St Stephen’s Day Premier League programme
Aston Villa (13) v Crystal Palace (18)
Gabriel Agbonlahor returns from a one-match suspension but Christian Benteke is likely to be missing once more as he recovers from a knee problem. Midfielder Ashley Westwood serves a one-match ban while captain Ron Vlaar is unlikely to have recovered from a calf problem in time.
Dwight Gayle is set to replace suspended Palace striker Marouane Chamakh. Former Stoke boss Tony Pulis has almost a full XI of unavailable players, so is likely to continue with full back Joel Ward in midfield. Ex-Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan could face his former club.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W L L L; Crystal Palace L W W L L
Top scorers: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 5; Marouane Chamakh (Crystal Palace) 4
Match odds: H 10-11 A 7-2 D 11-5
Referee: Howard Webb.
Cardiff (15) v Southampton (9)
Craig Bellamy looks set to miss out with an ongoing knee problem. Manager Malky Mackay may decide to restore Fraizer Campbell and Kim Bo-kyung to his starting line-up, with Aron Gunnarsson possibly making way for the latter.
Dani Osvaldo, Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne and Kelvin Davis could all return for injury-hit Southampton. Jose Fonte and Maya Yoshida were on the bench for Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham due to slight problems, while Artur Boruc (hand), Victor Wanyama (shin) and Guly do Prado (knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cardiff L D L W L; Southampton L L D D L
Top scorers: Fraizer Campbell & Jordon Mutch (Cardiff) 3; Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 7
Match odds: H 11-5 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee: Andre Marriner
Chelsea (4) v Swansea (11)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is likely to rotate his squad, meaning Ashley Cole could start at left back and captain John Terry could be rested. Michael Essien is available after missing the Arsenal draw through suspension, while his fellow midfielder Marco van Ginkel (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Swansea forward Michu is to undergo ankle surgery in the coming week, while goalkeeper Michel Vorm has already had a knee operation and Nathan Dyer is sidelined by an ankle ligament problem. Garry Monk is also absent with a knee problem but Leon Britton has returned from a broken toe.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Swansea 0, Swansea 1 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W L W D; Swansea L W D D L
Top scorers: Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 8; Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 9
Match odds: H 1-3 A 9-1 D 19-5
Referee: Mike Jones
Everton (5) v Sunderland (20)
Everton left back Leighton Baines could be back in contention after five games out with a broken toe. Striker Nikica Jelavic should also be available after missing Sunday's win at Swansea with a minor hamstring injury. Midfielder Steven Pienaar and defender Sylvain Distin suffered knocks at Swansea but neither are serious while veteran full back Tony Hibbert has overcome his latest knee problem.
Defender John O'Shea is fighting to be fit for Sunderland. The Republic of Ireland international damaged a shoulder during Saturday's goalless draw with Norwich and is being assessed. Defensive partner Wes Brown begins a three-match ban following his dismissal against the Canaries, while goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) and defender Carlos Cuellar (hip) are still out.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Everton 0, Everton 2 Sunderland 1
Last five league matches: Everton W W D W W; Sunderland D L L D D
Top scorers: Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 8; Emanuele Giaccherini & Phil Bardsley (Sunderland) 3
Match odds: H 2-5 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: Lee Probert
Hull (12) v Man Utd (8)
Hull manager Steve Bruce could field the same starting XI for the fourth Premier League match in a row. With Robbie Brady (groin) unlikely to be fit to face his former club, Bruce may keep faith with a side that has drawn against Swansea, Stoke and West Brom. Sone Aluko (Achilles) and Stephen Quinn (hamstring) are both certain absentees.
Danny Welbeck is a doubt for United after suffering a bang on the knee during Saturday's win over West Ham. Michael Carrick (Achilles) and Robin van Persie (thigh) are unlikely to be involved and Marouane Fellaini (wrist) is definitely out but Anders Lindegaard should be back after a hip problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull W L D D D; Man Utd D L L W W
Top scorers: Robbie Brady (Hull) 4; Wayne Rooney & Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 10
Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 11-4
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man City (3) v Liverpool (1)
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is to retain his place after making a first Premier League start in almost two months at Fulham. Gael Clichy could continue on his 'wrong' flank at right back due to injuries for Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards (both hamstring). Top scorer Sergio Aguero and defender Matija Nastasic (both calf) are out and Stevan Jovetic is a doubt due to illness.
Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan picked up a slight hamstring problem in Saturday's victory over Cardiff and could be a doubt. Captain Steven Gerrard is progressing well from a similar problem but manager Brendan Rodgers is looking at bringing in reserves and youth team players to bolster a squad which has only 17 fit players. Striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle) and left back Jose Enrique (knee) are sidelined until the new year.
Last season: Man City 2 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 2 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Man City W W D W W; Liverpool L W W W W
Top scorers: Sergio Aguero (Man City) 19; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 19
Match odds: H 4-5 A 7-2 D 5-2
Referee: Lee Mason
Newcastle (6) v Stoke (10)
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be without midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote, who is suspended after collecting a fifth booking of the season. Midfielder Jonas Gutierrez is nursing a calf problem picked up in training, but Pardew otherwise has no fitness concerns.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes must decide whether to reward Charlie Adam for his impressive second-half performance against Aston Villa with a start. Hughes also has Stephen Ireland available after the Irishman was forced to sit out the clash against his parent club. Defender Robert Huth (knee) will miss all the Christmas fixtures.
Last season: Newcastle 2 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle W L W D W; Stoke L D W D W
Top scorers: Loic Remy (Newcastle) 8; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 5
Match odds: H 8-11 A 19-5 D 13-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Norwich (14) v Fulham (19)
Norwich midfielder Jonathan Howson faces a late fitness test on a back problem and is a doubt for the relegation showdown. Defender Russell Martin missed the 0-0 draw with Sunderland to rest a sore ankle but will return against Fulham.
Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov faces a late fitness test after missing the 4-2 defeat to Manchester City with a groin injury. In defence, both Brede Hangeland (back) and Philippe Senderos (abductor) are missing as well as Matthew Briggs (hernia).
Last season: Norwich 0 Fulham 0, Fulham 5 Norwich 0
Last five league matches: Norwich W L W D D; Fulham L L W L L
Top scorers: Gary Hooper (Norwich) 6; Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 4
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 A 23-10
Referee: Jon Moss
Tottenham (7) v West Brom (16)
New Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood looks set to be without winger Aaron Lennon, who has an abdominal injury. Mousa Dembele's twisted ankle is not too serious but Andros Townsend (hamstring), Younes Kaboul (thigh) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle) are out, while Paulinho is suspended and Harry Kane has a back complaint.
Striker Victor Anichebe is West Brom's only injury doubt. The forward is struggling with a groin problem. Goalkeeper Ben Foster returned from a foot injury in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Hull and reported no ill effects.
Last season: West Brom 0 Spurs 1, Spurs 1 West Brom 1
Last five league matches: Spurs D W W L W; West Brom L L L L D
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe & Roberto Soldado (Spurs) 9; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 6
Match odds: H 8-15 A 5-1 D 3-1
Referee: Anthony Taylor
West Ham (17) v Arsenal (2)
West Ham’s Kevin Nolan returns from suspension while manager Sam Allardyce will continue to select defender James Tomkins despite his arrest on Sunday. There is still no timescale on Andy Carroll’s return from long-term foot trouble and Ricardo Vaz Te and Winston Reid are still several weeks from fitness. Spanish goalkeeper Adrian could keep Jussi Jaaskelainen on the bench once again.
Arsenal will be without midfielder Jack Wilshere as he completes a two-match suspension. Centre half Laurent Koscielny could return after sitting out the game against Chelsea with a cut on his knee but forward Yaya Sanogo (back) and midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: Arsenal 5 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Arsenal 3
Last five league matches: West Ham W L L D L; Arsenal W W D L D
Top scorers: Ravel Morrison (West Ham) 5; Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) 13
Match odds: H 8-1 A 8-13 D 13-5
Referee: Phil Dowd
