Weekend Premier League team news

SATURDAY
Aston Villa (6) v Man City (3), 5.30pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Villa striker Libor Kozak has suffered a setback as he returns from a broken leg and is expected to be missing for a number of weeks after an operation but Christian Benteke could make his comeback following his recovery from a ruptured Achilles. Captain Ron Vlaar is still sidelined with a calf injury.

Midfielder Fernando is back in contention for City after missing the last six games with a groin injury leaving playmaker Samir Nasri, who recently underwent groin surgery, as manager Manuel Pellegrini’s only major absentee.

Last season: Man City 4 Aston Villa 0 Aston Villa 3 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W W L L; Man City W L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa) 2; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 5
Match odds: H 4-1 A 12-1 D 16-5
Referee: Chris Foy

Hull (16) v Crystal Palace (9), 3.0pm
Veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper returns to the Hull side with Allan McGregor out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury. Robert Snodgrass (knee) remains a long-term absentee but David Meyler is set to return to the squad.

Palace manager Neil Warnock has a fully fit squad to choose from after Marouane Chamakh played 18 minutes against Leicester last weekend and is now considered fit enough to start.

Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Hull 0 Hull 0 Crystal Palace 1
Last five league matches: Hull D L D D L; Crystal Palace L D D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Robbie Brady and Nikica Jelavic (Hull) 3; Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) 5
Match odds: H 3-1 A 14-5 D 7-1
Referee: Mike Dean

Leicester (12) v Burnley (20), 3.0pm
Esteban Cambiasso and Ritchie De Laet are fit for Leicester after coming off in their 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last week. Matt Upson is still sidelined with a foot injury, although he is making progress having not played for the Foxes since joining from Brighton in the summer.

Nathaniel Chalobah is the latest injury casualty for Burnley after suffering a kick in the throat during an under-21 match on Tuesday night. He joins David Jones (thigh), Dean Marney (hamstring) and Matthew Taylor (Achilles) on the sidelines.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester L D W W L; Burnley L D D D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester) 5; Scott Arfield (Burnley) 1
Match odds: H 3-1 A 19-5 D 13-2
Referee: Phil Dowd

Liverpool (14) v West Brom (10), 3.0pm - Live Setanta Sports 1
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will wait to see whether Daniel Sturridge is fit enough to be involved after missng six matches with a thigh strain. Defenders Glen Johnson and Mamadou Sakho (both thigh), Jon Flanagan (knee) and midfielders Joe Allen (knee) and Emre Can (ankle) are all unavailable.

Silvestre Varela is out of West Brom’s trip as the Baggies and parent club Porto assess whether he needs hernia surgery. Strikers Brown Ideye (ankle) and Victor Anichebe (groin) are also sidelined meaning four-goal Saido Berahino will lead the line, while Chris Baird is fit again after illness.

Last season: West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Liverpool 4 West Brom 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool L W L L D; West Brom D L L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 3; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 5
Match odds: H 4-11 A 11-2 D 11-2
Referee: Michael Oliver

Sunderland (17) v Stoke (11), 3.0pm
Gus Poyet will welcome defender Wes Brown back to the squad after he recovered from a calf problem but loan signing Sebastian Coates is out with a thigh injury, while midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini remains a doubt with an ankle problem.

Mame Biram Diouf is set to miss the trip north after limping off in the Monday night win over Newcastle. Marko Arnautovic is set to come in to replace Diouf while Geoff Cameron could also figure in the squad as he returns from five weeks out with a hernia problem.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Stoke 0 Stoke 2 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland D L D D D; Stoke D W L D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Johnson (Sunderland) 2; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 3
Match odds: H 16-5 A 19-10 D 16-5
Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Swansea (5) v Newcastle (19), 3.0pm
Swansea right back Jazz Richards could make his first Premier League start for nearly three years with Angel Rangel serving a one-match suspension and Dwight Tiendalli nursing a groin injury. Wilfried Bony should return to lead the line with Bafetimbi Gomis dropping out but Jordi Amat (ankle) and Leon Britton (knee) are still absent.

