FRIDAY
Aston Villa (5) v Manchester United (7) (7.45pm ko)
David de Gea has been left out of the Manchester United squad for their game at Aston Villa on Friday because manager Louis van Gaal still feels the goalkeeper is not mentally up to the job.
De Gea, who sat out the season-opening win versus Tottenham last week, is still not able to focus properly because of speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid, according to Van Gaal.
Centre-back Phil Jones (thrombosis) and midfielder Marouane Fellaini (suspended) are out while defender Marcos Rojo will not feature because he still lacks match fitness.
Rudy Gestede may have to settle for a place on Aston Villa’s bench against Manchester United on Friday despite his debut winner last week.
The striker, who joined from Blackburn in the summer, scored in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth after coming off the bench but boss Tim Sherwood does not want to rush him after an interrupted pre-season.
Jack Grealish (hamstring), Carles Gil (ankle) and Jores Okore (knee) are out while Idrissa Gueye, Jordan Amavi, Jordan Ayew, Jordan Veretout and Micah Richards are also set for their home debuts.
Last season: Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1, Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 1
Top scorers (all competitions): Rudy Gestede (Aston Villa) 1, Own goals (Manchester United) 1
Match odds: Odds H 5-1 A 7-10 D 3-1
Referee: Mike Dean
SATURDAY (3pm ko unless stated)
Southampton (11) v Everton (9) (12.45pm ko)
Oriol Romeu, Southampton’s new €7million signing from Chelsea, is expected to make his debut. Manager Ronald Koeman will also return to the Saints bench after missing the draw at Newcastle while recovering from surgery to a ruptured Achilles. He will be without two other summer recruits, Steven Caulker (sinus infection) and Jordie Clasie (hamstring), as well as Ryan Bertrand (knee) and long-term absentee Fraser Forster.
Everton defender Leighton Baines is out for three months after ankle surgery so Brendan Galloway is expected to deputise at left-back again. Forward Kevin Mirallas has recovered from the ankle injury which forced him off against Watford, while Gerard Deulofeu, Aiden McGeady and Muhamed Besic all returned to training this week after missing last weekend’s game with hamstring injuries.
Last season: Everton 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 3 Everton 0
Top scorers (all competitions): Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 3; Ross Barkley & Arouna Kone (Everton) 1
Match odds: H 19-20 A 14-5 D 5-2
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Sunderland (17) v Norwich (18)
Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat has revealed that winger Adam Johnson’s shoulder injury is likely to sideline him for six to seven weeks, instead of the eight-plus which was first feared. The Dutchman otherwise has a relatively clean bill of health, with only Jordi Gomez (knee) still missing. Fellow midfielder Yann M’Vila has been included in the senior squad for the first time.
Norwich report no fresh injury concerns. Midfielder Nathan Redmond is pressing for a starting place after coming off the bench to score in the defeat to Crystal Palace, as is forward Cameron Jerome. Full-back Martin Olsson (shoulder) continues his rehabilitation, along with forward Kyle Lafferty. Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, a summer signing on a free transfer from West Brom, is out with a fractured metatarsal.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe & Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 1; Nathan Redmond (Norwich) 1
Match odds: H 2-1 A 6-5 D 23-10
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Swansea (12) v Newcastle (10)
Swansea will assess midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, forced off in the first half of the draw at Chelsea with a sore hamstring — Jack Cork, an impressive replacement at Stamford Bridge, will start if Ki does not make it. Winger Jefferson Montero, taken off on Saturday as a precaution after cramping up, is fit and available.
Vurnon Anita is in the Magpies squad after a back injury but fellow midfielder Sylvain Marveaux (groin) remains out. Striker Emmanuel Riviere has undergone minor knee surgery, while midfielder Remy Cabella (hip/thigh) has returned to training and will be joined by defender Paul Dummett (hamstring) next week.
Last season: Newcastle 2 Swansea 3, Swansea 2 Newcastle 2
Top scorers (all competitions): Andre Ayew & Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) 1; Papiss Cisse & Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle) 1
Match odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Tottenham (16) v Stoke (15)
Hugo Lloris is ready to start for Tottenham after head coach Mauricio Pochettino reported a fully-fit squad ahead. The keeper, who sustained a fractured wrist in pre-season, played 90 minutes in an Under-21 match on Monday. Midfielder Andros Townsend (shoulder) and defender Danny Rose (quad) are also back in contention, while midfielder Alex Pritchard marked his return from injury with two goals for the Under-21s against Everton.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes will make a decision on new winger Xherdan Shaqiri’s involvement, while forward Marko Arnautovic and defender Marc Wilson are available after thigh and ankle problems respectively. Peter Odemwingie (hamstring) and fellow forward Bojan Krkic (knee) will not figure, although the latter is close to making a first-team return after a knee injury. Captain Ryan Shawcross faces between two and three months on the sidelines following back surgery.
