Weekend Premier League team news

All the team news and statistics ahead of the weekend Premier League fixtures

Saturday

Arsenal (8) v Tottenham (7)
Arsenal will assess the fitness of striker Olivier Giroud (hamstring/calf) and winger Theo Walcott (buttock muscle). Midfielder Mikel Arteta (hip) is also causing concern, along with fullback Bacary Sagna (leg), but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is close to a comeback from his ankle problem and could be included in the team for the first time since September. Midfielder Jack Wilshere returns from suspension, with Gervinho (ankle), Kieran Gibbs (thigh), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) all ruled out.

Tottenham playmaker Mousa Dembele misses out due to a hip injury. Winger Aaron Lennon has recovered from a hamstring injury, and Jermain Defoe and Kyle Walker, who also had hamstring complaints, should be fit. Long-term absentees Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) remain sidelined.

Last season:Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches:Arsenal W L W L D; Tottenham W L W L L
Top scorers:Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 8; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 8
Match odds:H 19-20 A 5-2 D 12-5
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Liverpool (13) v Wigan (14)
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina is set to return in place of Brad Jones after five weeks out with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is fit after a thigh problem while centre backs Daniel Agger (groin) and Martin Skrtel (illness) are expected to be included.

Wigan have winger Ryo Miyaichi back after five games out due to a groin injury. James McArthur, who has been sidelined recently by a dead leg, is a doubt, while fellow midfielder Albert Crusat (knee) and defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are not yet ready to return.

Last season:Liverpool 1 Wigan 2, Wigan 0 Liverpool 0
Last five league matches:Liverpool D W D D D; Wigan D L W W L
Top scorers:Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 11; Arouna Kone (Wigan) 4
Match odds:H 2-5 A 13-2 D 3-1
Referee:Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Manchester City (2) v Aston Villa (17)
Manchester City midfielder James Milner (hamstring) and defender Joleon Lescott (back) are back in contention, while Gael Clichy (back) could also be fit and Samir Nasri has recovered from illness. Striker Mario Balotelli will hope to play after being dropped last week but midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and right back Micah Richards (knee) are not ready to return.

Aston Villa will be boosted by the return of full backs Eric Lichaj, from suspension, and Nathan Baker, from an ankle injury. However Darren Bent, Chris Herd, Richard Dunne, Charles N’Zogbia and Joe Bennett are still unavailable.

Last season:Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 1, Manchester City 4 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches:Manchester City W W W D W; Aston Villa L L D W L
Top scorers:Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) 7; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 7
Match odds:H 1-5 A 9-1 D 5-1
Referee:Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).

Newcastle (10) v Swansea (11)

Newcastle hope to include striker Papiss Cisse, who missed Senegal’s midweek friendly against Niger due to a back injury. Manager Alan Pardew is without midfielders Yohan Cabaye (groin) and Jonas Gutierrez (knee), utility man James Perch (thigh) and suspended defender Fabricio Coloccini, but full back Danny Simpson (shoulder) and frontman Demba Ba (shin) are available, as is midfielder Cheick Tiote after completing his three-match ban.

Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng misses out with a hamstring problem, and natural replacement Kemy Agustien is struggling with a toe injury. Leon Britton also has a knock while winger Pablo Hernandez is nursing an ankle injury, although defender Chico Flores is set to return from a dead leg. Manager Michael Laudrup may move top scorer Michu back into midfield and hand Danny Graham or Itay Shechter a start up front.

Last season:Swansea 0 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 0 Swansea 0
Last five league matches:Newcastle L D W D L; Swansea D W L D D
Top scorers:Demba Ba (Newcastle) 7; Miguel Michu (Swansea) 7
Match odds:H 5-6 A 3-1 D 23-10
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Norwich (15) v Manchester United (1)
Norwich will again be without defender Russell Martin (back), but midfielder Alex Tettey is expected to be fit despite pulling out of the Norway squad for their midweek friendly with Hungary with a minor back problem. On-loan Tottenham striker Harry Kane continues his recovery from a broken metatarsal.

Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans are Manchester United’s major doubts, owing to their respective ankle and groin injuries. Robin van Persie is expected to be available after missing Holland’s midweek friendly with Germany.

