Saturday, October 29
Chelsea (3) v Arsenal (7)
John Terry looks set to lead out Chelsea, with manager Andre Villas-Boas having no concerns about the defender’s state of mind in the midst of the racism inquiry faced by his captain. Ramires is fit to return following a knee injury, Fernando Torres is set to start a domestic match for the first time in more than a month following his three-game ban, Didier Drogba is still suspended, as is Ross Turnbull, while Hilario has flu.
Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is expected to be available for Arsenal. The Belgian limped out of the midweek Carling Cup win over Bolton on his return from an ankle injury, but that was only due to cramp in his calf. Full-back Carl Jenkinson (knee) faces a late fitness test, but Kieran Gibbs (stomach) remains out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere and full-back Bacary Sagna (all ankle).
Last season: Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea L W W W L; Arsenal L W L W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Frank Lampard & Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) 5; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 9
Match odds: H 6-10 A 4-1 D 16-5
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Everton (13) v Manchester United (2)
Everton will be without Phil Neville and Tim Cahill. Captain Neville was taken off at half-time in Wednesday’s Carling Cup defeat to Chelsea due to a hamstring problem, while Cahill completed the full game but was carrying an injury. Another absentee will be Royston Drenthe, who was sent off against Chelsea and serves a one-match suspension.
Winger Ashley Young is a doubt for Manchester United due to a toe injury. However centre-back Nemanja Vidic and midfielder Tom Cleverley are both in contention after playing against Aldershot in the Carling Cup in midweek. Full-back Rafael is in training after an operation on a shoulder injury but not ready for a first-team return.
Last season: Manchester United 1 Everton 0, Everton 3 Manchester United 3
Last five league matches: Everton W L L L W; Manchester United W D W D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Apostolos Vellios, Louis Saha & Royston Drenthe (Everton) 2; Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 11
Match odds: H 16-5 A 5-6 D 13-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Manchester City (1) v Wolves (16)
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to revert to a full-strength line-up after making 11 changes for the Carling Cup win over Wolves at Molineux. The likes of Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero had a night off. Midfielder Owen Hargreaves (calf) is ruled out while controversial striker Carlos Tevez is unlikely to be recalled.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has no fresh injury problems for the second meeting with City in four days. McCarthy, whose side lost 5-2 at home to City in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, will again be without Steven Fletcher (calf), defender Ronald Zubar (groin), and winger Kevin Foley (ankle).
Last season: Manchester City 4 Wolves 3, Wolves 2 Manchester City 1
Last five league matches: Manchester City D W W W W; Wolves L L L L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) 11; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 3
Match odds: H 1-5 A 12-1 D 11-2
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Norwich (8) v Blackburn (20)
Norwich have no fresh injury worries. Captain Grant Holt is pressing for a recall after coming off the bench to net an equaliser at Liverpool last weekend. Centre-back Zak Whitbread continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Striker James Vaughan, defenders Elliott Ward and Daniel Ayala (all knee) are long-terms absentees.
Defender Scott Dann is available for Blackburn after recovering from a calf injury, and midfielder Steven Nzonzi returns from suspension. Vince Grella (hip), Ryan Nelsen (knee), Michel Salgado (hamstring), and David Dunn (calf) remain out of action.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Norwich W W L W D; Blackburn W L L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Anthony Pilkington (Norwich) 3; Ruben Rochina (Blackburn) 5
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-4 D 12-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Sunderland (14) v Aston Villa (11)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce could name the same side that beat Bolton last weekend. Teenage striker Connor Wickham impressed on his first Premier League start while Phil Bardsley had to settle for a place on the bench after a four-match ban. Titus Bramble is suspended by the club, while Craig Gordon and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.
On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has been included in the Aston Villa squad. Jenas has yet to make his debut for Villa because of thigh and Achilles problems. Full-back Alan Hutton has recovered from the head wound which required seven stitches against West Brom last weekend but midfielder
Barry Bannan has been suspended by the club after he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland W L D L W; Aston Villa D D W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) 3; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 4
Match odds: H 23-20 A 12-5 D 23-10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Swansea (15) v Bolton (18)
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to name an unchanged side after last week’s draw at Wolves. Midfielder Kemy Agustien is in training following a hamstring problem but not ready to play, while defender Steven Caulker (knee) is also out. Wayne Routledge is likely to be on the bench again after the
midfield trio of Mark Gower, Joe Allen and Leon Britton impressed at Wolves.
