Arsenal (3) v Wolves (14):Defender Gael Clichy (back) and midfielder Denilson (groin) are available but captain Cesc Fabregas (broken leg), defender William Gallas (calf) and Andrey Arshavin (calf) are out for the Gunners. Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell are in contention, while Thomas Vermaelen is available after suspension. Theo Walcott is pressing to start and Robin van Persie (ankle) is back in training, but is still a couple of weeks away from a return.
Wolves are set to be without striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Ebanks-Blake, who was due to be on the bench, has been laid low by a virus. He is set to be replaced among the substitutes by Sam Vokes. Manager Mick McCarthy is poised to retain the starting XI which began last weekend’s goalless draw against Everton.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W D; Wolves L W D W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 19; Kevin Doyle (Wolves) 7
Match odds: H 1-6 A 16-1 D 11-2
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Bolton (15) v Aston Villa (7)
Striker Johan Elmander is fit despite needing six stitches in a head wound against Manchester United. The defence is strengthened by the return of Gretar Steinsson from suspension, whilst Paul Robinson (ankle) faces a fitness test. Stuart Holden, Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien are out.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill will check on the fitness of several players. Midfielder James Milner, defender Richard Dunne and forward trio Emile Heskey, Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew will be assessed ahead of the match. Any absences could mean a rare start for England Under-19 international Nathan Delfouneso.
Last season: Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 4 Bolton 2
Last five league matches: Bolton W L W L L; Aston Villa D W D D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 10; John Carew (Aston Villa) 15
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-8 D 9-4
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
Burnley (19) v Man City (5)
Burnley captain Steven Caldwell returns to the squad following a four-month absence with a groin injury. Full-back Stephen Jordan is expected to recover from a knee problem in time but Chris McCann remains sidelined with a similar injury.
Pablo Zabaleta starts a two-match ban and misses out for City. The utility player picked up his 10th booking of the season against Wigan on Monday, with Micah Richards likely to deputise.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Burnley L D L L L; Man City W D W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 11; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 25
Match odds: H 4-1 A 7-10 D 13-5
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Man Utd (1) v Chelsea (2)
Owen Hargreaves and John O’Shea are in contention for their United comebacks. Hargreaves has been out for nearly 18 months following major surgery on both knees, whilst O’Shea has not played a game since suffering complications in his recovery from a dead leg sustained in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat to France in November. Wayne Rooney (ankle) is out, so Dimitar Berbatov is set to lead United’s forward line.
Striker Didier Drogba has recovered from a leg injury and spearheads Chelsea’s attack. Michael Essien (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle), Ricardo Carvalho (ankle), Jose Bosingwa (knee) and Branislav Ivanovic (knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: Man Utd 3 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 1 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Chelsea L W D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 34; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 30
Match odds: H 13-8 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Portsmouth (20) v Blackburn (10)
Pompey boss Avram Grant has just 13 fit first-team players. Hermann Hreidarsson and Danny Webber have both been ruled out for six months after suffering Achilles and knee injuries respectively against Tottenham, striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie’s loan deal from Spartak Moscow has been cancelled, while Aruna Dindane future also remains in the balance. David James (calf), Kevin-Prince Boateng (ankle), Hassan Yebda (knee), Tal Ben-Haim (groin), Nadir Belhadj and Marc Wilson (both leg) are all injured.
Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen and goalkeeper Paul Robinson are back in full training after respective knee and calf injuries. Yildiray Basturk, who has yet to figure since his arrival in January, is also available after shaking off a hamstring problem, leaving Keith Andrews (calf) as the only doubt.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 3 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Portsmouth L L W L L; Blackburn L L D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Frederic Piquionne (Portsmouth) 10; David Dunn (Blackburn) 9
Match odds: H 21-10 A 13-10 D 23-10
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Stoke (11) v Hull (18)
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is concerned about the fitness of three of his players. Ryan Shawcross remains doubtful with an ankle injury while Abdoulaye Faye and Dave Kitson both suffered knee problems in the victory against West Ham. Midfielder Dean Whitehead is available after a ban.
