Saturday, December 17

Blackburn (19) v West Brom (15)

Gael Givet is having further tests today on the heart condition that saw him forced to leave the field last weekend and is expected to miss tomorrow’s match. Givet’s pulse rate rose to 250 against Sunderland and the French defender is having extensive tests in a Manchester hospital and could be out for a month if he is not given the all-clear. Meanwhile, Martin Olsson and Junior Hoilett are also doubtful for Rovers with hamstring injuries but Steven Nzonzi returns from suspension.

Defender Steven Reid is West Brom’s only injury doubt. The former Blackburn player is battling to overcome a knee problem and will be assessed in the next 24 hours. Five-goal leading scorer Shane Long has recovered from his recent groin problem.

Last season: Blackburn 2 West Brom 0, West Brom 1 Blackburn 3

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 10; Shane Long (West Brom) 5

Match odds: H 5-4 A 2-1 D 5-2

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Everton (12) v Norwich (10)

Midfielders Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman (both hamstring) and Royston Drenthe (foot) all missed last week’s defeat at Arsenal could make their returns for Everton tomorrow. Defender Sylvain Distin made his first appearance in over a month as a substitute at the Emirates Stadium and could be pushing for a starting place.

Norwich have no fresh injury concerns for the trip to Goodison Park. On-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet (back) is expected to return to training next week. Former Everton striker James Vaughan is on course for a return in the new year from his knee problem, along with centre-back Elliott Ward (knee).

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Everton L W W L L; Norwich L L W L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Apostolos Vellios (Everton) 3; Grant Holt & Steve Morison (Norwich) 6

Match odds: H 13-20 A 4-1 D 3-1

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Fulham (14) v Bolton (20)

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora faces a late fitness test. The 30-year-old has an issue with his left knee and will be assessed on Saturday, although midfielders Simon Davies (back) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) as well as goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (spine) will definitely miss out. The latter will be replaced by David Stockdale, while Fulham will be able to call upon skipper Danny Murphy (ankle) along with attackers Bryan Ruiz and Andrew Johnson after the midweek Europa League draw with Odense.

Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic is fit after recovering from a knee injury. The Croatian sustained the problem in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend, a fixture missed by Wanderers midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who has been sidelined with a hamstring complaint but could make his comeback at Craven Cottage. Defender David Wheater is unavailable again as he serves the third game of his four-match suspension.

Last season: Fulham 3 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Fulham 0

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 11; Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 7

Match odds: H 13-20 A 4-1 D 14-5

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Newcastle (7) v Swansea (11)

Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini (thigh), fellow central defender Mike Williamson (ankle) and midfielder Cheick Tiote (knee) will all be assessed today before Alan Pardew names his team. Midfielder Dan Gosling is suspended following his sending-off at Norwich last weekend, while Steven Taylor (Achilles) and Danny Guthrie (groin) remain on the injured list.

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is set to restore midfielder Joe Allen to his starting line-up after the 21-year-old Wales international missed the win over Fulham through suspension. Allen is likely to replace Luke Moore in the centre of the park, while Wayne Routledge is set to keep his wing slot ahead of

Nathan Dyer. Striker Danny Graham may also be recalled to the starting line-up ahead of Leroy Lita after the club record signing grabbed a goal as a substitute against the Cottagers.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Newcastle W L D L L; Swansea D L D L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Demba Ba (Newcastle) 11; Danny Graham (Swansea) 5

Match odds: H 4-5 A 7-2 D 5-2

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Wigan (18) v Chelsea (3)

Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz is doubtful after he suffered a rib injury in last week’s defeat of West Brom and faces a fitness test. The Paraguay international was making his return from suspension against the Baggies. Fellow defender Emmerson Boyce, who has not featured for six weeks, could take his place. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is in contention for a place on the bench after recovering from the back problem which cut short his loan at Doncaster.

David Luiz returns from a one-match suspension which forced him to miss Monday night’s victory over Manchester City. Midfielder Michael Essien is on course to return from knee surgery in a month’s time.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Chelsea 6

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 4; Frank Lampard & Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) 8

Match odds: H 15-2 A 4-11 D 15-4

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Wolves (17) v Stoke (8)

Wolves have slight injury concerns over winger Matt Jarvis (thigh) and midfielder Dave Edwards (groin), but manager Mick McCarthy is hopeful both will be fit to face the Potters. Defender Jody Craddock (hamstring) and defender Kevin Foley (ankle) are unlikely to be available.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis could revert to the side that defeated Tottenham 2-1 last weekend. The Welshman left all the 11 players who started that match at home out for their midweek Europa League trip to Istanbul, allowing them a break. Full-back Andy Wilkinson is set to miss out after suffering a recurrence of his back problem against Besiktas, while Ryan Shotton is expected again to be preferred to Jermaine Pennant on the right wing.

