All the latest team news ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures.
Saturday, March 20th
Arsenal (3) v West Ham (16)
Arsenal welcome back captain Cesc Fabregas from a hamstring injury. Czech winger Tomas Rosicky (groin) is also fit again, while Cameroon midfielder Alex Song returns from a two-match ban. However, William Gallas (calf) remains out. Aaron Ramsey (broken leg), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Johan Djourou (knee) are long-term absentees.
A leg injury has ruled out West Ham captain Scott Parker. Carlton Cole will return up front after being rested for last week's loss against Chelsea while Mark Noble has recovered from an arm injury and could start in midfield. The Hammers will be without Kieron Dyer, Danny Gabbidon (both muscle) and Julian Faubert (hamstring), while Manuel Da Costa is suspended.
Last season: Arsenal 0 West Ham 0, West Ham 0 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W W; West Ham W W L L L
Top scorers: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 17; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 9
Match odds: H 2-9 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Aston Villa (7) v Wolves (17)
Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill will check on the fitness of leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor, who suffered a groin strain against Wigan in midweek. If he is ruled out, Emile Heskey could return to the starting XI alongside John Carew as Villa look to sustain their push for a Champions League spot.
Wolves welcome back midfielder Dave Edwards and striker Chris Iwelumo. Wales international Edwards has been sidelined since ankle surgery in December but made his comeback for the reserves against Arsenal on Wednesday. Scotland international Iwelumo is back after a loan spell at Bristol City that boosted his match fitness following foot problems this season.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W D W; Wolverhampton W L L L W
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 14; Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton) 6
Match odds: H 2-5 A 8-1 D 16-5
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Everton (9) v Bolton (13)
Everton’s top goalscorer Louis Saha is fit to return after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Leon Osman (groin) is also back in contention but manager David Moyes can no longer call on Landon Donovan, whose loan from Los Angeles Galaxy has ended.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has Sam Ricketts available after he missed the victory over Wigan last weekend through suspension. Mark Davies is also in contention after an ankle injury while Coyle is mulling over whether to include Gary Cahill following his speedy recovery from a blood clot.
Last season: Everton 3 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton W W L W D; Bolton L W W L W
Top scorers: Louis Saha & Landon Donovan (Everton) 15; Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 10
Match odds: H 8-15 A 11-2 D 14-5
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
Portsmouth (20) v Hull (19)
Portsmouth will again check on the fitness of England goalkeeper David James (calf). Kevin Prince-Boateng (ankle), Hassan Yebda (knee) and John Utaka (groin) also face fitness tests. Right-back Anthony Vanden Borre has resumed training as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
George Boateng is suspended for Iain Dowie's first match in charge of Hull after being sent off in last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal and Anthony Gardner (ankle) is still ruled out, but Stephen Hunt may be available following a foot injury. Kamil Zayatte is set to be sidelined after being carried off against Arsenal but Paul McShane could return after missing the game against the Gunners following a family bereavement.
Last season: Hull 0 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 2 Hull 2
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D L W L L; Hull W L L L L
Top scorers: Frederic Piquionne (Portsmouth) 10; Stephen Hunt (Hull) 6
Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Stoke (11) v Tottenham (4)
Centre-back Ryan Shawcross is in contention for Stoke after returning from the three-match suspension for the tackle which broke Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey’s leg last month. He picked up an ankle niggle in training on Wednesday but is hopeful of being fit.
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has a hamstring injury and will miss out. He joins Ledley King (thigh), Jermaine Jenas (groin), Aaron Lennon (groin), David Bentley (groin/virus) on the sidelines, while Danny Rose (knee) and Kyle Walker (arm) are also out.
Last season: Tottenham 3 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Stoke D W L D D; Tottenham D L W W W
Top scorers: Dave Kitson & Tuncay Sanli (Stoke) 7; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 23
Match odds: H 5-2 A 11-10 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Sunderland (14) v Birmingham (8)
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness. The Trinidad and Tobago international, who limped off at half-time against Manchester City last Sunday, has a chance of being involved after scans revealed no lasting damage to his hip flexor. Andy Reid and Lee Cattermole (both hamstring) could also make it back into the squad. Captain Lorik Cana will be missing again as he completes a two-match ban.
Birmingham right-back Stuart Parnaby has shaken off the ankle injury which kept him out of the 2-0 win at Portsmouth 10 days ago but is likely to start on the bench. On-loan Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio is ineligible to face his parent club.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland D L D W D; Birmingham L L W W D
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Sunderland) 19; Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) 8
Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Wigan (15) v Burnley (18)
Wigan midfielder Charles N’Zogbia is doubtful after taking a knock on his hip during the defeat by Aston Villa on Tuesday and is rated 50-50 by manager Roberto Martinez.
Scotland striker Steven Fletcher will return for Burnley after missing three games with a broken hand. Steven Caldwell (groin) and Chris McCann (knee) are unavailable. Danny Fox is in the squad despite being taken to hospital after the Wolves match with a suspected broken rib.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wigan L L W L L; Burnley L L L D L
Top scorers: Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 8; Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 11
Match odds: H 8-11 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)
Sunday, March 21st
Blackburn (12) v Chelsea (2)
Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), captain Ryan Nelsen (knee), Gael Givet (groin), Lars Jacobsen (hernia) and Vince Grella (calf) are all missing while loan striker Franco di Santo cannot play against his parent club Chelsea. Jason Brown will fill in for Robinson, with Mark Bunn being recalled from Sheffield United as cover.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech trained on Friday but remains a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test on his calf injury. Hilario is also a doubt with a groin strain. Michael Essien (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle) and Jose Bosingwa (knee) are all sidelined.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Blackburn L W W L L; Chelsea W L W L W
Top scorers: Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 7; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 27
Match odds: H 13-2 A 4-9 D 16-5
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Fulham (10) v Man City (6)
Fulham welcome back captain Danny Murphy and midfielder Jonathan Greening from suspension. Murphy could replace Dickson Etuhu, who picked up a knock against Juventus. Andy Johnson and John Pantsil (both knee) are out, David Elm is a doubt with illness while Clint Dempsey is pushing for a starting place after scoring the winner against Juve.
Manchester City will be without Wayne Bridge after he underwent a hernia operation and Javier Garrido is favourite to replace him. Emmanuel Adebayor is absent through suspension while Martin Petrov has a knee injury.
Last season: Man City 1 Fulham 3, Fulham 1 Man City 1
Last five league matches: Fulham D W W D L; Man City W D D W D
Top scorers: Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 15; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 21
Match odds: H 21-10 A 13-10 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Man Utd (1) v Liverpool (5)
Ryan Giggs returns to the Manchester United squad after missing seven games since breaking his arm at Aston Villa last month and is expected to start against Liverpool.
Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani will be assessed after missing yesterday's Europa League victory over Lille with a sickness bug but, even if he is passed fit, it is likely he will only get a place on the bench. Fellow midfielder Maxi Rodriguez returns to the squad having been ineligible for European action and only Martin Skrtel (foot) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) are missing with injury.
Last season: Man Utd 1 Liverpool 4, Liverpool 2 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd D L W W W; Liverpool L D W L W
Top scorers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 32; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 15
Match odds: H 4-6 A 9-2 D 5-2
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)