SATURDAY (3.0pm unless stated)
Arsenal (3) v Liverpool (5), 12.45pm - Live BT Sport 1
Danny Welbeck faces a fitness test on the knee injury he picked up on England duty ahead of Arsenal's clash with Liverpool. Club captain Mikel Arteta, full back Mathieu Debuchy, midfielders Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere will also be assessed after featuring in a midweek friendly match, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) remains unavailable.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is expected to return from a hip injury that ruled him out for England over the international break. Adam Lallana, who was also held back from international duty with a groin problem, is also expected to be in contention. Martin Skrtel and captain Steven Gerrard begin three-match suspensions with Dejan Lovren favourite to replace the former in defence.
Last season: Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 2 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W W; Liverpool W W W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 19; Raheem Sterling & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 10
Match odds: H 5-6 A 7-2 D 12-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Everton (13) v Southampton (6) - Live Setanta Sports 1
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku will have a late fitness test on a hamstring problem, which saw him withdraw from the Belgium squad during the international break. Darron Gibson (stomach), who also had to pull out of international duty, remains a doubt, but Kevin Mirallas (dead leg) and Steven Pienaar (knee) are back in contention for the Toffees.
Steven Davis is a doubt for Southampton after picking up a groin injury on international duty for Northern Ireland but the midfielder will have a late fitness test in a bid to be involved. Fraser Forster is definitely ruled out for at least the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery and Jay Rodriguez is four to five weeks away from a return from his own knee woes.
Last season: Southampton 2 Everton 0, Everton 2 Southampton 1
Last five league matches: Everton D L L W W; Southampton L L W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 18; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 12
Match odds: H 8-5 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: Lee Mason
Leicester (20) v West Ham (9)
Matt Upson is out of Leicester's clash with his former club West Ham as the rock-bottom Foxes continue their fight for survival. The defender limped off in their 4-3 defeat to Tottenham before the international break with an Achilles problem and will not be risked. Dean Hammond (calf) joins him on the sidelines and Jeff Schlupp will be assessed amid fears of fatigue after he played in Ghana's 1-1 draw with Mali on Tuesday.
Winston Reid has recovered from a hamstring problem and is in contention to resume his place at the heart of the Hammers’ defence. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes the game will come too soon for Enner Valencia (toe) but the Ecuadorian is back in training whilst Andy Carroll (knee), James Tomkins (shoulder) and Doneil Henry (hamstring) all miss out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester L D L D L; West Ham D L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Andrej Kramaric (Leicester) 27; Diafra Sakho (West Ham) 12
Match odds: H 7-5 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Manchester United (4) v Aston Villa (16)
Robin van Persie has been ruled out with an ankle injury for Manchester United, while centre back Chris Smalling is a big doubt due to illness – but left back Luke Shaw has recovered from a hamstring problem. Jonny Evans is also unavailable as he sits out the fourth of his six-game ban for spitting at Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse.
Skipper Ron Vlaar could return for Aston Villa after finally shaking off a calf injury. The defender has been out since February and he will be joined in the squad by Joe Cole after a hamstring issue, while Jores Okore (knee) is also fit. Kieran Richardson and Philippe Senderos (both calf) are in training but could still miss out while there are doubts surrounding Aly Cissokho (groin) and Nathan Baker (knee) and United loanee Tom Cleverley is ineligible.
Last season: Man Utd 4 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 3
Last five league matches: Man Utd L W W W W; Aston Villa L L W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 13; Christian Benteke & Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 6
Match odds: H 1-3 A 10-1 D 7-2
Referee: Roger East
Swansea (8) v Hull (15)
Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero will have a late fitness test for Swansea after suffering a muscle strain against Mexico during the international break. On-loan Spurs midfielder Tom Carroll is definitely out after damaging ankle ligaments on England under-21 duty and might not play again this season. Midfielder Leon Britton and defender Kyle Bartley are both back in training and have been added to the squad.
Mohamed Diame and James Chester will make their long-awaited returns to the Hull squad for Saturday’s trip to Swansea. Gaston Ramirez is also fit to play despite concerns about an injury picked up on international duty. Tom Huddlestone is suspended while Nikica Jelavic and Robert Snodgrass (both knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: Hull 1 Swansea 0, Swansea 1 Hull 1
Last five league matches: Swansea W W L L W; Hull W L D D L
Top scorers: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea) 7; Nikica Jelavic (Hull) 8
Match odds: H 1-1 A 16-5 A 16-5
Referee: Andre Marriner
West Brom (14) v QPR (19)
West Brom's Craig Dawson is suspended for the visit of QPR after he was awarded the red card wrongly given to Gareth McAuley against Manchester City after a review. Ben Foster has been ruled out for six months with damaged cruciate knee ligaments which the England goalkeeper suffered in the Baggies' last home game against Stoke while Callum McManaman is also out with a foot injury.
