Premier League team news

TODAY - Blackburn (18) v Aston Villa (4)Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce could hand a debut to El-Hadji Diouf following his arrival from Sunderland this week.

Allardyce looks likely to ring the changes following the FA Cup victory against Sunderland in midweek as his side look to stretch their unbeaten run to 10 games since he took charge.

Emile Heskey will return for Villa after being ineligible for the FA Cup replay win over Doncaster. Stiliyan Petrov is also available after serving a one-game ban for incurring five yellow cards.

Skipper Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor, former Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel and James Milner are all poised to return after being rested for the cup clash.

Last season:Aston Villa 1 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Aston Villa 4.
Last five league matches:Blackburn D D W D D; Aston Villa W W W W D.
Top scorers:Benedict McCarthy (Blackburn) 10; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 10

Chelsea (3) v Hull (11)
Chelsea are without goalkeeper Petr Cech after he sustained a back injury during last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool and he will be replaced by Hilario.

Defender Ricardo Carvalho is doubtful with a hamstring strain. Michael Essien and Joe Cole (both knee) are still sidelined for the Blues, but new loan signing from Inter Milan Ricardo Quaresma is in line for his Chelsea debut.

Hull are without striker Daniel Cousin, who will be out for at least 10 days following minor knee surgery, and record signing Jimmy Bullard is doubtful after jarring his knee.

Winger Bernard Mendy serves a one-match ban while Nick Barmby (calf) is not yet fit to return. Anthony Gardner (thigh) has been pencilled in to face Sheffield United in the FA Cup next week while George Boateng (knee) is out long term.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Chelsea D L W W L; Hull L L L L D
Top scorers:Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 17; Deiberson Geovanni & Daniel Cousin (Hull) 6

Everton (6) v Bolton (12)
On-loan striker Jo is set for his debut after his deadline day move from Manchester City. Midfielders Marouane Fellaini (back) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) are both doubts and Victor Anichebe, who reportedly had a training ground bust-up with boss David Moyes earlier this week, is not in the squad for the second match running with the manager stating the player is injured.

Tamir Cohen and Nicky Hunt have returned to training but are unlikely to feature for Bolton. Johan Elmander, Joey O’Brien and Gavin McCann all remain sidelined through injury but Elmander and McCann are making good progress.

Last season:Everton 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Everton 2
Last five league matches:Everton W W D D L; Bolton L L L D W
Top scorers:Tim Cahill (Everton) 6; Kevin Davies (Bolton) 8

Manchester City (10) v Middlesbrough (19)
Shaun Wright-Phillips is available after successfully appealing for more time to respond to his violent conduct charge following his petulant kick at Rory Delap last Saturday. Shay Given will make his debut as City look to extend a three-match unbeaten run on home soil.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is boosted by the return of midfielders Didier Digard and Gary O’Neil after both men missed the 0-0 home draw with Blackburn last weekend through suspension. Andrew Taylor and Jeremie Aliadiere (both ankle) remain on the casualty list, although the striker has resumed light training.

Last season:Middlesbrough 8 Man City 1, Man City 3 Middlesbrough 1
Last five league matches:Man City W D W W L; Middlesbrough L D L L D
Top scorers:Robinho (Man City) 12; Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 7

Portsmouth (16) v Liverpool (2)
Portsmouth's two new Greek signings Angelos Basinas and Theo Gekas are both in the squad but not guaranteed to start, while loan winger Jermaine Pennant is not allowed to figure against his parent club.

Skipper Sol Campbell has recovered from a hip injury and will take over again from Younes Kaboul, who has an ankle strain, in defence. Nadir Belhadj returns from suspension while Niko Kranjcar (groin) could be among the substitutes but Papa Bouba Diop (knee), Richard Hughes (hamstring) and Marc Wilson (hip) are still out.

Liverpool will be without Steven Gerrard and Lucas while Xabi Alonso is a doubt with an ankle injury. Skipper Gerrard is out for three weeks with a hamstring problem, while Lucas serves a one match ban after being sent off in Wednesday’s FA Cup replay defeat at Everton.

Fabio Aurelio, rested from the squad at Goodison Park, is expected to return while Javier Mascherano — a substitute in the 1-0 cup defeat — will start at Fratton Park.

