Saturday, September 29
Arsenal (5) v Chelsea (1)
The Gunners expect to have captain Thomas Vermaelen back from a virus but first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (ankle) remains sidelined. Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) and fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle), will sharpen their fitness for the Under-21s on Monday, while winger Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and defender Bacary Sagna (broken leg) are expected to feature within the next fortnight.
John Terry is fit and available for Chelsea, whose boss Roberto Di Matteo said he would have no qualms picking Terry while the club captain decides whether to appeal yesterday’s guilty verdict in his Football Association race case. Frank Lampard has shaken off an ankle injury but the game comes too early for Daniel Sturridge (hamstring).
Last season: Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5
Last five league matches: Arsenal D D W W D; Chelsea W W W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Gervinho, Lukas Podolski & Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 3; Fernando Torres (Chelsea) 4
Match odds: H 21-20 A 9-4 D 5-2
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Everton (3) v Southampton (16)
Striker Nikica Jelavic is set to return to the starting line-up after injury but fellow forward Victor Anichebe has a chest infection and Seamus Coleman and Steven Naismith are also doubts. Defender Tony Hibbert and midfielder Darron Gibson are still out.
Saints midfielder Jack Cork is out with a knee injury and Tadanari Lee will also miss out with an elbow problem. Emmanuel Mayuka (ankle) and Luke Shaw (illness) are doubts but new signing Artur Boruc could be involved in the squad for the first time.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Everton W W L D W; Southampton L L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Victor Anichebe, Marouane Fellaini & Kevin Mirallas (Everton) 3; Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 4
Match odds: H 2-5 A 6-1 D 7-2
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Fulham (6) v Man City (7)
Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss the next two weeks after sustaining a problem with his hip/upper thigh yesterday in training. Mahamadou Diarra (knee) remains out but his injury is not as bad as first feared and he could be back in a month. Kieran Richardson, Ashkan Dejagah and Philippe Senderos are all back in training but will not feature tomorrow according to manager Martin Jol.
City’s Samir Nasri has recovered from a hamstring injury and is available but fellow midfielder Jack Rodwell is missing after injuring his groin. Right-back Micah Richards (ankle) is back in training but is short of fitness.
Last season: Man City 3 Fulham 0, Fulham 2 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Fulham W L L W W; Man City W D W D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Damien Duff (Fulham) 3; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 4
Match odds: H 16-5 A 4-5 D 5-2
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Man Utd (2) v Tottenham (8)
United winger Antonio Valencia suffered a nasty knock on his ankle at Liverpool last week and boss Sir Alex Ferguson rates him as “doubtful”. Darren Fletcher and Scott Wootton are both in the squad but are unlikely to play from the outset and strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney could start together for the first time.
Brad Friedel will return in goal for Tottenham, with Hugo Lloris on the bench. Defender Kyle Naughton could return after missing last week’s win over QPR with a foot injury sustained against Lazio but Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring), Scott Parker (Achilles), Jake Livermore (groin), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) are out.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 3, Man Utd 3 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd L W W W W; Tottenham L D D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 5; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 4
Match odds: H 11-20 A 9-2 D 3-1
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Norwich (17) v Liverpool (18)
Norwich’s on-loan Tottenham striker Harry Kane could be out for six weeks with a foot injury. Centre-back Sebastien Bassong (hamstring) and midfielder Anthony Pilkington (back) have an outside chance of making the squad according to manager Chris Hughton but defender Simon Lappin (ankle) and full-back Stephen Whittaker (ankle), will not be involved.
Liverpool’s Daniel Agger has a good chance of being fit despite being carried off on a stretcher last weekend — the centre-back sustained bone bruising against Manchester United but could retain his starting place. Forward Fabio Borini (ankle) is rated at 50-50 and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is banned, while Martin Kelly’s knee operation means boss Brendan Rodgers has a defensive dilemma with left-back Jose Enrique still injured.
