Premiership team news and statistics

All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership matches.

Aston Villa (9) v West Ham (11)

Shaun Maloney could come into contention for a rare start for Aston Villa after returning to training following an ankle problem. The former Celtic player, who has netted three goals as a substitute this season, may challenge Luke Moore for a place. Patrik Berger (calf) and John Carew (knee) are still ruled out as Villa look to recover from the shock of conceding three goals in the final 21 minutes of the 4-4 draw at Tottenham.

West Ham will be without Anton Ferdinand and Scott Parker. Defender Ferdinand misses the trip to Villa Park with a slight hamstring strain, while Parker, the former Newcastle midfielder, faces another spell on the sidelines after damaging medial knee ligaments in last weekend's 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal. Alan Curbishley's team are without forward Craig Bellamy, who is struggling with a groin injury, and long-term casualties Kieron Dyer, Julien Faubert and Calum Davenport.
Last season: Aston Villa 1 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W L W D; West Ham D W W L L
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor & Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa) 3; Craig Bellamy & Dean Ashton (West Ham) 3
Match odds: H 5-6 A 3-1 D 2-1
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

Man Utd (2) v Wigan (12)

Alex Ferguson is lining up Ryan Giggs or Anderson to play in central midfield with Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick out injured. Full-back Wes Brown is still doubtful with a knee injury and United will give him a late fitness test. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (toe) is also still out.

Wigan striker Antoine Sibierski (hamstring) is the only doubt for boss Chris Hutchings, leaving him without both first-choice strikers as Emile Heskey continues to recover from a stress fracture of a metatarsal. Midfielder Denny Landzaat (fractured eye socket) is available, as is Antonio Valencia.
Last season: Man Utd 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Man Utd 3
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Wigan D L D L L
Top scorers: Louis Saha & Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 2; Antoine Sibierski (Wigan) 3
Match odds: H 1-6 A 14-1 D 4-1
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Sunday, October 7th

Arsenal (1) v Sunderland (15)

Arsenal striker Eduardo (groin) is one of several players still sidelined, but goalkeeper Jens Lehmann (elbow), captain William Gallas (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Alex Song (calf) are all stepping up their rehabilitation and could soon return to contention. Abou Diaby and veteran midfielder Gilberto are pressing for a recall to the starting XI, along with Theo Walcott.

Sunderland midfielder Dickson Etuhu is back in contention for the trip to the Emirates Stadium after serving a one-match ban. But Andy Cole (calf), Russell Anderson (ankle), Kieran Richardson (back), Carlos Edwards (hamstring) and Dean Whitehead and Stanislav Varga (both knee) are still out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W W; Sunderland L L W D L
Top scorers: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 7; Michael Chopra (Sunderland) 2
Match odds: H 1-6 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Blackburn (7) v Birmingham (13)

Blackburn midfielders Tugay (ankle) and David Dunn (bruised thigh) will be assessed ahead of the match. Rovers remain without captain and defender Ryan Nelsen due to a hamstring problem, as well as striker Jason Roberts (thigh).

Birmingham have no fresh worries. Blues skipper Damien Johnson is facing a further month on the sidelines after suffering another injury setback in a reserve fixture. But striker Mikael Forssell is making good progress after having surgery to cure a hernia problem and he could be back in action within three weeks.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn D W D L W; Birmingham W L W D L
Top scorers: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 5; Garry O'Connor, Cameron Jerome & Olivier Kapo (Birmingham) 2
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Bolton (19) v Chelsea (8)

Bolton are almost certain to be without Mikel Alonso who has undergone medical tests following a blow to his head during the UEFA Cup tie against Rabotnicki Kometal. Alonso has complained of severe headaches but his expected absence is offset by the return of compatriot Ivan Campo who was ineligible for the UEFA Cup tie and should return to the starting line-up along with the likes of Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf, Gary Speed, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Gardner.

