Chelsea (3) v Bolton (12):Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink must decide whether to play Ricardo Carvalho or John Terry in defence. Right-back Jose Bosingwa is doubtful with a hamstring problem, while Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are out for the season with knee ligament injuries.
Bolton have no fresh injury concerns and may name an unchanged side. Midfield duo Mark Davies and Joey O’Brien are still out with knee injuries.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Bolton 1, Bolton 0 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W L W; Bolton W L L D W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 21; Kevin Davies (Bolton) 12
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Liverpool (2) v Blackburn (14)
Liverpool seem likely to be without skipper Steven Gerrard after a scan this week confirmed a groin problem. Javier Mascherano returns after serving a suspension in midweek but boss Rafael Benitez may well rest some of his stars, with Daniel Agger, Sami Hyypia, Andrea Dossena, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel likely to be involved.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce faces a headache over his forward line with Roque Santa Cruz (knee) a serious doubt and Jason Roberts (foot) definitely out. That means centre-back Chris Samba may be called upon again to play an emergency striker’s role. Morten Gamst Pedersen (calf) is also struggling but Vince Grella is available again.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool L W W W W; Blackburn D W L D W
Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 21; Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 11
Match odds: H 2-7 A 8-1 D 16-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)
Middlesbrough (19) v Hull (15)
Middlesbrough skipper Emanuel Pogatetz has been ruled out with a knee injury and will be replaced by fellow defender Chris Riggott, who has recovered from a thigh problem. Midfielder Gary O’Neil starts a two-match suspension, while winger Adam Johnson will undergo a late fitness test on his injured ankle.
Hull striker Daniel Cousin remains doubtful with a back injury but George Boateng could face his former club. The midfielder could make his comeback after three months out with a knee injury and boss Phil Brown has earmarked the Dutchman for a place on the bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W L D L L; Hull L W D L D
Top scorers: Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 7; Geovanni (Hull) 7
Match odds: H 21-20 A 21-10 D 11-5
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Portsmouth (16) v West Brom (20)
Suspended Glen Johnson and injured Sean Davis (knee) miss out for Portsmouth. Winger Jermaine Pennant is fit enough to start after a calf problem and Younes Kaboul will remain at right back.
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has no enforced changes to make but defender Abdoulaye Meite could come into contention for a recall, with Shelton Martis looking most vulnerable after the 2-0 home reversal against Stoke.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D L D W D; West Brom L L D D L
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 16; Roman Bednar (West Brom) 6
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Stoke (13) v Newcastle (18)
Defender Danny Higginbotham should be fit to take his place in an unchanged Stoke side after resuming training following a back injury but midfielders Salif Diao and Amdy Faye are struggling to recover from knocks.
Newcastle boss Alan Shearer could have defender Sebastien Bassong back after the groin injury which kept him out of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat by Chelsea. Steven Taylor (ankle) and Jose Enrique (knee) have already been ruled out, as has midfielder Peter Lovenkrands, who was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties as the result of a chest infection during Saturday’s game.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D W L W W; Newcastle L L D L L
Top scorers: James Beattie (Stoke) 18; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10
Match odds: H 13-10 A 13-8 D 11-5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Sunderland (17) v Man Utd (1)
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia could be without captain Dean Whitehead who is rated at only 50-50 as he battles against a calf injury, although fellow midfielder Teemu Tainio could return after five matches out with a knee problem. Defender Calum Davenport returns to contention, but Sbragia is likely to be without full-back George McCartney (calf) and striker David Healy (groin).
Rio Ferdinand will miss out with a groin injury. Jonny Evans (groin) could play against his former club, although John O’Shea will fill the central defensive slot if the Northern Ireland international misses out.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Man Utd 4, Man Utd 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L L L; Man Utd W W L L W
Top scorers: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 10; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 20
Match odds: H 6-1 A 2-5 D 11-4
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Tottenham (11) v West Ham (7)
Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios is suspended. Jermain Defoe (foot) is out but will return to full training next week, while Alan Hutton (foot) is back with the reserves after being sidelined. Aaron Lennon has been carrying a groin problem but should be fit to play a part.
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is waiting for updates on the fitness of midfield duo Scott Parker (groin) and Radoslav Kovac (thigh). Strikers Carlton Cole (groin) and Dean Ashton (ankle), midfielders Valon Behrami, Jack Collison (both knee) and defenders Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) and Jonathan Spector (concussion) are all unavailable.
Last season: Tottenham 4 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham W D W W L; West Ham W W D D W
Top scorers: Darren Bent & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 15; Carlton Cole
(West Ham) 11
Match odds: H 7-10 A 10-3 D 23-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Wigan (8) v Arsenal (4)
Amr Zaki will not be involved after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Egypt, resulting in an unauthorised absence that has had boss Steve Bruce fuming. Bruce has otherwise a fully-fit squad to choose from, other than midfielder Cho Won-hee who is out for the season after tearing a calf muscle playing for South Korea.
Arsenal hope to have strikers Robin van Persie and Eduardo (both groin) available. However, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle) and full-back Gael Clichy (back) will miss out, while centre-half William Gallas looks set to be sidelined for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage. Midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) is another doubt after missing the midweek Champions League trip to Villarreal, but Russian Andrei Arshavin is available again having been cup-tied in Europe.
Last season: Wigan 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 2 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Wigan L L W W L; Arsenal D W W W W
Top scorers: Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 16
Match odds: H 7-2 A 8-13 D 5-2
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
Sunday, April 12
Aston Villa (5) v Everton (6)
Aston Villa are hoping striker Gabriel Agbonlahor shakes off a virus. Defender Carlos Cuellar is suffering from a back problem and, if he is ruled out, then Zat Knight could earn a recall alongside Curtis Davies. Emile Heskey, skipper Martin Laursen and Wilfred Bouma are still side-lined through injury as Villa look to end a run of nine games without a victory.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard will definitely play despite a sore hamstring after last weekend’s 4-0 win over Wigan.
Last season: Everton 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 2 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L L L L; Everton W D W L W
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 13; Tim Cahill & Jo (Everton) 8
Match odds: H 19-20 A 5-2 D 21-10
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Man City (10) v Fulham (9)
Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy looks certain to miss out after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury against Hamburg. Benjani Mwaruwari also looks likely to be sidelined with a ruptured thigh muscle. Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and Vincent Kompany (hamstring) are doubtful, but Nigel de Jong is available again after being ineligible for the UEFA Cup tie.
Fulham will check on Zoltan Gera (foot injury) and Toni Kallio (virus), but boss Roy Hodgson expects both to be training by tomorrow, meaning he has a full-strength squad at his disposal.
Last season: Man City 2 Fulham 3, Fulham 3 Man City 3
Last five league matches: Man City L W L W L; Fulham L L W W L
Top scorers: Robinho (Man City) 12; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 10
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