Last season: Stoke 3 Wolves 0, Wolves 2 Stoke 1

Last five league matches: Wolves W L L W L; Stoke L L W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 6; Kenwyne Jones & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 6

Match odds: H 6-4 A 9-5 D 23-10

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

Sunday, December 18

Aston Villa (9) v Liverpool (6)

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has five goals this season, will have to serve a one-match suspension after picking up five yellow cards this season. Emile Heskey is in contention to partner Darren Bent up front. Midfielder Fabian Delph is available after missing last weekend’s victory at Bolton with a knee injury. Defender Eric Lichaj (hip) is Villa’s only long-term casualty.

Jordan Henderson looks likely to continue as Charlie Adam’s partner in central midfield at Villa Park. Jay Spearing serves the second of a two-match ban

while Steven Gerrard (ankle) has not played since late October and Lucas Leiva (knee) is out for the season. Winger Stewart Downing is set to face the club he left in the summer while Maxi Rodriguez will be hoping to make successive league starts for the first time since May.

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

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent & Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 5; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 8

Match odds: H 14-5 A 1-1 D 12-5

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Man City (1) v Arsenal (5)

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta is set to switch flanks to play at left-back. City are without regular left-backs Gael Clichy (suspended) and Aleksandar Kolarov (groin) so Zabaleta will move across with fit-again Micah Richards returning at right-back. Richards has missed the last two games with a calf problem.

Arsenal have no fresh injury worries ahead of their trip to the Etihad Stadium. Full-back Kieran Gibbs is recovering well from his hernia problem and could feature over the Christmas period, while midfielder Jack Wilshere remains on course for a mid-February return from his ankle injury. Defenders Andre Santos (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back) and Bacary Sagna (ankle) remain out, along with goalkeepers Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Vito Mannone (shoulder), and midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Ryo Miyaichi (ankle).

Last season: Arsenal 0 Man City 0, Man City 0 Arsenal 3

Last five league matches: Man City W W D W L; Arsenal W W D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Edin Dzeko & Sergio Aguero (Man City) 13; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 19

Match odds: H 7-10 A 19-5 D 14-5

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

QPR (13) v Man Utd (2)

QPR defender Anton Ferdinand will miss the visit of the Premier League champions with a hamstring problem. Rangers manager Neil Warnock can, though, welcome back defenders Fitz Hall (hamstring) and Matthew Connolly (ankle), as well as striker DJ Campbell (foot). Midfielder Kieron Dyer (foot) remains out.

Dimitar Berbatov will return from an ankle injury for United. The Bulgarian has missed the last three games after aggravating the problem during the Carling Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at the end of November. Darron Gibson is also a doubt, whilst Darren Fletcher begins an indefinite spell out of the side to recover from a chronic inflammatory bowel condition and Nemanja Vidic is out for the season with a knee injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Heidar Helguson (QPR) 6; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 14

Match odds: H 6-1 A 1-2 D 3-1

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Tottenham (4) v Sunderland (16)

Tottenham have defender Younes Kaboul suspended following his red card at Stoke last weekend. Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Bale and Kyle Walker are all set to return after sitting out the Europa League victory over Shamrock Rovers. Spurs are sweating over the fitness of centre-back Ledley King, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury. Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Michael Dawson (Achilles) are long-term absentees while Niko Kranjcar, Sandro and Steven Pienaar are all in contention after playing against Shamrock.

Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole (suspended) and striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin) are both available again, but may now face disciplinary action after they were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage. Midfielder Craig Gardner has returned to training after a hamstring problem. Keeper Craig Gordon played in a training ground game earlier in the week, as did striker Fraizer Campbell (knee), although the latter is still some way from joining in with the main group, while keeper Simon Mignolet (fractured nose and eye socket) and defender Michael Turner (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 1 Sunderland 1

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe & Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) 8; Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) 5

Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 15-4

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).