SATURDAY (3pm unless stated)
West Ham United v Liverpool (12.45pm ko)
Dimitri Payet returns to the West Ham squad after two months out with an ankle injury. Defender Winston Reid and winger Victor Moses (both hamstring) are also back in training after spells out but boss Slaven Bilic says they are not match-fit and will probably return in the FA Cup against Wolves next weekend. Left-back Aaron Cresswell missed Monday’s 2-1 win over Southampton with a tight hamstring and will be handed a late fitness test. Striker Diafra Sakho (thigh) is still out.
Daniel Sturridge could return to the Liverpool team. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has been very cautious over the fitness of the striker, who has made only six appearances all season, with a hamstring injury his latest problem. Fellow striker Divock Origi (hamstring) and midfielder James Milner (calf) are out while Klopp is waiting for news on midfielders Jordan Henderson (foot) and Joe Allen (illness).
Last season: Liverpool 2 West Ham 0, West Ham 3 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: West Ham D D D D W; Liverpool L D L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Michail Antonio, Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payet & Mauro Zarate (West Ham) 5; Christian Benteke (Liverpool) 7
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Arsenal v Newcastle
Arsene Wenger will welcome Mathieu Flamini back into the Arsenal ranks. The midfielder sat out the recent win over Bournemouth with a minor ankle problem but is now fit to return and could replace Calum Chambers alongside Aaron Ramsey. Alexis Sanchez (hamstring) is pencilled in to return in the FA Cup next weekend while Jack Wilshere (leg), Mikel Arteta (calf), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky (all knee) are missing.
Newcastle midfielder Vurnon Anita is out of contention. The Dutchman limped off with a hamstring problem during the 1-0 defeat at West Brom and has become the latest addition to a lengthy casualty list which also includes goalkeeper Rob Elliot, who is battling a stomach bug. Midfielder Rolando Aarons (foot) and striker Emmanuel Riviere (knee) are back in training, but keeper Tim Krul (knee ligaments), defenders Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor (both hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee), midfielder Gabriel Obertan (also hamstring) and striker Papiss Cisse (groin) are all out.
Last season: Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 4 Newcastle 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W L W; Newcastle W W D L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 15; Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle) 7
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Leicester v Bournemouth
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri could name an unchanged squad. The Foxes chief has reported no fresh injury worries following Tuesday’s goalless draw with Manchester City while striker Jamie Vardy has fully recovered from a virus which he has suffered from over the last week. Jeff Schlupp remains out with a hamstring injury and midfielder Matty James continues to recover from the long-term knee injury which has sidelined him all season.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has reported no fresh injury problems. The players involved in the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal have been given some extra recovery time this week following the hectic Christmas schedule. Forward Lee Tomlin was an unused substitute against the Gunners following his return from a groin and pelvic injury so could feature, while the likes of Glenn Murray and Junior Stanislas are also options should Howe look to make changes.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester W W W L D; Bournemouth W W W D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 15; Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth) 5, Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) 5
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Manchester United v Swansea
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is a doubt because of the hamstring injury that has kept him out for the last three weeks. Long-term absentees Antonio Valencia (foot), Luke Shaw (leg) and Marcos Rojo (shoulder) remain sidelined. Manager Louis van Gaal is likely to stick with Wayne Rooney in attack after he impressed on his return to the starting XI against Chelsea on Monday.
Swansea’s Argentina defender Federico Fernandez is battling a bruised heel. He missed Monday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace as caretaker manager Alan Curtis rotated heavily by making eight changes from the side which had beaten West Brom two days earlier. Angel Rangel, Leon Britton, Ki Sung-yueng, Wayne Routledge, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Ayew are all set to return at Old Trafford.
Last season: Swansea 2 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Swansea 2
Last five league matches: Man Utd D L L L D; Swansea L L D W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Anthony Martial (Man Utd) 8; Andre Ayew (Swansea) 6
Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)
Norwich v Southampton
Norwich defender Andre Wisdom could be back in the Canaries squad. The 22-year-old, currently on loan from Liverpool, had been out with a hamstring injury but will be available for selection against the Saints. Midfielder Matt Jarvis (knee) has not fully recovered. Norwich have no other injury worries but Alex Neil is expected to rotate his squad.
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman will have to make at least one change to his side. Midfielder Oriol Romeu collected his fifth booking of the season during Monday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham and serves a one-match ban. Strikers Graziano Pelle (knee) and Jay Rodriguez (foot) are still sidelined along with full-back Cedric Soares (groin).
