A round-up of the weekend's Premier League team news
Blackburn (18) v West Ham (11)
New signing Pascal Chimbonda is in Blackburn’s squad but midfielder Steven Reid (hamstring), defenders Ryan Nelsen (knee) and Brett Emerton (thigh) and on-loan striker Franco Di Santo (hamstring) are out. Michel Salgado is not yet match fit but striker Benni McCarthy should be fit after a slight ankle injury.
Striker Alessandro Diamanti has not signed in time to make his West Ham debut. Savio is out with a virus but fellow forwards Carlton Cole and Luis Jimenez have recovered from muscle strains and will play. Valon Behrami, Dean Ashton, Luis Boa Morte and Herita Ilunga are all unavailable.
Last season:Blackburn 1 West Ham 1, West Ham 4 Blackburn 1
Last five league matches:Blackburn W L D L L; West Ham L L W W L
Top scorers:David Dunn, Gael Givet, David Hoilett & Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) 1; Junior Stanislas (West Ham) 2
Match odds:H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Bolton (17) v Liverpool (10)
Jlloyd Samuel could be in line to make his first Premier League start of the season after being preferred to new signing Paul Robinson for Tuesday’s Carling Cup win at Tranmere. Andy O’Brien (groin) is also in contention. Joey O’Brien and Ricardo Gardner are still nursing long-term problems, but Ricardo Vaz Te is back in training with the squad.
New Liverpool signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos came through a reserve run-out last night and is in line for his debut. With concerns over Martin Skrtel’s jaw injury the new centre-back is set to play at the Reebok. Liverpool are Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger and new midfielder Alberto Aquilani.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Liverpool 2
Last five league matches: Bolton D D L L L; Liverpool W W L W L
Top scorers: Mark Davies (Bolton) 1; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 2
Match odds: H 6-1 A 8-15 D 11-4
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Chelsea (2) v Burnley (7)
Summer signing Yuri Zhirkov is back in training after a knee injury but will not be considered. England midfielder Joe Cole, also back in training after knee ligament problems, is not ready to return. Juliano Belletti has recovered from his Achilles injury but defenders Alex (groin) and Paulo Ferreira (knee) both miss out.
Burnley defender Richard Eckersley is suspended after being sent off in the Carling Cup victory at Hartlepool in midweek. Michael Duff could come into contention after an ankle problem but Steven Caldwell remains sidelined with a groin injury.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Chelsea W W W W W; Burnley D W L W W
Top scorers:Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 3; Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 2
Match odds:H 1-7 A 20-1 D 6-1
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Man Utd (4) v Arsenal (3)
Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar remain Manchester United’s major absentees. Ferdinand could be back for the trip to Tottenham on September 12. Ben Foster will continue in goal, while Michael Carrick and Anderson are hoping for recalls after missing the five-goal rout of Wigan.
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Gunners have no fresh injury concerns following Wednesday night’s 3-1 victory over Celtic. Theo Walcott (back), Lukasz Fabianski (knee), Samir Nasri (broken leg) and Johan Djourou (knee) all continue their rehabilitation.
Last season:Man Utd 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 2 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches:Man Utd D W W L W; Arsenal L D W W W
Top scorers:Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 4; Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas & William Gallas (Arsenal) 2
Match odds:H 23-20 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).
Stoke (9) v Sunderland (6)
Stoke’s new signing Robert Huth will go straight into the squad and could even start in central defence if Ryan Shawcross, who has been struggling with his latest bout of growing pains, fails a late fitness check. James Beattie should be fit to return in attack after recovering from a knee.
Sunderland defender Danny Collins is not expected to be included in the squad as the Potters attempt to sign him. But keeper Craig Gordon could retain his place after returning from knee surgery in the Carling Cup win at Norwich with Marton Fulop (heel) struggling. Fraizer Campbell is expected to be fit.
Last season:Sunderland 2 Stoke 0, Stoke 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Stoke W L W L D; Sunderland L L W L W
Top scorers:Dave Kitson & Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) 1; Darren Bent, Kenwyne Jones & Andy Reid (Sunderland) 2
Match odds: H 11-8 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Tottenham (1) v Birmingham (8)
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is likely to select the same side which won at West Ham last weekend. Defenders Jonathan Woodgate (hernia) and Michael Dawson (Achilles) are still long-term absentees, although Dawson has resumed light training. Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is likely to be out for another three weeks at least with a groin injury.
