Premier League Team News

Arsenal (7) v West Brom (13)

Robin van Persie will return to the Arsenal starting line-up while Arsene Wenger is without Marouane Chamakh (knee), Kieran Gibbs (stomach), Abou Diaby (hamstring), Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna (both ankle).

West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner has been ruled out with a knee ligament problem. Roy Hodgson will check on the fitness of striker Peter Odemwingie (knee) but Shane Long is again unavailable with a knee injury.

Last season: West Brom 2 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 2 West Brom 3

Last five league matches: Arsenal W L W W W; West Brom D D W W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 12; Shane Long (West Brom) 3

Match odds: H 4-9 A 6-1 D 7-2

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Aston Villa (9) v Norwich (8)

Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan is available after a club suspension while Jermaine Jenas is also available after recovering from thigh and calf problems.

Norwich have no new problems as Zak Whitbread continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Striker James Vaughan, defenders Elliott Ward and Daniel  Ayala (all knee) are long-term absentees.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W L L D; Norwich W L W D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 4; Anthony Pilkington & Grant Holt (Norwich) 3

Match odds: H 5-6 A 16-5 D 13-5

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Blackburn (18) v Chelsea (4)

Blackburn have no fresh injury worries. Midfielder David Dunn is back in contention after recovering from a calf injury and Junior Hoilett has recovered after suffering a tightening of his hamstring last weekend. Ryan Nelsen (knee), Michel Salgado (hamstring), Scott Dann (calf) and Vince Grella (hip) are  still ruled out.

John Terry looks set to return to the Chelsea side after the Blues and England captain was an unused substitute in Tuesday night’s Champions League draw at Genk. John Obi Mikel has overcome a back problem, while Hilario (flu) and the suspended Didier Drogba (arm) will return after the international break.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Chelsea 2

Last five league matches: Blackburn L L D L D; Chelsea W W W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Ruben Rochina (Blackburn) 5; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 6

Match odds: H 6-1 A 4-9 D 17-5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Liverpool (6) v Swansea (10)

Reds captain Steven Gerrard misses the visit of Swansea after being ruled out for the next fortnight with an ankle infection. Gerrard’s absence means midfielder Jordan Henderson, who deputised in last week’s win at West Brom, is likely to keep his place. Defender Jamie Carragher’s calf injury, which forced him to miss the match at The Hawthorns, will be assessed late on to see whether the centre-back is ready to return.

Kemy Agustien is back for Swansea after a hamstring problem but the game comes too soon for Stephen Dobbie, who is likely to return following the international break after an ankle injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Liverpool W W D D W; Swansea L W L D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 7; Danny Graham (Swansea) 4

Match odds: H 7-20 A 8-1 D 19-5

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Man Utd (2) v Sunderland (14)

Skipper Nemanja Vidic returns for Manchester United but Michael Owen (thigh) joins Ashley Young (toe), Ryan Giggs (hamstring), Chris Smalling (foot) and Tom Cleverley (ankle) on the sidelines.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will make a late decision on midfielder David Vaughan (groin). Keeper Simon Mignolet is out for at least eight weeks with a fractured nose and eye socket while John O’Shea (hamstring) will miss out against his former club.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 0 Man Utd 0

Last five league matches: Man Utd D W D L W; Sunderland L D L W D

Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 12; Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) 3

Match odds: H 1-4 A 10-1 D 5-1

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Newcastle (3) v Everton (16)

Newcastle’s Gabriel Obertan will miss out through illness. Cheik Tiote (knee) remains a doubt, while Shola Ameobi (hamstring) will be out for several weeks yet.

Marouane Fellaini is suspended for Everton but Royston Drenthe returns having served a one-match ban. Phil Neville (hamstring), Sylvain Distin and midfielder Tim Cahill, both carrying knocks, will all have late fitness tests.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Everton 2, Everton 0 Newcastle 1

Last five league matches: Newcastle W W D W W; Everton L L L W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Demba Ba (Newcastle) 8; Royston Drenthe, Louis Saha & Apostolos Vellios (Everton) 2

Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-4 D 9-4

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

QPR (12) v Man City (1)

QPR are struggling to fill their bench. Shaun Derry is out with a groin problem, Akos Buzsaky has an Achilles complaint, Rob Hulse is sidelined with a knee injury and DJ Campbell is missing to foot damage. However, Kieron Dyer (foot) could return while Adel Taarabt (illness) may play.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is suspended while playmaker David Silva will be assessed after being substituted during the midweek Champions League win at Villarreal with a back injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: QPR D L D W L; Man City W W W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Heidar Helguson (QPR) 2; Edin Dzeko (Man City) 12

Match odds: H 15-2 A 4-11 D 19-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Sunday, November 6

Bolton (19) v Stoke (11)

Ricardo Gardner joins the list of absentees for Bolton as he is suspended. Boss Owen Coyle, without long-term injured Tyrone Mears, Lee Chung-yong, Stuart Holden, Sean Davis and Sam Ricketts, has no fresh concerns going into the game.

Stoke will assess muscle injury victims Ryan Shawcross and Marc Wilson while Matthew Etherington (back), Jermaine Pennant and Rory Delap are doubts.

Last season: Stoke 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 2 Stoke 1

Last five league matches: Bolton L L W L L; Stoke D L W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 3; Kenwyne Jones & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 5

Match odds: H 29-20 A 9-5 D 12-5

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Fulham (15) v Tottenham (5)

Fulham captain Danny Murphy is a slight doubt with a minor knee complaint. Orlando Sa (hamstring), Philippe Senderos and Aaron Hughes (both thigh) are out.

Tottenham defender William Gallas could make his first Barclays Premier League appearance of the season following a calf injury. Luka Modric has a slight groin problem but should be fit while Roman Pavlyuchenko has a back complaint. Michael Dawson (Achilles), Niko Kranjcar (thigh) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are all out while there are doubts over Giovani dos Santos (calf), Vedran Corluka (foot), and Danny Rose (ankle).

Last season: Tottenham 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 1 Tottenham 2

Last five league matches: Fulham D W L L W; Tottenham W W D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 9; Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 7

Match odds: H 11-5 A 6-5 D 12-5

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Wolves (17) v Wigan (20)

Wolves will make a late fitness check on striker Steven Fletcher (calf). Jamie O’Hara (knee) and Stephen Hunt (back) should be fit after missing training during the early part of the week.

Wigan’s Mohamed Diame is a doubt with an ankle injury while the Latics will be without skipper Gary Caldwell, who serves a one-match suspension after picking up five bookings this season.

Last season: Wolves 1 Wigan 2, Wigan 2 Wolves 0

Last five league matches: Wolves L L L D L; Wigan L L L L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 3; Franco Di Santo (Wigan) 3

Match odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).