & Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 7; Mame Diouf (Blackburn) 4
Match odds: H 8-13 A 5-1 D 13-5
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
West Ham (20) v Blackpool (14)
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble will out as he continues his comeback after having his appendix removed. Striker Carlton Cole sustained a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw with West Brom and is subject to a fitness test. Midfielders Jack Collison (knee) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) remain on the long-term injury list while Tal Ben Haim (foot) and Zavon Hines (knee) are also out.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway must decide how many of the 10 players he left out of Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa. The Premier League are investigating whether Holloway fielded a weakened team but the Tangerines manager was adamant the players deserved their chance and admitted yesterday they have given him a major headache for Upton Park. Defender Craig Cathcart will also be in contention after a scan on his knee problem came back clear and he could replace Dekel Keinan, who hobbled out of the game at Villa Park.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Ham D L L D D; Blackpool L L W D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Parker & Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 5; Charlie Adam & Marlon Harewood (Blackpool) 4
Match odds: H 4-5 A 13-5 D 5-2
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Wigan (18) v West Brom (11)
Defender Steven Gohouri returns to Wigan’s squad after the Ivorian was suspended for the midweek draw against Liverpool. As Ronnie Stam excelled at right-back he may have to settle for a place on the bench. Emmerson Boyce is still out with a muscle problem while James McCarthy’s ankle ligament injury will keep him out for a few more weeks.
West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans is doubtful after he picked up a foot injury in the match against West Ham. Nicky Shorey has an ankle injury, but the club are hopeful that both players will be available. Ishmael Miller has a stomach strain, picked up in training, and will miss the match but Yussuf Mulumbu is back from suspension.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wigan D D L L D; West Brom D W L L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Charles N'Zogbia & Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 4
Match odds: H 7-5 A 19-10 D 23-10
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Wolves (19) v Bolton (6)
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will check on a trio of players injured against Arsenal in midweek before finalising his side. Midfielder Dave Edwards was substituted after only eight minutes with a thigh muscle injury while defender Stephen Ward suffered a gashed leg in a challenge by Cesc Fabregas. Striker Kevin Doyle also broke a bone in his hand in the 2-0 defeat. Centre-back Jody Craddock (hip) and right-back Ronald Zubar (ankle) are still out.
Bolton striker Johan Elmander is doubtful as he has been unwell with a virus and came off in the second half of the draw with Everton in midweek. His replacement Ivan Klasnic went on to open the scoring and is pushing for a place in the team as is Martin Petrov. Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel and Sean Davis are all still sidelined.
Last season: Bolton 1 Wolves 0, Wolves 2 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Wolves D L W L L; Bolton W D L W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Steven Fletcher & Nenad Milijas (Wolves) 3; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 5
Match odds: H 11-8 A 2-1 D 9-4
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Sunday, November 14
Chelsea (1) v Sunderland (8)
Chelsea will be without Frank Lampard and Michael Essien through injury and suspension respectively. Lampard will be out for at least another three weeks after he broke down in training yesterday with an adductor muscle injury following hernia and tendon problems. Striker Nicolas Anelka, who missed the 1-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday with a back injury, is fit to play but defender Alex is out with a knee problem. Essien starts a three-match ban after being sent off against Fulham for his lunge on Clint Dempsey.
Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who has missed the last two games, continues to battle a hamstring injury suffered in training. Manager Steve Bruce is hopeful his leading scorer will be fit for Everton’s visit to the Stadium of Light a week on Monday. Defender John Mensah (dislocated shoulder) is out along with fellow defender Anton Ferdinand (hamstring). Midfielder David Meyler continues to work his way back towards full match fitness after a knee injury, while Fraizer Campbell (also knee) remains on the sidelines.
Last season: Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: Chelsea D W W L W; Sunderland D W L W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10; Darren Bent (Sunderland) 8
Match odds: H 2-9 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Everton (12) v Arsenal (3)
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini as the Belgium international begins a three-match ban for his sending off in the draw with Bolton in midweek. John Heitinga could return after missing out on Wednesday with a minor knee problem and Jack Rodwell (ankle) is also getting closer to a start after three games as an unused substitute. Victor Anichebe (knee), Leon Osman (ankle) and Ross Barkley (broken leg) remain on the sidelines.
England left-back Kieran Gibbs returns to the Arsenal squad following a knee injury. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow), centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) and defender Laurent Koscielny (suspension) remain unavailable, while Aaron Ramsey continues his rehabilitation following a broken leg. Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri could come back into the starting XI, having been left on the bench for the midweek victory at Wolves.
Last season: Arsenal 2 Everton 2, Everton 1 Arsenal 6
Last five league matches: Everton W D W D D; Arsenal W W W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Tim Cahill (Everton) 5; Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal) 8
Match odds: H 9-4 A 5-4 D 11-5
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).