SATURDAY
Burnley (19) v Southampton (5), 3.0pm - Live Setanta Sports 1
Striker Sam Vokes is still not ready to be considered for Burnley. The Wales international, who has not featured since March because of a knee injury, played 90 minutes for the development squad in midweek but will not be brought in for first-team action just yet. Centre back Michael Duff looks set to miss a fourth game with his calf problem while Stephen Ward (ankle) and Matt Taylor (Achilles) are still some way off.
Southampton expect to have midfielder Toby Alderweireld back from a hamstring problem while James Ward-Prowse is also set to be in the squad after resuming full training following two months out with an ankle problem. Morgan Schneiderlin, however, is missing with a groin injury. Forward Jay Rodriguez has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a knee problem, so remains out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Burnley W W D D L; Southampton W D L L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Danny Ings (Burnley) 4; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 10
Match odds: H 4-1 A 3-4 D 5-2
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Chelsea (1) v Hull (18), 3.0pm
Goalkeeper Petr Cech will make his first league start of the season after Thibaut Courtois suffered a minor injury in training. Playmaker Cesc Fabregas will serve a one-match suspension as Jose Mourinho reverts to the majority of his first-choice line-up. Defender John Terry and forwards Eden Hazard and Willian were rested for the midweek defeat of Sporting Lisbon, which saw Mourinho make six changes to the side which lost for the first time this season last weekend at Newcastle.
Hull captain Curtis Davies could be handed a recall. The central defender has been dropped for the last two matches but manager Steve Bruce could revert to a back three at Stamford Bridge, opening up a vacancy at the back. Gaston Ramirez has completed a three-game ban, but fellow loanee Hatem Ben Arfa is set to continue his exile from the squad.
Last season: Hull 0 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Hull 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W D W L; Hull L L L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Diego Costa (Chelsea) 11; Mohamed Diame & Nikica Jelavic (Hull) 4
Match odds: H 2-11 A 16-1 D 11-2
Referee: Chris Foy
Crystal Palace (15) v Stoke (13), 3.0pm
Crystal Palace's Republic of Ireland defender Damien Delaney could return to the Eagles starting line-up. Delaney was on the bench for the goalless draw against Tottenham last weekend but is now considered fully fit, having recovered from a calf injury. Midfielder Jason Puncheon will be assessed after missing training on Thursday through illness while Joe Ledley (hip) and Adrian Mariappa (knee) are both ruled out.
Stoke are likely to be without defender Marc Muniesa after the Spaniard tweaked his hamstring during last weekend’s victory over Arsenal and is set to be replaced by either Marc Wilson or Robert Huth, both of whom are fit after injury. Striker Jonathan Walters has an ongoing problem with his knee but is expected to feature while Steve Sidwell, Peter Odemwingie (both knee), Victor Moses (thigh) and Dionatan Teixeira (broken foot) are all sidelined.
Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Stoke 0, Stoke 2 Crystal Palace 1
Last five league matches: Crystal Palace L W D L D; Stoke W L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) 6; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 6
Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee: Kevin Friend
Leicester (20) v Manchester City (2), 3.0pm
Kasper Schmeichel has been ruled out for at least six weeks for Leicester after breaking a metatarsal in training. Ben Hamer will deputise in goal but boss Nigel Pearson will look to sign a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window. Captain Wes Morgan returns from suspension, Ritchie de Laet is available after illness, Leonardo Ulloa (leg) is fit, Dean Hammond (calf) is back in training and Matt Upson is close to a return after a long-term foot injury but will not play.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is set to return for the champions. The Belgian defender was not risked for the midweek Champions League victory at Roma after a spell out with a hamstring injury. Playmaker David Silva could start after returning from a knee injury as a substitute in Rome, while midfielder Yaya Toure is available after his European suspension. City must continue without star striker Sergio Aguero, who is out with a knee injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester L D L L L; Man City D W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester) 6; Sergio Aguero (Man City) 19
Match odds: H 11-2 A 4-9 D 15-4
Referee: Jon Moss
Sunderland (14) v West Ham (4)
Steven Fletcher could return to the Sunderland starting line-up. The Scot was an unused substitute in last week's goalless draw at Liverpool after limping off during the defeat to Manchester City with a back injury, but is fit to return. Sebastian Coates is available again after being ineligible for the trip to Anfield, but Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle) and Billy Jones (hamstring) are both still ruled out.
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble is Sam Allardyce’s only injury concern. The 27-year-old recently broke the record for Premier League appearances for a Hammers player but will not add to his tally due to a problem with his Achilles tendon. Allardyce has a selection headache in attack with Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Carlton Cole and Mauro Zarate all fully fit and in contention to feature against the Black Cats.
Last season: Sunderland 1 West Ham 2, West Ham 0 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland D D D L D; West Ham D L W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 4; Diafra Sakho (West Ham) 8
Match odds: H 8-5 A 17-10 D 23-10
Referee: Phil Dowd
West Brom (16) v Aston Villa (11), 3.0pm
Captain Chris Brunt will again miss out for West Brom after failing to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered in last week's 2-1 defeat to West Ham. Jonas Olsson is out following an operation on his Achilles but Saido Berahino is set for a recall after being dropped to the bench for the goalless draw at Hull and Claudio Yacob is available following a ban.
