Saturday, November 9th
Aston Villa (14) v Cardiff (12)
Villa manager Paul Lambert is again bereft of several players through injury. Andreas Weimann and Antonio Luna (both hamstring), Gabriel Agbonlahor (ankle) and Joe Bennett (back) are sidelined, along with long-term casualties Jores Okore (knee), Gary Gardner (back) and Charles N’Zogbia (Achilles). However, midfielder Fabian Delph could return after missing last weekend’s draw at West Ham through illness.
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay must decide whether to tinker with his derby-winning line-up. Mackay may decide to rest Craig Bellamy after the striker’s exertions in the win over Swansea, and could also be tempted to restore Aron Gunnarsson to his side. Striker Andreas Cornelius (ankle) remains the lone absentee.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W D L L D; Cardiff W L L D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 5; Fraizer Campbell, Steven Caulker, Jordon Mutch & Peter Odemwingie (Cardiff) 2
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-4 D 12-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Chelsea (2) v West Brom (11)
Blues boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed Eden Hazard will be available — the Belgium international was dropped from the squad to face Schalke in the Champions League after missing a training session earlier in the week. Striker Fernando Torres is not expected to be back until after the international break, while full-back Ryan Bertrand is available again. Midfielder Marco van Ginkel (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Albion winger Scott Sinclair is unlikely to be back from hamstring trouble in time to face his former club but Victor Anichebe has recovered from a hamstring problem. Fellow striker Nicolas Anelka (groin) is doubtful but right-back Billy Jones (hamstring) joins Zoltan Gera and Ben Foster on the absentee list.
Last season: Chelsea 1 West Brom 0, West Brom 2 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea D W W W L; West Brom W D D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Eden Hazard, Oscar & Fernando Torres (Chelsea) 5; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 6
Match odds: H 3-10 A 17-2 D 9-2
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Crystal Palace (20) v Everton (7)
Palace’s Adlene Guedioura is out for at least six weeks after fracturing two ribs and suffering a partly collapsed lung. Fellow midfielder Jonny Williams (ankle) is back in full training after recovering quicker than expected from a knee injury and defender Paddy McCarthy is edging closer to a first-team return. However, striker Glenn Murray and defender Jack Hunt remain long-term absentees.
A knee operation has ruled out Everton striker Arouna Kone for much of the rest of the season, but manager Roberto Martinez has no new injury concerns. Midfielder Darron Gibson is making good progress from his own cruciate ligament surgery while centre-back Antolin Alcaraz is nearing inclusion in the first-team squad for the first time after a slow recovery from hernia and hamstring problems.
Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Crystal Palace L L L L L; Everton W L W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) 2; Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 5 Match odds: H 9-2 A 6-10 D 3-1
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).
Liverpool (3) v Fulham (16)
Glen Johnson is fit to return after illness and fellow full-back Jose Enrique is in contention after missing the last three matches with a knee problem. After his first 45 minutes’ action in nearly seven weeks after a shoulder operation playmaker Philippe Coutinho is pushing for a starting place for the Reds. Fulham right-back Sascha Riether starts a three-match ban and striker Hugo Rodellega will be out for five to six weeks with a muscle injury in his left leg.
Defender Matthew Briggs will be sidelined for another six weeks after hernia surgery while boss Martin Jol will wait on the fitness of central defender Brede Hangeland (sciatic nerve) and attacking midfielder Bryan Ruiz (back) before naming his final squad.
Last season: Fulham 1 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 4 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W D W L; Fulham L W W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) 10; Darren Bent & Hugo Rodallega (Fulham) 3
Match odds: H 1-4 A 12-1 D 9-2
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Norwich (18) v West Ham (15)
Norwich expect to have winger Robert Snodgrass available following concussion. Midfielder Nathan Redmond is a doubt because of a hip problem, while striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel remains out with a foot injury. Midfielders Alexander Tettey (ankle) and Elliott Bennett (knee) are both long-term absentees.
West Ham are without Winston Reid, who has injured an ankle. Fellow defender James Collins is available following hamstring trouble but the forward options remain limited with Andy Carroll (heel) and Mladen Petric (thigh) out. Matthew Taylor (thigh), George McCartney and Alou Diarra (both knee) are also absent.
