Weekend Premier League Team News

Saturday, December 6th

Arsenal (4) v Wigan (11)

Arsenal will be without defender William Gallas (calf) but Kolo Toure (calf) is likely to be available again, along with Emmanuel Eboue (knee). Striker Eduardo
continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg, but is not yet match-fit. Abou Diaby (stomach muscle), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) remain sidelined.

On-loan striker Amr Zaki could return to the Wigan side following a hamstring injury. Zaki has missed the last three matches after scoring nine goals in 15 games since arriving at the JJB Stadium. Defender Paul Scharner (groin) could also come into contention after missing the victory against West Brom last weekend.

Last season: Wigan 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 2 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal L W L L W, Wigan W D D W W
Top scorers: Robin Van Persie 9, & Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 9, Amr Zaki
(Wigan) 9
Match odds:H 3-10 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)

Blackburn (19) v Liverpool (1)

Blackburn boss Paul Ince is waiting on the fitness of Brett Emerton and Roque Santa Cruz after they both picked up knocks in the Carling Cup defeat by Manchester United. Zurab Khizanishvili (groin) is ruled out but Chris Samba has recovered from illness and Keith Andrews, who was ineligible for Wednesday's cup match, returns to the squad.

Liverpool will again be without injured pair Fernando Torres (hamstring) and Fabio Aurelio. Torres was aiming for the December 21 trip to Arsenal, but there is still confidence he will play over the Christmas period.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn D L L L L, Liverpool L W W D D
Top scorers: Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn) 5; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 8
Match odds:H 9-2 A 4-6 D 5-2
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Bolton (9) v Chelsea (2)

Bolton manager Gary Megson has an almost full-strength squad available. Midfielder Matt Taylor has shrugged off a slight thigh strain picked up during last weekend's 4-1 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Chelsea will be without injured midfielder Joe Cole (ankle) and suspended striker Didier Drogba. Ricardo Carvalho (knee), Franco di Santo (hamstring) and Juliano Belletti (ankle) remain sidelined along with long-term injury victim Michael Essien (knee).

Last season: Chelsea 1 Bolton 1, Bolton 0 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Bolton W W L W W, Chelsea W W W D L
Top scorers: Matthew Taylor 4, Kevin Davies 4, & Johan Elmander (Bolton) 4,
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 14
Match odds:H 6-1 A 1-2 D 3-1
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Fulham (10) v Man City (15)

Defender Chris Baird is Fulham's only doubt. Baird's wife and child are ill, but manager Roy Hodgson is hopeful he will make himself available. Long-term injury victim Diomansy Kamara remains sidelined following knee surgery in the summer, and midfielder Andranik Teymourian is also still out.

Manchester City midfielder Elano will be sidelined for up to 10 days after suffering a groin strain in the UEFA Cup draw against Paris St Germain. Robinho (ankle), Shaun Wright Phillips (knee) and Micah Richards (ankle) remain doubtful through injury after they all sat out the European fixture.

Last season: Man City 2 Fulham 3, Fulham 3 Man City 3
Last five league matches: Fulham L W W D D, Man City L L D W L
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 4, De Souza Robinho (Man City) 9
Match odds:H 8-5 A 17-10 D 11-5
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Hull (6) v Middlesbrough (12)

Hull hope to have defender Andy Dawson (Achilles) and midfielder Dean Marney (dead leg) available. Striker Caleb Folan has been ruled out after being booked in for a minor operation to cure his knee problem. Daniel Cousin will hope for a recall after manager Phil Brown replaced him with Nick Barmby against Stoke last week.

