Premier League Team News

Saturday, November 1

Saturday, November 1

Chelsea (2) v Sunderland (10)

Didier Drogba will be among Chelsea's substitutes after recovering sufficiently from a knee injury, but Ricardo Carvalho will be out for a month with a thigh injury sustained against Hull. Joe Cole is included despite collecting an ankle injury at Hull but Michael Ballack (foot) and Michael Essien (knee) remain out.

Kenwyne Jones is likely to make his first start of the season for Sunderland after recovering from knee ligament damage. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon (ankle) is
still struggling so Marton Fulop is expected to start. Phil Bardsley (dead leg) is expected to feature and Teemu Tainio, Nyron Nosworthy and Pascal Chimbonda could be recalled.

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Last season: Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 2 Sunderland 0

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

Top scorers:Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 7; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 3

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

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Everton (12) v Fulham (14)

Everton will give late fitness tests to midfielders Tim Cahill and Leon Osman. Osman has a bruised leg while Cahill is struggling with a foot injury. Everton are definitely without full-back Nuno Valente, who has a knee injury.

Korean Seol Ki-Hyeon has returned home for personal reasons, meaning Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson — against his former club — will continue in attack. Defender Toni Kallio is still suffering from a virus and is doubtful.

Last season:Fulham 1 Everton 0, Everton 3 Fulham 0

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

Top scorers:Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 4; Zoltan Gera, Andrew Johnson & Danny Murphy (Fulham) 2

Match odds:H 8-11 A 4-1 D 5-2

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Manchester United (6) v Hull (5)

Wes Brown will miss the clash with Hull after picking up an ankle injury. Brown should be fit to face Celtic on Wednesday but his absence means Gary Neville is set for the right-back slot. Edwin van der Sar and Michael Carrick should also be handed starting berths.

Hull will make their first change in six matches with captain Ian Ashbee suspended after picking up five bookings. Bryan Hughes could come in but Bernard Mendy is also an option. Record signing Anthony Gardner faces a further three weeks out after pulling a thigh muscle in a friendly against Leeds on Monday.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Dimitar Berbatov, Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 5; Deiberson Geovanni (Hull) 4

Match odds:H 1-6 A 18-1 D 11-2

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Middlesbrough (9) v West Ham (11)

Gareth Southgate is expected to stick with an unchanged starting XI for the third successive match. Mohamed Shawky (thigh) has been sidelined for three weeks, while tomorrow's game has come too soon for Robert Huth (ankle). Mido (groin) and Justin Hoyte (hip) are back training and have an outside chance of making Southgate's squad.

West Ham will be without Valon Behrami who needs a scan on a calf problem. Scott Parker (calf) is a doubt but defenders Lucas Neill (virus) and James Tomkins (knee) should return. Striker Diego Tristan could feature for the first time as Carlton Cole is suspended. Left-back Herita Ilunga is short of fitness and Mark Noble (calf), Dean Ashton (ankle), Kieron Dyer (leg), Jonathan Spector (hip) and Danny Gabbidon (stomach) are definite absentees.

Last season:Middlesbrough 1 West Ham 2, West Ham 3 Middlesbrough 0

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

Top scorers:Mido (Middlesbrough) 4; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4

Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Portsmouth (7) v Wigan (18)

Portsmouth could recall right-back Glen Johnson after three games out with a groin injury. Johnson will replace Noe Pamarot providing he passes a late fitness test, but Sol Campbell (hamstring) may miss out and Younes Kaboul stands by to deputise alongside Sylvain Distin. Lassana Diarra (knee) is ready to play on and Jermain Defoe is set to be restored to the starting line-up by manager Tony Adams.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has no fresh injury concerns but after Wednesday's dismal 2-0 defeat by Fulham he could be tempted to make changes. Titus Bramble could come in for Paul Scharner or Emmerson Boyce while Jason Koumas could also be promoted from the bench.

Last season:Portsmouth 2 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Portsmouth 2

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

Top scorers:Jermain Defoe & Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 6; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 8

Match odds:H 8-11 A 3-1 D 23-10

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Stoke (15) v Arsenal (3)

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is expected to name an unchanged side after the midweek win over Sunderland. Winger Liam Lawrence, who has missed the last four games, is expected to be out for another month after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ankle ligament.

Arsenal are likely to be without defenders William Gallas (hamstring) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee). Midfielder Denilson (back), defender Bacary Sagna and striker Emmanuel Adebayor all returned to the starting XI against Spurs and should be fit once more.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 4; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 9

Match odds: H 7-1 A 2-5 D 7-2

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)

Tottenham (20) v Liverpool (1)

Ledley King could return to bolster Tottenham's defence after missing the 4-4 draw against Arsenal to rest his long-term knee injury. Jermaine Jenas should also recover from a toe injury sustained against the Gunners, but central defender Michael Dawson is still out suspended.

Robbie Keane has been declared fit to face his old club following a groin problem. Liverpool seem unlikely to risk fellow striker Fernando Torres, who is still only in light training after a hamstring problem.

Last season:Tottenham 0 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 2 Tottenham 2

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

Top scorers:Darren Bent (Tottenham) 6; Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres & Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) 5

Match odds:H 5-2 A 11-10 D 23-10

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

West Brom (16) v Blackburn (13)

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray must decide whether to recall midfielder Kim Do-Heon who has returned to full training after missing four games with knee ligament damage. Striker Ishmael Miller will hope for a start after coming off the bench to score his first goal of the campaign at Newcastle on Tuesday.

Roque Santa Cruz has been ruled out with a calf injury which could keep him on the sidelines for two weeks. Australia midfielder Vince Grella is also unlikely to feature due to a hamstring injury. Stephen Warnock (concussion) is also doubtful but defender Chris Samba should start following an ankle injury.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Roman Bednar (West Brom) 3; Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn) 3

Match odds:H 7-5 A 19-10 D 23-10

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)

Sunday, November 2

Bolton (19) v Man City (8)

Bolton manager Gary Megson can recall midfielder Gavin McCann after he served the suspension received for being sent off in last weekend's defeat at Tottenham, missing the defeat against Everton on Wednesday.

Pablo Zabaleta is expected to return from suspension for Manchester City. The Argentina defender has served a three-match ban following his dismissal against Liverpool. Manager Mark Hughes is hopeful £18million striker Jo will be available after a bout of tonsillitis but Daniel Sturridge (ankle) is likely to miss out.

Last season:Bolton 0 Man City 0, Man City 4 Bolton 2

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

Top scorers:Kevin Davies (Bolton) 4; De Souza Robinho (Man City) 6

Match odds: H 9-4 A 5-4 D 9-4

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Monday, November 3

Newcastle (17) v Aston Villa (4)

Newcastle captain Michael Owen is poised to return to action along with vice-captain Nicky Butt. Owen has missed the last three games with groin trouble while Butt, who has had an ankle problem, sat out Tuesday's victory over West Brom.

Aston Villa have a doubt over midfielder Stiliyan Petrov (hamstring) and have Steve Sidwell on standby to make his first Barclays Premier League start since his £5million summer switch from Chelsea. Manager Martin O'Neill must also decide whether to recall striker John Carew to the starting line-up.

Last season:Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 0 Aston Villa 0

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

Top scorers:Michael Owen (Newcastle) 5; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 7

Match odds:H 21-10 A 13-10 D 23-10

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)