A look ahead to all this weekend's Premier League fixtures.
Saturday, January 16th
Chelsea (1) v Sunderland (11)
Chelsea are without Deco, who has recovered from his hamstring problem but is not match-fit. The midfielder is expected to return for the FA Cup fourth round tie against Preston next week. Right-back Jose Bosingwa is still not ready following knee surgery and the Blues are without John Mikel Obi, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, who are all on international duty in the African Nations Cup.
Kenwyne Jones, Kieran Richardson (both calf) and Bolo Zenden (hamstring) could feature for the Black Cats but defender Michael Turner serves the last game of a four-match ban. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is nearing a return from his broken arm, but Nyron Nosworthy (knee), Anton Ferdinand (ankle), Andy Reid, Lee Cattermole and John Mensah (all hamstring) remain sidelined.
Last season:Sunderland 2 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 5 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches:Chelsea D W D D W; Sunderland D L L D D
Top scorers(all competitions): Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 19; Darren Bent (Sunderland) 13
Match odds:H 2-9 A 11-1 D 5-1
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Everton (12) v Man City (4)
Toffees defender Sylvain Distin (hamstring) is nearing a full recovery. Lucas Neill is available to play before his move to Galatasaray but Mikel Arteta, Tony Hibbert, Phil Jagielka, Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling and Victor Anichebe are injured. Ayegbeni Yakubu and Joseph Yobo are at the African Nations Cup and it is understood striker Jo will not feature following his suspension for a breach of discipline.
Nedum Onuoha could return to City's squad after missing four games with a calf injury — he is expected to be on the bench. New boss Roberto Mancini has not been in touch with Emmanuel Adebayor to see when he will return from Togo and new signing Patrick Vieira (calf) is still sidelined.
Last season:Everton 1 Man City 2, Man City 0 Everton 1
Last five league matches:Everton D D D W D; Man City L W W W W
Top scorers(all competitions): Landon Donovan (Everton) 13; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 15
Match odds:H 9-5 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Man Utd (2) v Burnley (14)
United midfielder Darren Fletcher serves a one-match ban after being sent off for two bookable offences at Birmingham last week. Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves will not be considered despite edging their way closer to a return after long-term absences but Edwin van der Sar is expected to feature for the first time since November 21st.
Brian Laws faces major problems in central defence. Skipper Steven Caldwell (groin) is definitely out, Clarke Carlisle is rated as only 50-50 with a side strain and Andre Bikey is on African Nations Cup duty. Michael Duff is expected to continue at centre-back and if Carlisle fails to make it that could mean a league debut for young Canadian defender David Edgar, signed in the summer from Newcastle.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Man Utd W L W W D; Burnley D D L D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 15; Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 9
Match odds:H 1-6 A 16-1 D 6-1
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Portsmouth (20) v Birmingham (8)
Goalkeeper David James will feature for Portsmouth — the England international was on the verge of a move to Stoke but the deal fell through. Younes Kaboul is also set to return from injury but midfielder Jamie O’Hara’s loan deal from Tottenham has expired and he is unavailable, along with Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda, Aruna Dindane and Kanu — who are playing in the African Nations Cup.
In-form Birmingham have included new signing Michel in their squad. The midfielder is added to the players who were on duty in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup which extended City's unbeaten run to 14 matches. Boss Alex McLeish has no fresh injury worries but Lee Carsley, Gregory Vignal, Stuart Parnaby, Teemu Tainio, David Murphy and Garry O'Connor are still unavailable.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Portsmouth D L W L L; Birmingham W D D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Frederic Piquionne (Portsmouth) 6; Lee Bowyer (Birmingham) 6
Match odds:H 13-8 A 17-10 D 11-5
Referee:Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Stoke (10) v Liverpool (7)
Stoke striker Tuncay Sanli is again doubtful— he has yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury sustained in the 3-2 home win over Fulham 10 days ago. With the Potters failing to land England goalkeeper David James on loan from Portsmouth, boss Tony Pulis will decide between Thomas Sorensen and Steve Simonsen for the number one spot as the latter stepped in against the Cottagers after the Dane sustained a finger injury.
Liverpool are without striker Fernando Torres (knee), captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring) and fellow midfielder Yossi Benayoun (rib). Defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano returns after a ban and new signing Maxi Rodriguez is expected to figure provided he receives international clearance — but boss Rafael Benitez has limited options in attack. Goalkeeper Jose Reina's back injury will be assessed late on but winger Albert Riera is back after a hamstring problem. Forward Ryan Babel has been dropped from the squad.
