Premier League team news and statistics

Aston Villa (13) v Swansea (11)

Aston Villa will still be without striker Christian Benteke (knee) and defender Ron Vlaar (calf) but midfielder Ashley Westwood will be available again after missing the 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace through suspension.

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup will make changes from the Boxing Day loss at Chelsea which striker Michu, midfielder Nathan Dyer (both ankle) and goalkeeper Michel Vorm (knee) missed along with defender Garry Monk (knee). Midfielder Leon Britton returned from a broken toe at Stamford Bridge and could continue.
Last season: Swansea 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 2 Swansea 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W L L L L; Swansea W D D L L
Top scorers: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 5; Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 9
Match odds: H 17-10 A 17-10 D 21-10
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Cardiff (16) v Sunderland (20)

Managerless Cardiff could welcome back Gary Medel, who missed the defeat to Southampton due to flu, while Andreas Cornelius and Declan John could start after coming off the bench on St Stephen’s Day. Craig Bellamy will miss out again due to his ongoing knee injury.

Sunderland will again be without Wes Brown (suspended) while it remains to be seen whether or not his fellow defender John O'Shea (shoulder) is able to feature. Definitely still ruled out through injury are goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) and yet another defender, Carlos Cuellar (hip).
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cardiff D L W L L; Sunderland L L D D W
Top scorers: Fraizer Campbell & Jordon Mutch (Cardiff) 3; Emanuele Giaccherini & Phil Bardsley (Sunderland) 3
Match odds: H 13-10 A 23-10 D 21-10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Hull (12) v Fulham (18)

Hull expect to be without goalkeeper Allan McGregor and midfielder David Meyler after both players came off at half-time with knee problems in the 3-2 Boxing Day loss to Manchester United. Alex Bruce is also struggling with a calf complaint sustained in the same match, while Stephen Quinn (hamstring) and Sone Aluko (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Fulham will also be without their first-choice goalkeeper as Maarten Stekelenburg struggles with an ankle injury and David Stockdale, who deputised in the 2-1 win at Norwich, will continue. Dimitar Berbatov (groin) also missed the trip to Carrow Road but could feature at Hull whilst Brede Hangeland (back), Philippe Senderos (abductor) and Matthew Briggs (hernia) are out.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull L D D D L; Fulham L W L L W
Top scorers: Robbie Brady & Matt Fryatt (Hull) 4; Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 4
Match odds: H 21-20 A 14-5 D 11-5
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)

Man City (2) v Crystal Palace (17)

Matija Nastasic could be back in contention for City after returning to the bench for the Boxing Day clash with Liverpool after eight games out with a calf injury while fellow centre-back Martin Demichelis was absent after pulling up in training. Strikers Sergio Aguero (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) miss out as does and right-back Micah Richards (hamstring).

Palace top scorer Marouane Chamakh returns from suspension although Yannick Bolasie replaced the Moroccan for the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa and impressed so could keep his place in the team. Match-winner Dwight Gayle is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench again, while none of Pulis' injured players are expected to be fit.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City W D W W W; Crystal Palace W W L L W
Top scorers: Sergio Aguero (Man City) 19; Marouane Chamakh (Crystal Palace) 4
Match odds: H 1-7 A 20-1 D 6-1
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Norwich (14) v Man Utd (7)

Norwich will be without suspended centre-half Michael Turner for Saturday’s clash while midfielder Jonathan Howson (back) remains doubtful. Wingers Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) and Elliott Bennett (knee) are still sidelined, along with midfielder Alexander Tettey (ankle).

The champions may need to move Chris Smalling to right-back after Rafael suffered a first-half groin injury against Hull and replacement Antonio Valencia picked up a late red card. Phil Jones is out for a fortnight with a knee problem but Nemanja Vidic could come in and there will be late tests on Michael Carrick (Achilles) and Robin van Persie (thigh).
Last season: Man Utd 4 Norwich 0, Norwich 1 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Norwich L W D D L; Man Utd L L W W W
Top scorers: Gary Hooper (Norwich) 7; Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 11
Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 14-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

West Ham (19) v West Brom (15)

James Collins will have the calf complaint which forced him off on Boxing Day assessed on Friday and looks unlikely to feature. Ravel Morrison (groin) is a doubt while Andy Carroll, Ricardo Vaz Te, Stewart Downing and Winston Reid remain sidelined.

