English Premier League

A look ahead to all this weekend's matches

West Brom (6) v Bolton (12)

CZECH striker Roman Bednar is available for West Brom after missing out on the trip to face Arsenal last weekend because of a thigh injury. Romanian defender Gabriel Tamas has fully recovered from a calf injury and is also back in contention.

England defender Gary Cahill is available for Bolton after completing a three-match suspension following his sending-off at Arsenal last month. Andy O’Brien, Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel and Sean Davis have all been nursing injuries.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: West Brom WLDWW; Bolton WDLDD. Top scorers: Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 3; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 3. Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-4 D 11-5. Referee: Peter Walton.

Chelsea (1) v Arsenal (3)

CHELSEA midfielder Frank Lampard has a groin problem and will not play. Striker Didier Drogba is back after being suspended for the Champions League game against Marseille. Chelsea are also without Salomon Kalou (thigh) and Yossi Benayoun (calf).

Arsenal will be without Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and Kieran Gibbs (calf). Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow) remains out, while Abou Diaby returns to the squad after an ankle problem. Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Nicklas Bendtner (groin), Aaron Ramsey (leg), Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie (both ankle) are still absent.

Last season: Chelsea 2, Arsenal 0; Arsenal 0, Chelsea 3. Last five league matches: Chelsea WWWWL; Arsenal WWWDL. Top scorers: Florent Malouda (Chelsea) 6; Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 4. Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 11-4. Referee: Mike Dean.

Liverpool (16) v Blackpool (15)

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard is set to return to the starting line-up after being rested for the Europa League draw at FC Utrecht. There is a problem at left-back as Paul Konchesky (hamstring) and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles) are still injured while Daniel Agger has a groin problem..

Blackpool will again be without defender Alex Baptiste, who has a knee ligament injury and has now had an operation. The 24-year-old faces several weeks on the sidelines, where he joins Louis Almond, Malaury Martin and Billy Clarke.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Liverpool LWDLD; Blackpool LDWLL. Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 3; Marlon Harewood (Blackpool) 2. Match odds: H 3-10 A 10-1 D 4-1. Referee: Michael Jones.

Manchester City (4) v Newcastle (10)

ARGENTINA-born utility man Pablo Zabaleta will be missing for Manchester City after suffering a hamstring strain against Juventus last night, which will either mean a recall for Dedryck Boyata or Joleon Lescott. David Silva, James Milner and Nigel de Jong will all hope for a place in the starting XI after starting the Juve draw on the bench.

Defender Sol Campbell has shaken off a thigh injury to take his place in the Newcastle squad. Danny Guthrie (knee) and Danny Simpson (ankle) are both back in full training and will play for the reserves next week, while Steven Taylor (shoulder) is expected to resume training in a fortnight’s time, leaving only Steve Harper (shoulder) and Dan Gosling (knee) on the long-term casualty list.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Man City WLDWW; Newcastle WDLWL. Top scorers: Carlos Tevez (Man City) 4; Andrew Carroll (Newcastle) 4. Match odds: H 2-5 A 7-1 D 7-2. Referee: Martin Atkinson.

Tottenham (8) v Aston Villa (5)

TOTTENHAM will once again check on the fitness of Ledley King before deciding on their line-up. William Gallas (groin) and Younes Kaboul (hamstring) join long-term absentees Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) on the sidelines.

Aston Villa’s Republic of Ireland central defender Richard Dunne is back in contention after recovering from a knee problem. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor misses out with a groin injury and will undergo minor surgery on Monday.

Last season: Tottenham 0, Aston Villa 0; Aston Villa 1, Tottenham 1. Last five league matches: Tottenham WLDWL; Aston Villa LWLDW. Top scorers: Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 2; Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 3. Match odds: H 19-20 A 14-5 D 12-5. Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Sunderland (11) v Manchester United (2)

SUNDERLAND defender Anton Ferdinand could return after a hamstring injury but the game is likely to come too soon for John Mensah. Kieran Richardson (hamstring) will also miss out. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is fit again, while Fraizer Campbell and David Meyler (both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Wayne Rooney believes he is fit but Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson wants to give his star striker more rest. The fitness of Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Anderson will be assessed before Ferguson finalises his line-up.

