The weekend's matches

Sunderland (7)

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Bolton Wanderers (6)

SUNDERLAND defender Anton Ferdinand (back) has failed in his bid to be fit for this game meaning Steve Bruce will be without three centre-backs. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will return after missing last week with a hamstring problem while Asamoah Gyan (toe) is also fit.

Bolton midfielder Mark Davies is suspended — Fabrice Muamba is expected to return to the starting line-up in his place.

Last season: Sunderland 4 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Sunderland 1.

Last five league matches: Sunderland W D L W D; Bolton W W D L W.

Top scorers: Darren Bent (Sunderland) 9; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 8.

Match odds: H 6-5 A 23-10 D 23-10.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

West Brom (11)

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Wolves (19)

WEST Brom’s leading scorer Peter Odemwingie is a major doubt with calf and groin problems. Midfielder Graham Dorrans was unable to train earlier in the week because of illness but is expected to play. Wolves striker Kevin Doyle will miss out after scans revealed a tear in his thigh. Stephen Hunt has shaken off a virus and is available, while Dave Jones is in contention after recovering from a foot injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: West Brom L L W W L; Wolves L L W L W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 6; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4.

Match odds: H 5-6 A 16-5 D 16-5.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne Wear).

Blackpool (10)

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Tottenham (5)

BLACKPOOL captain Charlie Adam will miss out through suspension after collecting his fifth booking of the season last weekend. David Vaughan and Craig Cathcart will undergo late fitness tests. Rafael van der Vaart has trained all week and is set to give Tottenham a boost by returning from three weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Blackpool L D W D W; Tottenham W W W D D.

Top scorers: Marlon Harewood Luke Varney (Blackpool) 5; Gareth Bale Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 9.

Match odds: H 15-4 A 4-6 D 3-1.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Blackburn Rovers (13)

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West Ham Utd (20)

BLACKBURN will begin the post-Sam Allardyce era without three key midfielders. Vince Grella (Achilles), Steven Nzonzi (hamstring) and Keith Andrews (groin). West Ham will give fitness tests to midfielder Valon Behrami (hip) and defender Lars Jacobsen (heel). Mark Noble (hip), Jack Collison and Anthony Edgar (knee) hope to return in the new year.

Last season: West Ham 0 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 0 West Ham 0.

Last five league matches: Blackburn L W L W L; West Ham D L W L L.

Top scorers: Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn) 5; Scott Parker (West Ham) 6.

Match odds: H 3-4 A 7-2 D 11-4.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Liverpool (9)

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Fulham (17)

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard is set to make his comeback from a month-long absence with a hamstring problem. Jose Reina will make his 200th Premier League appearance.

Fulham will still be without striker Moussa Dembele, who has returned to his native Belgium for treatment on the ankle problem that has sidelined him for more than a month.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Fulham 0, Fulham 3 Liverpool 1.

Last five league matches: Liverpool L W L W L; Fulham D L D L D.

Top scorers: David Ngog (Liverpool) 8; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 6.

Match odds: H 8-15 A 6-1 D 14-5.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

English Premier League Teams news and statistics

Arsenal (2)

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Stoke City (12)

WOJCIECH Szczesny could continue in goal for Arsenal if Lukasz Fabianski fails to recover from a hip problem. Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are all pressing for a start but midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) and centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Jon Walters is Stoke’s only doubt. Walters missed training in the first half of the week with flu, and only took part in gym work yesterday.

Last season: Stoke 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 2 Stoke 0.

Last five league matches: Arsenal W L W W L; Stoke W W D D L.

Top scorers: Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 12; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 6.

Match odds: H 3-10 A 23-10 D 4-1.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Birmingham City (16)

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Newcastle Utd (8)

BIRMINGHAM defenders Liam Ridgewell and Martin Jiranek have recovered sufficiently from flu to be in contention for a start but Alex Hleb is still out with a calf strain. Newcastle have central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson back from suspension. Their return could prove timely with Sol Campbell struggling with illness, while striker Shola Ameobi is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Birmingham D W D D L; Newcastle D L D L W.

Top scorers: Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 5; Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 10.

Match odds: H 13-10 A 11-5 D 11-5.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Manchester City (3)

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Everton (15)

MONDAY: Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is expected to return after missing the West Ham victory through suspension. Aleksandar Kolarov is also available after a ban but Nigel de Jong is suspended.

Steven Pienaar is doubtful for Everton as he continues to battle the groin injury that forced him off against Wigan last week. Mikel Arteta serves the final game of a three-match suspension.

Last season: Man City 0 Everton 2, Everton 2 Man City 0.

Last five league matches: Man City D W D W W; Everton L D L D D.

Top scorers: Carlos Tevez (Man City) 10; Tim Cahill (Everton) 8.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 19-5 D 13-5.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Wigan Athletic (18)

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Aston Villa (14)

WIGAN will be without Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa as they serve serve one-game bans. James McCarthy and Victor Moses are long-term casualties. Club captain Gary Caldwell (thigh) hopes to feature and Tom Cleverley (rib) will be given a fitness test.

Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Young has been ruled out with a knee injury but striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is fit to return.

Last season: Wigan 1 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2.

Last five league matches: Wigan W L L D D; Aston Villa D L L L W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Charles N’Zogbia Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4; Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 6.

Match odds: H 9-5 A 13-8 D 21-10.

Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).

Chelsea (4)

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Manchester Utd (1)

FRANK Lampard will start as the England midfielder came through the final 12 minutes of last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham and a 60-minute practice match on Thursday unscathed following three and a half months out injured. Paul Scholes remains on the sidelines with a groin injury and John O’Shea (calf) is also a doubt as United look for a first win at Stamford Bridge since 2002.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 1 Man Utd 0.

Last five league matches: Chelsea L L D D D; Man Utd D D W W W.

Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 12.

Match odds: H 11-10 A 13-5 D 9-4.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).