Premier League team news
All the latest team news ahead of the weekend Premier League programme
SATURDAY
Liverpool (10) v Aston Villa (17)
Jose Enrique is Liverpool’s main injury doubt. The defender was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first half of last weekend’s victory at West Ham but will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness. Leading scorer Luis Suarez returns from a one-match suspension.
Villa striker Darren Bent has been ruled out with a hamstring injury but midfielder Ashley Westwood is available after being cup-tied for the Capital One Cup quarter-final win at Norwich while defenders Joe Bennett and Enda Stevens are in contention after recovering from knee and ankle injuries respectively.
Last season:Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2
Last five league matches:Liverpool W D L W W; Aston Villa L D W D D
Top scorers (all competitions):Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 13; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 9
Match odds:H 15-4 A 15-2 D 15-4
Referee:Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Manchester United (1) v Sunderland (15)
Nemanja Vidic returns to United’s squad after two months out following knee surgery, which itself came just five games into the defender’s comeback after a ruptured cruciate. Fellow defender Jonny Evans (hamstring) is out and midfielder Shinji Kagawa (knee) returns to training next week.
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson (dead leg) and defender Danny Rose (ankle) could join defender Phil Bardsley and captain Lee Cattermole (both knee ligaments) on the sidelines, while boss Martin O’Neill hopes frontman Steven Fletcher shakes off an ankle niggle.
Last season:Sunderland 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches:Man Utd L W W W W; Sunderland L D L L W
Top scorers (all competitions):Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 14; Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 7
Match odds:H 1-5 A 11-1 D 5-1
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Newcastle (14) v Manchester City (2)
Magpies boss Alan Pardew could be without midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, who aggravated a hamstring injury in his goalscoring return against Fulham on Monday. Defender Steven Taylor (hamstring) and midfielder Yohan Cabaye (groin surgery) remain long-term casualties.
City skipper Vincent Kompany is struggling with a hamstring injury and has only a “two per cent” chance of being fit, according to manager Roberto Mancini. Gareth Barry serves a one-match ban, whilst Jack Rodwell and James Milner (both hamstring) and Micah Richards (knee) are also missing.
Last season:Newcastle 0 Man City 2, Man City 3 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches:Newcastle L L L W L; Man City W D W D L
Top scorers (all competitions):Demba Ba (Newcastle) 10; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 8
Match odds:H 9-2 A 8-13 D 13-5
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Norwich (12) v Wigan (18)
Norwich hope to have midfielders Wes Hoolahan (groin) and Alex Tettey (thigh) back, while defender Steven Whittaker (hip) will be assessed. On-loan Tottenham forward Harry Kane is back in training after his broken metatarsal, while defender Ryan Bennett and winger Andrew Surman (both knee) also continue their rehabilitation and England goalkeeper John Ruddy (thigh) remains sidelined until the new year.