Aston Villa pair Ron Vlaar and Fabian Delph could be in contention at the Hawthorns. Captain and central defender Vlaar has been out since early November with a calf injury while England midfielder Delph dislocated his shoulder in October but both have returned to training and may make surprise returns. Tom Cleverley (bruised foot) is a doubt and fellow midfielder Ashley Westwood will miss around a month with a knee injury. Forward Andreas Weimann returns from suspension but defenders Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker remain out, as does midfielder Joe Cole.
Last season: Aston Villa 4 West Brom 3, West Brom 2 Aston Villa 2
Last five league matches: West Brom L L L L D; Aston Villa D D D W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Saido Berahino (West Brom) 8; Gabriel Agbonlahor & Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa) 3
Match odds: H 11-10 A 13-5 D 9-4
Referee: Mike Dean
Arsenal (6) v Newcastle (7), 5.30pm - Live Sky Sports 1
Arsenal will be without midfielder Aaron Ramsey due to a hamstring problem. Defenders Laurent Koscielny (calf), Nacho Monreal (ankle) and Calum Chambers (suspended) are all unavailable, so right back Mathieu Debuchy could be asked to move over to the centre. Captain Mikel Arteta (calf), Theo Walcott (groin), Mesut Ozil (knee), goalkeeper David Ospina (thigh), Abou Diaby (calf) and Jack Wilshere all continue their rehabilitation.
Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini is set to be passed fit. Boss Alan Pardew is closely monitoring the Argentinian’s recovery from a hamstring injury but is keen to make the minimum of changes from last weekend’s win over leaders Chelsea. Daryl Janmaat is also available after shrugging off a minor problem but Moussa Sissoko and Steven Taylor are suspended and Rolando Aarons is ruled out for a month with a hamstring strain.
Last season: Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal L L W W L; Newcastle W W L D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 14; Papiss Cisse (Newcastle) 7
Match odds: H 4-9 A 6-1 D 10-3
Referee: Lee Mason
SUNDAY
Manchester United (3) v Liverpool (9) - 1.30pm, Live Sky Sports 1
Angel di Maria has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and will not be in the United matchday squad this weekend. The good news for manager Louis van Gaal is that defenders Rafael and Phil Jones are both back from their long-term groin and shin injuries.
Striker Mario Balotelli is back in training and could return to the squad. The Italy forward has been sidelined since November 8th because of a groin problem sustained on international duty. Midfielder Adam Lallana will be in the squad despite breaking two ribs just over a week ago while centre back Kolo Toure is expected to have recovered from a groin injury which kept him out of the midweek Champions League draw against Basle.
Last season: Man Utd 0 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 1 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Liverpool L L W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 6; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 5
Match odds: H 5-6 A 16-5 D 13-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Swansea (8) v Tottenham (10) – 4.0pm, Live Sky Sports 1
German goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel will make his first league start since May for Swansea. Tremmel deputises for the suspended Lukasz Fabianski, who was sent off in Swansea's 3-1 defeat at West Ham last weekend and subsequently lost his appeal against his red card. Defender Neil Taylor returns after missing out at Upton Park because of suspension and Argentinian central defender Federico Fernandez is available after being sidelined for six weeks with calf trouble.
Emmanuel Adebayor will again be absent for Tottenham. The Togo striker returned to Africa before Thursday’s Europa League match against Besiktas due to personal reasons and is unavailable once more this weekend. Jan Vertonghen, Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and Christian Eriksen come back into contention after being rested for the trip to Turkey, while Kyle Naughton should be fit after a heel injury. Eric Dier is also expected to be okay after a toe complaint ruled him out on Thursday, while Kyle Walker could make his Premier League comeback after coming through 75 minutes of the 1-0 defeat unscathed.
Last season: Swansea 1 Tottenham 3, Tottenham 1 Swansea 0
Last five league matches: Swansea W L D W L; Tottenham L W W L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 7; Harry Kane (Tottenham) 11
Match odds: H 6-4 A 7-4 D 23-10
Referee: Robert Madley
MONDAY
Everton (12) v QPR (17) – 8.0pm, Live Sky Sports 1
John Stones could make an unexpected comeback for Everton. The 20-year-old defender, who sustained an ankle injury against Manchester United on October 5th, is back in training ahead of schedule and in contention for a place in the squad. Steven Naismith, James McCarthy (both hamstring) and Darron Gibson (knee) will also be given a chance to prove their fitness, but midfielder Gareth Barry is suspended and Christian Atsu's hamstring injury is still being assessed.
QPR striker Charlie Austin is suspended after he was sent off in last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Burnley. Defender Steven Caulker is fit despite needing hospital treatment on a cut sustained to his head while falling over during a social gathering with team-mates last Sunday.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Everton D W L D L; QPR D L W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 7; Charlie Austin (QPR) 8
Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 10-3
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