QPR manager Chris Ramsey has no fresh injury concerns. On-loan striker Mauro Zarate has returned to parent club West Ham to regain fitness while Richard Dunne and Leroy Fer are both out with knee injuries. Darnell Furlong is also likely to miss the game with a calf problem and Alejandro Faurlin is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom D W L W L; QPR L L L L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Saido Berahino (West Brom) 18; Charlie Austin (QPR) 15
Match odds: H 8-11 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Probert
Chelsea (1) v Stoke (10), 5.30pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Chelsea are going to give striker Diego Costa as long as possible to prove his fitness ahead of the Stoke game. The striker suffered a hamstring injury in the Premier League leaders' win at Hull last time out and withdrew from Spain duty, but may not be risked despite being passed fit following the international break. Midfielder John Obi Mikel will not be considered despite recovering from his knee problem.
Jonathan Walters is expected to shake off a calf knock in time for Stoke, while defender Marc Muniesa is also in line for a return after missing five matches with a hamstring injury. The Potters also have Victor Moses fit again – but he will not be able to feature this weekend as the opposition is the on-loan winger’s parent club.
Last season: Chelsea 3 Stoke 0, Stoke 3 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W D W; Stoke W W W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Diego Costa (Chelsea) 20; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 10
Match odds: H 2-7 A 11-1 D 4-1
Referee: Jonathan Moss
SUNDAY
Burnley (18) v Tottenham (7), 1.30pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Stephen Ward could return for Burnley after overcoming an ankle injury, while midfielder Matt Taylor, who has not featured since August, is also nearing a return after resuming training following his recovery from Achilles surgery. The Clarets have no fresh injury concerns, but Dean Marney and Kevin Long (both cruciate ligament) remain on the long-term absentee list.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will miss the trip because of a knee injury. Full-back Danny Rose will be assessed after returning early from an England call-up with hamstring and hip issues, while forward Roberto Soldado (knee) is another concern.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Burnley D L L W L; Tottenham D W W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Danny Ings (Burnley) 9; Harry Kane (Tottenham) 29
Match odds: H 5-2 A 6-5 A 21-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Sunderland (17) v Newcastle (12), 4.0pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole will return to the starting line-up – head coach Dick Advocaat has confirmed that Cattermole will be back against the Magpies after serving a two-match ban for reaching 10 bookings for the season. Wes Brown, who is facing up to a month on the sidelines with a knee problem, is out while midfielders Will Buckley (knee) and Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle) are also not ready to return.
Massadio Haidara will not play again this season after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his knee. He will be joined by fellow defenders Steven Taylor (Achilles), Paul Dummett (knee) and midfielders Cheick Tiote (also knee) and Siem de Jong (collapsed lung) on the sidelines. Mehdi Abeid could come back into contention in midfield, while Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse continue their respective suspensions.
Last season: Newcastle 0 Sunderland 3, Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches (all competitions): Sunderland D L D L L; Newcastle L W L L L
Top scorers: Adam Johnson (Sunderland) 5; Papiss Cisse (Newcastle) 11
Match odds: H 13-8 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: Mike Dean
MONDAY
Crystal Palace (11) v Man City (2), 8.0pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell are both out with hamstring injuries for Palace while midfielder Jordon Mutch remains sidelined with a thigh strain, but manager Alan Pardew has no fresh injury concerns. Eagles captain Mile Jedinak is also unavailable as he serves the last of a four-match suspension.
City have a clean bill of health as they travel to Palace. Midfield talisman Yaya Toure missed the win over West Brom a fortnight ago with an Achilles problem but he has since featured for Ivory Coast and is set to return. James Milner has been troubled by a knee complaint in recent weeks, but the suggestions from manager Manuel Pellegrini are that the England international will be available.
Last season: Crystal Palace 0 Man City 2, Man City 1 Crystal Palace 0
Last five league matches (all competitions): Crystal Palace L W L W W; Man City W L W L W
Top scorers: Glenn Murray (Crystal Palace) 12; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 23
Match odds: H 5-1 A 8-11 D 11-
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
