Arsenal (4) v Stoke (9):Theo Walcott is ruled out with a hamstring injury and Alex Song is suspended but right-back Bacary Sagna has recovered from his ankle injury. Gael Clichy (back), Abou Diaby (calf) and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) are still missing, as are Johan Djourou (knee), Kieran Gibbs (foot) and Robin van Persie (ankle).
Stoke will give a late fitness test to central defender Ryan Shawcross. The 22-year old has a groin injury that forced him off in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Blackburn and is considered a major doubt. Midfielder Dean Whitehead is suspended and Potters boss Tony Pulis also has four other players — Ricardo Fuller, Robert Huth, Glenn Whelan and Shawcross — who are all one booking away from a ban.
Last season: Arsenal 4 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal D W W L L; Stoke W D L W D
Top scorers (all competitions):Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 9; Matthew Etherington (Stoke) 3
Match odds: H 1-4 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Aston Villa (6) v Hull (15)
Aston Villa striker John Carew could return after missing the Carling Cup quarter-final victory over Portsmouth with a hamstring strain, although Emile Heskey has netted twice in the past three games. Central defender James Collins is again ruled out with a calf problem and Carlos Cuellar will partner Richard Dunne at the heart of the back four.
Hull are again without midfielder Seyi Olofinjana due to a hamstring injury. Winger or full-back Bernard Mendy could be doubtful after suffering a knock in a midweek reserve outing. Craig Fagan (rib) is back in contention but third-choice goalkeeper Tony Warner is unavailable due to his wife giving birth.
Last season: Aston Villa 1 Hull 0, Hull 0 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L W D D; Hull L W D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8; Geovanni (Hull) 4
Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 16-5
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
Blackburn (13) v Liverpool (5)
David Dunn could miss out again after sitting out the Carling Cup triumph over Chelsea on Wednesday with a calf problem. Keith Andrews is also nursing a calf injury but is more likely to be available for selection. Manager Sam Allardyce returned to work on Friday after undergoing heart surgery and is likely to watch the game from the stands at Ewood Park, with assistant Neil McDonald continuing in the dugout.
Liverpool have decided against risking Fernando Torres (groin) despite his involvement in three first-team training sessions this week. Italian Alberto Aquilani will again be amongst the substitutes, while Ryan Babel is still out with an ankle injury.
Last season: Liverpool 4 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3
Last five league matches: Blackburn L W W L D; Liverpool W L D D W
Top scorers (all competitions):David Dunn (Blackburn) 6; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 10
Match odds: H 4-1 A 8-11 D 5-2
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Man City (7) v Chelsea (1)
Mark Hughes has doubts over Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland. The pair picked up knee injuries in Wednesday’s Carling Cup win over Arsenal and are rated as extremely doubtful. Vladimir Weiss, who scored his first senior goal in midweek, is also unlikely to figure after being laid low by tonsillitis but Martin Petrov and Nigel de Jong should be available after missing out on the Arsenal triumph.
Ashley Cole will return for Chelsea after missing the Carling Cup loss to Blackburn with a hamstring injury. Salomon Kalou (thigh), Daniel Sturridge (knee), Alex (hip) and Jose Bosingwa (knee) are all unavailable.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Man City 0, Man City 1 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: Man City D D D D D; Chelsea W W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez & Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City) 5; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 15
Match odds: H 10-3 A 5-6 D 5-2
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Portsmouth (20) v Burnley (12)
Defender Younes Kaboul serves a one-match ban for picking up five bookings this season but Jamie O’Hara, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith all return after being cup-tied for the Carling Cup clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday. David James is a doubt as he struggles with a calf injury, while the game probably comes too soon for Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and Steve Finnan (groin), who both returned to training this week.
