Weekend Premier League team news

Saturday
Arsenal (4) v Manchester City (3)
Arsenal will again be without centre half Laurent Koscielny due to a calf injury while midfielder Aaron Ramsey (thigh) is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness. Full back Nacho Monreal is set to return to training following a foot injury. Germany international Mesut Ozil (hamstring) remains out, alongside Jack Wilshere (foot), Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby (both knee).

Manchester City have playmaker David Silva available but will once again be without striker Sergio Aguero. Blues boss Manuel Pellegrini has said Silva will be in the matchday squad for the contest, despite reports having suggested the Spain international was a doubt due to a problem he picked up in Tuesday’s 3-0 win at Manchester United. Aguero is not yet ready to return to action after the hamstring injury he sustained against Barcelona on March 12th, with Pellegrini indicating the Argentina frontman could make his comeback when City host Southampton on April 5th.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Man City 2, Man City 1 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W L W L D; Man City D W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 19; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 26
Match odds: H 12-5 A 21-20 D 5-2
Referee: Mike Dean

Crystal Palace (17) v Chelsea (1)
Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis will once again be relying on Glenn Murray or Cameron Jerome to lead the line with Maraoune Chamakh (hamstring) and Dwight Gayle (ankle) both still missing. Midfielder Barry Bannan will be pushing for a start having returned to the bench in last weekend's defeat at Newcastle following a spell on the sidelines through illness.

Striker Samuel Eto’o is out for Chelsea with a hamstring injury. Willian is available after serving a one-match suspension, but Ramires is banned for two more games following his dismissal in the controversial loss at Aston Villa. Left back Ashley Cole (knee) is still out and midfielder Marco van Ginkel (knee) is continuing his rehabilitation by playing for the under-21s.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Crystal Palace L D L D L; Chelsea W W W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Marouane Chamakh (Crystal Palace) 6; Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 16
Match odds: H 13-2 A 4-11 D 10-3
Referee: Lee Mason

Manchester United (7) v Aston Villa (12)
Captain Nemanja Vidic returns from suspension for Manchester United, but striker Robin van Persie remains out with a knee injury. Centre backs Chris Smalling (hamstring) and Jonny Evans (calf) are doubts.

Aston Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi is a doubt due to a thigh problem. The injury forced El Ahmadi to come off in the first half of the 4-1 home loss to Stoke last Sunday and Villa boss Paul Lambert has said the Morocco international is “struggling”. Forward Andreas Weimann had to depart the field around the same time in the Stoke match because of a dead leg but is expected to be available.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 2 Man Utd 3
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W L W L; Aston Villa D L W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 17; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 11
Match odds: H 2-5 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: Martin Atkinson

Southampton (9) v Newcastle (8)
Saints have a lengthy injury list with Jay Rodriguez (knee), Morgan Schneiderlin (hip muscles), Victor Wanyama (leg) and Steven Davis (groin) all doubts for Saturday's match. Nathaniel Clyne (groin), Kelvin Davis (hip) and Maya Yoshida (knee) are definitely absent, with the latter facing six weeks out.

Goalkeeper Tim Krul is out for Newcastle after suffering a knee injury in Tuesday night’s 3-0 home defeat by Everton and will sit out up to three games with Rob Elliot taking his place. Full back Davide Santon could return after recovering from tonsillitis, but full back Mathieu Debuchy (groin), midfielder Sammy Ameobi (ankle) and striker Loic Remy (calf), remain on the sidelines, although leading scorer Remy is due to resume full training on Monday.

Last season: Newcastle 4 Southampton 2, Southampton 2 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Southampton L L W W L; Newcastle W W L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 15; Loic Remy (Newcastle) 13
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 13-5
Referee: Andre Marriner

Stoke (10) v Hull (13)
Stoke boss Mark Hughes says winger Oussama Assaidi is unlikely to return against Hull following a knee injury. Defender Erik Pieters is likely to play however having recovered from a knock. Jon Walters is suspended but Stephen Ireland is available again.

