Aston Villa (10) v Stoke (13)

Aston Villa are at full strength after midfielder Fabian Delph recovered from a groin injury this week. Villa are likely to be unchanged after collecting seven points from their previous three games to climb into the top half of the table. Assistant boss Gary McAllister will take charge of the team while Gerard Houllier recovers from chest pains in hospital.

Stoke have no fresh injury concerns. Striker John Carew, who was on the bench last Sunday, is fit having suffered recently with a back injury.
Last season:Stoke 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 Stoke 0
Last five league matches:Aston Villa L L D W W; Stoke D L W D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 8; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 11
Match odds:H 4-5 A 17-5 D 13-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Blackpool (18) v Newcastle (9)

Blackpool captain Charlie Adam is fit after a foot injury scare. It was initially feared the Scotland midfielder might have broken a bone after getting hurt in last week’s loss to Wigan but the problem has proved to be only bruising. Adam’s fellow midfielder David Vaughan is also hoping to feature after two games out with a hip injury. Goalkeeper Matt Gilks is likely to continue after making his return from a broken kneecap against Wigan but defender David Carney (shoulder) is out for the season.

Newcastle skipper Kevin Nolan will return from suspension. The midfielder has missed the last two games after reaching 10 bookings for the campaign, but could partner Cheick Tiote once again after the Ivory Coast international returned from a ban against Manchester United. Tim Krul will deputise once again for keeper Steve Harper, who may need an minor operation on his knee, while midfielder Danny Guthrie (shin) will miss out. French winger Hatem Ben Arfa is on target to be involved in the final three games of the campaign, but Leon Best (ankle), Dan Gosling (knee) and Alan Smith (ankle) remain absent.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Blackpool L D L L L; Newcastle L L W L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Charlie Adam & DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 10; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 12
Match odds:H 9-5 A 7-5 D 5-2
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Chelsea (2) v West Ham (19)

Alex and Ramires are again set to be absent for Chelsea. The Brazilian duo have missed the last two matches with hamstring injuries but are expected to be fit for next weekend’s game against Tottenham. Branislav Ivanovic could return tomorrow after sitting out Wednesday night’s match against Birmingham with a muscle strain, while Ashley Cole is expected to shrug off the slight ankle knock that forced him off in midweek.

West Ham will be without key midfielder Scott Parker. The 30-year-old was today named the Football Writers Association's player of the year, but will miss out tomorrow with an Achilles complaint. Fellow midfielder Gary O'Neil (ankle ligament) is out for the rest of the season and Kieron Dyer (hamstring) is also absent, but Jack Collison will be included in the squad after a long-standing knee injury.
Last season:Chelsea 4 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches:Chelsea W D W W W; West Ham W D L L L
Top scorers(all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16; Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 9
Match odds:H 1-4 A 10-1 D 5-1
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Liverpool (6) v Birmingham (15)

Late checks will be made on the fitness of Jamie Carragher and Andy Carroll. Carragher was knocked unconscious in a clash of heads with young full-back John Flanagan during Sunday’s draw at Arsenal. Carroll jarred a knee against the Gunners and was taken off as a precaution, but left-back Fabio Aurelio is unlikely to feature this weekend after sustaining a thigh problem at the Emirates Stadium.

Birmingham will be boosted by the return from injury of central defender Martin Jiranek after the Czech Republic international missed the last three games with a groin injury and an abdominal complaint. Strikers Nikola Zigic (groin) and Obafemi Martins (leg) are again ruled out.
Last season:Birmingham 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 Birmingham 2
Last five league matches:Liverpool W W L W D; Birmingham L W D W L
Top scorers(all competitions): Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) 12; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 9
Match odds:H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Manchester United (1) v Everton (7)

Alex Ferguson will check the fitness of leading scorer Dimitar Berbatov after he missed Tuesday’s goalless draw at Newcastle with a minor groin strain. Paul Scholes serves the second game of a three-match ban and Darren Fletcher (virus) is still out but full-back Rafael (hamstring) returns.

