Premier League team news

A round-up of all the Premier League team news ahead of the weekend's action

Saturday, September 22

Arsenal (1) v Derby (19)

Defender Philippe Senderos (hip) is available again but winger Alexander Hleb (knee) misses out. Captain William Gallas (groin), keeper Jens Lehmann (elbow) and Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) have been joined on the sidelines by midfielder Tomas Rosicky (hamstring).

Veteran Derby defender Darren Moore is back in training after a knee injury and is close to becoming available but Davies could opt to stick with a back four who kept a clean sheet in the win over Newcastle.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:Arsenal W D W W W; Derby L L L L W

Top scorers:Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 5; Kenny Miller (Derby) 4

Match odds:H 1-6 A 11-1 D 9-2

Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Fulham (16) v Man City (2)

Fulham striker David Healy has recovered from a calf injury in time for
tomorrow's visit of Manchester City but defender Ian Pearce (calf) is a doubt while Lee Cook, Jimmy Bullard, Philippe Christanval and Brian McBride are all out with knee injuries.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has given Stephen Ireland the green light to return for City after he was left out for the Aston Villa match last week following his bizarre withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad. Skipper Richard Dunne is expected to return to the centre of defence after a one-match ban, so Nedum Onuoha is likely to find himself among the substitutes.

Last season:Fulham 1 Man City 3, Man City 3 Fulham 1

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

Top scorers:Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) 3; Rolando Bianchi, Geovanni & Michael Johnson (Man City) 2

Match odds:H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10

Referee:Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Liverpool (3) v Birmingham (12)

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is set to keep the side which won 1-0 at Bolton last week, with matchwinner Olivier Kapo expected to line up just behind lone striker Cameron Jerome. Club captain Damien Johnson will not be risked after missing the first six games of the season with a hamstring strain.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers:Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt & Andriy Voronin (Liverpool) 3; Garry O'Connor, Cameron Jerome & Olivier Kapo (Birmingham) 2

Match odds:H 2-9 A 9-1 D 19-5

Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Middlesbrough (13) v Sunderland (14)

Tuncay Sanli is likely to be recalled to the Middlesbrough starting line-up as the likely replacement for Jeremie Aliadiere, who injured a hamstring in last week's 3-0 defeat at West Ham, Tuncay coming off the bench. Manager Gareth Southgate has drafted Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Shawky into the squad. The 25-year-old impressed in another derby — for the reserves in the 2-0 win at Newcastle in midweek.

Andy Cole will have to wait to make his senior debut for Sunderland after being sidelined by a calf problem. Ian Harte could be included for the first time after coming through an outing for the reserves unscathed in midweek. Defender Russell Anderson (calf) could be back, but Kieran Richardson (back), Carlos Edwards (hamstring) and Dean Whitehead and Stanislav Varga (both knee) are out.

Last season:No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches:Middlesbrough L W D W L; Sunderland D L L L W

Top scorers:Mido & Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) 2; Michael Chopra
(Sunderland) 2

Match odds:H 1-1 A 12-5 D 2-1

Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Reading (18) v Wigan (9)

Reading welcome back striker Kevin Doyle and defender Michael Duberry. Doyle had been rested for last week's trip to Sunderland while a hamstring worry kept Duberry out. Kalifa Cisse is a doubt because of a knee problem and the Royals will definitely be without John Oster (ankle), Glen Little (Achilles) and Ibrahima Sonko (knee).

Kevin Kilbane is back from suspension for Wigan. On-loan Charlton striker Marcus Bent and Nigeria international Julius Aghahowa are in contention to replace Emile Heskey, who is out for up to six weeks after breaking a metatarsal against Fulham. Fitz Hall (hamstring) is doubtful while Dutch winger Rachid Bouaouzan (thigh) is out after suffering a knock playing for the reserves in midweek, and Antonio Valencia (knee) and Denny Landzaat (fractured eye socket) are also injured.

Last season:Reading 3 Wigan 2, Wigan 1 Reading 0

Last five league matches:Reading L W L L L; Wigan W W D L D

Top scorers:Dave Kitson, Andre Bikey, Stephen Hunt & Leroy Lita (Reading) 1; Antoine Sibierski (Wigan) 3

Match odds:H 21-20 A 11-5 D 21-10

Referee:Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Sunday, September 23

Aston Villa (11) v Everton (7)

Aston Villa are without striker Marlon Harewood after he damaged his knee in training last week. Villa boss Martin O'Neill is set to keep faith in the side who started last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Manchester City. John Carew will continue to lead the attack despite a nagging groin problem while Curtis Davies is again likely to be on the bench.

