Saturday, April 2nd
Arsenal (2) v Blackburn (13)
Arsenal will welcome back captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), England winger Theo Walcott (ankle) as well as midfielders Alex Song (knee) and Abou Diaby (groin). Striker Robin van Persie (thigh) has shaken off a minor knock suffered during international duty, as has Nicklas Bendtner (ankle). Manuel Almunia is set to continue in goal ahead of veteran Jens Lehmann, but Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey (groin) and Denilson (toe) miss out along with defenders Johan Djourou (shoulder) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles).
Midfielder David Dunn returns to Blackburn’s squad having missed the last three matches with a hip injury. Captain Chris Samba sat out a week of training because of a back problem but is fit to feature at the Emirates. Defender Gael Givet serves the final match of his suspension, while midfielder Vince Grella has been ruled out for the rest of the season after an Achilles operation. Keith Andrews is back in training after an infection following a groin operation.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 6 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal D W W D D; Blackburn L D L L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 15; Mame Diouf & Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 6
Match odds: H 2-7 A 9-1 D 9-2
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Birmingham (19) v Bolton (7)
Birmingham’s leading scorer Nikola Zigic and midfielder Lee Bowyer are poised to return. Eight-goal Zigic made his comeback from a groin injury by playing for Serbia in midweek, while Bowyer has resumed full training after recovering from a hamstring problem. Playmaker Alexander Hleb could also be added to the squad after having an injection to ease his knee problem but central defender Martin Jiranek is doubtful after undergoing a minor toe operation.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is short of central midfielders with Stuart Holden ruled out for six months after damaging knee ligaments and Mark Davies struggling with an ankle injury. That means Tamir Cohen could make his first Premier League start of the season, with Fabrice Muamba also in contention. Zat Knight (knee) is back in training but not yet ready to return, while Sean Davis (knee) and Sam Ricketts (Achilles) are long-term absentees.
Last season: Bolton 2 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 1 Bolton 2
Last five league matches: Birmingham W L L D L; Bolton L W D W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nikola Zigic (Birmingham) 8; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 11
Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Everton (8) v Aston Villa (14)
Everton are beset by injury problems with manager David Moyes confirming striker Louis Saha is likely to miss the rest of the season after an operation on the ankle injured against Fulham a fortnight ago. Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman (both ankle) and Tim Cahill (foot) are also doubtful after withdrawing from recent international duty with injuries. Playmaker Mikel Arteta (hamstring) and key midfielder Marouane Fellaini (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Aston Villa centre-backs Richard Dunne and James Collins are in contention for recalls having proved their fitness after shoulder and calf problems. The duo had previously been fined by Villa because of their behaviour during a team bonding session at a health spa. Right-back Kyle Walker is Villa’s only injury concern with the slight hip problem which forced his withdrawal from the England squad, while Ciaran Clark completes a two-game ban.
Last season: Aston Villa 2 Everton 2, Everton 1 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Everton L W W D W; Aston Villa D D W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Louis Saha (Everton) 10; Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 14
Match odds: H 5-6 A 16-5 D 13-5
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Newcastle (11) v Wolves (18)
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be without key men Cheick Tiote and Leon Best. Tiote is suspended for two games after reaching 10 bookings for the season, while Best is struggling to shake off an ankle injury. Jose Enrique (hamstring) and Stephen Ireland (thigh) remain major doubts, while Ryan Taylor completes his three-match ban. Joey Barton (thigh) is fit, but Dan Gosling (knee), Alan Smith (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg) remain on the casualty list.
Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will replace Kevin Doyle after the Republic of Ireland frontman suffered medial knee ligament damage against Macedonia last weekend. It will be the only change from the side which overcame Aston Villa 1-0 a fortnight ago to extend their unbeaten run to four games.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Newcastle D W D L L; Wolves L D W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 11; Kevin Doyle & Adam Hammill (Wolves) 8
Match odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 12-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Stoke (10) v Chelsea (3)
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is monitoring the fitness of John Carew. The Norwegian striker has been suffering from a back complaint, causing him to miss the last two matches. Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is also suffering from a similar injury after breaking down in the warm-up ahead of Denmark’s friendly against Slovakia this week.
Carlo Ancelotti will check on the fitness of Salomon Kalou before choosing his forward line. Kalou, who played 90 minutes for Ivory Coast on Sunday, has a slight knock but the Blues’ other stars all returned unscathed from the international break. That included Yossi Benayoun (Achilles), who played the final 19 minutes of Israel’s game with Georgia but will not be risked tomorrow, while Alex (knee) will also continue to build up his fitness.
