Saturday, November 30th
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Paul Lambert must decide whether to restore forwards Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andi Weimann to the Villa starting line-up. The pair came on as second-half substitutes in Monday’s 2-2 draw with West Brom after recent injuries, along with midfielder Fabian Delph. All three are available this weekend, as is left-back Antonio Luna after a recent hamstring complaint.
Wes Brown is set to line up for Sunderland after having his red card in last week’s defeat at Stoke rescinded. Gus Poyet can also call on Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena, both of whom have completed three-game bans. Vito Mannone is set to keep his place in goal as Keiren Westwood struggles to recover from a slight knock, while Carlos Cuellar is still sidelined with a hip injury.
Last season: Aston Villa 6 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L D W D; Sunderland L W L W L
Top scorers: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 5; Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland) 3
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).
Cardiff v Arsenal
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has a fully-fit squad to choose from and is expected to stick with the side that performed so admirably in the draw with Manchester United, meaning Craig Bellamy may find himself on the bench again. Midfielder Gary Medel is available after facing no action for his slap on Marouane Fellaini last weekend.
Arsenal expect to have defender Kieran Gibbs available following illness. Germany striker Lukas Podolski is back in training after his hamstring injury but remains short of match fitness. Forward Yaya Sanogo (back) along with midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee) are all still sidelined.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cardiff L D W L D; Arsenal W W W L W
Top scorers: Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff) 3; Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) 11
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Everton v Stoke
Everton left-back Leighton Baines will miss out after being ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken toe. Potential replacements in defence include Bryan Oviedo, John Stones, midfielder Gareth Barry or even centre-back Sylvain Distin. Midfielder Darron Gibson and striker Arouna Kone (both knee) are out long term while central defender Antolin Alcaraz is edging closer to involvement.
Stoke will be without defender Robert Huth and forward Marko Arnautovic. Huth is set to be out for several weeks due to a knee injury while Arnautovic has a hamstring strain. Defender Marc Wilson (hip), midfielder Stephen Ireland (shin) and striker Kenwyne Jones (shoulder) are all expected to be available.
Last season: Everton 1 Stoke 0, Stoke 1 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton W W D D D; Stoke D L D D W
Top scorers: Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 7; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 4
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Norwich v Crystal Palace
Norwich will be without midfielders Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) and Robert Snodgrass (knee). Record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel (toe) continues his rehabilitation, but the striker is not yet match fit. Midfielder Alexander Tettey (ankle), goalkeeper Mark Bunn (ankle) and winger Elliott Bennett (knee) remain sidelined.
Teenage striker Sullay Kaikai’s form for Palace’s Under-21s could win him a place in Tony Pulis’ first matchday squad, although the new manager has admitted he will make few changes to the line-up that pulled off a 1-0 victory at Hull last weekend. He will be without Yannick Bolasie, who was sent off last week and starts a three-match ban.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Norwich L D L W L; Crystal Palace L L L D W
Top scorers: Gary Hooper & Leroy Fer (Norwich) 3; Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) 2
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
West Ham v Fulham
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce must choose whether to lead the line with captain Kevin Nolan or bring out-and-out striker Carlton Cole into the starting XI in Andy Carroll’s (heel) continued absence. George McCartney and Alou Diarra (both knee) are expected to miss out, with Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Razvan Rat (hamstring) also absent.
Central defender Brede Hangeland could return from a sciatic nerve injury to boost struggling Fulham. Boss Martin Jol will make a late decision on the fitness of striker Dimitar Berbatov who arrived at training not feeling well. Striker Hugo Rodallega is recovering from a muscle injury and defender Matthew Briggs is making good progress after his hernia operation, but right-back Sascha Riether is still out suspended.
