Festive Premier League team news

Aston Villa (3) v Arsenal (5):Aston Villa have doubts over defenders Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar. Laursen has felt some discomfort in his knee and Zat Knight has been put on alert to start if the Danish international is ruled out. Cuellar was forced off against West Ham after a heavy challenge but manager Martin O'Neill is optimistic he will be fit to return - Nigel Reo-Coker will deputise at right-back if Cuellar fails to recover in time.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is suspended and Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring tendon) are out, while striker Nicklas Bendtner missed the last game with a knee complaint. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could take the captain's armband.

Last season: Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W W W; Arsenal L W W D D
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 10; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 11
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Chelsea (2) v West Brom (20)

Chelsea are without suspended captain John Terry, while Michael Essien (knee) and Florent Malouda (thigh strain) are still sidelined. Defender Ricardo Carvalho, on the brink of full fitness, is unlikely to figure after recently returning to training after a knee injury.

West Brom skipper Jonathan Greening is fit after suffering a bout of double vision against Manchester City. Playmaker Borja Valero (flu) is set to miss out while Felipe Teixeira (calf) is unlikely to figure.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Chelsea D L W D D; West Brom L L D L W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16; Roman Bednar & Craig Beattie (West Brom) 5
Match odds: H 1-7 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)

Liverpool (1) v Bolton (9)

Fernando Torres could figure in Liverpool's holiday programme, and may even be on the bench on St Stephen's Day, having missed the last five games with a recurrence of a hamstring problem. Javier Mascherano is also available again while defender Martin Skrtel is close to a comeback after a serious knee injury.

Bolton boss Gary Megson should again select from an unchanged squad. Joey O'Brien and Tamir Cohen are still sidelined with thigh injuries - Cohen is close to a return while O'Brien is targeting early in the New Year for a comeback.

Last season: Bolton 1 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 4 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool D D W D D; Bolton W W L L W
Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 11; Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander & Matt Taylor (Bolton) 5
Match odds: H 1-3 A 7-1 D 3-1
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

Man City (18) v Hull (6)

Record buy Robinho will give City a timely lift when he returns from an ankle problem. Daniel Sturridge has also returned to training but will not be ready, striker Benjani Mwaruwari misses out with a thigh strain, while Darius Vassell faces a late fitness test on a toe injury.

Hull have problems at left-back with Sam Ricketts suspended and Andy Dawson (Achilles) unfit to return - Nathan Doyle may come in for his first league appearance of the season. Right-back Paul McShane is available to return after the terms of his loan deal precluded him from playing against the Wearsiders, Craig Fagan may be on the bench after recovering from a broken leg but Anthony Gardner (thigh) and Caleb Folan (knee) miss out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City W L D L L; Hull D D W D L
Top scorers: Robinho (Man City) 9; Geovanni (Hull) 6
Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Middlesbrough (14) v Everton (7)

Boro midfielder Gary O'Neil has a chance of being involved after returning from a hamstring injury. However, Didier Digard (groin) is unlikely to make either Friday's game or the trip to Manchester United.

Everton are sweating on the fitness of Leon Osman (foot) and Joseph Yobo (hamstring). Both were injured during the goalless draw against Chelsea. Louis Saha (hamstring) and Victor Anichebe (back) will miss out.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Everton 2, Everton 2 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L D L D L; Everton L W L W D
Top scorers: Mido (Middlesbrough) 5; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5
Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Portsmouth (10) v West Ham (17)

Pompey defender Glen Johnson has been ruled out after his bid to return from an ankle injury was ended when he broke down in training on Monday. Midfielder John Utaka (hamstring) is fit again, as is defender Younes Kaboul (ankle). Linvoy Primus is back at the club after a loan spell at Charlton but won't feature.

Valon Behrami, Scott Parker, Matthew Etherington and James Collins and could all be in contention for West Ham. Behrami should be over a minor back problem, while Parker is expected to recover from a slight muscle problem. Etherington has recovered from a virus, while Collins is back in contention after recovering from a calf injury but he faces stiff competition to regain his place from Calum Davenport.

Last season: West Ham 0 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 0 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D W D L L; West Ham W D L D L
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 12; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4
Match odds: H 23-20 A 19-10 D 11-5
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)

Stoke (15) v Man Utd (4)

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen should return after injuring his fingers last week. Stoke still have a string of other injury concerns, however, with Andy Griffin (knee), Salif Diao (calf), Leon Cort (groin) and Dave Kitson (knee) all doubtful. Mamady Sidibe (knee) and Liam Lawrence (ankle) remain definite absentees.

United defender Patrice Evra starts a four-match suspension and is likely to be replaced by John O'Shea. Manager Alex Ferguson has no other injury or suspension concerns.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke W D D D L; Man Utd W D W W D
Top scorers: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6; Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 10
Match odds: H 7-1 A 3-10 D 10-3
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Sunderland (13) v Blackburn (19)

Caretaker Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will make a late check on striker El-Hadji Diouf, who has just returned to training after being given a week's leave to be with his wife as she gave birth. Sbragia otherwise has no fresh selection problems.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is likely to select from the same squad that beat Stoke. Striker Roque Santa Cruz has not recovered from a calf injury, meaning Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts continue up front. Midfielder Vince Grella has recovered from a hamstring injury but is now sidelined by a virus.

Last season: Blackburn 1 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L L W W; Blackburn L L L L W
Top scorers: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 8; Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 6
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Tottenham (16) v Fulham (8)

Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas could return following his calf injury. Centre-backs Ledley King (knee) and Jonathan Woodgate (back) will need late checks, while Darren Bent (tonsilitis) should be available. Alan Hutton (foot) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) are sidelined.

Fulham are without Zoltan Gera for two weeks with a calf injury. Long-term knee injury victim Andranik Teymourian has returned to training but will not feature, while striker Diomansy Kamara (knee) is out.

Last season: Tottenham 5 Fulham 1, Fulham 3 Tottenham 3
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L W D L; Fulham D D D D W
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Tottenham) 12; Andrew Johnson & Danny Murphy (Fulham) 4
Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Wigan (11) v Newcastle (12)

Defender Emmerson Boyce returns to Wigan's squad after recovering from a torn hamstring, while midfielder Wilson Palacios is available after suspension.

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear will be without strikers Obafemi Martins (groin) and Shola Ameobi (hamstring). They join Joey Barton (knee), Alan Smith (foot) and Igancio Gonzalez (Achilles) on the sidelines.

Last season: Wigan 1 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Wigan D W W L W; Newcastle D D D W W
Top scorers: Amr Zaki (Wigan) 9; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 9
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).