The weekend's Premier League team news and statistics.
Saturday, October 3rd
Bolton (13) v Tottenham (4)
Wanderers striker Johan Elmander is out with a hamstring injury sustained in Monday’s reserve game and is also likely to miss Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers with Denmark and Albania next week. Manager Gary Megson has no other concerns as his side seek a third successive victory.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will decide tomorrow whether to call on Jermain Defoe, with the in-form striker currently wearing a protective dressing on his two dislocated fingers. Out of contention are Ledley King (hamstring), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Achilles), Luka Modric (fibula) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin).
Last season: Bolton 3 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 2 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Bolton L L W D W; Tottenham W W L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 4; Jermain Defoe & Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 6
Match odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Burnley (11) v Birmingham (14)
Burnley have lost yet another player for an extended period after Jay Rodriguez was ruled out for three months with a fractured ankle. The striker joins knee injury victims Martin Paterson and Chris McCann on the long-term absentee list while Fernando Guerrero (hamstring) and Kevin McDonald (knee) are doubtful. However, club captain Steven Caldwell is back in contention.
Birmingham are resigned to being without striker Christian Benitez, who is back home in Ecuador after being given compassionate leave after his father was injured in a car crash. Garry O’Connor is likely to deputise as the lone striker with Kevin Phillips on the bench. Blues boss Alex McLeish is optimistic that Stuart Parnaby, Franck Queudrue and James McFadden will be available after injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Burnley W L L W L; Birmingham D L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 3; Lee Bowyer (Birmingham) 2
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Hull (19) v Wigan (10)
Hull will again check on the fitness of defender Anthony Gardner, the former England international having missed the Tigers’ last four league games with a knee injury. Centre-back Liam Cooper is a slight doubt with a hamstring strain but fellow defender Steven Mouyokolo has overcome a similar injury.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has a fully-fit squad to choose from and could stick with the same side which beat Chelsea last weekend.
Last season: Wigan 1 Hull 0, Hull 0 Wigan 5
Last five league matches: Hull W D L L L; Wigan L L W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Geovanni (Hull) 3; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 3
Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Man Utd (1) v Sunderland (8)
Ben Foster will return to United’s starting line-up after sitting out the Champions League win over Wolfsburg. Michael Owen (groin) is out, while Edwin van der Sar (broken finger) and Rafael Da Silva (shoulder) are nearing full fitness after missing the entire season so far.
Midfielder Lee Cattermole could face United after returning to match fitness. The 21-year-old was withdrawn at half-time during Sunday’s 5-2 victory over Wolves having trained for just one day in the previous two and a half weeks because of a heel injury. Central defender John Mensah is struggling with a calf problem, but full-back Phil Bardsley, who was sent home with a virus at the weekend, has recovered.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Sunderland W L W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 7; Darren Bent
(Sunderland) 6
Match odds: H 1-6 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Wolves (16) v Portsmouth (20)
Wolves will be without injured midfielder Segundo Castillo after he sustained a hamstring injury during the defeat at Sunderland. Castillo’s half-time replacement at the Stadium of Light, Michael Kightly, could make his first Premier League start against Paul Hart’s side. Midfielder Dave Jones is ruled out for two months after undergoing knee surgery after already missing the clashes with Manchester United in the Carling Cup and the Black Cats.
Pompey defender Steve Finnan came through a reserve match against West Ham in midweek and could make his debut. Finnan has been struggling with a hamstring injury since his summer switch from Espanyol and is yet to make a first team appearance. Papa Bouba Diop has stepped up his training but is still suffering with a hamstring injury, along with Hermann Hreidarsson.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolves L D L W L; Portsmouth L L L L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Doyle & Stefan Maierhofer (Wolves) 2; Younes Kaboul, Tommy Smith & Mike Williamson (Portsmouth) 2
Match odds: H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Sunday, October 4th
Arsenal (6) v Blackburn (15)
Arsenal have Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott available. Bendtner has recovered from minor injuries after a car crash, while Walcott is ready for his first game of the season following a back problem. Eduardo (groin) is out and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is still not fully match fit so Vito Mannone will continue to deputise.
Blackburn have defensive concerns after captain Ryan Nelsen suffered a heavy fall in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa and has a back problem and Chris Samba came off injured in the same game. Vince Grella is unavailable due to suspension after he was sent off in that match but Gael Givet and Steven Reid should be back after injury.
Last season: Arsenal 4 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 0 Arsenal 4
Last five league matches: Arsenal W L L W W; Blackburn L D W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) 4; David Dunn (Blackburn) 3
Match odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Chelsea (2) v Liverpool (3)
Hilario is set to deputise for Petr Cech, who is suspended after being sent off against Wigan, but Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa return from suspension. Deco, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack are fit for selection but Alex (groin) and John Mikel Obi (ankle) remain in the treatment room.
Javier Mascherano is expected to return to Liverpool’s midfield despite missing the midweek Champions League defeat by Fiorentina with a slight hamstring injury. Centre-half Daniel Agger could return to the squad after he came though a reserve team run-out unscathed.
Last season: Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W L; Liverpool L W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 6; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 8
Match odds: H 11-10 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Everton (9) v Stoke (12)
Everton defender Joseph Yobo is a doubt after he missed the Europa League victory over BATE Borisov with a thigh injury. Jack Rodwell (illness) and Steven Pienaar (knee) did not travel to Belarus but manager David Moyes is hopeful both will recover in time to face the Potters. Louis Saha was banned for that match but should come back into the starting XI.
Striker Ricardo Fuller is Stoke’s only serious injury concern. The Jamaican international played no part in last weekend’s defeat by Manchester United after damaging his groin against Blackpool in the Carling Cup. James Beattie will be ready to face one of his old clubs after recovering from knee and ankle injuries and Liam Lawrence should also be available after undergoing a course of injections for a persistent back problem.
Last season: Everton 3 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Everton 3
Last five league matches: Everton L W L W W; Stoke D W L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Louis Saha (Everton) 7; Dave Kitson (Stoke) 3
Match odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 5-2
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
West Ham (18) v Fulham (17)
West Ham are set to welcome back England defender Matthew Upson from a calf problem, while Valon Behrami is also available following a series of niggles.
Fellow midfielder Jack Collison is out with a knee injury, however, and Mexican striker Guillermo Franco is still short of match fitness.
Brede Hangeland is expected to overcome an ankle injury to return to the heart of the Fulham defence. Damien Duff’s calf injury rules him out and Simon Davies remains a doubt as he continues to recover from his foot injury. Pascal Zuberbuhler will return to the bench after being refused permission by UEFA to
play in the Europa League against Basel, while fellow goalkeeper David Stockdale (knee) misses out.
Last season: West Ham 3 Fulham 1, Fulham 1 West Ham 2
Last five league matches: West Ham L D L L L; Fulham L L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Carlton Cole (West Ham) 3; Andrew Johnson & Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 3
Match odds: H 23-20 A 12-5 D 23-10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Monday, October 5th
Aston Villa (7) v Man City (5)
Former City skipper Richard Dunne will face his old team-mates for the first time since his #6million switch to Villa in August. Midfielder Steve Sidwell is in contention to line up alongside the Irishman after recovering from a thigh problem.
City midfielder Gareth Barry is another facing his former side, following his summer departure from Villa Park. Also available for Mark Hughes’ side are Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland, with the former back after a three-match ban and the latter clear of a sickness bug.
Last season: Man City 2 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 4 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W W W L; Man City W W W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 5; Emmanuel Adebayor (Man City) 4
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
