English Premiership

The lowdown on the weekend's fixtures

Wolves (20)

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Manchester Utd (1)

STEPHEN HUNT misses out for Wolves with a calf strain but loan signing Jamie O’Hara could make his first start after coming on as a substitute in midweek. Ronald Zubar will start, despite making the mistake that led to the only goal of the game at Bolton.

United midfielder Darren Fletcher is expected to play – the Scot was forced to come off in the victory against Aston Villa in midweek after suffering blurred vision. Rafael is pushing for a return to the side after returning to training following a bout of concussion.

Last season: Wolves 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Wolves 0.

Last five league matches: Wolves L W L L L; Man Utd W D W W W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Hammill (Wolves) 8; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 20.

Match odds: H 13-2 A 2-5 D 7-2.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Manchester City (3)

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West Brom (16)

CITY DEFENDER Micah Richards is rested after banging his head in a collision with Nigel de Jong against Birmingham in midweek – De Jong will be given a fitness test before the game. Yaya Toure returns after a throat infection.

West Brom top scorer Peter Odemwingie has recovered from an ankle injury and Graham Dorrans may also return. However, Gonzalo Jara (hamstring) and Mark Cech (groin) are both rated as 50/50 by manager Roberto Di Matteo.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Man City W D W L D; West Brom LLWLD.

Top scorers (all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 17; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 9.

Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 7-2.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

West Ham (18)

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Birmingham (17)

WEST HAM boss Avram Grant will wait to see strikers Frederic Piquionne and Carlton Cole in a late training session before naming his side. Midfielders Jack Collison and Thomas Hitzlsperger, meanwhile, continue their recovery from long-term injuries.

Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome (ankle), midfielder Barry Ferguson (ankle) and defender Roger Johnson (calf) are fighting for fitness. Alex McLeish is still waiting to see if loan signing Obafemi Martins will obtain a visa in time to figure.

Last season: West Ham 2 Birmingham 0, Birmingham 1 West Ham 0.

Last five league matches: West Ham W L L D W; Birmingham L W D L D.

Top scorers (all competitions): Demba Ba (West Ham) 9; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 7.

Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Aston Villa (14)

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Fulham (12)

MIDFIELDER Michael Bradley is included in Villa’s squad after joining on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach. Winger Stewart Downing has recovered from a knock to his shin, leaving Luke Young (knee) as the only long-term injury casualty.

Dickson Etuhu misses out for Fulham after suffering a setback in his recovery from hamstring trouble but new loan signing Eidur Gudjohnsen is in line for his debut after not being considered ready to feature against Newcastle.

Last season: Fulham 0 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 2 Fulham 0.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D W W L; Fulham WDWLW.

Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 13; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 9.

Match odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 12-5.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Everton (15)

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Blackpool (13)

TIM CAHILL returns for the home side – the Australia midfielder has been missing for a month due to the Asian Cup but, after being rested in midweek, he is now ready to play. Phil Jagielka is in contention to start after a thigh strain but Everton have no fitness concerns with Tony Hibbert available after illness.

Blackpool give fitness tests to captain Charlie Adam (calf). Midfielder Andy Reid was the only new signing to start in midweek so James Beattie and Jason Puncheon will hope to join him.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Everton L W D D L; Blackpool W L L L L.

Top scorers (all competitions): Tim Cahill (Everton) 9; DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 9.

Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 10-3.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire.

Chelsea (4)

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Liverpool (7)

CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti has yet to decide whether to start Fernando Torres against his former team, or introduce him from the bench. A decision also needs to be made on new defender David Luiz, who is not due in London until today. Yury Zhirkov (calf) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) are still sidelined.

Striker Luis Suarez is pushing for his first start for Liverpool and midfielder Christian Poulsen is expected to have recovered from a back spasm. Jamie Carragher, who returned to the squad against Stoke after shoulder surgery, may be on the bench again.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0.

Last five league matches: Chelsea D L W W W; Liverpool L D W W W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 14; Andy Carroll (Liverpool) 11.

Match odds: H 8-13 A 5-1 D 13-5.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

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Stoke City (11)

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Sunderland (6)

STOKE boss Tony Pulis is without Ricardo Fuller, after granting the striker compassionate leave to attend his uncle’s funeral in Jamaica. Ryan Shawcross is set to return from suspension and Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones could also start.

Midfielder Sulley Muntari is included in Sunderland’s squad for the first time since completing his loan move from Inter Milan. Manager Steve Bruce hopes Bolo Zenden recovers from the knee injury which kept him out of Tuesday’s defeat to Chelsea.

Last season: Sunderland 0 Stoke 0, Stoke 1 Sunderland 0.

Last five league matches: Stoke W L W L L; Sunderland W W D W L.

Top scorers (all competitions): Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 7; Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 8.

Match odds: H 5-4 A 11-5 D 11-5.

Referee: Lee Probert ((Wiltshire).

Tottenham (5)

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Bolton (8)

SPURS midfielder Steven Pienaar has recovered from the head injury which kept him out of Wednesday’s win at Blackburn. Gareth Bale (back) is still a week away from full fitness but Michael Dawson returns from suspension.

On-loan striker Daniel Sturridge is pushing first-choice pairing Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander for a start after coming off the bench to score Bolton’s winner against Wolves. There are no new injuries for boss Owen Coyle.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 2 Tottenham 2.

Last five league matches: Tottenham W L D D W; Bolton L D L L W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Gareth Bale Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 11; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 10.

Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 10-3.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne Wear).

Wigan (19)

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Blackburn (9)

WIGAN’S Maynor Figueroa was substituted against West Brom last time out with a hamstring problem and is rated 50-50 to feature, while fellow defender Gary Caldwell is unlikely to play having had surgery on a fractured cheekbone.

Roque Santa Cruz, Phil Jones and Gael Givet are all missing for Blackburn – Santa Cruz and Givet have groin injuries while Jones is out for the season with a knee injury. Brett Emerton is set to play after his sojourn with Australia at the Asian Cup.

Last season: Blackburn 2 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Blackburn 1.

Last five league matches: Wigan D D L L D; Blackburn L W L W L.

Top scorers (all competitions): Conor Sammon (Wigan) 18;

Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn) 6.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Newcastle (10)

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Arsenal (2)

CHEIK TIOTE is ban-free but Shola Ameobi is out and will undergo surgery next week to repair a fractured cheekbone. Magpies manager Alan Pardew makes a late decision on central defender Fabricio Coloccini, who has a hamstring problem.

Arsenal are without midfielder Alex Song (thigh) but Theo Walcott has shaken off ankle trouble. Centre-half Sebastien Squillaci returns from suspension, but midfielders Denilson and Samir Nasri (both hamstring) remain sidelined.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Newcastle W W D D L; Arsenal WDWWW.

Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 10; Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 14.

Match odds: H 7-2 A 8-11 D 11-4.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).