Bolton defender Dedryck Boyata is a major injury doubt due to an ankle problem that he picked up in the league game against Sunderland last weekend. The likes of Fabrice Muamba and Mark Davies will be hoping to keep their places after coming into the team and impressing in the midweek League Cup game against Arsenal.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Swansea W L W L D; Bolton L L L W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Danny Graham (Swansea) 3; Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 3
Match odds: H 21-20 A 5-2 D 5-2
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
West Brom (12) v Liverpool (6)
West Brom will be without striker Shane Long who will be sidelined for six weeks with the knee injury suffered during last weekend’s clash with Aston Villa. Somen Tchoyi and Simon Cox will be vying to partner Peter Odemwingie up front. Midfielders Paul Scharner and Graham Dorrans (both knee) and winger Jerome Thomas (foot) are expected to be fit.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is an injury doubt. Suarez limped off towards the end with an ankle problem after scoring both goals for the Reds in the 2-1 Carling Cup victory at Stoke on Wednesday. Manager Kenny Dalglish made eight changes for the tie at the Britannia Stadium and the likes of Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson are set to return to the starting XI.
Last season: West Brom 2 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 West Brom 0
Last five league matches: West Brom L D D W W; Liverpool L W W D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Shane Long (West Brom) 3; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 7
Match odds: H 11-4 A 1-1 D 12-5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Wigan (19) v Fulham (17)
Wigan’s leading scorer Franco Di Santo and midfielder James McCarthy could return to action. Both players missed last week’s defeat by Newcastle with hamstring problems but have trained this week with the rest of the squad. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland (back) is ruled out.
Fulham defender Aaron Hughes will miss the game after being ruled out for a couple of weeks with a thigh injury picked up during last week’s defeat by Everton. Fellow centre-back Philippe Senderos was today having a thigh injury of his own assessed, while Orlando Sa (hamstring) and Simon Davies (knee) are out.
Last season: Wigan 1 Fulham 1, Fulham 2 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Wigan L L L L L; Fulham D D W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 3; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 9
Match odds: H 19-10 A 29-20 D 9-4
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Sunday, October 30
Tottenham (5) v QPR (10)
Tottenham defender William Gallas will have a fitness test on his calf injury. Midfielder Steven Pienaar could make his first appearance of the campaign after recovering from a groin problem while Ledley King faces a late test to see if he is fit to play following his groin injury. Michael Dawson (Achilles), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Vedran Corluka (foot) are all unavailable.
QPR manager Neil Warnock could select the starting line-up that defeated Chelsea last Sunday, while Danny Gabbidon and Armand Traore may be drafted into the squad. Gabbidon has been out since victory at Wolves with a knee injury and Traore has had a thigh complaint, but both trained today.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Tottenham W W W D W; QPR W D L D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 6; Heidar Helguson (QPR) 2
Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 15-4
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Monday, October 31
Stoke (9) v Newcastle (4)
Jonathan Woodgate could start against his former club Newcastle after returning from a three-game absence to face Liverpool in the Carling Cup. Woodgate had been sidelined with a calf problem. Jermaine Pennant might also be involved having appeared as a second-half replacement against the Reds following a hamstring injury. Striker Mamady Sidibe is facing another spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.
Newcastle could include midfielder Cheik Tiote and defender Steven Taylor from the start. Taylor, who broke his nose in last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Wigan, is the more likely to play, possibly with a mask, while Tiote is battling to recover from a knee injury. Striker Shola Ameobi has been ruled out for at least a month with a hamstring problem.
Last season: Stoke 4 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Stoke 2
Last five league matches: Stoke L D L W L; Newcastle D W W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 5; Demba Ba (Newcastle) 5
Match odds: H 23-20 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
