Sunday, May 22

Aston Villa (13) v Liverpool (6)

Aston Villa stand-in manager Gary McAllister has no fresh injury worries, and Ciaran Clark could return to the team after recovering from a back problem. Record signing Darren Bent will be looking to take his Villa goal tally into double figures after netting nine in 15 games since his switch from Sunderland in January.

Midfielder Raul Meireles is set to return for Liverpool after missing last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham with a minor injury. His return could mean striker Andy Carroll, who has played two of the last four matches, drops to the bench as he is not fully match fit.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3

Last five league matches: Aston Villa W D L D W; Liverpool D W W W L

Top scorers: Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 20 (includes 11 goals for Sunderland); Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) 15

Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-10 D 11-5

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Bolton (10) v Manchester City (3)

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba faces a race to be fit after suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat by Blackpool last weekend. Mark Davies, Stuart Holden, Sam Ricketts and Sean Davis are all long-term injury absentees.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to name a full-strength side, as his team chase the victory that will secure an automatic place in next season’s Champions League. Captain Carlos Tevez needs to score more than Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov manages at home to Blackpool to secure thePremier League’s Golden Boot award.

Last season: Man City 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 3 Man City 3

Last five league matches: Bolton W L L L L; Man City W W L W W

Top scorers: Daniel Sturridge (Bolton) 12 (includes four goals for Chelsea), Johan Elmander (Bolton) 12; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 23

Match odds: H 10-3 A 8-11 D 5-2

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Everton (7) v Chelsea (2)

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill is rated doubtful after he missed last week’s defeat at West Brom due to continuing problems with a foot injury. Winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended after his sending-off at The Hawthorns while Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha are out with ankle injuries.

Chelsea will be without Ramires and Yossi Benayoun. Both midfielders have picked up hamstring injuries and sit out the trip to Goodison Park. Defender Jose Bosingwa had already been ruled out with a knee problem.

Last season: Everton 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 3 Everton 3

Last five league matches: Everton W L D W L; Chelsea W W W L D

Top scorers: Louis Saha (Everton) 10; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16

Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-10 D 11-5

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Fulham (8) v Arsenal (4)

Moussa Dembele has been ruled out by Fulham due to a knee irritation, although the west Londoners will be boosted by Simon Davies’ return to action after a calf injury. Northern Ireland full-back Chris Baird serves the second game of a two-match ban and Damien Duff is out with an Achilles injury.

Arsenal will hand late fitness tests to midfielders Samir Nasri (hamstring) and Abou Diaby (calf) as well as full-back Gael Clichy (hamstring). Tomas Rosicky (thigh), Johan Djourou (ankle) and Laurent Koscielny (thigh) will also be assessed, while captain Cesc Fabregas remains sidelined by a thigh problem.

Last season: Arsenal 4 Fulham 0, Fulham 0 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Fulham D W W L W; Arsenal D L W L L

Top scorers: Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 13; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 21

Match odds: H 5-2 A 19-20 D 12-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Manchester United (1) v Blackpool (18)

Dimitar Berbatov will be given the chance to secure the Premier League’s Golden Boot when he starts for Manchester United. The Bulgarian has scored just twice since January and is level with Carlos Tevez on 20 goals. Paul Scholes could make his final Premier League appearance and Edwin van der Sar will bow out, with Anderson, Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher also expected to be in the United line-up.

Blackpool are expected to be at full strength for their last-day fight for survival. Even a repeat of their last Old Trafford triumph, in 1962, may not be enough to save the Tangerines should other results go against them, although conversely, they could stay up with a narrow defeat.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Man Utd D W L W D; Blackpool L D D D W

Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 21; DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 14 (includes one for Leicester)

Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 14-5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Newcastle (12) v West Brom (11)

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be without winger Jonas Gutierrez who damaged a thigh muscle during last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea. Striker Leon Best has returned to training after an ankle problem, but midfielder Cheick Tiote will not be risked again and Kevin Nolan (ankle), Steve Harper (knee) Mike Williamson (broken arm), Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture), Danny Guthrie (shin) and Dan Gosling (also knee) remain on the sidelines.