Last season: Chelsea 7 Stoke 0, Stoke 1 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Stoke L L D L W; Chelsea L D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Robert Huth & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16
Match odds: H 4-1 A 4-6 D 11-4
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
West Brom (16) v Liverpool (6)
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson will be without Somen Tchoyi after the Cameroon international was forced to remain in his homeland after his wife fell ill while he was on international duty last week. Fellow midfielder Graham Dorrans will also be absent as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could return having recovered from a groin operation. The midfielder returned to training this week. Defender Fabio Aurelio trained this week after a hamstring injury but he is unlikely to make the squad, while fellow full-back Martin Kelly has a similar injury and is still out. Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is back after a knee operation, while forward Luis Suarez will play despite missing Uruguay’s two recent friendlies with a groin problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom D D D W D; Liverpool W D L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 10; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 12
Match odds: H 2-1 A 7-5 D 9-4
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
West Ham (17) v Man Utd (1)
West Ham hope to have Scott Parker fit after the midfielder picked up shoulder and calf injuries on international duty with England. He was left on the bench for the midweek draw with Ghana but is expected to pass a fitness test and rejoin a squad boosted by the return of Frederic Piquionne and Robbie Keane. Piquionne missed the goalless draw at Tottenham a fortnight ago with a foot injury but is fit to feature, while fellow striker Keane was ineligible to his face his parent club at White Hart Lane. Jack Collison (knee) and Junior Stanislas (hernia) are still ruled out.
Park Ji-sung and Anderson could return for Manchester United after recovering from hamstring and knee problems respectively. Rio Ferdinand has returned to training following his calf injury but tomorrow’s game will come to soon. Fellow centre-back Nemanja Vidic is fit to return having played in Serbia’s Euro 2012 qualifying draw against Estonia in midweek. United still have several injury concerns, though, with Darren Fletcher, John O’Shea and Rafael among others
still on the sidelines, while Jonny Evans and Paul Scholes are suspended.
Last season: Man Utd 3 West Ham 0, West Ham 0 Man Utd 4
Last five league matches: West Ham L D W W D; Man Utd W W L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Demba Ba (West Ham) 13; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 21
Match odds: H 16-5 A 5-6 D 5-2
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Wigan (20) v Tottenham (5)
Bottom side Wigan have a clean bill of health for tomorrow’s game at the DW Stadium. The Latics have had 12 players on international duty over the past fortnight but none have reported back with injuries. Antolin Alcaraz, Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas were the last players to return but should have
sufficient recovery time.
Gareth Bale and William Gallas will be missing for Tottenham tomorrow and are also serious doubts for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Gallas looks increasingly doubtful for next week’s first-leg encounter at the Bernabeu after breaking down with a knee injury while Bale is struggling to recover from a hamstring problem. Ledley King (groin), Younes Kaboul (thigh) and Jonathan Woodgate (calf) are also out, leaving Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong as Spurs’ only two fit centre-halves. Tom Huddlestone could play his first match in almost five months after coming through a friendly against Barnet unscathed.
Last season: Wigan 0 Tottenham 3, Tottenham 9 Wigan 1
Last five league matches: Wigan W D L L W; Tottenham W W L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Conor Sammon (Wigan) 18; Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 12
Match odds: H 11-5 A 5-4 D 23-10
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Sunday, April 3rd
Fulham (12) v Blackpool (15)
Bobby Zamora is a doubt for Fulham because of illness. Midfielder Steve Sidwell is in contention to play after recovering from his knee injury. Defender Aaron Hughes is expected to feature despite dislocating his shoulder on international duty for Northern Ireland.
Blackpool will be without defender David Carney as the Australian has a shoulder injury. DJ Campbell is also missing through suspension but skipper Charlie Adam has recovered from a knock and is expected to start. Goalkeeper Paul Rachubka returns to the bench following a knee problem and will provide back-up for Richard Kingson.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham D D D W L; Blackpool D W L L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 11; Charlie Adam & DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 10
Match odds: H 8-15 A 5-1 D 16-5
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Man City (4) v Sunderland (9)
Defenders Micah Richards and Jerome Boateng will both be missing as Manchester City resume their quest for a Champions League spot. Richards injured a hamstring on England Under-21 duty a week ago and is out for at least a fortnight, while Boateng faces six weeks on the sidelines once he has knee surgery in the next few days. Pablo Zabaleta is available after returning from a mercy dash to Argentina to visit his ill father.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will be boosted by the return of long-term absentees Fraizer Campbell and Michael Turner from long-term knee injuries. Phil Bardsley (knee) and Sulley Muntari (calf) are expected to be fit, while John Mensah is available after his red card against Liverpool was rescinded. Kieran Richardson (hamstring) is a doubt and Nedum Onuoha is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement, while David Meyler (knee) remains on the sidelines.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Man City 1, Man City 4 Sunderland 3
Last five league matches: Man City W L D W L; Sunderland L L L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 21; Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 10
Match odds: H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