Steve Harper is set to deputise for injured goalkeeper Allan McGregor with the Hull number one expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season. The former Newcastle veteran will fill in for McGregor, who was sent off in the midweek defeat by West Ham and also suffered kidney damage which is likely to end his campaign. Eldin Jakupovic has been recalled from his loan spell at Leyton Orient to provide cover for Harper, but Tigers boss Steve Bruce does not expect any other new injury concerns.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke L W D W W; Hull W L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Crouch (Stoke) 9; Robbie Brady, Curtis Davies, Matty Fryatt, Nikica Jelavic (Hull) 4
Match odds: H 1-1 A 12-5 D 23-10
Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Swansea (15) v Norwich (14)
Swansea head coach Garry Monk has no fresh injury concerns following the midweek draw against Arsenal. Monk looks set to field fit-again Michu and Wilfried Bony up front as Swansea look to take a considerable stride away from trouble.

Norwich will have centre half Michael Turner back in contention for the first time since New Year’s Day following a hamstring injury. On-loan Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez (calf) is also fit again and pressing for a starting place. Winger Elliott Bennett continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury, while midfielder Leroy Fer (hamstring) is also still recovering.

Last season: Norwich 2 Swansea 2, Swansea 3 Norwich 4
Last five league matches: Swansea L D L L D; Norwich W L D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 20; Gary Hooper (Norwich) 7
Match odds: H 8-11 A 18-5 D 12-5
Referee: Jon Moss

West Brom (16) v Cardiff (19)
Striker Victor Anichebe faces a fitness test on a hamstring problem. Gareth McAuley (ankle) should be fit, Morgan Amalfitano and Diego Lugano (both knee) are back in training and could feature, but Claudio Yacob and Billy Jones (both hamstring) are out. Jonas Olsson completes his two-match ban, while captain Chris Brunt (knee) remains out.

Cardiff hope winger Craig Noone could be available after he failed a fitness test ahead of last weekend’s 6-3 home defeat against Liverpool. City boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could decide to retain the team that started the Liverpool game, especially after an outstanding first-half display when they twice led the title-chasers through goals from Jordon Mutch (two) and Fraizer Campbell.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom D D L W L; Cardiff L L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Saido Berahino (West Brom) 8; Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff) 9
Match odds: H 8-11 A 18-5 D 12-5
Referee: Michael Oliver

Sunday
Fulham (20) v Everton (5)
Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou will miss out with a knee injury, as will midfielder Scott Parker. Winger Ashkan Dejagah returns after recovering from a muscle issue, while Damien Duff is out for the rest of the season because of a knee problem.

Everton captain Phil Jagielka will travel with the squad after missing the last five matches with a hamstring injury. Although he was fit earlier in the week, manager Roberto Martinez chose to leave him out for the 3-0 victory at Newcastle. Midfielder Steven Pienaar continues to be absent with a knee cartilage problem.

Last season: Everton 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 2 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Fulham D L L W L; Everton L W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Sidwell (Fulham) 7; Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 13
Match odds: H 17-5 A 4-5 D 13-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor

Liverpool (2) v Tottenham (6)
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers could stick with an unchanged side from the team which beat Sunderland in midweek, with only defender Jose Enrique (knee) unavailable.

Emmanuel Adebayor is a doubt for Tottenham. The Togolese striker will have a gash on his heel assessed before the trip to Anfield, although head coach Tim Sherwood is hopeful he will be fit to be part of the squad. Kyle Walker continues to miss out with a groin complaint, while Erik Lamela, Etienne Capoue and Vlad Chiriches remain absent, although the latter is set to play for the under-21s against Arsenal on Friday.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 2 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W W W W; Tottenham L W L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 28; Emmanuel Adebayor & Roberto Soldado (Tottenham) 11
Match odds: H 4-9 A 5-1 D 10-3
Referee: Phil Dowd

Monday
Sunderland (18) v West Ham (11)
Sunderland striker Fabio Borini will return to the squad having been ineligible to play against parent club Liverpool on Wednesday night. Fellow frontman Steven Fletcher will be missing as he continues his wait to discover the extent of his ankle injury, while goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) is still out.

Defender James Collins was forced off early in West Ham’s 2-1 win over Hull on Wednesday with a calf injury and both Winston Reid and Roger Johnson will be on standby to replace him at the Stadium of Light. Matt Jarvis (thigh) is unlikely to be fit in time to return, with Joey O’Brien (shoulder) and Marco Borriello (calf) also sidelined.

Last season: Sunderland 3 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Sunderland 1
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L D L L; West Ham W L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Johnson (Sunderland) 9; Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 7
Match odds: H 13-10 A 2-1 D 21-10
Referee: Howard Webb