Saturday, August 23rd

Blackburn (4) v Hull (5)

Brett Emerton returns to the Blackburn squad after missing the opening-day win at Everton with a foot injury. Manager Paul Ince has no other injury problems after his players returned unscathed from the midweek internationals as he looks for a first success at Ewood Park.

If George Boateng (thigh) is passed fit, Hull boss Phil Brown could stick with the XI who saw off Fulham last week. If Boateng misses out the likes of Dean Marney and Peter Halmosi come into contention, while Caleb Folan is pushing for a start after coming off the bench to score the winner against the Cottagers.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn D W W L W; Hull W L W L W
Top scorers: Roque Santa Cruz, Andre Ooijer & David Dunn (Blackburn) 1;
Geovanni & Caleb Folan (Hull) 1
Match odds: H 4-7 A 5-1 D 14-5
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Fulham (13) v Arsenal (8)

Fulham striker Andrew Johnson is still receiving treatment for his thigh strain and is not expected to return for three weeks. Seol Ki-Hyeon will continue his strike partnership alongside Bobby Zamora.

Arsenal winger Samir Nasri has shaken off a thigh problem but new signing Mikael Silvestre may not feature because of a muscle strain. Cameroon midfielder Alexandre Song is back into contention after his return from the Olympics but Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Philippe Senderos (hamstring), Amaury Bischoff (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg)
remain in recovery.

Last season: Fulham 0 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 2 Fulham 1
Last five league matches: Fulham L W W W L; Arsenal W W W W W
Top scorers: Fredrik Stoor & Seol Ki-Hyeon (Fulham) 1; Emmanuel Adebayor,
William Gallas & Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 1
Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 14-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Liverpool (9) v Middlesbrough (6)

Liverpool will be without defender Sami Hyypia after the veteran picked up a hamstring injury playing for Finland in midweek. But boss Rafael Benitez will have Dutch winger Ryan Babel back in the squad now he has returned from the Olympics. Lucas is unavailable after playing in the Brazil side which won the bronze medal in Beijing after defeating Belgium today while Javier Mascherano figures in the Olympic final against Nigeria tomorrow.

Justin Hoyte could make his debut for Middlesbrough, having signed from Arsenal too late to join the squad for last week's game against Tottenham. Manager Gareth Southgate will check on the fitness of Egyptian duo Mido and Mohamed Shawky after their midweek international duty, while midfielder Julio Arca is sidelined for another three weeks with an ankle injury.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 2, Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool W D W W W; Middlesbrough L L W W W
Top scorers: Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 1; David Wheater & Mido
(Middlesbrough) 1
Match odds: H 4-11 A 17-2 D 7-2
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Newcastle (11) v Bolton (3)

Newcastle striker Michael Owen will be on the bench against Bolton after recovering from a bout of mumps and a calf injury. Steven Taylor has recovered from an ankle problem picked up at Manchester United last Sunday, but Mark Viduka (Achilles) and Claudio Cacapa (hamstring) are still out, while Joey Barton continues his quest for match fitness.

Heidar Helguson has recovered from the hernia problem that ruled him out of the opening-day victory over Stoke, so boss Gary Megson is likely to stick with the XI who saw off the newly-promoted Potters 3-1.

Last season: Newcastle 0 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Newcastle 3
Last five league matches: Newcastle W D L L D; Bolton W D W D W
Top scorers: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 1; Kevin Davies, Gretar Steinsson &
Johan Elmander (Bolton) 1 Match odds: H 5-6 A 7-2 D 12-5
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Stoke (19) v Aston Villa (2)

Stoke are waiting for the arrival of work permits for new recruits Abdoulaye Faye and Haminu Dramani. Amdy Faye could also make his debut, while manager Tony Pulis will make late fitness checks on forwards Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has named an unchanged squad and is keeping faith with the players from the 4-2 win over Manchester City. Midfielder Steve Sidwell and recent signing, defender Carlos Cuellar, are making good progress from calf injuries but will not be considered against Tony Pulis's side.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Stoke W W W D L; Aston Villa W D L D W
Top scorers: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 1; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 4
Match odds: H 4-1 A 7-10 D 13-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Tottenham (14) v Sunderland (16)

Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton will miss out as he recovers from a stress fracture of his right foot. Midfielder Jamie O'Hara is back in full training after a neck complaint, while Tom Huddlestone has been struggling with an ankle injury. Head coach Juande Ramos will talk to Dimitar Berbatov, who has handed in a transfer request, before deciding whether the striker will play.