Last season: Stoke 3 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 Stoke 2
Match odds: H 3-4 A 15-4 D 13-5
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Watford (13) v West Brom (20)
Midfielder Almen Abdi (knee) and winger Steven Berghuis (leg) have recovered from injury and are set to be available for Watford after returning to training this week — Berghuis is set to make his debut after joining from AZ Alkmaar last month. Defender Miguel Britos and keeper Giedrius Arlauskis are suspended.
New striker Salomon Rondon could make his West Brom debut, on-loan Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry could also feature as he looks to regain match fitness, while defender Gareth McAuley is available after a calf injury. However, keeper Ben Foster (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions): Odion Ighalo & Miguel Layun (Watford) 1
Match odds: H 11-5 A 11-10 D 23-10
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
West Ham (4) v Leicester (2)
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic believes Diafra Sakho, arrested on suspicion of assault, is in the right frame of mind to play. Carl Jenkinson is available having been ineligible to face parent club Arsenal, while Pedro Obiang is fit — but forwards Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia (both knee) and defender Joey O’Brien (hamstring) are out and midfielder Morgan Amalfitano is not in contention having been made to train with the youth team following a disagreement with Bilic.
Midfielder Matty James remains the only absentee for Leicester due to a knee problem. Striker Jamie Vardy will be involved after being disciplined by the club for using racist language in a casino, while Yohan Benalouane, Leonardo Ulloa, Tom Lawrence, Liam Moore and Ben Chilwell all managed the full 90 minutes in a Barclays Under-21 Premier League draw against Manchester United.
Last season: Leicester 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Leicester 0
Top scorers (all competitions): Mauro Zarate (West Ham) 2; Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) 2
Match odds: H 5-6 A 3-1 D 23-10
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace (3) v Arsenal (19) (1.30pm ko)
Palace have no fresh injury concerns. Marouane Chamakh is unlikely to face his former club as the striker is still recovering from a hamstring problem, while goalkeeper Julian Speroni is also out with a finger injury — Alex McCarthy is expected to continue.
Full-back Hector Bellerin should return for Arsenal after a thigh strain, while forward Alexis Sanchez could start having stepped up his training this week after an extended break. Tomas Rosicky (knee), fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere (leg) and forward Danny Welbeck (knee) will not figure.
Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 1
Top scorers (all competitions): Yohan Cabaye, Damien Delaney & Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) 1; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) 1
Match odds: H 4-1 A 8-11 D 13-5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Man City (1) v Chelsea (8) (4pm ko)
Sergio Aguero is in contention to start for City — the striker is being eased back into action after international duty over the summer but has trained without problem and is close to match fitness. Midfielders Fabian Delph (hamstring) and Fernando (groin) are the only definite absentees while left-back Gael Clichy (ankle) will be assessed.
A one-match ban means Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be absent — the club failed to overturn the red card he received in the second half of the 2-2 season opener with Swansea, so Asmir Begovic is set to deputise. Midfielder Oscar is a doubt for the match after picking up a knock in training, but Diego Costa is in line to start in attack after overcoming a recurring hamstring injury and playing the full 90 minutes last weekend.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Man City 1, Man City 1 Chelsea 1
Top scorers (all competitions): Yaya Toure (Man City) 2; Oscar (Chelsea) 1
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 12-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
MONDAY
Liverpool (6) v Bournemouth (14) (8pm ko)
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers could name an unchanged side. Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week — which was also used to give the likes of Danny Ings, Emre Can, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho some match practice — but he is likely to remain on the bench. Midfielder Joe Allen (hamstring) is sidelined.
Cherries manager Eddie Howe is unlikely to make wholesale changes despite the opening defeat by Aston Villa. Howe has spoken of remaining loyal to the players who won promotion and apart from midfielders Harry Arter (groin), Shaun MacDonald (toe) and Christian Atsu (back), he has a fully fit squad from which to choose.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions): Phillippe Coutinho (Liverpool) 1; Bournemouth n/a
Match odds: H 1-2 A 11-2 D 16-5
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
