Soccer:A look at the Premier League team news ahead of the final weekend of the season with Manchester City looking to secure a first title since 1968 when they host Queens Park Rangers.
Chelsea (6) v Blackburn (19)
David Luiz and Gary Cahill have failed to recover from hamstring injuries in time to face Blackburn. The centre-backs remain in a race against time to be fit for next Saturday’s Champions League final. Midfielder John Obi Mikel is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from a knee injury, with Roberto Di Matteo confirming he would blood some of the Blues’ youngsters against Rovers.
Defender Bradley Orr will miss out for already-relegated Blackburn after having surgery on his Achilles tendon, while goalkeeper Paul Robinson doubtful due to an ankle injury. Midfielder David Dunn is a doubt after limping off in the first half of Monday’s clash with Wigan, a 1-0 defeat which condemned Rovers to the drop. Defender Gael Givet is clear to play despite suffering an unconfirmed problem in the game against Wigan.
Last season:Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches:Chelsea D D W L L; Blackburn L L W L L
Top scorers:Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 16; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 17
Match odds:H 1-3 A 15-2 D 4-1
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Everton (7) v Newcastle (5)
Everton could welcome back Leighton Baines, Phil Neville and Darron Gibson. Left-back Baines has been out for a month with a groin injury while utility man Neville and midfielder Gibson missed last week’s draw at Wolves with unspecified knocks. Midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and forward Victor Anichebe (groin) are both missing.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be without full-back Danny Simpson because of an ankle problem, while striker Leon Best will also not travel because of a thigh strain. Midfielder Sammy Ameobi (knee) is stepping up his training and only central defender Steven Taylor (Achilles) is still on the long-term injury list.
Last season:Newcastle 1 Everton 2, Everton 0 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches:Everton W D W D D; Newcastle W W L W L
Top scorers:Nikica Jelavic (Everton) 27; Papiss Cisse (Newcastle) 22
Match odds:H 5-4 A 21-10 D 12-5
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Man City (1) v QPR (17)
Manchester City have no injury concerns and manager Roberto Mancini has suggested retaining the same system that finished last week’s vital win over Newcastle, when midfielder Nigel de Jong came on to allow Yaya Toure to advance. Controversial striker Mario Balotelli, who has not played since his sending off at Arsenal last month, is in contention after being overlooked at Newcastle.
Samba Diakite will miss QPR’s vital clash and could be joined by several of his midfield team-mates. The January signing from Nancy is struggling with a virus and could be joined on the sidelines by Shaun Derry (dead leg) and Akos Buzsaky (hamstring). Fellow central midfielder Alejandro Faurlin is also out due to a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Man City W W W W W; QPR W L W L W
Top scorers:Sergio Aguero (Man City) 29; Djibril Cisse, Heidar Helguson & Bobby Zamora (QPR) 9
Match odds:H 1-7 A 16-1 D 13-2
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).
Norwich (13) v Aston Villa (16)
Norwich left-back Adam Drury (groin) remains a doubt. Striker James Vaughan is pressing for a recall having been left out of last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Arsenal. Defenders Zak Whitbread (hamstring), Marc Tierney (groin) and Daniel Ayala (knee) are all ruled out.
Aston Villa will be without striker Andreas Weimann and defender Alan Hutton. Weimann suffered a medial ligament strain in the home draw against Tottenham while Hutton ruptured ankle ligaments in the same game, an injury which saw Danny Rose sent off for his challenge on the full-back. Villa are without Darren Bent (ankle) and will check on the fitness of Emile Heskey (ankle) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (ribs).
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Norwich W L L L D; Aston Villa L D L D D
Top scorers:Grant Holt (Norwich) 16; Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 10
Match odds:H 6-5 A 23-10 D 23-10
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Stoke (14) v Bolton (18)
Stoke are waiting on the fitness of left-back Marc Wilson after the player had a scan on his back. Wilson was forced off with the problem at half-time during last weekend’s loss to QPR, and boss Tony Pulis will give him until the day of the game to prove his fitness. Defender Andy Wilkinson (groin) and winger Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) are expected to be fit while Dane Thomas Sorensen will keep his place in goal as he builds up to next month’s Euro 2012 tournament.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle will assess the condition of a number of players. Nigel Reo-Coker (leg) and Mark Davies (virus) could be available and Darren Pratley (virus) could be in line for his comeback. Lee Chung-yong returned following a broken leg against West Brom but Gretar Steinsson remains sidelined with a thigh problem. David Wheater is out with cruciate ligament damage to his right knee.
