Premier League Team News

Saturday December 10th

Arsenal (5) v Everton (10)

Arsenal will be without Andre Santos after the Brazil full-back suffered an ankle injury in the midweek Champions League defeat at Olympiacos. Goalkeepers Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Vito Mannone (shoulder) also picked up injuries in Greece, so veteran Manuel Almunia will make a rare return to the first-team squad. Midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) are still out, along with defenders Carl Jenkinson (back), Kieran Gibbs (hernia) and Bacary Sagna (ankle), while midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle) is not expected back until the new year.

Everton boss David Moyes will be without midfielder Jack Rodwell. The England midfielder, who only made his comeback from a rib injury last weekend as a substitute in the 1-0 loss to Stoke, will not feature due to a hamstring problem he picked up in training on Thursday. Fellow midfield men Leon Osman  (hamstring) and Royston Drenthe (foot) will be assessed ahead of kick-off, while Moyes is hopeful that striker Louis Saha will be able to return to action after a thigh complaint.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Everton 1, Everton 1 Arsenal 2.

Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W D W; Everton L L W W L.

Top scorers: Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 18; Apostolos Vellios (Everton) 3.

Match odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 14-5.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Bolton (19) v Aston Villa (9)

Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill is available after his red card in the 3-0 defeat against Tottenham was rescinded. Fellow defender David Wheater misses out again as he serves the second game of a four-match ban for his sending off in the previous fixture, a 2-0 loss to Everton. Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is a doubt due to a hamstring problem.

Villa keeper Brad Guzan will make his first Barclays Premier League start of the season in place of Shay Given, who is sidelined for a month with a  hamstring injury. Captain Stiliyan Petrov and Stephen Ireland will be in contention to replace on-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who has been ruled out for the season after surgery to his Achilles.

Last season: Bolton 3 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 1 Bolton 1.

Last five league matches: Bolton L W L L L; Aston Villa D W L D L.

Top scorers: Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 6; Darren Bent & Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 5.

Match odds: H 7-5 A 17-10 D 11-5.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Liverpool (7) v QPR (12)

Central midfield is once again a concern for Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. Jay Spearing, who was expected to provide the long-term replacement for Lucas Leiva after the Brazilian’s season was ended by a cruciate knee ligament, begins a three-match suspension after his red card at Fulham on Monday. Captain Steven Gerrard is still recovering from an ankle infection so Jordan Henderson could start in his favoured central position, although the in-form Jonjo Shelvey has continued to impress following his recall from a loan spell at Blackpool.

QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt will undergo a fitness test on a thigh strain and is a doubt for Neil Warnock’s men. Matt Connolly (ankle), Kieron Dyer (foot) and DJ Campbell (foot) returned to training this week and have an outside chance of being involved.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Liverpool W D W D L; QPR L L W L D.

Top scorers: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 7; Heidar Helguson (QPR) 6.

Match odds: H 3-10 A 17-2 D 7-2.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Man Utd (2) v Wolverhampton (16)

Alex Ferguson is hoping Dimitar Berbatov recovers from an ankle injury to give Manchester United a much-needed lift. Skipper Nemanja Vidic (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season and other long-term casualties include Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverley (both ankle), Michael Owen (thigh), Anderson (knee) and Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio, who were both hurt in the Carling Cup defeat to Crystal Palace. Michael Carrick returns from suspension and should start in midfield, with Phil Jones reverting to a defensive position.

Wolves have Karl Henry available after serving a one-match suspension. Henry was unavailable for the 2-1 home success over Sunderland last weekend after incurring five bookings this season. Central defender Jody Craddock is rated doubtful to overcome a hamstring injury suffered against the Black Cats. His

likely absence could mean a recall for skipper Roger Johnson.

Last season: Wolverhampton 2 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Wolverhampton 1.

Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W D W; Wolverhampton L W L L W.

Top scorers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 12; Steven Fletcher (Wolverhampton) 5.

Match odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 5-1.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Norwich (11) v Newcastle (6)

Centre-half Zak Whitbread is in contention to return to Norwich’s starting XI having recovered from a hamstring problem. On-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet (back) remains sidelined. Striker James Vaughan is on course for a return in the new year from his knee problem, along with centre-back Elliott Ward (knee).

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has defensive problems. Steven Taylor (Achilles) and Mike Williamson (broken arm and ankle) are definitely out while Fabricio Coloccini (thigh) is very doubtful, meaning 21-year-old Hungarian Tamas Kadar could make his first appearance of the season. Midfielders Danny Guthrie (groin) and Cheik Tiote (knee) are also sidelined but winger Jonas Gutierrez is available again after suspension.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Norwich D L L W L; Newcastle W W L D L.

Top scorers: Steve Morison (Norwich) 5; Demba Ba (Newcastle) 9.

