This weekend's English Premier League team news and statistics.

Birmingham (18) v Liverpool (4)

Blues midfielder Sebastian Larsson is poised to return after tweaking a medial ligament in the 1-1 draw with Everton on April 12. Olivier Kapo is also pressing for a start after two months out with a hamstring injury. Captain Damien Johnson is again unavailable because of suspension.

Fabio Aurelio will be out for three weeks with a torn abductor muscle, while Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell remain long-term absentees. Reds boss Rafael Benitez is set to rotate his side with next week's Champions League match against Chelsea in mind, with Jermaine Pennant, David Martin, Charles Itandje, Damien Plessis and Emiliano Insua likely to be in the squad.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham L W L D L; Liverpool L W D W W
Top scorers: James McFadden (Birmingham) 9; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 30
Match odds: H 7-4 A 13-10 D 21-10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Chelsea (2) v Man Utd (1)

Blues boss Avram Grant will let Frank Lampard decide whether he plays, after the death of the midfielder's mother, Pat, yesterday. Michael Essien, suspended for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, returns to the squad.

United centre-back Nemanja Vidic was rushed to hospital with a stomach complaint on Tuesday but he trained this morning and should be ready for tomorrow's game. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is promising a 'couple of changes' — one of which could see the return of Ryan Giggs.
Last season: Chelsea 0 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 1 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W; Man Utd W W D W D
Top scorers: Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 18; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 38
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Man City (8) v Fulham (19)

City captain Richard Dunne may be ruled out after damaging a hamstring in the win over Portsmouth. With Micah Richards (knee) and Nedum Onuoha (shoulder) already sidelined through injury, Shaleum Logan has been recalled from League Two Stockport. Sun Jihai is set to return to the squad after illness.

Fulham striker Jari Litmanen is out with an ear injury sustained in training after he was struck by a ball. Antti Niemi has trained all week after completing rehabilitation from a shoulder injury but Kasey Keller will continue in goal.
Last season: Fulham 1 Man City 3, Man City 3 Fulham 1
Last five league matches: Man City D L L W W; Fulham L D L W L
Top scorers: Benjani Mwaruwari (Man City) 14; Erik Nevland (Fulham) 8
Match odds: H 5-6 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Sunderland (15) v Middlesbrough (14)

Black Cats defender Phil Bardsley will not play again this season and will undergo a cartilage operation on Monday. Jonny Evans is rated at only 50-50 with a hamstring strain, while Dwight Yorke (knee) remains a doubt and Dickson Etuhu is out for the remaining weeks of the campaign after undergoing knee surgery.

Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could return to the side after recovering from back trouble. Ross Turnbull, who deputised against Bolton, is a fresh doubt with a similar problem. Gary O'Neil (knee) misses the rest of the season and Mido (hernia) could join him, while Robert Huth's foot problem remains a worry.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland W W W L L; Middlesbrough W L D D L
Top scorers: Rade Prica (Sunderland) 13; Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 13
Match odds: H 6-5 A 2-1 D 2-1
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Tottenham (11) v Bolton (16)

Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been back in full training following an ankle injury and could figure. Pascal Chimbonda (calf) and Jonathan Woodgate (ankle) are in contention but Ledley King (knee), Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are out for the rest of the season.

Midfielder Joey O'Brien returns from a hamstring injury but may have to settle for a place on Bolton's  bench. On-loan striker Grzegorz Rasiak sustained a cut eye in the win at Middlesbrough but is expected to be fit to face his former club at White Hart Lane in place of Kevin Davies, who completes a two-match ban.
Last season: Tottenham 4 Bolton 1, Bolton 2 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L D D D; Bolton D L L W W
Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 23; Grzegorz Rasiak (Bolton) 8
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

West Ham (10) v Newcastle (12)

Hammers striker Dean Ashton has been in full training this week after missing last week's win over Derby, meaning boss Alan Curbishley has a similar squad to choose from. Central defender Anton Ferdinand was ruled out last week with a hamstring complaint.

Magpies boss Kevin Keegan is set to field the same side again, with only minor knocks to worry him. Emre (calf), Stephen Carr (hamstring), Claudio Cacapa (groin), Peter Ramage (knee) and James Milner (foot) are nearing returns, while Shay Given is recovering from groin surgery.
Last season: Newcastle 2 West Ham 2, West Ham 0 Newcastle 2
Last five league matches: West Ham D L L L W; Newcastle W W W D W
Top scorers: Dean Ashton (West Ham) 8; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 12
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10
Referee: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).

Wigan (13) v Reading (17)

Emile Heskey (hamstring) and Marcus Bent (cut leg) are fit for Wigan. On-loan defender Erik Hagen is available following illness, so Erik Edman is the only absentee after being ruled out for the season with a long-term knee injury.

Royals winger Jimmy Kebe is a doubt with a knock picked up in last week's defeat at Arsenal. Utility man Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) is already out, while defender Nicky Shorey and winger Stephen Hunt are set for  recalls. Striker Leroy Lita is back in contention following a loan spell at Charlton.
Last season: Reading 3 Wigan 2, Wigan 1 Reading 0
Last five league matches: Wigan L L W D D; Reading W D L L L
Top scorers: Marlon King (Wigan) 12; Dave Kitson (Reading) 9
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Sunday, April 27th

Everton (5) v Aston Villa (6)

Leon Osman is almost certain to return after recovering from a hip injury while Everton hope fellow midfielder Mikel Arteta will make his comeback after treatment on stomach and groin injuries.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill has no fresh injury worries. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has a slight cold but it will not prevent him playing. Midfielder Craig Gardner is still ruled out with a thigh injury suffered on England Under-21 duty four weeks ago, although he has returned to training.
Last season: Aston Villa 1 Everton 1, Everton 0 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Everton D L W D L; Aston Villa L L W W W
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 19; John Carew (Aston Villa) 12
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Portsmouth (7) v Blackburn (9)

Pompey striker Kanu is pressing for a recall but manager Harry Redknapp could decide to give on-loan Milan Baros another run alongside Jermain Defoe. David Nugent and and Pedro Mendes could be on the bench, while Lauren may replace the suspended Hermann Hreidarsson at left-back.

Rovers manager Mark Hughes looks set to name an unchanged side. The Welshman has no fresh injury worries, although Matt Derbyshire may not rejoin the squad as he is facing surgery on a hernia problem.
Last season: Blackburn 3 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 3 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Portsmouth L W W D L; Blackburn W D D L D
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth) 16; Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 20
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Monday, April 28th

Derby (20) v Arsenal (3)

Rams boss Paul Jewell will give midfielder David Jones (calf) a late test. Marc Edworthy (cracked rib) and long-term absentees Claude Davis and Giles Barnes (both knee) all miss out.

Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb is suspended for the rest of the season, while Tomas Rosicky (knee) and Eduardo (broken leg) remain sidelined. Abou Diaby (thigh) is also out, along with Mathieu Flamini and full-back Bacary Sagna (both ankle), so Brazilian teenager Denilson could make a rare start. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is fit again following a wrist problem, but Polish youngster Lukasz Fabianski may start.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Derby L D L L L; Arsenal L W D L W
Top scorers: Kenny Miller (Derby) 8; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 27
Match odds: H 9-1 A 1-4 D 7-2
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).