Arsenal (5) v Sunderland (11):Russia international Andrei Arshavin looks set to make his Arsenal debut following his transfer from Zenit St Petersburg. Winger Emmanuel Eboue is back from suspension while defender Johan Djourou is also available following illness. However, striker Eduardo is missing because of a hamstring problem suffered on his goalscoring return from a year out with a broken leg.
Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley is suspended, opening the door for either Calum Davenport or Tal Ben Haim to make their debut after recently joining the Black Cats on loan. Midfielder Teemu Tainio is available after missing the last three matches with a knee injury, while defender Paul McShane may come into contention as he is back in full training after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Sunderland 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W D D D; Sunderland D L W D W
Top scorers: Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 14; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 10
Match odds: H 2-5 A 8-1 D 16-5
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Aston Villa (3) v Chelsea (4)
Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell will return after a UEFA Cup suspension while striker Emile Heskey and winger James Milner are battling to recover from Achilles and thigh problems respectively.
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is suspended and Paulo Ferreira looks set to deputise. Centre-backs Alex (ankle) and Ricardo Carvalho (hamstring) are doubtful. Should neither be available, Branislav Ivanovic or Michael Mancienne are likely to figure alongside John Terry, who is back from suspension.
Last season: Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 4, Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W W D W; Chelsea L W W L D
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 11; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 20
Match odds: H 23-10 A 6-5 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Bolton (14) v West Ham (8)
Bolton striker Johan Elmander and midfielder Gavin McCann both return to the squad. Elmander, the club’s record signing, has recovered from a hamstring injury while McCann is fit again after a broken toe. Midfielder Tamir Cohen and defender Nicky Hunt are also included having played for the reserves this week. Joey O’Brien has just had an operation on a knee problem and remains sidelined.
West Ham are likely to be without England striker Carlton Cole after he came off in the FA Cup draw with Middlesbrough nursing an ankle injury. That means a start for record buy Savio Nsereko could be on the cards, with Freddie Sears and Diego Tristan also under consideration. Lucas Neill is suspended and Luis Boa Morte is out for two weeks with a groin strain.
Last season: Bolton 1 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Bolton L L D W L; West Ham D W W D L
Top scorers: Kevin Davies (Bolton) 9; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 10
Match odds: H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).
Manchester United (1) v Blackburn (18)
Wayne Rooney will start for Manchester United after making his comeback from a hamstring injury as a goalscoring substitute against Fulham on Wednesday. Ferguson is also set to call on Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Rafael, with Edwin van der Sar looking to set a new European record with a 15th consecutive league clean sheet. John O’Shea (heel) is a minor doubt.
Defender Chris Samba is suspended after reaching five bookings, while on-loan right-back Danny Simpson is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Blackburn D W D D L
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 15; Benedict McCarthy (Blackburn) 10
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Middlesbrough (19) v Wigan (7)
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is set to name an unchanged team from that which drew 1-1 at West Ham although defender Chris Riggott is available again after missing the game with the Hammers as he was cup-tied.
Wigan winger Antonio Valencia has not recovered from a hamstring strain. The Ecuador international was forced off after just 18 minutes in their last match against Fulham almost a fortnight ago. Winger Daniel de Ridder is also carrying an injury while on-loan striker Mido is ineligible against his parent club.
Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 1 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D L L D L; Wigan L L D D D
Top scorers: Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 7; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11
Match odds: H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Stoke (17) v Portsmouth (15)
Portsmouth caretaker boss Paul Hart has Younes Kaboul (ankle), Armand Traore (hip) and Jerome Thomas (back) all available again but is expected to stick with an unchanged team. Left-back Hermann Hreidarsson is a slight doubt after missing training on Thursday with a virus and Hart has to decide which of two new signings, Hayden Mullins or Angelos Basinas, starts in midfield.