Key pair Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill could return for the trip to Old Trafford. Arteta has missed four games with a hamstring injury while Cahill has been troubled by a foot problem for the past month. Midfielder John Heitinga is doubtful after hobbling out of last week's win over Blackburn with a hamstring injury. Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman are both pushing to start after substitute appearances last week but Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini are long-term absentees.
Last season:Everton 3 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Everton 0
Last five league matches:Man Utd L W W W D; Everton D W D W W
Top scorers(all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 22; Louis Saha (Everton) 10
Match odds:H 4-9 A 13-2 D 16-5
Referee:Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Sunderland (14) v Wigan (17)

Striker Danny Welbeck remains a doubt for Sunderland after suffering a hamstring strain at Birmingham last weekend, while Kieran Richardson and Sulley Muntari (both calf) are battling against the clock to be fit. Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) is unlikely to make it with fellow defenders Titus Bramble (knee) and John Mensah (adductor tear) already ruled out. Striker Fraizer Campbell and keeper Craig Gordon both underwent knee surgery earlier this week and will be missing until well into next season, and Trevor Carson has been recalled from his loan spell at Brentford to provide back-up to Simon Mignolet, who will continue in goal despite a poor afternoon at St Andrew’s.

Left-back Maynor Figueroa completes a two-match ban but Wigan are otherwise at full strength and boss Roberto Martinez could opt for an unchanged side following the win at Blackpool.
Last season:Sunderland 1 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches:Sunderland D L L L L; Wigan L W D L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 10; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 8
Match odds:H 23-20 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Tottenham (5) v West Brom (11)

Gareth Bale is a major doubt for Tottenham after sustaining a knee injury in Wednesday’s north London derby. William Gallas and Vedran Corluka (ankle) also picked up knocks in the match and could miss out while Niko Kranjcar is struggling with a foot problem. Jonathan Woodgate (calf), Ledley King (groin), Wilson Palacios and Alan Hutton (both knee) are all out.

West Brom have no fresh injury concerns. Midfielder Graham Dorrans is the only absentee with the ankle problem which has sidelined him for the past seven weeks.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Tottenham D D D W D; West Brom W D W W L
Top scorers(all competitions): Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) 14; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 12
Match odds:H 6-10 A 9-2 D 3-1
Referee:Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Wolves (20) v Fulham (12)

Stephen Hunt has recovered from a groin injury and is available for Wolves but Dave Edwards is still out with a spine injury, while Kevin Doyle (knee) and Ronald Zubar (back) are also unavailable. George Elokobi has picked up a hamstring strain in training and misses out.

Fulham are set to be without Damien Duff at Molineux. The Irishman is still troubled by the Achilles injury that forced him to miss the defeat at Manchester United a fortnight ago but should be back for Wednesday night's match with Bolton. Hughes has no fresh injury concerns, with Philippe Senderos still working his way back to full fitness after missing the entire season to date.
Last season:Fulham 0 Wolves 0, Wolves 2 Fulham 1
Last five league matches:Wolves W D W L L; Fulham D W L W L
Top scorers(all competitions): Kevin Doyle & Adam Hammill (Wolves) 8; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 11
Match odds:H 6-4 A 145-8 D 11-5
Referee:Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Sunday, April 24th

Bolton (8) v Arsenal (3)

Striker Daniel Sturridge returns to the Bolton squad after the on-loan Chelsea player was cup-tied for last weekend’s 5-0 defeat by Stoke in the FA Cup semi-final. Mark Davies is also in contention for a starting spot after recovering from an ankle injury but Sam Ricketts (Achilles), Sean Davis and Stuart Holden (knee) are long-term absentees.

Arsenal will be without midfielder Abou Diaby (calf) while winger Tomas Rosicky is also doubtful with illness. Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) continues his rehabilitation.
Last season:Arsenal 4 Bolton 2, Bolton 0 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches:Bolton D W L L W; Arsenal D D W D D
Top scorers(all competitions): Johan Elmander (Bolton) 12; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 18
Match odds:H 17-5 A 3-4 D 14-5
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Monday, April 25th

Blackburn (16) v Man City (4)

Junior Hoilett should be back for Blackburn after missing the defeat at Everton with a hamstring problem. Ryan Nelsen and Vince Grella are injured and Steven Nzonzi serves the last match of a three-game suspension. Roque Santa Cruz, meanwhile, is unavailable against his parent club.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini could be tempted to name an unchanged line-up. Italian striker Mario Balotelli looks set to retain his place following the FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United as Carlos Tevez has a hamstring injury. With defender Micah Richards also absent with a similar problem, Pablo Zabaleta is set to stay in the team.
Last season:Man City 4 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Man City 2
Last five league matches:Blackburn L D D D L; Man City D W L W L
Top scorers(all competitions): Mame Biram Diouf & Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 6; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 22
Match odds:H 12-5 A 23-20 D 23-10
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)