Team news ahead of this week's Premier League action.
Saturday, December 12
Birmingham (9) v West Ham (17)
Kevin Phillips (foot) will return for Birmingham after being sidelined for the past fortnight and will provide back-up for the first-choice pairing of Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez. Fellow forward Garry O’Connor and on-loan Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio remain long-term injury absentees after hip and knee operations respectively.
West Ham will again be without centre-back Matthew Upson as the England defender has failed to recover from a hamstring injury. Carlton Cole (knee ligaments), Valon Behrami (knee) and Luis Jimenez (muscle strain) are all out. Forward Zavon Hines (knee) has also joined the absentee list but midfielder Mark Noble is back after missing last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester United with a virus.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:
Birmingham D D W W W; West Ham W L D W L
Top scorers:
Lee Bowyer (Birmingham) 5; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 7
Match odds:
H 23-20 A 12-5 D 23-10
Referee
: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Bolton (19) v Man City (6)
Kevin Davies will return to the Bolton squad having served a one-match ban. Gavin McCann and Johan Elmander picked up minor knocks in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves but should be fit. Otherwise, aside from long-term absentees Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien, Gary Megson has a full squad to choose from.
Manchester City pair Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland are both available after sitting out the victory against Chelsea. Bellamy had a knee injury — like Ireland — then suffered a bout of swine flu. Vladimir Weiss also had the illness but he too has made a swift recovery. Micah Richards also comes into contention after limping out of the Chelsea game with a knee problem but Wayne Bridge is sidelined with a similar injury.
Last season:
Man City 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 2 Man City 0
Last five league matches:
Bolton L L L D L; Man City D D D D W
Top scorers:
Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 6; Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez (Man City) 6
Match odds:
H 7-2 A 4-5 D 5-2
Referee:
Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Burnley (13) v Fulham (8)
Burnley captain Stephen Caldwell is available to face Fulham after sitting out the defeat by Portsmouth through suspension. On-loan striker David Nugent also comes into contention after he missed the match against his parent club under Premier League rules. Martin Paterson, Chris McCann and Jay Rodriguez remain sidelined through injury.
Fulham will be without Simon Davies after his recovery from an ankle injury suffered a setback. Dickson Etuhu should recover from a knee injury in time while Andy Johnson (groin) and Diomansy Kamara (knee) are still out.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:
Burnley W D D L L; Fulham D L W D W
Top scorers
: Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 8; Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 6
Match odds
: H 13-8 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee
: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Chelsea (1) v Everton (15)
Chelsea will be without midfielder Deco because his father is ill and defender Alex (thigh) and Salomon Kalou (thigh) are also sidelined. Alex and Kalou are expected to be fit for the home game with Portsmouth next week. Jose Bosingwa is out with a long-term knee injury. Coach Carlo Ancelotti will recall Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka after resting them for the midweek Champions League game against APOEL.
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill is suspended after the Australia international picked up his fifth booking of the season against Tottenham. Manager David Moyes still has defensive problems with centre-half Joseph Yobo ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring problem. That means full-back Tony Hibbert is likely to continue to deputise alongside Johnny Heitinga, who returns after suspension.
Last season:
Chelsea 0 Everton 0, Everton 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches:
Chelsea W W W W L; Everton W L L L D
Top scorers:
Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 16; Louis Saha (Everton) 11
Match odds:
H 2-9 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee:
Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Hull (16) v Blackburn (12)
Hull have injury doubts over defenders Anthony Gardner (knee) and Andy Dawson (thigh). Midfielder Seyi Olofinjana is back in contention after missing four games with a hamstring injury but Jimmy Bullard (knee) faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines. Full-back or winger Bernard Mendy has recovered from a leg problem and fit-again goalkeeper Boaz Myhill could be recalled.
Sam Allardyce is unlikely to risk David Dunn because of a calf problem. Dunn sustained the injury two weeks ago against Stoke and missed the Carling Cup victory over Chelsea and the goalless draw with Liverpool, but it is hoped he will be fit again for the match at Birmingham on Tuesday. Otherwise, Allardyce has a full squad to choose from for the trip to the KC Stadium.
Last season:
Hull 1 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 1 Hull 1
Last five league matches:
Hull W D W D L; Blackburn W W L D D
Top scorers:
Deiberson Geovanni (Hull) 4; David Dunn (Blackburn) 6
Match odds:
H 9-5 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee:
Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Man Utd (2) v Aston Villa (5)
Nemanja Vidic will return to the Manchester United starting line-up after he recovered from a flu virus. Michael Carrick is still going to be required to deputise alongside Vidic at centre-back. Wayne Rooney (hamstring) and Dimitar Berbatov (knee) are expected to play and Ryan Giggs is available after being rested. Fabio Da Silva and Wes Brown remain out.