Stoke will be without suspended pair Rory Delap and Matthew Etherington but they could have striker Mamady Sidibe back from a knee injury. On-loan striker Henri Camara could make his full debut, while defender Stephen Kelly (hamstring) may miss out. Ricardo Fuller is back in training after dislocating his shoulder but he is unlikely to figure, and Danny Higginbotham is a doubt with a calf problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D L L W L; Portsmouth D L L L W
Top scorers: James Beattie (Stoke) 14; Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 13
Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Sunday, February 22nd
Fulham (10) v West Brom (20)
Fulham welcome back striker Andrew Johnson and full-back Paul Konchesky after both players failed late fitness tests on muscle strains ahead of the midweek defeat to Manchester United. Dickson Etuhu could also return following a knee problem. Fredrik Stoor suffered a knock in training and may miss out, while Olivier Dacourt could return to the starting XI.
Striker Jay Simpson is set to return following a hamstring strain and right-back Gianni Zuiverloon is back after completing a one-match ban. Albion also have recent signing Juan Carlos Menseguez available after he received international clearance following his arrival from San Lorenzo.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham L L W D L; West Brom L W L D L
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 8; Craig Beattie & Roman Bednar (West Brom) 6
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Liverpool (2) v Manchester City (9)
Liverpool will be without skipper Steven Gerrard (hamstring) and fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso (suspended). Lucas returns from a ban while Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres are likely to be in the starting line-up, having been only used as late substitutes in the win at Portsmouth a fortnight ago.
Richard Dunne has missed four games since being sent off in the 1-0 win over Wigan, but is expected to keep his place after playing in the Uefa Cup draw with Copenhagen. City boss Mark Hughes must now decide how to balance his back line and midfield with Nigel de Jong also available after being cup-tied in Denmark. Nedum Onuoha and Vincent Kompany both impressed in Dunne’s absence but one will have to make way. Micah Richards missed last week’s defeat at Portsmouth, but played in the Uefa Cup and should be fit to start again. Gelson Fernandes remains out with a hamstring problem.
Last season: Liverpool 1 Man City 0, Man City 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool D D D W W; Man City W W L W L
Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 15; Robinho (Man City) 12
Match odds: H 8-15 A 6-1 D 11-4
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Newcastle (13) v Everton (6)
Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton will welcome back Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez and will also hope Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins will be ready to play some part in the game with the Toffees after being out of action since December with a hernia problem.
Everton striker Louis Saha could earn a place on the bench. The Frenchman has not played since injuring a hamstring in the victory at Tottenham on November 30th. On-loan Manchester City striker Jo returns having been ineligible for last week’s FA Cup victory over Aston Villa. Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert are both suspended while Marouane Fellaini (back), Leon Osman (stomach) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) are unlikely to feature.
Last season: Everton 3 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 3 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L L D W; Everton W D D L W
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10; Mikel Arteta & Tim Cahill (Everton) 7
Match odds: H 2-1 A 7-5 D 11-5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Monday, February 23rd
Hull (12) v Tottenham (16)
Hull forward Craig Fagan faces a short spell on the sidelines after undergoing minor knee surgery. Striker Daniel Cousin is available again recovering from his own minor knee operation while captain Ian Ashbee has overcome a calf problem. Kevin Kilbane returns to face Spurs but midfielder Ryan France (thigh) is doubtful. Matt Duke is set to be restored in goal ahead of Boaz Myhill.
Tottenham trio Robbie Keane, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka are back in the squad after being cup-tied for Uefa Cup action this week. Luka Modric, Jonathan Woodgate, Wilson Palacios, Aaron Lennon and Carlo Cudicini were rested for the defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk but are back in contention. Ledley King (hamstring/knee) is expected to be rested and Alan Hutton (foot) and Jermain Defoe (foot) are out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull L L L D D; Tottenham L D W L D
Top scorers: Geovanni & Daniel Cousin (Hull) 6; Roman Pavlyuchenko & Darren
Bent (Tottenham) 14
Match odds: H 11-5 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
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