Premiership Team News and Statistics

Saturday February 28

Saturday February 28

 Arsenal (1) v Charlton (5)

Ashley Cole, Gilberto and Dennis Bergkamp return to the Arsenal squad. Cole and Gilberto missed the midweek trip to Celta Vigo with back and ankle injuries respectively, while Bergkamp - who did not travel to Celta Vigo for the midweek Champions League match - is expected to replace Jose Reyes in attack.

Jon Fortune is ready to step in for the suspended Chris Perry and is likely to be partnered by Mark Fish, who came off injured after just 15 minutes of Charlton's victory over Blackburn on Saturday. Winger Jerome Thomas could be on the bench as he bids to make his debut but striker Kevin Lisbie (back) and defenders Gary Rowett and Richard Rufus (both knee) are still sidelined.

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Last season:Arsenal 2 Charlton 0, Charlton 0 Arsenal 3
 Last five league matches:Arsenal W W W W W; Charlton W L L L W
  Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 24; Jason Euell (Charlton) 7
 Match odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 4-1
 Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).
 
 Blackburn (15) v Southampton (12)

Blackburn are without in-form striker Jonathan Stead, who injured a hamstring in last Saturday's dramatic loss to Charlton and has been forced onto the sidelines. Norwegian midfielder Martin Andresen is on stand-by for his first start should club captain Garry Flitcroft fail a late fitness test on a similar injury.

James Beattie and Fabrice Fernandes are in contention to return for Southampton after impressing as second half substitutes against Everton. Anders Svensson and Neil McCann are out with knee and hamstring injuries while Matthew Oakley is sidelined for the rest of the season following knee ligament surgery.

 Last season:Blackburn 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Blackburn 1
  Last five league matches: Blackburn D L W D L; Southampton W L D L D
  Top scorers:Andy Cole (Blackburn) 8; James Beattie (Southampton) 12
 Match odds:H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
 Referee:S Dunn (Gloucestershire).
 
 Everton (16) v Aston Villa (7)

Midfielder Gareth Barry (groin) is a major injury concern for Villa but central defender Ronny Johnsen (dead leg) is expected to be fit. Mark Delaney (foot) is the only long-term casualty with Ulises de la Cruz again expected to deputise at right-back.

Alan Stubbs and Francis Jeffers (both groin) are doubts as Everton boss David Moyes finds his resources stretched to the limit. However, Duncan Ferguson has recovered from a slight back problem.

 Last season:Everton 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 3 Everton 2
  Last five league matches:Everton L D L L D; Aston Villa L W W W D
 Top scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 8; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 18
 Match odds:H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
  Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).
 
 Fulham (9) v Man Utd (2)

Fulham's Adam Green, who has made just four first team appearances, will line up in defence due to Carlos Bocanegra's three-match suspension. Centre-back Ian Pearce is available after being cup tied for the FA Cup victory at West Ham but midfielder Lee Clark remains doubtful with his Achilles injury and striker Facundo Sava (calf), winger Collins John and left-back Jerome Bonnissel (both ankle) are still out.

Gary Neville begins a four-match domestic ban, so United boss Ferguson must decide whether to recall John O'Shea or bring skipper Roy Keane back from midfield to partner Wes Brown. Ferguson reported a few bumps and bruises from Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Porto, with a recurrence of Louis Saha's calf problem threatening the Frenchman's return to Loftus Road.

 Last season: Man Utd 3 Fulham 0, Fulham 1 Man Utd 1
 Last five league matches:Fulham L W D L L; Man Utd L W W L D
 Top scorers: Luis Boa Morte (Fulham) 7; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 24
 Match odds:H 4-1 A 4-7 D 5-2
 Referee:A Wiley (Staffordshire).
 
 Leicester (19) v Wolves (18)

Leicester, without a win in 12 Premiership matches, will be boosted by the return of key midfielder Muzzy Izzet after nearly two months with a calf problem. Peter Canero and Billy McKinlay are also in contention after coming through reserve team action unscathed in midweek - but manager Micky Adams will have to reshuffle at the back with Ben Thatcher suspended and Gerry Taggart now at Stoke.

Denis Irwin should return at right-back for Wolves in place of Mark Clyde after getting over a hip injury, while Shaun Newton will be pushing for a return to the starting line-up after coming through a reserve game on Tuesday following an ankle injury. Nathan Blake (neck) is the only definite absentee.

 Last season:No corresponding fixture
  Last five league matches:Leicester D L L D D; Wolves D D L L W
  Top scorers:Les Ferdinand (Leicester) 11; Alex Rae (Wolves) 8
 Match odds:H 1-1 A 23-10 D 21-10
  Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).
 
 Man City (14) v Chelsea (3)

City defender Daniel van Buyten is set to return after suffering a groin injury on international duty with Belgium. Midfielders Joey Barton and Paul Bosvelt are available again after suspension.

Adrian Mutu is set to return to partner Hernan Crespo up front after missing Chelsea's midweek Champions League victory in Stuttgart. Damien Duff could earn his first start of the year after coming off the bench in Germany.

 Last season: Chelsea 5 Man City 0, Man City 0 Chelsea 3
 Last five league matches:Man City D L D L W; Chelsea D W W W L
  Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 19; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 13
 Match odds: H 16-5 A 8-11 D 9-4
  Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
 
 Sunday February 29

 Leeds (20) v Liverpool (6)

Leeds striker Mark Viduka returns to the starting line-up after serving a one-match FIFA imposed suspension. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson takes over from Scott Carson between the posts after serving a one-game ban.

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier will be without Florent Sinama-Pongolle (ankle), Emile Heskey (back), Vladimir Smicer (Achilles) and Salif Diao (calf).

Last season: Liverpool 3 Leeds 1, Leeds 0 Liverpool 1
  Last five league matches: Leeds L L L W D; Liverpool L D D D W
 Top scorers:Alan Smith (Leeds) 7; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 11
 Match odds:H 5-2 A 10-11 D 11-5
  Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
 
 Portsmouth (17) v Newcastle (4)

Amdy Faye is back from suspension for Pompey and boss Harry Redknapp also has new signings Lomano LuaLua and John Curtis available after they were cup tied last week. LuaLua, on loan from Newcastle, could go into the starting line-up for his full debut if striker Ivica Mornar (groin) fails a fitness test.

Newcastle's Jonathan Woodgate remains a doubt as he battles to recover from a groin problem, while midfielder Darren Ambrose has a muscle strain but skipper Alan Shearer, controversially rested along with Kieron Dyer and Laurent Robert for the game in Oslo, will return to the starting line-up.

 Last season: No corresponding fixture
 Last five league matches:Portsmouth W L D L L; Newcastle W D W D W
 Top scorers: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth) 8; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 18
 Match odds: H 9-5 A 6-5 D 11-5
  Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).