Last season: Sunderland 0, Man Utd 1; Man Utd 2, Sunderland 2. Last five league matches: Sunderland LWDDD; Man Utd DWDWD. Top scorers: Darren Bent (Sunderland) 5; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 6. Match odds: H 4-1 A 8-11 D 5-2. Referee: Chris Foy.

Wigan (18) v Wolves (17)

WIGAN striker Franco Di Santo could feature after making a quick recovery from an ankle problem suffered at Birmingham last week. On-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley might also come into contention after he injured his knee in training.

Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura will be out of action for four to six months after suffering the setback as a second-half substitute in a challenge from Aston Villa’s Steve Sidwell last weekend. Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt is back in training after his lengthy lay-off with a foot problem but is not deemed ready to return by manager Mick McCarthy, while defender Ronald Zubar (hamstring) is still sidelined.

Last season: Wolverhampton 0, Wigan 2; Wigan 0, Wolverhampton 1. Last five league matches: Wigan LWDLD; Wolverhampton DDLLL. Top scorers: Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 1; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Steven Fletcher (Wolverhampton) 2. Match odds: H 5-4 A 23-10 D 11-5. Referee: Lee Mason.

West Ham (19) v Fulham (7)

WEST Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer could miss out through illness. He has been suffering with diarrhoea all week. Valon Behrami (knee) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) are out while manager Avram Grant will give late fitness tests to Winston Reid, Jonathan Spector and Herita Ilunga (all leg).

Goalkeeper David Stockdale is in contention for Fulham after recovering from an ankle injury. The Cottagers remain short in attack, with Moussa Dembele (ankle) and Bobby Zamora (broken leg) sidelined, although Andrew Johnson played in a behind-closed-doors game yesterday and is working his way back to full fitness after a serious knee problem.

Last season: Fulham 3, West Ham 2; West Ham 2, Fulham 2. Last five league matches: West Ham LLLDW; Fulham DDWDD. Top scorers: Scott Parker (West Ham) 2; Moussa Dembele, Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 2. Match odds: H 11-8 A 2-1 D 11-5. Referee: Andre Marriner.

Stoke City (14) v Blackburn (9)

STOKE manager Tony Pulis has injury worries in Ricardo Fuller (shoulder), Andy Wilkinson (knee) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring).

David Dunn and Vince Grella will both be missing for Blackburn due to hamstring problems. Jason Roberts and Keith Andrews have recovered from injury.

Last season: Stoke 3, Blackburn 0; Blackburn 0, Stoke 0. Last five league matches: Stoke LLWDW; Blackburn LLDDW. Top scorers: Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 3; Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 2. Match odds: H 13-10 A 11-5 D 11-5. Referee: Howard Webb.

Birmingham City (13) v Everton (20)

BIRMINGHAM midfielder Craig Gardner is suspended for three matches after his straight red card against Wigan last weekend. Keith Fahey will be in contention for a recall after not starting a league game since the opening day of the campaign at Sunderland.

Everton full-back Tony Hibbert is back in contention after missing last week’s draw at Fulham with a groin strain. Louis Saha (calf), Jack Rodwell (ankle) and Victor Anichebe (knee) remain on the sidelines while manager David Moyes has also reported “one or two doubts” but has given no further details.

Last season: Birmingham 2, Everton 2; Everton 1, Birmingham 1. Last five league matches: Birmingham WDDLD; Everton DLDLD. Top scorers: Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 3; Tim Cahill (Everton) 2. Match odds: H 17-10 A 17-10 D 21-10. Referee: Phil Dowd.