Last season:Stoke 0 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 0 Stoke 0
Last five league matches:Stoke D L L L W; Liverpool L W L W W
Top scorers(all competitions): Dave Kitson (Stoke) 6; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 12
Match odds:H 15-4 A 4-5 D 23-10
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Tottenham (5) v Hull (19)
Spurs centre-back Ledley King is not fully fit and is expected to miss the clash, right-back Alan Hutton joins fellow groin injury victim Aaron Lennon on the sidelines, while goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (wrist and pelvis) remains a long-term absentee.
Hull midfielder Dean Marney is included in the Hull squad, while defender Paul McShane has overcome the hamstring injury which has ruled him out of the last three games. However, Jimmy Bullard (knee) is likely to be out until the end of the month and Daniel Cousin is also on international duty.
Last season:Hull 1 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 0 Hull 1
Last five league matches:Tottenham L W W D W; Hull L D L L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 16; Geovanni & Stephen Hunt (Hull) 5
Match odds:H 2-9 A 11-1 D 5-1
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Wolves (15) v Wigan (16)
Wolves veteran defender Jody Craddock is poised to make his 200th appearance, while his defensive partner Christophe Berra has recovered from concussion suffered in the team’s last league outing against Manchester City, nearly three weeks ago, while striker Kevin Doyle has shaken off the bout of illness which forced him to miss the FA Cup third round win over Tranmere at Prenton Park.
Midfielder Mohamed Diame is set to return to Wigan's squad after a knee injury. New signing Gary Caldwell, who arrived from Celtic in midweek, could get a place in the squad but manager Roberto Martinez may decide to hold back fellow defender Steven Gohouri. The Ivory Coast international, who also this week signed a deal until the end of the season, has not played a game since leaving Borussia Monchengladbach last month.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Wolves W L W L L; Wigan L D L D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Kevin Doyle (Wolves) 5; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 7
Match odds:H 13-10 A 21-10 D 9-4
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Sunday, January 17th
Aston Villa (6) v West Ham (17)
Villa are set to recall goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who was on the bench for Villa’s League Cup game at Blackburn. Boss Martin O’Neill is also poised to recall right-back Luke Young, while Carlos Cuellar is set to return to the centre of defence in place of James Collins after playing at right-back against Rovers.
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has no senior strikers available. Guillermo Franco was injured in training, while Carlton Cole, Luis Boa Morte and Kieron Dyer are still sidelined with knee injuries, leaving West Ham's options limited to teenagers Frank Nouble and Freddie Sears. Zola hopes to have Scott Parker back from a hamstring injury while Mark Noble is fit again — but Herita Illunga and Danny Gabbidon are both out.
Last season:Aston Villa 1 West Ham 1, West Ham 0 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches:Aston Villa W W W L L; West Ham L L D W L
Top scorers(all competitions): Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 9; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 7
Match odds:H 8-15 A 6-1 D 11-4
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Blackburn (13) v Fulham (9)
Lars Jacobsen has joined Sam Allardyce’s growing injury list — the defender suffered a thigh problem in last night’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Aston Villa and looks set to miss out on Sunday. Vince Grella (thigh) and Jason Roberts (knee) are also still sidelined, while El-Hadji Diouf is suspended - but Allardyce is hopeful that Gael Givet will have recovered from a head injury in time for the visit of Roy Hodgson’s side.
Fulham will have Brede Hangeland available after a knee injury meant he came off at half-time during the Cottagers' match against Stoke — he will probably replace Chris Smalling in Hodgson's starting XI. Long-term absentees Bobby Zamora (shoulder) and John Pantsil (knee) will be missing while Simon Davies (foot) and Diomansy Kamara (knee) are also out.
Last season:Fulham 1 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 1 Fulham 0
Last five league matches:Blackburn L L D D L; Fulham D W D L L
Top scorers(all competitions): David Dunn (Blackburn) 6; Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 11
Match odds:H 11-8 A 2-1 D 9-4
Referee:Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Bolton (18) v Arsenal (3)
Bolton manager Owen Coyle expects Kevin Davies and Mark Davies to come into contention for his first game in charge. Both players are back in training after being laid low with a virus which has hit the club, while Joey O’Brien and Sean Davis remain long-term injury absentees.
Captain Cesc Fabregas returns to the Arsenal side following a hamstring strain but Denilson misses the match with an abdominal muscle injury and striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin)is still a fortnight away from full fitness. Full-back Gael Clichy is available again and is set to start from the bench, having recovered from his back injury, but Sol Campbell is not in the squad.
Last season:Arsenal 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Arsenal 3
Last five league matches:Bolton L D W D D; Arsenal D W W W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 10; Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 12
Match odds:H 5-1 A 8-15 D 3-1
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)