Midfielder Teemu Tainio will miss Sunderland's trip to his former club because of a muscle strain. New signings Djibril Cisse and David Healy are in the squad for the game at White Hart Lane, but Cisse will require international clearance if he is to make his debut after joining from Marseille. Dwight Yorke, Kenwyne Jones and young striker Martyn Waghorn are also injured.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham D D W L L; Sunderland L W L L L
Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 16-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

West Brom (17) v Everton (12)

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray will make a late decision on whether to give a debut to summer signing Gianni Zuiverloon as the defender has been suffering from jet lag since returning from Olympic Games action with Holland. Midfielder Robert Koren and striker Luke Moore are back in contention but centre-back Neil Clement is still out with a knee problem. New signing Borja Valero is unlikely
to feature.

Everton have injury doubts over teenage midfielder Dan Gosling (thigh) and skipper Phil Neville (ankle). With Tim Cahill a month away from a return after a foot injury, boss David Moyes has no additions to the squad that lost 3-2 at home to Blackburn last weekend. Nigerian Victor Anichebe, who is involved in the Olympics final against Argentina tomorrow, will return to Merseyside on Sunday to bolster the Toffees' squad when Moyes will get to assess the striker's thigh injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom W W D W L; Everton L D L W L
Top scorers: West Brom n/a, Mikel Arteta & Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 1
Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Sunday, August 24th

Manchester City (18) v West Ham (7)

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is short of options in attack. Valeri Bojinov has joined Benjani Mwaruwari and Darius Vassell in the treatment room after suffering an Achilles injury in the warm-up before the 4-2 defeat by Aston Villa. Former CSKA Moscow striker Jo is absent due to Olympic Games duty with Brazil, while captain Richard Dunne is again ruled out through suspension.

West Ham hope to have striker Dean Ashton (calf) and midfielder Scott Parker (thigh) fit. Defender Anton Ferdinand — a reported target for Sunderland — remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, as does Wales forward Craig Bellamy. Kieron Dyer (broken leg), Jonathan Spector (hip), George McCartney (virus), Danny Gabbidon (stomach), James Tompkins (leg) and James Collins (knee) are
still out.

Last season: Man City 1 West Ham 1, West Ham 0 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Man City W L L L L; West Ham W D L D W
Top scorers: Martin Petrov (Man City) 2; Dean Ashton (West Ham) 2
Match odds: H 5-4 A 11-5 D 23-10
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Wigan (15) v Chelsea (1)

Jason Koumas is pushing for a Wigan start after scoring for Wales, and Ryan Taylor (shin) is back in contention — while Erik Edman (knee ligament) remains on course for an October return after resuming light training this week.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has responded well to his ankle injury and could feature. Full-back Jose Bosingwa has also been carrying a knock but should be ready, while Michael Essien could also feature after missing the start of the season. Didier Drogba (knee) and Andriy Shevchenko (groin) miss out but Salomon Kalou is back from the Olympic Games.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Wigan 1, Wigan 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Wigan D D W L L; Chelsea W W W D W
Top scorers: Amr Zaki (Wigan) 1; Nicolas Anelka, Deco, Joe Cole & Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 1
Match odds: H 15-2 A 2-5 D 10-3
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Monday, August 25th

Portsmouth (20) v Manchester United (10)

Niko Kranjcar is a major doubt for Portsmouth with an ankle injury but Glen Little and Armand Traore could come in. Lassana Diarra has recovered from a knee problem and Sean Davis and Richard Hughes are fit again after hip injuries. Kanu (ankle) and David Nugent (groin) are likely to miss out.

Anderson will return to Manchester United in time to face Portsmouth but the Brazilian is still a doubtful starter as manager Sir Alex Ferguson does not want to rush him back after the Olympics. Owen Hargreaves (tendinitis) has a slim chance of playing but Park Ji-sung (knee) is out. Carlos Tevez has returned after a family bereavement while Nemanja Vidic is expected to be fit despite missing training. Nani completes a three-game ban.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 1 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Portsmouth L L L L L; Man Utd D L W W D
Top scorers: Darren Fletcher (Man Utd) 1
Match odds: H 19-5 A 4-5 D 23-10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).