Alan Pardew will assess striker Papiss Cisse’s match fitness after the Senegal international was used as a substitute in each of the club’s last two league games following his return from a fractured kneecap. Ryan Taylor (cruciate ligament), Davide Santon (knee), Siem de Jong (thigh) and Rolando Aarons (hamstring) are out.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Swansea 2 Swansea 3 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Swansea W W L L D; Newcastle D D L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nathan Dyer (Swansea) 4; Emmanuel Riviere and Papiss Cisse (Newcastle) 2
Match odds: H 3-4 A 15-4 D 13-5
Referee: Lee Mason

SUNDAY

Chelsea (1) v Arsenal (4), Live Sky Sports 1, 2.05pm
Striker Diego Costa will start for Chelsea despite his temperamental hamstrings with Didier Drogba (ankle), who has scored 13 goals in 14 games against Arsenal, finishing on the losing side once in that time, out. Midfielder Ramires (groin) is also absent once more as Chelsea play a third game in nine days.

Arsenal could have defender Nacho Monreal (back) available but midfielders Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Mikel Arteta (calf) remain sidelined, while Abou Diaby is again likely to be rested following a hip problem. Wingers Theo Walcott (knee) and Serge Gnabry (knee) and striker Yaya Sanogo (hamstring) are all out while full back Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) and forward Olivier Giroud (fractured foot) are long-term absentees.

Last season: Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 Arsenal 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W; Arsenal D D D W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Diego Costa (Chelsea) 8; Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 5
Match odds: H 16-5 A 4-1 D 16-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson

Man Utd (7) v Everton (15), Live BT Sport 1, noon
Captain Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United's home game against his former club because of suspension. Jonny Evans (ankle), Chris Smalling (thigh), Phil Jones (hamstring), Ashley Young (groin), Michael Carrick (ankle), Jesse Lingard (knee), Ander Herrera (rib) and James Wilson (leg) are also out, but there is a slim chance Marouane Fellaini (ankle) could be on the bench.

Midfielder Steven Pienaar is on the verge of a return to the Everton squad after a thigh injury which has sidelined him for a month. Late fitness checks will be done on defender Séamus Coleman and James McCarthy while forward Kevin Mirallas is out with a hamstring injury and midfielder Ross Barkley (knee) also remains out.

Last season: Everton 2 Man Utd 0 Man Utd 0 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd D D W L W; Everton D L W L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 3; Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith (Everton) 3
Match odds: H 18-1 A 10-3 D 17-2
Referee: Kevin Friend

Tottenham Hotspur (8) v Southampton (2), 2.05pm
Tottenham will recall a number of players after they were rested for the Europa League tie against Besiktas. Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose, Ryan Mason, Etienne Capoue, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli all dropped out of the squad entirely against the Turkish side. Kyle Walker remains out after abdominal surgery.

Southampton defender Florin Gardos will be assessed before kick-off having missed last weekend’s win against QPR with a calf complaint. James Ward-Prowse (foot) and Jay Rodriguez (knee) are long-term absentees, while Maya Yoshida (ankle) is also out.

Last season: Tottenham Hotspur 3 Southampton 2 Southampton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Last five league matches: Tottenham Hotspur W L D L D; Southampton D W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) 4; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 5
Match odds: H 13-2 A 9-1 D 12-5
Referee: Mike Jones

West Ham (13) v QPR (18), Sky Sports 1, 4.15pm
Guy Demel is the only fresh injury concern for West Ham after pulling out of training with a knock on Wednesday. Cheikhou Kouyate (groin), Joey O'Brien (knee), Mark Noble (calf) and Andy Carroll (ankle) are all still out.

Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch will face late fitness tests for QPR while Brazilian midfielder Sandro has been cleared to return after suffering a heavy blow to the head in last weekend’s 2-1 league defeat at Southampton.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Ham W L D W L; QPR L W L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Diafra Sakho (West Ham) 4; Charlie Austin (QPR) 2
Match odds: H 19-20 A 9-1 D 9-2
Referee: Anthony Taylor