Premier League team news and statistics

Soccer:All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Saturday, February 2nd

Arsenal (6) v Stoke (10)

New signing Nacho Monreal could go straight into the Arsenal side. Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) is a doubt, but midfielder Mikel Arteta may return after his calf injury. Left-back Kieran Gibbs is out for around six weeks with a thigh problem, while Francis Coquelin (hamstring) is also sidelined and forward Gervinho is away at the African Nations Cup.

Stoke have no new injury problems but new signings Jack Butland and Brek Shea will not be involved, goalkeeper Butland has been loaned back to Birmingham and winger Shea is recovering from a foot operation. Matthew Upson and Rory Delap have left the club and fellow defender Marc Wilson, out since October with a broken leg, hopes to play a reserve game next week as he builds up to a first-team return.
Last season:Stoke 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Stoke 1
Last five league matches:Arsenal D L L W D; Stoke D L L L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 18; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8
Match odds:H 4-9 A 11-2 D 16-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Everton (5) v Aston Villa (19)

Everton midfielder Darron Gibson, out since December with a thigh problem, could start. It remains to be seen whether or not striker Nikica Jelavic will be restored to the first XI and it is not expected that teenager John Stones, recruited from Barnsley on transfer deadline day, will be involved. Fellow defenders Seamus Coleman (thigh) and Tony Hibbert (calf) remain sidelined.

Newcomers Yacouba Sylla and Simon Dawkins are included in Villa's squad — midfielder Sylla was signed from French Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot while winger Dawkins joins on loan from Tottenham. Boss Paul Lambert will check on the fitness of midfielder Fabian Delph (ankle) but hopes of a return for defender Richard Dunne are dashed by a recurrence of his groin problem.
Last season:Aston Villa 1 Everton 1, Everton 2 Aston Villa 2
Last five league matches:Everton L W D D W; Aston Villa L D L D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Marouane Fellaini (Everton) 9; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 15
Match odds:H 2-5 A 6-1 D 7-2
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Fulham (12) v Man Utd (1)

A hamstring injury rules out Fulham’s former United striker Dimitar Berbatov for up to 10 days. Steve Sidwell, Mahamadou Diarra (both knee), Kerim Frei (pelvis) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are also sidelined but AC Milan loanee Urby Emanuelson could make his debut, although fellow deadline day signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are unavailable as they wait for their work permits.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is intending to make changes, with Rio Ferdinand in line for a recall and fellow defender Jonny Evans back after a hamstring injury. However, midfielder Ashley Young (knee) remains sidelined.
Last season:Man Utd 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 0 Man Utd 5
Last five league matches:Fulham L W D L W; Man Utd W W W D W
Top scorers(all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 8; Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 22
Match odds:H 9-2 A 4-7 D 14-5
Referee:Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Newcastle (15) v Chelsea (3)

Magpies midfielders Sylvain Marveaux and Moussa Sissoko, striker Yoan Gouffran and defender Steven Taylor will be available. Only midfielders Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring) and Cheick Tiote, who is on duty with Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup, will not figure for the home side.

Blues keeper Peter Cech is set to replace Ross Turnbull after recovering from a calf strain, while midfielder Juan Mata has shaken off an ankle problem. John Terry could return in defence but David Luiz (calf) and long-term absentee Oriol Romeu (knee) are still out and John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are at the African Nations Cup, while Eden Hazard serves the final game of a three-match suspension.
Last season:Chelsea 0 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 0 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches:Newcastle L L D L W; Chelsea L W D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle) 12; Demba Ba (Chelsea) 16
Match odds:H 10-3 A 3-4 D 13-5
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

QPR (20) v Norwich (14)

QPR manager Harry Redknapp could hand debuts to new signings Christopher Samba, Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend, although he believes fellow new boy Yun Suk-young needs some time to settle in. Junior Hoilett is fit to feature following a hamstring problem but Jamie Mackie (tonsilitis) is a doubt, while Ryan Nelsen and Alejandro Faurlin have left the club.

Norwich could hand a debut to new signing Luciano Becchio but Sierra Leone forward Kei Kamara is awaiting international clearance on his loan move from Sporting Kansas City. Defender Steven Whittaker has recovered from a hip injury but England goalkeeper John Ruddy (thigh) remains out while Tottenham have recalled striker Harry Kane.
Last season:QPR 1 Norwich 2, Norwich 2 QPR 1
Last five league matches:QPR L W D D D; Norwich L L D L D
Top scorers(all competitions): DJ Campbell (QPR) 10; Robert Snodgrass (Norwich) 5
Match odds:H 1-1 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee:Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).