Ibrahima Sonko is ineligible for Hull under the terms of his loan agreement — his place is likely to be taken by Andy Dawson, who has returned to training after a hamstring injury. Caleb Folan (knee) and Bernard Mendy (illness) are fit but Stephen Hunt (foot) is unlikely to feature whilst Liam Cooper (ankle) was due to be given a run-out in the reserves this week but broke his nose in training. Knee injuries keep out Amr Zaki, Ian Ashbee and Kamil Zayatte while Anthony Gardner (ankle) is also out.
Last season: Hull 1 Stoke 2, Stoke 1 Hull 1
Last five league matches: Stoke L D D L W; Hull L L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Ricardo Fuller, Dave Kitson & Tuncay Sanli (Stoke) 7; Stephen Hunt (Hull) 6
Match odds: H 4-5 A 18-5 D 12-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Sunderland (13) v Tottenham (4)
Black Cats full-back Alan Hutton is ineligible under the terms of his loan deal, while central defender John Mensah is rated only 50-50 with a hamstring injury. David Meyler (ankle) could return after missing the trips to Aston Villa and Liverpool but Andy Reid and George McCartney (both hamstring) are sidelined.
Spurs striker Jermain Defoe is available after sleeping in an altitude chamber to help his recovery from a hamstring problem. Michael Dawson (Achilles), Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Vedran Corluka (ankle), Ledley King (thigh) and Aaron Lennon (groin) are out and Wilson Palacios (groin) is struggling. Jonathan Woodgate (groin) is out for the season and Carlo Cudicini (wrist/pelvis) is also expected to miss the rest of the campaign.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 Sunderland 2
Last five league matches: Sunderland W D W D L; Tottenham W W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 21; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 23
Match odds: H 5-2 A 11-10 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Sunday, March 4
Birmingham (9) v Liverpool (6)
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish expects to have a full squad to choose from — the former Scotland boss said: “We have a couple of little niggles but we think everyone will make it.” Captain Stephen Carr has picked up nine yellow cards this season and one more in either of the next two matches before an English FA amnesty takes effect will result in a two-game suspension.
Midfielder Alberto Aquilani is a doubt with an ankle problem. The injury, similar to the one which he arrived on Merseyside with in the summer after his transfer from Roma, ruled the Italy international out of the Europa League tie against Benfica. Maxi Rodriguez is likely to return to the starting line-up having been ineligible in Europe but Martin Skrtel (foot) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) are no nearer fitness while Albert Riera remains frozen out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham W D L L D; Liverpool W L W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) 9; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 20
Match odds: H 19-5 A 3-4 D 5-2
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Everton (8) v West Ham (17)
Everton’s Dan Gosling is out for up to nine months with cruciate ligament damage. Fellow midfielder Mikel Arteta (groin) is also unlikely to return while defender Joseph Yobo (back) and striker Victor Anichebe (rib) are hoping to shake off knocks. Tim Howard (thigh) is fit enough to play but another player may again have to take goal-kicks for the home side.
Gianfranco Zola could have Jack Collison (knee) and James Tomkins (ankle) back, while Herita Ilunga is trying to overcome a knee injury. Kieron Dyer is a doubt after he came off at half-time against Stoke last week while Guillermo Franco is unavailable as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Last season: Everton 3 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Everton 3
Last five league matches: Everton W D W W D; West Ham L L L L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Louis Saha (Everton) 15; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 9
Match odds: H 2-5 A 15-2 D 10-3
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Fulham (12) v Wigan (16)
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will want to rest some of his key players ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg in Wolfsburg, meaning Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff and Aaron Hughes could all miss out. Andrew Johnson and John Pantsil (both knee) are sidelined and Stephen Kelly faces a fitness test.
Wigan defender Gary Caldwell begins a three-match ban. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is in contention after a virus but midfielder Hendry Thomas is unlikely to feature due to a quad injury. Defender Emmerson Boyce hopes to prove his fitness after back and groin problems and Charles N’Zogbia came through his return from a hip injury unscathed.
Last season: Wigan 0 Fulham 0, Fulham 2 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Fulham W D L L L; Wigan W L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 17; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 9
Match odds: H 1-1 A 14-5 D 10-3
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).