English Premiership

Previews of the weekend's matches

Tottenham Hotspur (5)

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Chelsea (3)

TOTTENHAM Rafael van der Vaart will miss out after failing to shake off a hamstring injury but Younes Kaboul could return after a hip problem. Luka Modric returns after flu but Jermaine Jenas, Niko Kranjcar, Ledley King, Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O’Hara and Jonathan Woodgate are out.

Chelsea will not risk Frank Lampard because he is not match fit – the midfielder is back in training after groin and tendon injuries. Jose Bosingwa is out with a torn hamstring but Ashley Cole has recovered from a slight ankle knock.

Last season: Tottenham 2, Chelsea 1; Chelsea 3, Tottenham 0. Last five league matches: Tottenham DWWWD; Chelsea WLLDD. Top scorers (all competitions): Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 9; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10. Match odds: H 15-8 A 7-5 D 23-10. Referee: Mike Dean.

Fulham (17)

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Sunderland (7)

FULHAM left-back Carlos Salcido will return after an ankle injury. Moussa Dembele is still struggling with his ankle problem but could be action next weekend, while Matthew Briggs has undergone a calf operation. Bobby Zamora (ankle/leg) and Phillipe Senderos (Achilles) are still unavailable.

Striker Asamoah Gyan (toe) and Craig Gordon (hamstring) are declared as “slight doubts” by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce. Titus Bramble, Michael Turner and Fraizer Campbell are all long-term absentees with knee injuries.

Last season: Sunderland 0, Fulham 0; Fulham 1, Sunderland 0. Last five league matches: Fulham LDLDL; Sunderland DWDLW. Top scorers (all competitions): Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) 6; Darren Bent (Sunderland) 9. Match odds: H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5. Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Stoke City (10)

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Blackpool (13)

STOKE manager Tony Pulis hopes defender Andy Wilkinson and winger Jermaine Pennant will be back in contention after their respective knee and hamstring complaints. Marc Wilson returns after served a one-game ban.

Blackpool’s Ludovic Sylvestre could return after a hamstring strain, while Alex Baptiste is continuing his recovery from a knee problem. Matt Gilks, Chris Basham, Billy Clarke (all knee), Marlon Harewood (hamstring) and Louis Almond (shoulder) and Malaury Martin (knee) remain out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Stoke WWWDD; Blackpool DLDWD. Top scorers (all competitions): Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 6; Marlon Harewood Luke Varney (Blackpool) 5. Match odds: H 8-13 A 9-2 D 11-4. Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Manchester United (2)

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Arsenal (1)

Rio Ferdinand (hamstring), Paul Scholes (groin) and Patrice Evra should be available for United. Jonny Evans and Wes Brown had also been struggling but they are also in contention although Michael Owen will not be considered.

Arsenal will leave it late to decide on the fitness of Cesc Fabregas (hamstring). Kieran Gibbs is out with an injured ankle, but Gael Clichy (virus) and Johan Djourou (thigh) should travel. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Abou Diaby (ankle) remain out.

Last season: Arsenal 1, Man Utd 3; Man Utd 2, Arsenal 1. Last five league matches: Man Utd WDDWW; Arsenal: WWLWW. Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 12; Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 11 Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-4 D 12-5 Referee: Howard Webb.

Bolton Wanderers (6)

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Blackburn Rovers (11)

WANDERERS midfielder Stuart Holden is doubtful with the thigh strain which has seen him miss the last two games. Midfielder Matt Taylor is pushing for a starting place following the defeat to Manchester City.

Martin Olsson and Nikola Kalinic are back in contention for Blackburn but Steven Nzonzi (hamstring), Vince Grella (Achilles) and Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews (groin) remain sidelined.

Last season: Blackburn 3, Bolton 0; Bolton 0, Blackburn 2. Last five league matches: Bolton DWWDL; Blackburn WLWLW. Top scorers (all competitions): Johan Elmander (Bolton) 8; Mame Biram Diouf Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) 4. Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10. Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Aston Villa (16)

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West Bromwich Albion (9)

STRIKER Emile Heskey will play some part for Villa after a seven-game absence with a knee problem. Winger Ashley Young is available after suspension but midfielder Ciaran Clark is banned.

