All this weekend's team news from the Barclays Premier League.
Saturday, April 2nd
Everton (7) v Fulham (9)
Everton will again be without defender Leighton Baines and midfielder Jack Rodwell. Baines is still sidelined with the hamstring injury which forced him to miss missed last weekend’s 4-4 draw at Manchester United while Rodwell has not played for six weeks because of a similar problem. Centre-back Sylvain Distin is expected to deputise on the left of defence once more but on-loan Royston Drenthe is not likely to return to the squad having been disciplined before the FA Cup semi-final.
Fulham defender Stephen Kelly returned to training this week and is in contention. Pavel Pogrebnyak made a goalscoring return to action against Wigan last weekend after recovering from an ankle problem while Fulham also have striker Andrew Johnson fit and available. Winger Bryan Ruiz (foot) will be out for 10 weeks while Steve Sidwell (hernia) and Zdenek Grygera (knee) are also long-term absentees.
Last season:Everton 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 0 Everton 0
Last five league matches:Everton W W D W D; Fulham L W W D W
Top scorers:Nikica Jelavic (Everton) 25; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 22
Match odds:H 4-5 A 18-5 D 5-2
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Norwich (13) v Liverpool (8)
Norwich striker James Vaughan is pressing for another start after his recovery from a frustrating injury spell. Former Reds centre-back Zak Whitbread (hamstring) remains sidelined and will not be playing against his old club. Fellow defenders Marc Tierney (groin) and Daniel Ayala (knee), another former Liverpool man, are ruled out of the season.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard returned to training during the week after being rested for the home defeat against West Brom. However, with an FA Cup final in just over a week and two league matches to play before then manager Kenny Dalglish may look to protect some of his players, starting tomorrow. Midfielder Charlie Adam's knee injury has ruled out a return before the end of the season.
Last season:No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Norwich L D W L L; Liverpool L L D W L
Top scorers:Grant Holt (Norwich) 15; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 14
Match odds:H 13-5 A 1-1 D 5-2
Referee:Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Stoke (14) v Arsenal (3)
Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson (groin) will miss tomorrow’s clash. The 27-year-old, substituted after 33 minutes at Newcastle last week, is also doubtful for Tuesday’s meeting with Everton but could be back for the final two games of the campaign. Winger Jermaine Pennant is back in contention after a virus but is unlikely to start.
Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby will be assessed ahead of the game after suffering from a virus. Czech international Tomas Rosicky has shrugged off a similar illness, while on-loan Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun comes back in after being ineligible to play against his parent club last weekend. Winger Theo Walcott (hamstring) may feature before the end of the season but Mikel Arteta (ankle) is out along with Jack Wilshere (ankle) and German centre-back Per Mertesacker (ankle).
Last season:Stoke 3 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Stoke 0
Last five league matches:Stoke D L W D L; Arsenal L W W L D
Top scorers:Peter Crouch (Stoke) 13; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 34
Match odds:H 3-1 A 10-11 D 5-2
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Sunderland (11) v Bolton (18)
Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will be without a trio of key players. Midfielder Craig Gardner is suspended following his sending-off at Aston Villa last weekend, while full-back Kieran Richardson and winger Sebastian Larsson will both miss the rest of the season after undergoing hernia surgery this week. Skipper Lee Cattermole could return to the midfield as he battles a persistent knee problem, but the manager will make a late decision on his fitness.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle will again run the rule over his walking wounded. Coyle claimed another six players picked up knocks in Tuesday's 2-1 win at Aston Villa, including midfielders Chris Eagles, Ryo Miyaichi and Mark Davies, with none training yesterday. Darren Pratley has missed the last two matches through illness, whilst Bolton are still awaiting Fifa clearance to play winger Gregg Wylde following his move from Rangers.
Last season:Bolton 1 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 1 Bolton 0
Last five league matches:Sunderland D D L D D; Bolton W L L D W
Top scorers:Sebastian Larsson & Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland) 8; Marvin Sordell (Bolton) 10
Match odds:H 10-11 A 3-1 D 12-5
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Swansea (12) v Wolves (20)
Swansea winger Nathan Dyer is fully fit for Saturday’s match after recovering from illness. Dyer was forced off early in last weekend’s draw with Bolton but is available for the visit of the midlands club, while Steven Caulker, who played 90 minutes at the Reebok Stadium, has also shaken off an illness. Kemy Agustien (ankle), Ferrie Bodde (knee) and Alan Tate (calf) remain absent for the Swans.
Relegated Wolves will be without on-loan Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong after he suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's 2-0 home reversal by Manchester City and will be sidelined for up to a fortnight. Christophe Berra is poised to come in. Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (knee), midfielder Jamie O'Hara (groin) and defender Jody Craddock (hip) are out.