Middlesbrough's German defender Robert Huth is fit again after a foot injury but may have to wait to make his comeback, with captain Emanuel Pogatetz likely to recover from the bruised shoulder he sustained against Newcastle last week. Right-back Tony McMahon is included in the squad after returning from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, and midfielder Gary O'Neil (hamstring) is likely to be back in contention.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull L L D D D; Middlesbrough D W D L D
Top scorers: Deiberson  Geovanni (Hull) 6;  Mido (Middlesbrough) 5
Match odds:H 7-5 A 19-10 D 23-10
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset)

Man Utd (3) v Sunderland (18)

Paul Scholes will sit out for Manchester United after the veteran midfielder made his comeback from a knee injury in Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Blackburn and although he suffered no reaction he will be on the sidelines tomorrow. Darren Fletcher (hamstring) is a slight doubt.

Managerless Sunderland will be without suspended midfielder Kieran Richardson. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is unlikely to be involved after aggravating his ankle problem on his return last weekend, while George McCartney (foot) remains a doubt. However, defender Anton Ferdinand, who was left out last weekend, could return to play against his older brother Rio.

Last season: Sunderland 0 Man Utd 4, Man Utd 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W L W D W, Sunderland L L W L L
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 9, Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 6
Match odds:H 1-6 A 18-1 D 11-2
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Newcastle (17) v Stoke (14)

Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear could field an unchanged side as he attempts to end a run of four games without a win. That would mean the fit-again Steven Taylor and striker Mark Viduka starting on the bench. Striker Xisco (hamstring) is back in contention, but Shola Ameobi (foot and ankle) joins Alan Smith (foot) and Ignacio Gonzalez (Achilles) on the sidelines.

Stoke expect defender Abdoulaye Faye to have recovered from a thigh injury to face his former club. Striker Dave Kitson (knee) is ruled out again, as is defender Ryan Shawcross (back) who is expected back in full training on Monday.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Newcastle W L D D D; Stoke W D L W D
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 6, Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6
Match odds:H 4-5 A 7-2 D 11-2
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Sunday, December 7th

Everton (7) v Aston Villa (5)

Everton face a striker crisis with Victor Anichebe the only recognised centre-forward fit enough for contention. Ayegbeni Yakubu is facing a nine-month lay-off following surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon and fellow striker Louis Saha's hamstring problem needs another week to recover. James Vaughan is also still in Colorado awaiting a cartilage operation on his knee.

Aston Villa are hoping winger Ashley Young shakes off the calf injury he sustained in the UEFA Cup defeat to MSK Zilina. Central defender Curtis Davies is set to return after a slight ankle injury, along with midfielder Steve Sidwell whose wife recently gave birth. But striker John Carew (back) is ruled out which means 17-year-old Nathan Delfouneso, who scored on his full debut against MSK, could play some part.

Last season: Everton 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 2 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton W W D L W, Aston Villa L L W D D
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8
Match odds:H 13-8 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

West Brom (20) v Portsmouth (8)

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has no injury worries and his main selection poser is whether to persevere with a 4-5-1 formation, with Ishmael Miller as the lone striker, or revert to 4-4-2 and also include Roman Bednar.

Portsmouth midfielder Armand Traore is a major doubt with a hamstring problem. Striker Jermain Defoe, who has had a calf niggle, should be fit, but midfielder Lassana Diarra (ankle) is out and defender Younes Kaboul (shin) and winger John Utaka (hip) are both doubtful.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom D L L L L; Portsmouth L W D D W
Top scorers: Roman Bednar (West Brom) 4, Jermain Defoe 8, & Peter Crouch
(Portsmouth) 8
Match odds:H 8-5 A 17-10 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Monday, December 8th

West Ham (13) v Tottenham (16)

West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer is attempting to shake off a knock while midfielder Kieron Dyer will step up his recovery from a broken leg by playing in a friendly next week. Striker Dean Ashton is still out with an ankle injury.

Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric will have his groin injury assessed. Skipper Ledley King could return if his knee is ready for action, while Jermaine Jenas is fit following a toe problem. Alan Hutton (foot) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) are out.

Last season: Tottenham 4 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: West Ham D L D W D; Tottenham W W L W L
Top scorers: Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4, Darren Bent (Tottenham) 12
Match odds:H 17-10 A 8-5 D 11-5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)