Soccer

The weekend’s Premier League team news

Raphael Varane could return for Man United as they bid to bounce back against Spurs

Raphael Varane could return for Manchester United against Spurs. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty

Fri Oct 29 2021 - 17:27

Saturday October 30th (kick-offs 3pm unless stated otherwise)

Leicester (9) v Arsenal (10) - 12.30pm

Jamie Vardy will be back in the Leicester squad, having sat out the Carabao Cup win against Brighton due to a knee problem. Ricardo Pereira and Ayoze Perez will be assessed. Pereira experienced some tightness after the game in midweek while Perez has been ill.

Arsenal are dealing with a sickness bug within the squad. Pablo Mari was unable to play in the Carabao Cup win over Leeds having been struck down with illness and Benjamin White came off during the game with the same issue. Granit Xhaka (knee) is out while there will be a late fitness test for Kieran Tierney (ankle).

Last season: Leicester 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 0 Leicester 1

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Last five league matches: Leicester L D D W W; Arsenal W W D D W

Top scorers: Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 7; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 7

Match odds: H 6-4 D 12-5 A 9-5

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Burnley (18) v Brentford (12)

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has no fresh injury concerns. Ben Mee returned from illness for the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham and is in contention to feature again. Reserve goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey missed that match with an ankle problem and could be sidelined again, while Dale Stephens is still not match fit following injury.

Brentford will be without first-choice goalkeeper David Raya, with on-loan Alvaro Fernandez set to deputise. Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo will both be assessed, with manager Thomas Frank hopeful the pair could be fit.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Burnley L D D L D; Brentford W D W L L

Top scorers: Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) 4; Yoane Wissa (Brentford) 5 & Marcus Forss (Brentford) 5

Match odds: H 13-8 D 23-10 A 17-10

Referee: Jonathan Moss (County Durham)

Liverpool (2) v Brighton (5)

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita looks set to be involved despite being carried off on a stretcher against Manchester United with a leg injury. Thiago Alcantara is back in full training for the first time since mid-September but is unlikely to feature, while Fabinho (knee) and James Milner (hamstring) are absent.

Brighton are without Dan Burn, who suffered a heavy fall and injured a knee during the Carabao Cup game at Leicester. Yves Bissouma will be available following his substitute appearance in the cup after more than a month out with a knee problem.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Brighton 1, Brighton 1 Liverpool 1

Last five league matches: Liverpool W D D W W; Brighton W D D D L

Top scorers: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 15; Neal Maupay (Brighton) 4

Match odds: H 1-4 D 5-1 A 12-1

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Man City (3) v Crystal Palace (15)

Manchester City should have a near fully-fit squad to choose from. Raheem Sterling returned from a back problem to play in City’s penalty shoot-out defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup, meaning Ferran Torres is the only long-term absentee.

Crystal Palace will make a late decision on the fitness of Wilfried Zaha. He started on the bench against Newcastle after missing the final match before the international break through illness. Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson are still out.

Last season: Crystal Palace 0 Man City 2, Man City 4 Crystal Palace 0

Last five league matches: Man City D W D W W; Crystal Palace L D D D D

Top scorers: Riyad Mahrez (Man City) 7; Odsonne Edouard (Crystal Palace) 6

Match odds: H 1-6 D 13-2 A 16-1

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Newcastle (19) v Chelsea (1)

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is back in contention after suspension. Goalkeeper Martin Debravka could also be recalled after a foot injury. Paul Dummett (calf) and Elliot Anderson (hip) both remain sidelined.