Last season:Stoke 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 2 Stoke 1
Last five league matches:Stoke D L D D L; Bolton D W D L D
Top scorers:Peter Crouch (Stoke) 14; Marvin Sordell (Bolton) 10
Match odds:H 6-4 A 17-10 D 12-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Sunderland (11) v Man Utd (2)
Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has no fresh major injury concerns. Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has returned to training following a lengthy lay-off with a knee problem, although the game is likely to come too soon. Centre-half Titus Bramble (Achilles) is likely to be included in the squad after making the bench at Fulham last week, but full-back Kieran Richardson and midfielder Sebastian Larsson (both hernia surgery) will miss out.
Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck will both miss out. Smalling (groin) is set for a summer operation that will rule him out of Euro 2012, whilst Welbeck (ankle) has not recovered from the injury that he sustained during last month’s Manchester derby. It means Phil Jones should start alongside Rio Ferdinand in central defence.
Last season:Man Utd 2 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 0 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches:Sunderland L D D D L; Man Utd L W D L W
Top scorers:Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastian Larsson & Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland) 8; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 34
Match odds:H 13-2 A 4-9 D 16-5
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Swansea (12) v Liverpool (8)
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has no fresh injury concerns. Full-back Angel Rangel returned from a hamstring problem at Manchester United, while midfielder Leon Britton recovered from a knee niggle to feature as a second-half substitute at Old Trafford.
Kemy Agustien (ankle) and Ferrie Bodde (knee) remain sidelined with their long-term injuries.
Manager Kenny Dalglish may decide to freshen up his team. Captain Steven Gerrard missed Tuesday’s win over Chelsea with a minor back problem and may not be risked again while left-back Jose Enrique also sat out that game. Teenager Raheem Sterling is likely to get another run-out from the bench having made back-to-back league appearances as a substitute.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Swansea L W D D L; Liverpool W L W L W
Top scorers:Danny Graham (Swansea) 13; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 17
Match odds:H 12-5 A 11-10 D 12-5
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Tottenham (4) v Fulham (9)
Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker is a doubt due to an Achilles injury. Danny Rose is suspended after his red card against Aston Villa and Benoit Assou-Ekotto is out with a shoulder injury, meaning William Gallas could have to play at left-back. Ledley King could miss out with his knee problem. Long-term absentees Niko Kranjcar (knee), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Michael Dawson (ankle) are unavailable.
Fulham will be without Clint Dempsey as he is struggling with a groin injury while Fulham manager Martin Jol is also without Bryan Ruiz (foot), Dickson Etuhu (knee) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) on his first return to White Hart Lane. Alex Kacaniklic is also a doubt after dropping out of training with a hamstring problem.
Last season:Tottenham 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 1 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches:Tottenham L L W W D; Fulham D W L W W
Top scorers:Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) 17; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 23
Match odds:H 2-5 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
West Brom (10) v Arsenal (3)
West Brom skipper Chris Brunt is unavailable for new England manager Roy Hodgson’s final match in charge after having his tonsils removed. Fellow midfielder Paul Scharner is poised to make his final Albion appearance, with his contract running out this summer. Striker Peter Odemwingie (leg) and winger Jerome Thomas (illness) are doubtful to face the Gunners.
Arsenal could have winger Theo Walcott back from a hamstring injury. Fullback Bacary Sagna has undergone an operation on his broken leg and will miss France’s European Championship campaign. German centre-back Per Mertesacker is making good progress with his ankle injury. Midfielders Abou Diaby (calf), Mikel Arteta (ankle) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are also out.
Last season:West Brom 2 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 2 West Brom 3
Last five league matches:West Brom L W W D D; Arsenal W L D D D
Top scorers:Keith Andrews & Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 11; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 37
Match odds:H 4-1 A 4-6 D 11-4
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Wigan (15) v Wolverhampton (20)
David Jones is Wigan’s only fitness concern with a couple of niggling injuries and is unlikely to feature. Robert Martinez otherwise has a full squad to select from for the visit of rock-bottom and already-relegated Wolves.
Wolves’ interim boss Terry Connor will assess the fitness of centre-back Christophe Berra and winger Michael Kightly after they were substituted with calf and groin strains respectively during the second half of the goalless draw with Everton. Connor is also monitoring defender Sebastien Bassong (hamstring), right-back Kevin Foley (hamstring), winger Matt Jarvis (groin) and midfielder David Davis (head).
Last season:Wolverhampton 1 Wigan 2, Wigan 2 Wolverhampton 0
Last five league matches:Wigan W W L W W; Wolverhampton L D L D D
Top scorers:Victor Moses & Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 6; Steven Fletcher (Wolverhampton) 11
Match odds:H 4-7 A 9-2 D 3-1
Referee:Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