Last season: Norwich 0 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 1 Norwich 1
Last five league matches: Norwich L D D D L; Liverpool L D L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Wes Hoolahan, Simeon Jackson, Simon Lappin, Robert Snodgrass & Alexander Tettey (Norwich) 1; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 3
Match odds: H 10-3 A 3-4 D 13-5
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Reading (20) v Newcastle (10)
Royals striker Jason Roberts faces a fitness test after recovering from a calf injury, while Mali winger Jimmy Kebe played against QPR in midweek and his hamstring problem will be assessed.
Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini is out after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The Magpies may also have to do without midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who has a mouth infection. Goalkeeper Tim Krul (elbow) and full-back Danny Simpson (hamstring) are closing in on returns, but neither will make tomorrow’s game.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading L D L L L; Newcastle W L D D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) 3; Demba Ba (Newcastle) 4
Match odds: H 2-1 A 5-4 D 23-10
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Stoke (13) v Swansea (11)
Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam has recovered from illness but defender Andy Wilkinson serves the second match of a three-game suspension.
Swansea are boosted by the return of Chico Flores and Nathan Dyer from suspension. Manager Michael Laudrup expects Jonathan de Guzman and Ashley Williams (both ankle) and Pablo Hernandez (knee) to shake off injuries to feature.
Last season: Stoke 2 Swansea 0, Swansea 2 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Stoke D D D D L; Swansea W W D L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Crouch (Stoke) 3; Michu (Swansea) 5
Match odds: H 10-11 A 14-5 D 12-5
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).
Sunderland (12) v Wigan (15)
Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will make a late decision on winger Adam Johnson (thigh). Defender Carlos Cuellar and midfielder Sebastian Larsson could figure after hamstring injuries but skipper Lee Cattermole starts a three-match ban and defenders Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Wes Brown (knee) are still short of fitness.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will be without defender Antolin Alcaraz and striker Franco Di Santo — Alcaraz is still seven to 10 days away from a return to full fitness with a groin injury while Di Santo has a calf problem. Martinez could be tempted to give a start to Mauro Boselli and other fringe players who excelled in the Capital One Cup win at West Ham.
Last season: Wigan 1 Sunderland 4, Sunderland 1 Wigan 2
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D D D D; Wigan L W D L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 4; Mauro Boselli (Wigan) 3
Match odds: H 5-6 A 3-1 D 5-2
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Aston Villa (14) v West Brom (4)
Villa winger Brett Holman has recovered from a knee injury which kept him out of the Capital One Cup win at Manchester City. Midfielder Stephen Ireland is again ruled out with a cracked bone in his wrist, although he should be fit after the forthcoming international break. Full-back Joe Bennett (leg) will be assessed by the Villa medical staff before any decision is taken on his fitness.
Albion’s full-back injury crisis appears to be easing. Goran Popov has been able to train for the past two days after a groin problem, while Liam Ridgewell’s thigh setback is not as serious as first feared. Midfielder James Morrison (hamstring) should also be available but number two goalkeeper Boaz Myhill is out for two weeks after undergoing minor surgery on a thumb injury while striker Peter Odemwingie completes a three-match ban.
Last season: West Brom 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 West Brom 2
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L D W L; West Brom W D W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 4; Shane Long (West Brom) 3
Match odds: H 29-20 A 7-4 D 9-4
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Monday, October 1
QPR (19) v West Ham (9)
QPR are without four first-team defenders — Anton Ferdinand, Jose Bosingwa and Fabio are all out with hamstring injuries and Armand Traore (leg) is also unavailable. Striker Andy Johnson is out with a long-term knee injury but midfielder Adel Taarabt could return after missing the last two games with a hamstring problem.
Sam Allardyce is set to make wholesale changes after the 4-1 Capital One Cup defeat to Wigan, although striker Modibo Maiga could keep his place after scoring on his second consecutive start. Gary O’Neil is fit after a knee injury and fellow midfielder Yossi Benayoun could make his first start since rejoining the Hammers on loan — but on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll (hamstring) is unlikely to play and Jack Collison (knee) is out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: QPR L D L D L; West Ham W L W D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Bobby Zamora (QPR) 4; Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 3
Match odds: H 21-20 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