West Brom are likely to include teenagers James Hurst and George Thorne. Full-back Hurst made his Premier League debut against Fulham in January, one of three first-team appearances this season, while midfield playmaker Thorne will be hoping for a top-flight debut. Midfielder Graham Dorrans remains on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Newcastle D D L W D; West Brom L D W L W

Top scorers: Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 12; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 15

Match odds: H 10-11 A 23-10 D 23-10

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Stoke (9) v Wigan (19)

Stoke hope key men Matthew Etherington (hamstring), Jermaine Pennant (ankle) and Robert Huth (knee) will be fit. They played in the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City last weekend, but missed Tuesday’s 3-0 loss in the league to the same opponents and will be assessed tomorrow. Striker Kenwyne Jones and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic may come into the side having been rested in midweek.

Relegation-threatened Wigan have a clean bill of health. Midfielder Mohamed Diame had been the only slight doubt through the week but the Senegal international has reported fit. Former Kilmarnock striker Conor Sammon, who came off the bench to score in last week’s dramatic win over West Ham, is

pushing for a starting place.

Last season: Wigan 1 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Wigan 2

Last five league matches: Stoke D W D W L; Wigan W L D D W

Top scorers: Jon Walters & Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 12; Conor Sammon (Wigan) 19 (including 18 for Kilmarnock), Charles N’Zogbia 10

Match odds: H 17-10 A 13-10 D 11-5

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Tottenham (5) v Birmingham (17)

Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart is a big doubt with the calf problem he suffered last week against Liverpool. Alan Hutton (knee), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hamstring) and Jermaine Jenas (thigh) are fit after injury but star winger Gareth Bale remains sidelined with an ankle complaint. Steven Pienaar is a doubt with a groin problem, but Heurelho Gomes (back), Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Wilson Palacios (knee) and Ledley King (groin) could all play.

Birmingham’s top scorer Craig Gardner and defender Liam Ridgewell return after suspensions. Manager Alex McLeish will assess the fitness of Lee Bowyer (hamstring), Martin Jiranek (ankle) and Stuart Parnaby (groin), who were all substituted against Fulham last weekend. Alexander Hleb (knee) is ruled out with a knee problem while on-loan winger David Bentley is ineligible to face his parent club.

Last season: Birmingham 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Birmingham 1

Last five league matches: Tottenham D L D L W; Birmingham L L D L L

Top scorers: Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) 15; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 9

Match odds: H 8-15 A 4-1 D 13-5

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

West Ham (20) v Sunderland (14)

West Ham will include a strong home-grown contingent, with Zavon Hines, Jordan Spence, Freddie Sears, Junior Stanislas, James Tomkins and Jack Collison all likely to feature. Midfielders Mark Noble (hernia) and Gary O’Neil (ankle) and out while Scott Parker has been hampered by an Achilles problem in recent weeks.

Sunderland are set to have striker Asamoah Gyan available after he returned to training following a hamstring injury. Former Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand is fit again and could feature. Craig Gordon, Titus Bramble, Michael Turner, David Meyler, Fraizer Campbell and Marcos Angeleri are out with knee injuries, while Kieran Richardson (fractured fibula), Lee Cattermole (back) and Danny Welbeck (hamstring) remain sidelined.

Last season: West Ham 1 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 2 West Ham 2

Last five league matches: West Ham L L L D L; Sunderland L W L W L

Top scorers: Demba Ba 16 (includes nine for Hoffenheim), Carlton Cole 11 (West Ham); Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 11

Match odds: H 19-20 A 9-4 D 23-10

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

Wolves (16) v Blackburn (15)

Striker Kevin Doyle is Wolves’ major fitness concern. He aggravated a knee ligament injury which sidelined him for two months during his comeback as a substitute against Sunderland last weekend. Boss Mick McCarthy will hope Steven Fletcher continues the form which has brought him six goals in eight games.

Christopher Samba, Junior Hoilett and Jermaine Jones have shaken off injury niggles to boost Blackburn. Rovers boss Steve Kean is close to having a full squad, with only long-term absentees Ryan Nelsen and Vince Grella unavailable.

Last season: Wolves 1 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 3 Wolves 1

Last five league matches: Wolves D L D W W; Blackburn L L W D D

Top scorers: Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 12; Nikola Kalinic & Mame Diouf (Blackburn) 6

Match odds: H 1-1 A 23-10 D 21-10

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).