Reading (17) v Sunderland (11)

Noel Hunt faces a late fitness test ahead on an unspecified knock. Royals boss Brian McDermott, who is already without Jason Roberts (hip), must decide whether or not to promote Adam Le Fondre to the starting line-up. The striker again impressed off the bench against Chelsea, scoring twice for the second successive league game — but McDermott has stressed his best role is presently as a substitute.

Striker Danny Graham will go straight into the Sunderland squad alongside defenders Carlos Cuellar and Danny Rose, who could return from hamstring injuries. However, skipper Lee Cattermole will remain on the sidelines after aggravating his knee problem once again on his return to training.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Reading W L W W D; Sunderland L L W W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Adam Le Fondre (Reading) 12; Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 10
Match odds:H 11-8 A 9-5 D 23-10
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).

West Ham (13) v Swansea (8)

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is hoping to give more minutes to striker Andy Carroll as the striker continues to find fitness following a knee injury. The England striker is again likely to be on the bench for the Hammers, who are still without defensive trio George McCartney (knee), James Collins (hamstring) and Dan Potts (concussion).

Goalkeeper Michel Vorm will miss out for Swansea as he continues his recovery from a knee injury — Gerhard Tremmel will again fill in. Kemy Agustien (ankle) and Neil Taylor (broken leg) remain sidelined and Danny Graham's departure to Sunderland means Michu is likely to be employed as a striker, with Itay Shechter, who has yet to score this season, the alternative option for Michael Laudrup.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches(all competitions): West Ham W L D L L; Swansea W D D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 6; Michu (Swansea) 16
Match odds:H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Wigan (18) v Southampton (16)

Paul Scharner could figure in defence for Wigan, with Ivan Ramis (knee) and Antolin Alcaraz (groin) unavailable. Full-back Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) is a doubt, defender Adrian Lopez (hamstring), keeper Mike Pollitt (thigh) and midfielders Ben Watson (broken leg), Albert Crusat (knee), Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) and Fraser Fyvie (soft tissue problem) are out and forward Arouna Kone is on African Nations Cup duty.

Saints captain Adam Lallana could make his first start in nearly two months after recovering from a knee injury. New signing Vegard Forren was not involved in the defeat at Manchester United but could force himself into the squad, although Jose Fonte and Guly Do Prado (both knee) are likely to miss out.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Wigan W L D L D; Southampton D W D D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Jordi Gomez (Wigan) 7; Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 10
Match odds:H 1-1 A 12-5 D 5-2
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Sunday, February 3rd

Man City (2) v Liverpool (7)

City, again without captain Vincent Kompany, hope fellow defender Matija Nastasic is fit to start after a knee problem — otherwise midfielder Javi Garcia may again have to deputise. Right-back Maicon (knee) is back in training and could soon be available while fellow defender Micah Richards (knee) hopes to return this month. Midfielder Yaya Toure and defender Kolo Toure are still on international duty.

New signing Phillippe Coutinho will not be in the Liverpool squad — the Brazilian has briefly returned to Milan after Wednesday's switch from Inter and will not return until next week. Left-back Jose Enrique could start having made his comeback from a hamstring injury in the draw at Arsenal.
Last season:Man City 3 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 Man City 1
Last five league matches:Man City W W W W D; Liverpool W W L W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Edin Dzeko (Man City) 11; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 22
Match odds:H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-4
Referee:Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

West Brom (9) v Tottenham (4)

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie, not considered for the game at Everton after his new-born son was readmitted to hospital, misses out on Sunday’s match due to the fall-out from his attempt to join QPR. Youssouf Mulumbu is available after returning to the club from African Nations Cup duty following DR Congo’s exit, but fellow midfielder George Thorne is ruled out with a knee injury.

Striker Jermain Defoe is available for Spurs after overcoming his niggling pelvic injury. Midfielder Tom Huddlestone (leg) is also fit but striker Emmanuel Adebayor is at the African Nations Cup and defender Younes Kaboul and midfielder Sandro (both knee) also miss out. Midfielder Lewis Holtby could make his full debut and striker Harry Kane is in the squad following his recall from a loan spell at Norwich.
Last season:Tottenham 1 West Brom 0, West Brom 1 Tottenham 3
Last five league matches:West Brom L L L D L; Tottenham W W D D D
Top scorers(all competitions): Shane Long & Romelu Lukaku (West Brom) 9; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 14
Match odds:H 9-4 A 11-10 D 12-5
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).