Last season: West Ham 2 Norwich 1, Norwich 0 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: Norwich W L L D L; West Ham L W L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Johan Elmander, Gary Hooper, Jonathan Howson, Anthony Pilkington & Steven Whittaker (Norwich) 2; Ravel Morrison & Ricardo Vaz Te (West Ham) 4
Match odds: H 8-5 A 17-10 D 23-10
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).
Southampton (6) v Hull (10)
Saints’ Guly do Prado will be out for two months after undergoing a knee operation, but fellow striker Dani Osvaldo could be available — the record signing will be assessed after struggling with a nerve issue down his side.
Forward Sone Aluko has torn his Achilles and Hull may also have to make do without Robbie Brady, who has yet to fully recover from hernia surgery. James Chester (hamstring) and keeper Allan McGregor (hip/thigh) remain out but on-loan striker Danny Graham is available after missing out against parent club Sunderland and defenders Abdoulaye Faye and Alex Bruce are fit again.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Southampton W W D W D; Hull W D L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 4; Robbie Brady (Hull) 4
Match odds: H 8-15 A 6-1 D 14-5
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Sunday, November 10th
Man Utd (8) v Arsenal (1)
United striker Danny Welbeck will not recover from the knee injury which has kept him out since the middle of October. Striker Robin van Persie will almost certainly face his former club despite missing a penalty following his introduction as a substitute into the midweek Champions League draw with Real Sociedad, while defender Jonny Evans may return after a back problem.
Arsenal will check on Jack Wilshere (ankle) but fellow midfielder Mathieu Flamini is set to return to full training following groin trouble and could feature. Theo Walcott (abdominal surgery), Yaya Sanogo (back), Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd L W D W W; Arsenal W D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 9; Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) 11
Match odds: H 23-20 A 9-4 D 5-2 Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Sunderland (19) v Man City (5)
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet will again be without banned duo midfielder Lee Cattermole and full-back Andrea Dossena, who both serve the second match of a three-game ban following their dismissals at Hull last weekend. Keeper Keiren Westwood is available after a head injury, but he may face a battle to oust deputy Vito Mannone, while full-back Ondrej Celustka is fit despite hobbling off against Southampton in midweek.
City are without playmaker David Silva (calf) and captain Vincent Kompany (thigh), while midfielder Fernandinho and defender Matija Nastasic are also doubtful after suffering knocks in the midweek Champions League win over CSKA Moscow. Striker Stevan Jovetic (calf) is also still sidelined while manager Manuel Pellegrini again looks set to prefer Costel Pantilimon to Joe Hart in goal.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Man City 0, Man City 3 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L L W L; Man City L W W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland) 3; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 13
Match odds: H 13-2 A 2-5 D 15-4
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Swansea (13) v Stoke (17)
The Swans are without suspended goalkeeper Michel Vorm — Gerhard Tremmel will deputise. Jonjo Shelvey should return having missed the Europa League trip to Kuban Krasnodar due to personal reasons. Michu and Pablo Hernandez remain on the sidelines with ankle and thigh problems respectively, while Jordi Amat is pushing to partner Ashley Williams at the heart of the defence.
Stoke midfielders Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters have returned to training after being sidelined this week with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively, with boss Mark Hughes to take stock of the duo on Saturday ahead of the game. Defender Erik Pieters, meanwhile, failed to complete Friday’s training session due to a back niggle and will also be under observation ahead of the match.
Last season: Swansea 3 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Swansea 0
Last five league matches: Swansea L L W D L; Stoke L L D L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 7; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 4
Match odds: H 19-20 A 3-1 D 12-5
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire).
Tottenham (4) v Newcastle (9)
Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris will start, despite being knocked unconscious in the draw at Everton. Boss Andre Villas-Boas is set to recall several players after Europa League action but Danny Rose (toe), Sandro (hamstring), Zeki Fryers (groin) and Emmanuel Adebayor (foot) are all likely to miss out.
Magpies captain Fabricio Coloccini could return to the starting line-up after a groin injury but fellow defender Steven Taylor (hamstring) is not expected back until after the international break. Midfielder Cheick Tiote, who limped off against Chelsea last weekend with a muscle strain, is set to figure.
Last season: Tottenham Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham D L W W D; Newcastle L W D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 8; Loic Remy (Newcastle) 6
Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 10-3
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