Aston Villa central defender James Collins returns to the squad. The former West Ham player has been sidelined for the past month with thigh and groin problems but has now returned to training. Villa boss Martin O’Neill must decide whether to recall his #5million signing or keep faith with Carlos Cuellar who has impressed in recent weeks alongside Richard Dunne. O’Neill has no fresh injury worries as Villa look to win at Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years.
Last season:
Man Utd 3 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches:
Man Utd W L W W W; Aston Villa L W D D W
Top scorers:
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 12; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8
Match odds:
H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1
Referee
: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Stoke (11) v Wigan (14)
Striker James Beattie will be included in Stoke’s squad to face Wigan if he passes a late fitness test despite his alleged bust-up with manager Tony Pulis last weekend. Beattie missed training on Wednesday and yesterday after reporting a problem with his knee. Centre-back Ryan Shawcross is fit again after missing the defeat at Arsenal with a groin injury while midfielder Dean Whitehead returns after suspension.
Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland will be given until the last possible moment to prove his fitness because of a back spasm suffered against Birmingham. Mike Pollitt and Richard Kingson are on standby to deputise. Manager Roberto Martinez is forced into one definite change as Hendry Thomas serves a one-match ban, with Jordi Gomez the player most likely to step in.
Last season:
Stoke 2 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Stoke 0
Last five league matches:
Stoke D L W D L; Wigan L D L W L
Top scorers:
Matthew Etherington (Stoke) 3; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 6
Match odds:
H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10
Referee:
Mike Dean (Wirral).
Sunderland (10) v Portsmouth (20)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed over full-back George McCartney, who has a hamstring strain. Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson are both suspended, while Craig Gordon (broken arm), Anton Ferdinand (ankle), John Mensah (calf), Lee Cattermole (medial ligament) and Bolo Zenden (hamstring) are out.
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James looks set to return. Asmir Begovic is likely to make way for the England international, who has recovered from a calf injury. Younes Kaboul is back after serving a one-match ban against Burnley last Saturday, while Papa Bouba Diop could make his first appearance since August as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Last season:
Portsmouth 3 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 1 Portsmouth 2
Last five league matches:
Sunderland D L W L L; Portsmouth W L L L W
Top scorers:
Darren Bent (Sunderland) 9; Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth) 5
Match odds:
H 3-4 A 4-1 D 12-5
Referee:
Steve Bennett (Kent).
Tottenham (4) v Wolverhampton (18)
Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric returns to the squad after recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in August. Ledley King (knee) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are ruled out of the match, with Carlo Cudicini (wrist and pelvis) also on the sidelines. Wilson Palacios (ribs) is fit and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) has trained.
Wolves have been rocked by the loss of striker Andy Keogh for up to three months as he requires ankle surgery after he was injured in training yesterday. Wolves are boosted by the return to the squad of striker Chris Iwelumo after he recovered from the foot injury he suffered against Stoke in October. French defender Ronald Zubar, who has missed three games with a thigh strain, will again be absent.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:
Tottenham L W W D D; Wolverhampton D L L L W
Top scorers:
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 13; Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton) 4
Match odds:
H 1-4 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee
: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Sunday, December 13
Liverpool (7) v Arsenal (3)
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will bring back Jamie Carragher, Glen Johnson and Jose Reina who were all rested for the Champions League defeat by Fiorentina. Benitez must decide whether Alberto Aquilani is ready for a Premier League starting role, despite facing his fellow Italians in midweek. Fernando Torres is likely to lead the attack for the first time since the draw in Lyon on November 4. Lucas Leiva and Fabio Aurelio are also likely to return.
Arsenal will have England forward Theo Walcott available after he came through the midweek Champions League game against Olympiacos. Midfielder Abou Diaby could also be available following a groin problem and Alex Song returns from suspension. Emmanuel Eboue and Tomas Rosicky (both hamstring) miss out. Strikers Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Robin van Persie (ankle) remain sidelined, along with full-back Gael Clichy (back) and Johan Djourou (knee).
Last season:
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 4, Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches:
Liverpool L D D W D; Arsenal W W L L W
Top scorers:
Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 10; Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 9
Match odds:
H 23-20 A 12-5 D 9-4
Referee:
Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