Chelsea are without the suspended Didier Drogba but could welcome back England midfielder Frank Lampard. Blues coach Avram Grant has confirmed Lampard is fit enough to play some part in their trip to the Reebok Stadium after recovering from his thigh complaint. However, doubts remain over the fitness of Michael Essien (calf) and Shaun Wright-Phillips (hamstring) and Grant will make a decision after training on Saturday. Mikel John Obi is suspended.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Bolton 2, Bolton 0 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Bolton W L L D D; Chelsea W L D L D
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 5; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 3
Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Fulham (16) v Portsmouth (6)

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez is likely to keep faith with an unchanged team. Kasey Keller is likely to keep his place in goal after impressing in the 0-0 draw at Chelsea last weekend, while forward Diomansy Kamara may have to settle for a place on the bench against one of his former clubs. Sanchez is still without the injured Lee Cook, Brian McBride, Moritz Volz, Jimmy Bullard, Philippe Christanval and Ian Pearce.

Kanu is a major doubt for Pompey because of a knee injury. Even if the Nigerian passes a fitness test Benjani, who replaced him last week against Reading and scored a hat-trick, has been promised a starting place by manager Harry Redknapp.
Last season: Fulham 1 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1
Last five league matches: Fulham L D D D D; Portsmouth L L D W W
Top scorers: David Healy & Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 3; Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 5
Match odds: H 11-8 A 17-10 D 2-1
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Liverpool (4) v Tottenham (18)

Liverpool will have Jermaine Pennant back in their squad after the winger's suspension for the Champions League defeat to Marseille in midweek. But boss Rafael Benitez also has a worry over the fitness of full-back Fabio Aurelio, who was taken off against the French side with a muscle problem.

Spurs are hopeful Jermaine Jenas will recover from an abdominal strain and Dimitar Berbatov and Pascal Chimbonda, rested for the midweek UEFA Cup tie with Anorthosis Famagusta, return. Aaron Lennon has had some swelling on his knee but it is not thought to be serious. Teemu Tainio is available again after suspension.
Last season: Tottenham 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 3 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W D D W; Tottenham L D L D D
Top scorers: Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 6; Robbie Keane, Gareth Bale & Younes Kaboul (Tottenham) 3
Match odds: H 8-15 A 5-1 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Man City (3) v Middlesbrough (14)

City are without strikers Rolando Bianchi, Darius Vassell and Valeri Bojinov while Joe Hart looks set to continue in goal ahead of Kasper Schmeichel with Sven-Goran Eriksson admitting he is unsure who his best goalkeeper is.

Gareth Southgate will give late fitness tests to Mido (back-related hamstring strain) and Tuncay Sanli (bruised leg). Dong-Gook Lee and Tom Craddock are on standby to start.
Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Man City 2, Man City 1 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Man City L L W D W; Middlesbrough D W L D L
Top scorers: Emile Mpenza & Martin Petrov (Man City) 3; Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) 3
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Newcastle (10) v Everton (5)

Michael Owen could return to action for Newcastle after resuming training just a week after undergoing hernia surgery in Germany. Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa has recovered from a groin problem but midfielder Joey Barton (metatarsal) will have to wait despite his return to action for the reserves in midweek. Damien Duff (ankle), Peter Ramage (knee) and Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro (both hamstring) remain on the injured list.

Teenage striker Victor Anichebe has staked a claim for a place in Everton's starting line-up following his match-winning performance against Metalist Kharkiv in the UEFA Cup. Fellow striker Andrew Johnson, who failed a fitness test in the Ukraine on his injured groin, is a doubt again.
Last season: Everton 3 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D W L W L; Everton D W L L W
Top scorers: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 4; Joleon Lescott (Everton) 4
Match odds: H 1-1 A 23-10 D 21-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Reading (17) v Derby (20)

Reading welcome defender Ibrahima Sonko back into the squad. The centre-back has not played since suffering a serious knee injury on January 20. Winger John Oster is back after an ankle problem but fellow flank man Bobby Convey is likely to remained sidelined by a thigh complaint. Midfielder Kalifa Cisse (knee) and winger Glen Little (Achilles) are still unavailable.

Derby midfielder Giles Barnes is in contention for a return to action. The highly-rated teenager recovered from foot problems to make an appearance from the bench against Bolton last Saturday and manager Billy Davies has the option of starting the midfielder. Davies has a fully-fit squad and is likely to keep faith with Steve Howard and Kenny Miller up front, though Robert Earnshaw is pushing for a start.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading L L L W L; Derby L L W L D
Top scorers: Dave Kitson (Reading) 3; Kenny Miller (Derby) 5
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).