The weekend's fixtures
Chelsea (1) v Blackpool (4)
FRANK Lampard has not recovered from hernia surgery but Didier Drogba, who was suspended for the Champions League game against MSK Zilina in midweek, returns to the squad. Rested Ashley Cole is back in contention.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher is set to return for Blackpool from a calf problem. Alex Baptiste could also be back in action having been sidelined with a fractured hand.
Last season: No corresponding fixture; Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W W; Blackpool D W L D W; Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) 4; Charlie Adam, DJ Campbell, Marlon Harewood Ludovic Sylvestre (Blackpool) 2; Match odds: H 1-10; A 20-1; D 8-1; Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
West Brom (16) v Birmingham City (5)
WEST Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo will have Graham Dorrans back following a family bereavement. James Morrison serves the second of a three-game suspension following his sending-off at Liverpool, while Joe Mattock (foot), Ishmael Miller (thigh) and Marek Cech (foot) also miss out.
New signings Alexander Hleb and Jean Beausejour are fit to play, although both may start on the bench due to a lack of training time.
Last season: No corresponding fixture; Last five league matches: West Brom D L W L D; Birmingham L D W D D; Top scorers (all competitions): Chris Brunt, Peter Odemwingie, Pablo Ibanez Chris Wood (West Brom) 1; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 3; Match odds: H 5-4; A 11-5; D 9-4. Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Sunderland (10) v Arsenal (2)
SUNDERLAND are without skipper Lee Cattermole, who starts a two-match ban. Defender John Mensah (hamstring) is a doubt but Kieran Richardson and Ahmed Elmohamady are expected to be fit after returning from the DW Stadium with minor problems.
Arsenal are without midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) and centre back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles). England youngster Jack Wilshere is pressing to retain his starting place alongside captain Cesc Fabregas.
Last season: Arsenal 2 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Arsenal 0; Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L W D; Arsenal W D W W W; Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 4; Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 4; Match odds: H 9-2; A 4-6; D 5-2; Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Blackburn Rovers (15) v Fulham (6)
RYAN Nelsen and Michel Salgado are doubts for Blackburn after both limped off against Manchester City last weekend. Nelsen suffered a kick to the instep and Salgado a thigh injury Keith Andrews (groin) remains sidelined.
Fulham winger Damien Duff should be available after calf trouble. Rafik Halliche and Fredrik Stoor (both groin) are doubts while Philippe Senderos (Achilles) is a long-term absentee.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Fulham 0, Fulham 3 Blackburn 0; Last five league matches: Blackburn W W L L D; Fulham L D D D W; Top scorers (all competitions): Mame Diouf (Blackburn) 4; Moussa Dembele Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 3; Match odds: H 21-20; A 5-2; D 12-5. Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Aston Villa (7) v Bolton Wanderers (12)
VILLA striker John Carew returns after a hamstring injury for what will be Kevin MacDonald’s last game in charge
Bolton could be without captain Kevin Davies who has not trained all week after clashing heads with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny at the Emirates last week. He could join suspended due Gary Cahill and Jussi Jaaskelainen on the sidelines. Andy O’Brien and Adam Bogdan will fill those gaps, but Tamir Cohen is unavailable because of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.
Last season: Bolton 0 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 5 Bolton 1; Last five league matches: Aston Villa L W L W L; Bolton W D W D L; Top scorers (all competitions): Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 2; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 3; Match odds: H 4-5; A 7-2; D 5-2. Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Wigan Athletic (17) v Manchester City (8)
VICTOR Moses should be fit to return for Wigan. Moses has missed the two games with an ankle problem. Defender Gary Caldwell will remain sidelined for a few more weeks as he recovers from hip surgery.
City boss Roberto Mancini is sweating on the fitness of Emmanuel Adebayor who missed the Europa League win in Salzburg after picking up a dead leg. Roque Santa Cruz is available. James Milner and Adam Johnson could earn recalls.
Last season: Man City 3 Wigan 0, Wigan 1 Man City 1; Last five league matches: Wigan L L L W D; Man City D D W L D; Top scorers (all competitions): Antolin Alcaraz, Jordi Gomez, Victor Moses Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 1; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 2; Match odds: H 19-5; A 8-11; D 13-5; Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Stoke City (18) v West Ham Utd (20)
MIDFIELDER Marc Wilson had a promising debut in Monday’s win against Aston Villa and is likely to keep Jermaine Pennant out. Striker Eidur Gudjohnsen will be on the bench again as he is eased in after his move from Monaco.
Avram Grant will not be in the dug out for the Hammers as he observes the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and defender Tal Ben-Haim will also not be involved.
Last season: West Ham 0 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 West Ham 1; Last five league matches: Stoke L L L L W; West Ham D L L L L; Top scorers (all competitions): Abdoulaye Faye, Ricardo Fuller, Robert Huth, Kenwyne Jones, Tuncay Sanli Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 1; Scott Parker (West Ham) 2; Match odds: H evens; A 11-4; D 23-10; Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Manchester Utd (3) v Liverpool (13)
ALEX Ferguson is preparing to recall all his big guns. Dimitar Berbatov has already been assured his place in the United starting line-up and will almost certainly be joined by Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Paul Scholes, who all missed Tuesday’s draw with Rangers.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard return to Liverpool’s starting line-up. The pair were left out of the Europa League victory over Steaua Bucharest as Hodgson. Joe Cole will play only his second league match of the season.
Last season: Man Utd 2 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 Man Utd 0; Last five league matches: Man Utd W W D W D; Liverpool D D L W D; Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 4; David Ngog; (Liverpool) 4; Match odds: H 4-6 A 9-2 D 5-2; Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Tottenham (11) v Wolves (9)
RAFAEL van der Vaart is doubtful for Spurs as he struggles with the sore calf picked up during Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Werder Bremen. Luka Modric (leg) is not expected to be risked, Ledley King may be rested after playing in midweek and Heurelho Gomes (groin) is still out.
Wolves are without Christophe Berra, suspended after being sent off at Fulham. He is likely to be replaced by Richard Stearman. Steven Mouyokolo came through a reserve outing and is added to the squad, whilst Ronald Zubar is fit.
Last season: Wolves 1 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 0 Wolves 1; Last five league matches: Tottenham L D W L D; Wolves W W D D L; Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Crouch (Tottenham) 4; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolves) 2; Match odds: H 2-5; A 15-2; D 10-3; Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
English Premier League Teams news and statistics
Everton (19) v Newcastle Utd (14)
EVERTON boss David Moyes will make a late decision on the fitness of key midfielder Tim Cahill who is battling a knee problem. Captain Phil Neville returns after three weeks out with a foot injury but Jack Rodwell (ankle) and Louis Saha (calf) remain on the sidelines.
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll continues to battle against his ankle injury, but is expected to be fit. Hatem Ben Arfa made his debut as a substitute in last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat by Blackpool and will hope for further action.
Last season: No corresponding fixture; Last five league matches: Everton W L D L D; Newcastle W L W D L; Top scorers (all competitions): Tim Cahill (Everton) 2; Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 4; Match odds: H 8-13; A 9-2; D 11-4; Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