Match odds: H 11-8 A 17-10 D 23-10.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Swansea (15) v Fulham (13)

Swansea are without midfielder Joe Allen, who is suspended after being sent off in last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at Blackburn. Manager Brendan Rodgers must decide whether to replace him with Luke Moore, Wayne Routledge or Kemy Agustien. Striker Danny Graham is available again after an Achilles problem kept him out at Ewood Park and defender Steven Caulker is back in contention but Angel Rangel (ankle) remains sidelined.

Danny Murphy and Simon Davies could be surprise inclusions for Fulham. Skipper Murphy looked set to miss out after picking up an ankle knock against former club Liverpool on Monday, but is in contention after making a rapid recovery. Davies could make his first league appearance of the season after a long-term

knee complaint. Winger Damien Duff (calf) and defender Chris Baird (personal reasons) are out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Swansea W D L D L; Fulham W L D D W.

Top scorers: Danny Graham (Swansea) 4; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 11.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 17-10 D 21-10.

Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).

West Brom (14) v Wigan (20)

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has no fresh injury concerns. Midfield playmaker Zoltan Gera is the only major casualty with the knee injury which will sideline him for the remainder of the season.  Hodgson will be hoping five-goal top scorer Shane Long, who netted in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at QPR, can continue to play and defy his current groin problem.

Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz returns after serving a three-match ban for spitting at Wolves’ Richard Stearman and his availability means Latics are back at full strength. Fellow defender Emmerson Boyce will again push for inclusion following injury while manager Roberto Martinez must decide whether to restore striker Hugo Rodallega to the side.

Last season: West Brom 2 Wigan 2, Wigan 1 West Brom 0.

Last five league matches: West Brom L L W L D; Wigan L L D W L.

Top scorers: Shane Long (West Brom) 5; Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 4.

Match odds: H 4-6 A 19-5 D 5-2.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Sunday, December 11th

Stoke (8) v Tottenham (3)

Stoke manager Tony Pulis could welcome back midfielders Jermaine Pennant and Rory Delap. The pair missed last weekend’s win at Everton with minor knocks but are in contention. Andy Wilkinson injured his back in training yesterday and a late decision will be made over his participation, while goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is fine after sustaining mild concussion at Goodison Park.

Tottenham will gave fitness tests to Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Gareth Bale (foot). Rafael van der Vaart has recovered from his hamstring injury but Ledley King is a doubt with the knee problem that ruled him out of last weekend’s win against Bolton. Sandro is struggling with a groin problem while long-term absentees Michael Dawson (Achilles), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) Niko Kranjcar (thigh) remain sidelined.

Last season: Tottenham 3 Stoke 2, Stoke 1 Tottenham 2.

Last five league matches: Stoke L L L W W; Tottenham W W W W W.

Top scorers: Kenwyne Jones & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 6; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 8.

Match odds: H 12-5 A 1-1 D 23-10.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Sunderland (17) v Blackburn (18)

New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has several injury concerns ahead of his opening game. Striker Nicklas Bendtner has not trained all week because of a groin problem while defender Phil Bardsley has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury, but O’Neill is hopeful both will be available. Midfielder Lee Cattermole misses out through suspension after picking up five yellow cards along with striker Connor Wickham (knee) and goalkeepers Simon Mignolet (fractured nose and eye socket) and Craig Gordon (knee).

Blackburn will give a fitness test to Martin Olsson (hamstring) and Ruben Rochina is also doubtful. He suffered a muscle injury and has been recovering this week after having his wisdom teeth removed. Steven Nzonzi serves the final game of his three-match suspension while Ryan Nelsen is still short of match fitness.

Last season: Sunderland 3 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 0 Sunderland 0.

Last five league matches: Sunderland D L D L L; Blackburn D L D L W.

Top scorers: Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) 4; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Blackburn) 10.

Match odds: H 5-6 A 3-1 D 23-10.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Monday, December 12th

Chelsea (4) v Man City (1)

Chelsea will be without the suspended David Luiz, who picked up his fifth domestic yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Newcastle and serves a one-match ban. Right-back Jose Bosingwa has therefore made a timely recovery from the adductor strain that caused him to miss Tuesday’s Champions League success against Valencia. Josh McEachran is back in training after an ankle knock, while fellow midfielder Michael Essien is expected to return from knee surgery early next year.

Manchester City right-back Micah Richards looks set to miss out. Richards was ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich with a calf injury and may not shake off the problem in time. Central defender Stefan Savic played in his position in midweek but Pablo Zabaleta is now fit and could slot back in, but left-back Aleksandar Kolarov (groin) remains out.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Man City 0, Man City 1 Chelsea 0.

Last five league matches: Chelsea L W L W W; Man City W W W D W.

Top scorers: Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) 8; Edin Dzeko & Sergio Aguero (Man City) 13.

Match odds: H 11-8 A 7-4 D 11-5.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).