Last season:No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Swansea L L L W D; Wolverhampton L L L D L
Top scorers:Danny Graham &, Rory Donnelly (Swansea) 12; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 10
Match odds:H 8-15 A 5-1 D 3-1
Referee:Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
West Brom (10) v Aston Villa (15)
West Brom striker Marc-Antoine Fortune is fit to return after missing last weekend’s shock 1-0 away success over Liverpool with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Paul Scharner is likely to be available despite cracking a bone in his wrist at Anfield. Midfielders Zoltan Gera and James Morrison (both knee) and right-back Steven Reid (foot) remain on the injury list.
Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne is available after two and a half months out of action with a broken collarbone. Fellow defender James Collins is still battling to overcome his recent groin problem and there will be checks on the fitness of midfielder Stephen Ireland (hamstring) and striker Emile Heskey (Achilles).
Last season:West Brom 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 2 West Brom 1
Last five league matches:West Brom L W L W W; Aston Villa D D L D L
Top scorers:Keith Andrews & Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 11; Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 10
Match odds:H 11-10 A 12-5 D 12-5
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Wigan (17) v Newcastle (4)
Wigan striker Franco di Santo is doubtful for the relegation battlers with a calf injury. Fellow forward Hugo Rodallega (knee) is hoping to prove his fitness after returning to training following a seven-week lay-off. Defender Ronnie Stam (hamstring) is unlikely to feature but midfielder Albert Crusat (calf) is back in contention.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has no fresh injury concerns, while Gabriel Obertan (ankle) and Sylvain Marveaux (groin) are both back in training, but neither will travel. Only Steven Taylor (Achilles) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) remain on the Champions League-chasing side's long-term casualty list.
Last season:Wigan 0 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 Wigan 2
Last five league matches:Wigan W L W W L; Newcastle W W W W W
Top scorers:Jordi Gomez & Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 5; Papiss Cisse (Newcastle) 20
Match odds:H 9-5 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral)
Sunday, April 29th
Chelsea (6) v QPR (16)
Chelsea are facing a defensive crisis with both Gary Cahill and David Luiz ruled out with hamstring injuries. Branislav Ivanovic serves the final instalment of his domestic three-match ban, leaving John Terry as the Blues’ only recognised centre-half.
QPR manager Mark Hughes could be missing three key players. Adel Taarabt is suspended following his dismissal in the 1-0 victory over Tottenham last weekend, with former Chelsea player Shaun Wright-Phillips a strong candidate to replace the Morocco international. Samba Diakite has not trained all week due to an illness, while Djibril Cisse, who was an unused substitute against Spurs after returning from a four-game ban, is struggling with a knee problem.
Last season:No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Chelsea D W W D D; QPR W L W L W
Top scorers:Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 16; Bobby Zamora & Heidar Helguson (QPR) 9
Match odds:H 1-3 A 15-2 D 4-1
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Tottenham (5) v Blackburn (19)
Younes Kaboul and Emmanuel Adebayor have recovered from their respective knee and hamstring injuries and will be available for Tottenham. Ledley King is a doubt with his own chronic knee injury, but Benoit Assou-Ekotto has been ruled out for the season after dislocating his shoulder against QPR. Niko Kranjcar (knee), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Michael Dawson (ankle) are out.
Blackburn manager Steve Kean has virtually a full squad. Montenegro midfielder Simon Vukcevic has recovered from a virus. Jason Lowe has recovered from a knee problem so only Grant Hanley, who has an ankle ligament injury, is missing.
Last season:Blackburn 0 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 4 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches:Tottenham D W D L L; Blackburn L L L L W
Top scorers:Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 16; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 17
Match odds:H 2-5 A 11-2 D 4-1
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Monday, April 30th
Man City (2) v Man Utd (1)
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is available again for the crunch derby clash. The Italian has served a three-match ban for his sending-off at Arsenal earlier this month but it remains to be seen whether he will be recalled given the form of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez. Defender Micah Richards (hamstring) is fit again after missing last week’s win at Wolves.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson must decide whether to make changes. Full-back Rafael would appear to be at the most risk of losing his place from the team that threw away a two-goal lead in the final seven minutes of last Sunday's encounter with Everton. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling could both step in, whilst Ferguson may also opt to reinforce his midfield with either Ryan Giggs, Tom Cleverley or Park Ji-sung at the expense of a wide player or Danny Welbeck.
Last season:Man Utd 2 Man City 1, Man City 0 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches:Man City D L W W W; Man Utd W W L W D
Top scorers:Sergio Aguero (Man City) 29; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 34
Match odds:H 6-5 A 9-4 D 23-10
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