Last season:Liverpool 4 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches:Portsmouth L L D L L; Liverpool W D D D W
Top scorers:Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 13; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 15

Sunderland (13) v Stoke (17)
On-loan pair Calum Davenport and Tal Ben Haim are available for selection with Anton Ferdinand battling a hip problem and Paul McShane and Nyron Nosworthy both out with hamstring injuries, while George McCartney is feeling the effects of three successive starts since his return from foot surgery.

Manager Ricky Sbragia is hoping Djibril Cisse (ankle) and Kenwyne Jones (knee) will be fit while midfielder Carlos Edwards has a slight hamstring niggle. Teemu Tainio should be available after missing the last two games with a knee problem.

Stoke will be without long-throw specialist Rory Delap who starts a three-match ban after he was sent off against Manchester City last Saturday, but Tony Pulis’ squad is bolstered by newcomers Henri Camara and Stephen Kelly. Danny Pugh will continue at left back as Danny Higginbotham remains sidelined with a calf injury.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Sunderland L D L W D; Stoke L D L L W
Top scorers:Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 10; James Beattie (Stoke) 14

West Brom (20) v Newcastle (15)
Argentinian winger Juan Carlos Menseguez could make his debut for West Brom. Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has doubts over the fitness of striker Jay Simpson while full back Gianni Zuiverloon is suspended. But midfielder James Morrison should be available despite his hamstring tightening up again at Hull last weekend.

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear could welcome back Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith from injury. Martins (hernia), Viduka (Achilles) and Smith (foot/ankle) are all back in full training after lengthy lay-offs.

New signing Ryan Taylor could be handed a debut but Jonas Gutierrez is suspended and Fabricio Coloccini and Andy Carroll (both ankle) are injury doubts.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:West Brom W L W L D; Newcastle L D L L D
Top scorers:Roman Bednar (West Brom) 6, Craig Beattie (West Brom) 6; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 10

Wigan (7) v Fulham (9)

Midfielder Charles N’Zogbia is in line for his Wigan debut after completing a move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day and is likely to fill the wide left role which belonged to Ryan Taylor, who moved in the opposite direction as part of the deal.

Winger Antonio Valencia is closer to a recall after a hamstring problem while Amr Zaki is expected to start after recovering from the knee injury which kept him out of last weekend’s goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Fulham defender Chris Baird has tonsillitis and is ruled out. Striker Diomansy Kamara (knee) has caught the eye in training but is short of match-fitness. Late decisions will be made on whether new signings Olivier Dacourt and Giles Barnes are ready for their debuts.

Last season:Fulham 1 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Fulham 1
Last five league matches:Wigan W L L D D; Fulham D D L L W
Top scorers:Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 8

SUNDAY

Tottenham (14) v Arsenal (5)
Robbie Keane will make his Tottenham return as captain, leading the Spurs attack in place of the injured Jermain Defoe (foot). Winger David Bentley misses the game against his former club through suspension and long-term absentee Alan Hutton remains on the sidelines with a foot injury.

New signing Andrei Arshavin could go straight into the Arsenal squad after the Russia international received a work permit. Midfielder Abou Diaby is out with a thigh injury, but winger Emmanuel Eboue has recovered from a similar problem. Mikael Silvestre (thigh), Eduardo (broken leg), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Cesc Fabregas (knee) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring tendon) remain sidelined.

Last season:Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 Arsenal 3
Last five league matches:Tottenham L L D W L; Arsenal W W W D D
Top scorers:Roman Pavlyuchenko & Darren Bent (Tottenham) 14; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 13

West Ham (8) v Manchester United (1)
Manager Gianfranco Zola reported no fresh injuries ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester United. Midfielder Radoslav Kovac, who has joined on loan from Spartak Moscow, is in the squad and could make the bench.

Midfielder Kieron Dyer (calf), defender Danny Gabbidon (groin) and striker Dean Ashton (ankle) remain long-term absentees.

Wes Brown is expected to make his first Premier League start since October as Manchester United look to record their 13th successive clean sheet. Brown has made two substitute appearances since an ankle operation but with Gary Neville still laid low by a virus, the England defender is likely to replace his captain at right back. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra return after hamstring and foot injuries respectively, although neither is likely to be in the starting XI.

Last season:Man Utd 4 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches:West Ham W W D W D; Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers:Carlton Cole (West Ham) 10; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 14