Last season: Fulham 3 West Ham 1, West Ham 3 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: West Ham L D D L L; Fulham W L L L L
Top scorers: Ravel Morrison (West Ham) 5; Hugo Rodallega & Darren Bent (Fulham) 3
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Newcastle v West Brom
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew expects to be able to choose from an almost fully-fit squad. Full-back Mathieu Debuchy returns from his one-match suspension but faces a fight to retain his place given his side’s recent form. Midfielder Massadio Haidara has come through two Under-21 games unscathed but is still some way from making his first-team return following a knee injury.
West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has concerns over Liam Ridgewell (calf), Billy Jones and Scott Sinclair (both hamstring), while goalkeeper Ben Foster is definitely out as he continues to recover from a stress fracture of his foot.
Last season: West Brom 1 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 West Brom 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L W W W; West Brom D L W D D
Top scorers: Loic Remy (Newcastle) 8; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 6
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Sunday, December 1st
Tottenham v Manchester United
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is a doubt because of a groin injury. Midfielder Christian Eriksen (ankle), defender Danny Rose (toe) and striker Harry Kane (back) are all out, while manager Andre Villas-Boas is expected to recall the likes of Jermain Defoe, Kyle Walker and Paulinho, who were rested for Thursday’s win over Tromso.
David Moyes faces a selection dilemma after his United side produced their best display of the season in hammering Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday. Marouane Fellaini is definitely available after suspension, while Moyes claims both Nemanja Vidic (concussion) and Robin van Persie (groin) “have a chance” of being available.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Tottenham 3
Last five league matches: Tottenham W W D L L; Man Utd D W W W D
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 9; Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Hull v Liverpool
Hull must alter their defence once again after Paul McShane tore a hamstring against Crystal Palace last weekend. Fellow centre-half Curtis Davies took a knock to the shin in that match but is expected to start, with Alex Bruce likely to partner him. Stephen Quinn (hamstring) and Sone Aluko (Achilles) are out but defender James Chester should be fit for the bench after two months on the sidelines.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is likely to return to the starting line up having been dropped for the Merseyside derby. The England forward has a full week of training behind him after struggling to prove his fitness last week on his return from international duty. Manager Brendan Rodgers has to decide whether to stick with Jon Flanagan at left-back.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull L L W L L; Liverpool D W L W D
Top scorers: Robbie Brady (Hull) 4; Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) 11
Referee: Howard Webb.
Chelsea v Southampton
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o is expected to be out for two weeks with a groin injury after suffering a grade one tear in Tuesday night’s Champions League loss at Basle. Fernando Torres, who made his return from an adductor injury when replacing Eto’o in midweek, could start. The Saints clash could come too soon for defender David Luiz despite his return to training from a knee injury, while midfielder Marco van Ginkel (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino will welcome back Jack Cork and Gaston Ramirez. Cork missed the defeat at Arsenal with an ankle injury but is now fully fit while Ramirez is back in contention after also missing the 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium after a late return from international duty. Harrison Reed and Sam Gallagher are unlikely to retain their places in the squad, with Guly do Prado a long-term absentee after undergoing knee surgery.
Last season: Southampton 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 2 Southampton 2
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W L D W; Southampton D W D W L
Top scorers: Eden Hazard & Oscar (Chelsea) 6; Rickie Lambert & Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 4
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Manchester City v Swansea
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he is still to decide whether Costel Pantilimon or Joe Hart will play in goal this weekend. Captain and centre-back Vincent Kompany (thigh) is fit but will not return and fellow defender Matija Nastasic (calf) is also out. Playmaker David Silva and striker Stevan Jovetic remain on the sidelines with calf injuries but midfielder Jack Rodwell has overcome his latest niggle.
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is set to be without Wilfried Bony and Angel Rangel. Striker Bony will be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in the Europa League defeat to Valencia, while full-back Rangel picked up a calf injury in the dying moments. Alvaro Vazquez and Dwight Tiendalli are set to deputise, while Wayne Routledge should return from a calf injury.
Last season: Swansea 0 Man City 0, Man City 1 Swansea 0
Last five league matches: Man City W L W L W; Swansea W D L D W
Top scorers: Sergio Aguero (Man City) 16; Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 9
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