Everton are hoping that Mikel Arteta recovers from an ankle problem. Arteta was a late withdrawal from the UEFA Cup draw with Metalist Kharkiv after the training injury. Goalkeeper Stefan Wessels is expected to continue as Tim Howard's replacement, the American still recovering from a broken finger. Steven Pienaar is expected to have recovered from a groin problem.

Last season:Aston Villa 1 Everton 1, Everton 0 Aston Villa 1

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

Top scorers:Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa) 3; Joleon Lescott & Leon Osman
(Everton) 2

Match odds:H 11-10 A 21-10 D 21-10

Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Blackburn (8) v Portsmouth (15)

Blackburn are without captain Ryan Nelsen who aggravated an old hamstring injury in the UEFA Cup defeat to Larissa and is expected to be out for two weeks. Christopher Samba will come in for Nelsen, eight days after he was concussed by an accidental kick in the head from Andriy Shevchenko in the goalless draw at Chelsea.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp must decide whether to recall midfielders Matt Taylor and Pedro Mendes. Both were left out when Pompey switched to a 4-3-3 formation in last Saturday's goalless home draw with Liverpool, but Redknapp is set to revert to the more familiar 4-4-2 which could exclude striker Benjani Mwaruwari, who has had a tight hamstring in training this week.

Last season:Blackburn 3 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 3 Blackburn 0

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

Top scorers:Roque Santa Cruz & Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 3; Noe Pamarot, Benjani Mwaruwari, John Utaka & Kanu (Portsmouth) 2

Match odds:H 10-11 A 13-5 D 21-10

Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Bolton (20) v Tottenham (17)

Bolton defender Andy O'Brien could return to the starting line-up. He was only on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Rabotnicki in the UEFA Cup after suffering stiffness in both legs during the defeat by Birmingham but could replace Gerald Cid. Christian Wilhelmsson might come into contention after a thigh strain.

Anthony Gardner has an ankle injury which ruled him out of Tottenham's UEFA Cup rout of Anorthosis Famagusta. Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto featured against Anorthosis Famagusta after knee problems and are in contention for first Premier League starts of the season. Skipper Ledley King remains sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery.

Last season:Tottenham 4 Bolton 1, Bolton 2 Tottenham 0

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

Top scorers:Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 4; Gareth Bale & Steed Malbranque
(Tottenham) 2

Match odds:H 7-4 A 13-10 D 21-10

Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Man Utd (4) v Chelsea (5)

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to stick with the same squad which carved out a midweek Champions League win in Lisbon. Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves are inching towards full fitness but neither England star is likely to be involved this weekend. Wayne Rooney will retain his place up front, leaving Ferguson to decide whether to recall Carlos Tevez, possibly for Nani, alongside him.

Andriy Shevchenko is likely to lead the line for Chelsea for Avram Grant's first match since succeeding Jose Mourinho. With Didier Drogba still struggling with a knee injury and Claudio Pizarro not fully fit after a calf strain, the Ukrainian is likely to be teamed with Salomon Kalou. Frank Lampard is battling a thigh injury while Michael Ballack and Wayne Bridge miss out with ankle problems. Centre-half Ricardo Carvalho is unlikely to recover in time from a thigh injury.

Last season:Chelsea 0 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 1 Chelsea 1

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

Top scorers:Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo & Louis Saha (Man Utd) 1; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 3

Match odds:H 1-1 A 12-5 D 2-1

Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).

Newcastle (10) v West Ham (6)

England striker Michael Owen is included after overcoming a groin problem. Joey Barton (fractured metatarsal) and Emre (knee) are back in training but not yet available, and Jose Enrique is yet to gain full match fitness, while Peter Ramage (knee), Damien Duff (ankle), Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro (both hamstring) are still out.

Striker Craig Bellamy should be fit to play against his former club despite missing training earlier this week with a foot injury. Former Newcastle players Lee Bowyer, Scott Parker — who is returning from a knee injury — and Nolberto Solano could all figure.

Last season:Newcastle 2 West Ham 2, West Ham 0 Newcastle 2

Last five league matches:Newcastle W D D W L; West Ham L W D W W

Top scorers:Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 3; Craig Bellamy (West Ham) 3

Match odds:H 10-11 A 13-5 D 21-10

Referee:Mike Riley (Yorkshire).