Blues left-back Gregory Vignal could return after hip trouble. Boss Alex McLeish has to decide whether to include Christian Benitez in the league starting line-up for the first time after he impressed in the Carling Cup win at Southampton — but fellow striker Cameron Jerome (ankle) is still out.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Tottenham W L W W W; Birmingham L W L W D
Top scorers:Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 4; Lee Bowyer, Lee Carsley & James McFadden (Birmingham) 1
Match odds: H 1-3 A 9-1 D 18-5
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Wolves (14) v Hull (15)
Wolves are set to be boosted by the return of full-back Stephen Ward (knee) and the versatile Greg Halford (calf). The comeback hopes of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
hang in the balance. The striker, who damaged his hamstring in the opening game of the season against West Ham, made a low-key return to training this week but looks unlikely to be risked. Right-back Kevin Foley (knee) is sidelined.
Phil Brown is set to recall a host of first team players after making 11 changes to the side for the Carling Cup win over Southend. Paul McShane is unlikely to be fit enough to make his debut for the club even if his move from Sunderland is tied up in time. Jimmy Bullard is still sidelined, as is club captain Ian Ashbee, Dean Marney and Richard Garcia.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Wolves D W L W L; Hull D L L L W
Top scorers:Andrew Keogh (Wolves) 1; Stephen Hunt (Hull) 2
Match odds:H 11-10 A 13-5 D 9-4
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Sunday, August 30
Aston Villa (12) v Fulham (13)
Central defender Curtis Davies is a major doubt because of a long-standing shoulder problem and Shane Lowry could come in. Left-back Stephen Warnock will be in line for his debut after completing his move from Blackburn on a four-year deal.
Clint Dempsey is expected to overcome an ankle injury for Fulham and Danny Murphy (calf), Paul Konchesky (knee) and Bobby Zamora (Achilles) face late fitness tests. Andrew Johnson (shoulder), Simon Davies (foot) and Toni Kallio (Achilles) are out. Jonathan Greening could make his debut but fellow new signing Kagisho Dikgacoi is still lacking match fitness.
Last season:Fulham 3 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Fulham 0
Last five league matches:Aston Villa L D W L W; Fulham W W L W L
Top scorers:Curtis Davies & Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 1; Andrew Johnson & Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 3
Match odds:H 8-11 A 17-4 D 12-5
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Everton (20) v Wigan (16)
Defender Sylvain Distin is expected to make his Everton debut after sealing his move from Portsmouth. The Frenchman’s arrival will free up Phil Neville to revert to a midfield role. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov could also secure a place in the squad along with Aiyegbeni Yakubu who played the last 14 minutes of the Europa League play-off match against Sigma Olomouc after recovering from a ruptured Achilles.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is likely to make wholesale changes after the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Blackpool when the nine squad players he brought in failed to perform. Only defender Paul Scharner and midfielder Mohamed Diame from the starting line-up at Bloomfield Road are likely to survive the cull.
Last season:Everton 4 Wigan 0, Wigan 1 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton D W W L L; Wigan L W W L L
Top scorers:Louis Saha (Everton) 3; Antonio Amaya, Jason Koumas & Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 1
Match odds:H 3-4 A 17-4 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Portsmouth (19) v Man City (5)
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James looks set to overcome a knee injury and take his place against his former club. New recruits Tommy Smith and Michael Brown could make their debuts. Hermann Hreidarsson, Steve Finnan and Papa Bouba Diop are all out with hamstring injuries.
Mark Hughes reports no fresh injury concerns as Manchester City look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season. Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong would both hope for a chance to shine, although they may have to be content with a place on the bench.
Last season:Portsmouth 2 Man City 0, Man City 6 Portsmouth 0
Last five league matches: Portsmouth W L L L L; Man City L L W W W
Top scorers:Richard Hughes, Younes Kaboul, Niko Kranjcar, Frederic Piquionne & John Utaka (Portsmouth) 1; Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City) 2
Match odds:H 5-1 A 4-7 D 14-5
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