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Norwich L D W L W; Southampton D L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nathan Redmond (Norwich) 4; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 9
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is keeping his fingers crossed amid a defensive crisis. Sebastian Coates limped out of Wednesday night’s 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool suffering from a dead leg and is a doubt while John O’Shea is battling a calf problem. Younes Kaboul is out with a hamstring tear, and Allardyce will need to assess 36-year-old Wes Brown’s ability to play two games in four days after his return to action in midweek. Midfielder Jack Rodwell will sit out after suffering a hamstring injury during the Liverpool game, and he joins Sebastian Larsson (knee) on the sidelines.
Jordan Ayew and Ashley Westwood are suspended for Aston Villa’s basement battle. The midfielder and striker picked up their fifth bookings of the season late on in the 2-0 defeat at Norwich which left Villa 11 points from safety. They will be joined on the sidelines by Carlos Sanchez, who is out with a hamstring injury, and Gabriel Agbonlahor is struggling with a back problem but had already been out of favour with boss Remi Garde while Jordan Amavi (knee) remains out for the rest of the season.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4, Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L L L L; Aston Villa D L D D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) 7; Scott Sinclair (Aston Villa) 6
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).
West Brom v Stoke
Jonas Olsson and Victor Anichebe will be assessed by West Brom. The pair came off in Monday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle with hamstring injuries and remain doubtful but will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness. Salomon Rondon and James McClean complete three-match bans while Saido Berahino could start after improving his attitude following boss Tony Pulis’ claim he was lucky to make the bench against the Magpies. Ben Foster remains out with the knee injury he suffered in March.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes looks set to have the same squad available. Defender Marc Muniesa and midfielder Stephen Ireland, who have both been sidelined by hamstring problems, are nearing returns to first-team action but neither is expected to be involved at the Hawthorns. Hughes has indicated he may opt to make some adjustments having named the same starting line-up for the previous two matches, the victories over Manchester United on Boxing Day and at Everton on December 28.
Last season: West Brom 1 Stoke 0, Stoke 2 West Brom 0
Last five league matches: West Brom D D L L W; Stoke W D L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Saido Berahino, James Morrison & Salomon Rondon (West Brom) 3; Marko Arnautovic (Stoke) 7
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Watford v Manchester City (5.30pm ko)
Watford will be without Nathan Ake through suspension. The Chelsea loanee was sent off during Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham after a high challenge on Erik Lamela so will sit this game out. Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores has no new injury worries, but remains without defenders Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee).
Manchester City must continue without captain Vincent Kompany. The Belgium defender could be out for another four weeks as he continues to struggle with a calf injury. Midfielder Fabian Delph and defender Gael Clichy are both back in contention after missing Tuesday’s trip to Leicester with minor knocks, and Brazilian Fernando (hamstring) is also available again after five games out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Watford W W W D L; Man City L W L W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Odion Ighalo (Watford) 14; Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) 11
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace v Chelsea (1.30pm ko)
Crystal Palace are missing suspended midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Striker Connor Wickham and midfielder Yannick Bolasie are out with respective calf and thigh injuries. Patrick Bamford’s loan spell has come to an end so the England Under-21 forward has returned to Chelsea.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa returns from suspension. Defender Gary Cahill has a minor ankle injury but is expected to be fit for the trip to Selhurst Park. Radamel Falcao is definitely out with a recurring thigh problem and his fellow forward Loic Remy is a doubt because of a calf complaint.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 0, Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Crystal Palace D W W D D; Chelsea L L W D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace) 5; Willian (Chelsea) 7
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Everton v Tottenham (4pm ko)
James McCarthy will be missing for Everton. The Republic of Ireland international’s comeback from a hip injury against Stoke lasted just 26 minutes before he suffered a recurrence of the problem. Tom Cleverley, his replacement in that 4-3 home loss, is also doubtful because of an Achilles issue. Captain Phil Jagielka (knee) will make his return in one of the Toffees’ next three fixtures while Steven Pienaar and Bryan Oviedo (both hamstring) are also close to featuring once more.
Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele will miss out after being ruled out for up to three weeks with a groin injury. Dembele’s absence could mean a third league start for academy graduate Tom Carroll at Goodison Park while Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb are fit again and could step in. The game will come too soon for Alex Pritchard, who is close to recovering from an ankle injury, and Clinton Njie is also unavailable with a knee problem.
Last season: Everton 0 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton D D L W L; Tottenham D L W W W
Top scorers: Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 18; Harry Kane (Tottenham) 13
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
