English premiership

The weekend's matches previewed

Manchester Utd (1)

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Birmingham City (16)

ALEX FERGUSON must find a replacement for suspended Brazilian full back Rafael. Brother Fabio, Wes Brown and John O’Shea are all in contention to fill the vacancy.

Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome (hamstring) and winger Sebastian Larsson (hip) are available after injury. Liam Ridgewell is again set to deputise at centre back for Scott Dann, who has undergone hamstring surgery.

Last season: Birmingham 1 Man Utd 1; Man Utd 1 Birmingham 0. Last five league matches: Man Utd W D W W D; Birmingham L D L W D. Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 15; Craig Gardner and Jordon Mutch (Birmingham) 5. Match odds: H 2-9; A 12-1; D 5-1.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Blackpool (10)

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Sunderland (6)

BLACKPOOL boss Ian Holloway has no fresh injury concerns. Marlon Harewood is almost ready to return after his hamstring injury but is likely to return against Manchester United on Tuesday, while David Carney is away at the Asian Cup.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will start life without leading scorer Darren Bent after his move to Aston Villa. Danny Welbeck has had knee surgery to leave Bruce with one recognised striker, record signing Asamoah Gyan.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Blackpool W L L W L; Sunderland L L W W D. Top scorers (all competitions): DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 8; Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck (Sunderland) 7. Match odds: H 13-8; A 8-5; D 12-5.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Bolton Wanderers (7)

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Chelsea (4)

FORMER Middlesbrough defender David Wheater could make his Bolton debut after signing a three-and-a-half-year deal. Striker Ivan Klasnic (groin) and full back Gretar Steinsson (knee) are doubtful through injury while Lee Chung-yong is on international duty at the Asian Cup.

Frank Lampard (calf) and John Terry (back) are both doubts. Lampard is the bigger concern but the club have not ruled him out, while Terry is also expected to be available.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Bolton 0; Bolton 0 Chelsea 4. Last five league matches: Bolton W L L D L; Chelsea L W D L W. Top scorers (all competitions): Johan Elmander (Bolton) 10; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 12. Match odds: H 9-2; A 6-10; D 3-1.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Everton (12)

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West Ham Utd (20)

EVERTON hope Phil Jagielka (thigh) will be fit but Louis Saha (thigh) is doubtful. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov could get a chance following the sale of Steven Pienaar but Tim Cahill is still on international duty at the Asian Cup.

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker will start after missing the 3-0 defeat by Arsenal with an ankle problem. Lars Jacobsen (heal), Manuel Da Costa (ankle) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) are injured while Victor Obinna is suspended.

Last season: Everton 2 West Ham 2; West Ham 1 Everton 2. Last five league matches: Everton W D L W D; West Ham W D W L L. Top scorers (all competitions): Tim Cahill (Everton) 9; Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 7. Match odds: H 11-20; A 5-1; D 3-1.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Aston Villa (17)

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Manchester City (2)

RECORD signing Darren Bent is poised to make his Villa debut following his move from Sunderland. Winger Ashley Young is available after missing the derby with Birmingham through suspension, but Emile Heskey serves the final game of a three-match ban.

New Manchester City signing Edin Dzeko is set for a recall after being ineligible for the FA Cup replay win over Leicester. Kolo Toure, Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry are also in line to return.

Last season: Man City 3 Aston Villa 1; Aston Villa 1 Man City 1. Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L D L D; Man City W W W D W. Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 11; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 16. Match odds: H 5-2; A 11-10; D 12-5.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Arsenal (3)

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Wigan Athletic (18)

ARSENAL have no fresh injury problems as they head into today’s clash against Wigan. Striker Marouane Chamakh (knee) and midfielder Denilson (hip) have recovered from minor knocks and midfielder Jack Wilshere returns after being rested.

Victor Moses (shoulder) and Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy (ankle) are back training for Wigan but are unlikely to feature. Franco Di Santo and Chris Kirkland are in contention but Tom Cleverley (hamstring) is out.

Last season: Wigan 3 Arsenal 2; Arsenal 4 Wigan 0. Last five league matches: Arsenal W D W D W; Wigan W D L D D. Top scorers (all competitions): Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 14; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 6. Match odds: H 2-9; A 12-1; D 5-1. Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

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Wolverhampton (19)

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Liverpool (13)

WOLVES’ new signing Adam Hammill is set to make his debut against former club Liverpool but Mick McCarthy will be without Dave Edwards (virus) and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (calf). Jody Craddock and Karl Henry are likely to start after playing in the FA Cup win over Doncaster.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole could be in line for a recall after playing 45 minutes for the reserves on Wednesday. Captain Steven Gerrard serves the final game of this three-match ban.

Last season: Wolves 0 Liverpool 0; Liverpool 2 Wolves 0. Last five league matches: Wolves L W L W L; Liverpool L W L L D. Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 6; Steven Gerrard David Ngog (Liverpool) 8. Match odds: H 2-1; A 11-8; D 9-4.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Newcastle Utd (9)

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Tottenham (5)

NEWCASTLE’S Alan Smith (ankle) could miss the rest of the season, while leading scorer Andy Carroll (thigh), Dan Gosling (knee), Steven Taylor (hamstring), Sol Campbell (leg), Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) also miss out. Captain Kevin Nolan (throat infection) will start.

Steven Pienaar is available to make his Spurs debut but Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Wilson Palacios (both knee) are doubtful.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Newcastle L L W W D; Tottenham W W W L D. Top scorers (all competitions): Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 11; Gareth Bale Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) 11. Match odds: H 21-10 A 5-4 D 12-5.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Fulham (15)

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Stoke City (8)

STEVE SIDWELL is pushing to make his Fulham debut after the midfielder was an unused substitute at Wigan last weekend following his switch from Aston Villa. Fulham are still without Bobby Zamora (leg), Philippe Senderos (Achilles) and Matthew Briggs (calf).

New Stoke signing John Carew goes straight into the squad after joining on loan from Villa while Jon Walters pressed his claims with both goals in the midweek FA Cup victory over Cardiff.

Last season: Fulham 0 Stoke 1; Stoke 3 Fulham 2. Last five league matches: Fulham L W L W D; Stoke W L W L W. Top scorers (all competitions): Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 7; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 7. Match odds: H 23-20; A 13-5; D 11-5.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Blackburn Rovers (11)

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West Brom (14)

NEW signing Jermaine Jones is in contention for Blackburn while Roque Santa Cruz is poised for his first start since rejoining the club on loan from Manchester City. Ryan Nelsen (knee) and goalkeeper Mark Bunn (back) are doubts but David Dunn (leg) is fit.

West Brom welcome back defender Jonas Olsson from suspension but Graham Dorrans (ankle) is a doubt while Steven Reid (knee) is poised to return to training next week.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Blackburn L W L W L; West Brom L L L L W. Top scorers (all competitions): Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn) 6; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 8. Match odds: H 5-4; A 21-10; D 12-5.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne Wear).