West Brom will give a fitness test to striker Shane Long, who is doubtful because of a calf injury, while fellow striker Victor Anichebe (groin) is also a doubt for the match at Upton Park. Caretaker manager Keith Downing will make changes to his line-up as the lunchtime kick-off comes less than 48 hours after the Baggies drew 1-1 at Tottenham.
Last season: West Ham 3 West Brom 1, West Brom 0 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: West Ham L L D L L; West Brom L L L D D
Top scorers: Ravel Morrison (West Ham) 5; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 6
Match odds: H 7-5 A 11-5 D 2-1
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Sunday, December 29th

Chelsea (3) v Liverpool (4)

Ramires picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea and serves a one-match ban, with Frank Lampard likely to return to the Blues starting line-up. Jose Mourinho is likely to rotate his options once more, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill in line to return in defence at the expense of Ashley Cole and David Luiz, while Fernando Torres could start up front.

Liverpool will be without forward Victor Moses due to the terms of his loan from the Londoners. That leaves the Reds short on numbers with captain Steven Gerrard and defender Jon Flanagan (both hamstring) not ready to return while striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle) and defender Jose Enrique (knee) are also still on the sidelines.
Last season: Liverpool 2 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W L W D W; Liverpool W W W W L
Top scorers: Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 9; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 19
Match odds: H 6-5 A 5-2 D 21-10
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Everton (5) v Southampton (9)

Tim Howard and Gareth Barry will both miss out through suspension after the goalkeeper was shown a straight red card in the 1-0 home loss to Sunderland while the on-loan Manchester City midfielder picked up his fifth booking of the season. Kevin Mirallas was substituted at half-time during the contest having felt unwell and could be replaced by the returning Leighton Baines.

Southampton will check on Dejan Lovren after the defender missed the Boxing Day win at Cardiff through illness but could return while Nathaniel Clyne and Dani Osvaldo are also in contention. Artur Boruc (hand), Victor Wanyama (shin) and Guly do Prado (knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: Southampton 0 Everton 0, Everton 3 Southampton 1
Last five league matches: Everton W D W W L; Southampton L D D L W
Top scorers: Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 8; Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 9
Match odds: H 5-6 A 7-2 D 12-5
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Newcastle (6) v Arsenal (1)

Cheick Tiote will return from suspension after missing the 5-1 Boxing Day victory over Stoke and is likely to go straight back into the starting line-up. Manager Alan Pardew, who replaced Tiote with Hatem Ben Arfa against the Potters, has no fresh injury concerns with midfielder Jonas Gutierrez recovering from a calf problem.

Aaron Ramsey will miss the trip to St James' Park due to a thigh complaint but Jack Wilshere returns from suspension. Tomas Rosicky was rested for the Boxing Day clash with West Ham but could return to the squad.
Last season: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 7 Newcastle 3
Last five league matches: Newcastle L W D W W; Arsenal W D L D W
Top scorers: Loic Remy (Newcastle) 10; Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) 13
Match odds: H 3-1 A 1-1 D 11-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Tottenham (8) v Stoke (10)

Midfielder Paulinho returns from suspension, but right-back Kyle Walker misses out after picking up his fifth booking of the season against West Brom. Striker Jermain Defoe (hamstring), winger Aaron Lennon (stomach) and midfielder Mousa Dembele (ankle) are doubts while midfielder Sandro (calf), centre-back Younes Kaboul (thigh), winger Andros Townsend (hamstring) and defender Jan Vertonghen (ankle) remain sidelined.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes will be without a trio of key players after midfielder Glenn Whelan and defender Marc Wilson were both sent off in the 5-1 Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle and will miss out through suspension. In addition, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic (broken finger) could be sidelined for up to six weeks while defender Robert Huth continues his recovery from knee surgery.
Last season: Stoke 1 Spurs 2, Spurs 0 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Spurs W W L W D; Stoke D W D W L
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe & Roberto Soldado (Spurs) 9; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 5
Match odds: H 1-2 A 13-2 D 14-5
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)