Last season:Norwich 1 Manchester United 2, Manchester United 2 Norwich 0
Last five league matches:Norwich L W D W D; Manchester United W W W W W
Top scorers:Grant Holt (Norwich) 3; Robin van Persie (Manchester United) 11
Match odds:H 13-2 A 2-5 D 3-1
Referee:Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

QPR (20) v Southampton (19)
Defender Fabio has overcome his hamstring injury and is available for QPR. Midfielder Park Ji-sung (knee) is out and striker Bobby Zamora (hip) is a doubt, but defender Ryan Nelsen and forward Jamie Mackie are fit despite missing internationals for New Zealand and Scotland this week. Stephane Mbia is suspended, but Kieron Dyer and Hogan Ephraim return from their respective calf and hamstring problems, while Andrew Johnson (knee) is out.

Right back Frazer Richardson and midfielder Richard Chaplow will be missing for Southampton. Richardson has suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury while a knock keeps Chaplow sidelined. Guly do Prado could be involved after being left out of the squad for last weekend’s draw with Swansea.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:QPR L D L D L; Southampton D L L L D
Top scorers:Bobby Zamora (QPR) 4; Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 4
Match odds:H 5-6 A 3-1 D 23-10
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).

Reading (18) v Everton (4)
Reading winger Jimmy Kebe is a doubt due to a tight groin. Royals boss Brian McDermott will definitely be without goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder) as well as midfield duo Danny Guthrie (thigh) and Jem Karacan (knee).

Everton forward Kevin Mirallas will miss the trip due to a hamstring injury which could keep him out for a couple of weeks. Midfielder Darron Gibson sits out a 10th successive match with a thigh problem. Forward Victor Anichebe (hamstring) and defender Tony Hibbert (calf) remain doubts.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Reading D L D D D; Everton D D D D W
Top scorers:Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) 5; Marouane Fellaini (Everton) 6
Match odds:H 10-3 A 8-11 D 5-2
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

West Brom (5) v Chelsea (3)
West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill will again deputise for Ben Foster, who is recovering from groin surgery. There is doubt over Gareth McAuley, who suffered a hamstring injury playing for Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan, with Gabriel Tamas on stand-by to deputise. Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu could recover from a hamstring injury in time, however on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is ineligible to face his parent club.

Ashley Cole could return for Chelsea after missing the Blues’ last two matches with a hamstring injury. Captain John Terry (knee) will be out for around three weeks, and the game comes too soon for Frank Lampard (calf), while manager Roberto Di Matteo will assess those in his squad who played for their countries in midweek.

Last season:West Brom 1 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 2 West Brom 1
Last five league matches:West Brom W L L W W; Chelsea W W L D D
Top scorers:Shane Long (West Brom) 5; Fernando Torres & Juan Mata (Chelsea) 7
Match odds:H 3-1 A 4-5 D 12-5
Referee:Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Sunday

Fulham (9) v Sunderland (16)

Fulham midfielder Kieran Richardson must watch from the sidelines because of a hamstring injury. He is joined by fellow midfielders Simon Davies (hip) and Chris Baird (suspension) who also miss out, while Mahamadou Diarra (knee) and Mickael Tavares (hamstring) are big doubts.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill faces late decisions over several players. Scotland striker Steven Fletcher (calf) and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (thigh) missed their respective international matches in midweek, with 18-year-old Jordan Pickford on standby to provide the back-up to Simon Mignolet in goal. Full back Phil Bardsley (hamstring) and midfielder Lee Cattermole (knee) are also doubts.

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

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

Top scorers:Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 5; Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 5

Match odds:H 8-11 A 10-3 D 5-2

Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Monday

West Ham (6) v Stoke (12)

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will decide whether to bring James Collins back into his defence. Collins was a substitute for the win at Newcastle last week but could return to the starting line-up in place of James Tomkins, with full back Guy Demel also pushing for a start. Matthew Taylor has returned to training following a calf problem but Jack Collison (knee) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) are out.

Stoke are monitoring Glenn Whelan’s fitness after the midfielder limped off in the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Greece on Wednesday with a hamstring complaint. Midfielders Dean Whitehead (suspension) and Rory Delap (hernia) and defender Marc Wilson (broken leg) are ruled out, and striker Michael Owen (hamstring) almost certainly is, but forward Jon Walters and midfielder Charlie Adam could play despite picking up knocks.

Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:West Ham L W L D W; Stoke D L D L W
Top scorers:Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 5; Peter Crouch (Stoke) 5
Match odds:H 1-1 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).