Burnley captain Steven Caldwell is suspended after his red card last week at West Ham. Manager Owen Coyle will have to change his defence for the first time in eight matches and is likely to drop Andre Bikey back from a defensive midfield position, which could pave the way for Kevin McDonald to come in. On-loan striker David Nugent is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D W L L L; Burnley L W D D L
Top scorers (all competitions):Aruna Dindane & Frederic Piquionne (Portsmouth) 4; Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 8
Match odds: H 5-6 A 7-2 D 12-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
West Ham (17) v Man Utd (2)
West Ham will be without England pair Carlton Cole and Matthew Upson. Striker Cole is set to be out until the end of January with a knee ligament injury sustained in the 5-3 win against Burnley, while centre-back Upson has not fully recovered from a hamstring strain. Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami is missing with a knee injury while a muscle strain sidelines Luis Jimenez. Alessandro Diamanti is back from a hip complaint and is in contention.
Edwin van der Sar is set to return for United after missing three games since injuring his knee in a collision with Everton’s Tim Cahill at Old Trafford. Jonny Evans (calf) and John O’Shea (dead leg) are still sidelined, along with long-term casualties Rio Ferdinand (back) and Owen Hargreaves (knee).
Last season: West Ham 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: West Ham D W L D W; Man Utd L W L W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Carlton Cole (West Ham) 7; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 11
Match odds: H 13-2 A 4-9 D 16-5
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Wigan (14) v Birmingham (11)
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has a fully-fit squad to choose from and it means he is likely to name to unchanged side following the 1-0 home win over Sunderland last Saturday as the Latics firmly put behind them their embarrassing 9-1 defeat at Tottenham. Martinez is demanding consistency, however, as the Latics seek back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has no fresh injury problems and is likely to keep faith with the squad which impressed in beating Wolves 1-0 last weekend. Striker Cameron Jerome picked up a leg injury but has recovered and is set to continue his partnership with Christian Benitez.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wigan W L D L W; Birmingham W D D W W
Top scorers(all competitions): Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 6; Lee Bowyer (Birmingham) 5
Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 9-4
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Wolves (19) v Bolton (18)
Wolves will be without winger Michael Kightly for up to two months as he prepares to undergo surgery on the ankle injury suffered during the home defeat to Birmingham. Defender Ronald Zubar and striker Chris Iwelumo are still not ready to return from injury. Greg Halford and Stefan Maierhofer are expected to recover from knocks sustained in training.
Bolton will be without captain Kevin Davies as he serves a one-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign against Fulham last Sunday. Aside from long-term absentees Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien, manager Gary Megson has a full squad to choose from.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolves D D L L L; Bolton W L L L D
Top scorers (all competitions):Jody Craddock & Kevin Doyle (Wolves) 3; Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 6
Match odds: H 13-10 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Sunday, December 6th
Everton (16) v Tottenham (3)
Everton manager David Moyes has more selection problems with Sylvain Distin and Dan Gosling both sustaining hamstring injuries in the Europa League victory over AEK Athens. Brazilian Jo also picked up a minor knee injury but is expected to recover in time. Joseph Yobo (hamstring) missed the game and is unlikely to feature while fellow defender Johnny Heitinga serves a one-match suspension after his fifth booking of the season against Liverpool.
Tottenham will be without Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate. King has been troubled by a hamstring injury and Woodgate is struggling to shake off a groin complaint, meaning they join Luka Modric on the sidelines. Niko Kranjcar is back after being cup-tied for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Manchester United.
Last season: Everton 0 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 0 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton D W L L L; Tottenham L L W W D
Top scorers (all competitions):Louis Saha (Everton) 10; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 12
Match odds: H 9-5 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Fulham (10) v Sunderland (8)
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will make a late check on Simon Davies after the midfielder took a knock to his calf in the victory over CSKA Sofia. Erik Nevland, Paul Konchesky and Jonathan Greening are available after suspension, while Eddie Johnson, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Kagisho Dikgacoi return to the squad. Andy Johnson (groin), Diomansy Kamara and Dickson Etuhu (both knee) are all still struggling for match fitness.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce remains hopeful that striker Kenwyne Jones can recover from a dead leg suffered just minutes into Tuesday night’s 3-0 reserve team victory over Wigan on his comeback from a three-match ban. However, central defender John Mensah is out with a recurrence of a calf problem which is causing some concern.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 0 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Fulham W D L W D; Sunderland L D L W L
Top scorers (all competitions):Clint Dempsey & Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 5; Darren Bent (Sunderland) 9
Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