West Brom midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu returns from suspension but striker Peter Odemwingie is battling to recover from a groin injury. Midfielder Chris Brunt’s ongoing groin problem means his training continues to be restricted, although he is hopeful of being fit for this fixture.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Aston Villa WDLLL; West Brom DLLWW. Top scorers (all competitions): Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 5; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 6. Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-4 D 12-5. Referee: Mark Halsey.

Wolverhampton (19)

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Birmingham City (14)

MIDFIELDER Dave Edwards is available for Wolves after a thigh problem. Michael Mancienne (knee) and David Jones (foot) are doubts, while Karl Henry (knee) and Adlene Guedioura (leg) are injured and David Davis is suspended.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has no new injury problems. Alexander Hleb is recovering from a hamstring injury and James McFadden (knee) is a long-term injury casualty.

Last season: Birmingham 2, Wolves 1; Wolves 0, Birmingham 1. Last five league matches: Wolves LLLWL; Birmingham LDWDD. Top scorers (all competitions): Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 5. Match odds: H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5. Referee: Martin Atkinson.

West Ham United (20)

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Manchester City (4)

WEST Ham give a fitness test to midfielder Valon Behrami, who has a hip injury. Mark Noble is out until the new year with a similar injury, while long-term absentees Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Manuel da Costa (foot), Anthony Edgar, Peter Kurucz, and Jack Collison (all knee) also miss out.

City manager Roberto Mancini will be forced to make changes, with striker Carlos Tevez and defender Aleksandar Kolarov suspended. However, Kolo Toure could be available following a calf problem.

Last season: West Ham 1, Man City 1; Man City 3, West Ham 1. Last five league matches: West Ham DDLWL; Man City DDWDW. Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Parker (West Ham) 6; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 10. Match odds: H 10-3 A 5-6 D 5-2. Referee: Phil Dowd.

Newcastle United (12)

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Liverpool (8)

NEWCASTLE midfielder Joey Barton (groin) is a doubt but Kevin Nolan is expected to be fit following an ankle injury. Steve Harper and Leon Best are on the comeback trail after respective shoulder and ankle problems but Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson are suspended and Dan Gosling (knee), Ryan Taylor (ankle) Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) are still sidelined.

Striker Fernando Torres returns for Liverpool but Captain Steven Gerrard is a week away from his comeback from a hamstring injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Newcastle LDLDL; Liverpool DLWLW. Top scorers (all competitions): Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 9; David Ngog (Liverpool) 8. Match odds: H 5-2 A 11-10 D 9-4. Referee: Lee Mason.

Everton (15)

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Wigan Athletic (18)

EVERTON manager David Moyes will monitor the fitness of John Heitinga and Steven Pienaar. Heitinga has a stiff knee while Pienaar suffered an ankle problem in the draw at Chelsea last weekend.

Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega returns after a ban. However, fellow forward Franco di Santo could be out for up to three months with an ankle problem, while captain Gary Caldwell (thigh) is unlikely to be risked. James McCarthy (ankle) and Victor Moses (shoulder) are long-term absentees.

Last season: Wigan 0, Everton 1; Everton 2, Wigan 1. Last five league matches: Everton DLDLD; Wigan DWLLD. Top scorers (all competitions): Tim Cahill (Everton) 8; Charles N’Zogbia Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4. Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 16-5. Referee: Michael Oliver.

Next up . . .

Saturday, December 18th: Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers, 12.45; Arsenal v Stoke City, 3.0; Birmingham City v Newcastle Utd, 3.0; Blackburn Rovers v West Ham Utd, 3.0; Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa, 3.0; Liverpool v Fulham, 5.30pm. Sunday, December 19th: West Brom v Wolves, 12.0; Blackpool v Tottenham, 1.30; Chelsea v Manchester Utd, 4.0. Monday, December 20th: Manchester City v Everton, 8.0.