Chelsea will still be without both Timo Werner (hamstring) and Romelu Lukaku (ankle), with boss Thomas Tuchel hoping to have the pair back after the November international break. Mateo Kovacic (hamstring) is absent while Christian Pulisic (ankle) is back in training but will not be in contention until next weekend.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2

Last five league matches: Newcastle D D L L D; Chelsea W L W W W

Top scorers: Callum Wilson (Newcastle) 4; Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) 4

Match odds: H 8-1 D 19-5 A 4-11

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

Watford (14) v Southampton (16)

Watford will welcome back Danny Rose following his recovery from a minor calf injury that saw him miss the trip to Everton, but Kiko Femenia remains a doubt with a hip problem. Emmanuel Dennis is suspended after picking up five yellow cards.

Southampton will be without Armando Broja due to an ankle issue. James Ward-Prowse returns from a three-game suspension while Mohamed Elyounoussi is set to recover from minor hand surgery in time.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Watford W D L L W; Southampton D L L W D

Top scorers: Ismaila Sarr (Watford) 4; Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton) 4 & Armando Broja (Southampton) 4

Match odds: H 11-5 D 23-10 A 13-10

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)

Tottenham Hotspur (6) v Man Utd (7) - 5.30pm

Tottenham are assessing Bryan Gil, who is a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup win at Burnley. Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) is the only confirmed absentee.

Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba as he begins a three-match domestic suspension following his red card in the loss to Liverpool. Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, who have missed United’s last three matches due to injury, could each make a return to action.

Last season: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Man Utd 3, Man Utd 1 Tottenham Hotspur 6

Last five league matches: Tottenham Hotspur L L W W L; Man Utd W L D L L

Top scorers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 5; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 6

Match odds: H 15-8 D 5-2 A 11-8

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Sunday October 31st

Aston Villa (13) v West Ham (4)

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez is expected to play after returning from Argentina following a family emergency involving his father. Villa are monitoring the fitness of Leon Bailey, while Keinan Davis is fit again. Morgan Sanson and Jaden Philogene-Bidace will both miss out through illness.

Declan Rice and Michail Antonio return for West Ham having been rested for the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out win over Manchester City. Vladimir Coufal (groin) is fit and Alex Kral is also available after a period of self-isolation. Ryan Fredericks is now the only injury absentee.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 West Ham 3, West Ham 2 Aston Villa 1

Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W L L L; West Ham L W L W W

Top scorers: Cameron Archer (Aston Villa) 4; Michail Antonio (West Ham) 7

Match odds: H 9-5 D 5-2 A 29-20

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)

Norwich (20) v Leeds (17)

Norwich will be without suspended defender Ben Gibson, while on-loan midfielder Billy Gilmour is back in contention after he was ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea. Todd Cantwell (Achilles and ankle) is not yet available, while full-back Sam Byram (hamstring) and centre-back Christoph Zimmermann (ankle) are also out.

Leeds are still without Patrick Bamford (ankle) but Raphinha is fit. Left-back Junior Firpo is also back in contention after recovering from a muscle strain which kept him out for three games. Luke Ayling is still unavailable following minor knee surgery.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Norwich L L D D L; Leeds D L W L D

Top scorers: Josh Sargent (Norwich) 4; Raphael Raphinha (Leeds) 3

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

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Monday November 1st

Wolverhampton (11) v Everton (8)

Wolves will have defender Willy Boly back in contention. The Ivory Coast international, who is yet to make a top-flight appearance this term, missed the draw at Leeds through illness. Wanderers remain without Marcal (calf), Pedro Neto and Jonny (both knee), while Yerson Mosquera (hamstring) will not play again in 2021.

Richarlison could return to Everton’s starting line-up after a goalscoring substitute appearance in the collapse against Watford. Fabian Delph (shoulder) is back in training but Yerry Mina (thigh) is not expected to feature. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Andre Gomes (calf) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot) are absent.

Last season: Everton 1 Wolverhampton 0, Wolverhampton 1 Everton 2

Last five league matches: Wolverhampton L W W W D; Everton L W D L L

Top scorers: Hee-Chan Hwang (Wolverhampton) 4; Andros Townsend (Everton) 5

Match odds: H 6-5 D 23-10 A 12-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

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