Weekend Premier League Team News

Saturday, February 2nd: Birmingham (17) v Derby (20)- Defender David Murphy is part of the Blues squad for the first time after shaking off a knee injury.

On-loan Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate impressed as a substitute in the defeat at Sunderland, while James McFadden is set to start a home game for the first time since his switch from Everton.

Alan Stubbs is set to provide cover for defender Claude Davis, who is struggling with a knee problem, while Roy Carroll will compete with Lewis Price for the goalkeeping jersey. Winger Mile Sterjovski could be involved if Derby get his international clearance papers through in time.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham D L D L L; Derby L L L L D
Top scorers: Cameron Jerome, Olivier Kapo & James McFadden (Birmingham) 5;
Kenny Miller (Derby) 8
Match odds: H 4-9 A 5-1 D 11-4
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Blackburn (8) v Everton (4)

Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen (hamstring) remains sidelined but Matt Derbyshire hopes to keep his place in attack after being handed only his third league start of the season at Aston Villa. Paul Gallagher has joined Stoke on loan and South African midfielder Aaron Mokoena is away on Africa Nations Cup duty.

Everton give late tests to Leon Osman (groin) and Tim Cahill (hamstring) but Anthony Gardner is unlikely to play for two weeks as he recovers from a leg injury. Tony Hibbert returns after suspension but Steven Pienaar will not return from the African Nations Cup in time to play.

Last season: Everton 1 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Blackburn W W W D D; Everton L W W W D
Top scorers: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 15; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 12
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

Liverpool (7) v Sunderland (14)

Javier Mascherano returns from suspension for Liverpool, who are still missing injured duo Alvaro Arbeloa and Andriy Voronin. However, Daniel Agger is back in full training and should return later this month.

Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson could return after hamstring trouble but Dwight Yorke (calf) is out, while new signing Andy Reid continues his recovery from a knee problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Liverpool D D D D L; Sunderland W L W L W
Top scorers: Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 17; Rade Prica (Sunderland) 13
Match odds: H 2-9 A 9-1 D 19-5
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)

Man City (6) v Arsenal (2)

City missed out on Portsmouth's Benjani Mwaruwari in the last minutes of the transfer window while Ecuador international Felipe Caicedo is not expected to arrive until next week, so Darius Vassell and Daniel Sturridge should continue up front. Micah Richards (knee) is fit to return.

Arsenal are without Manuel Almunia (thumb), so Jens Lehmann gets a rare start in goal. Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Gilberto (back), Robin van Persie (thigh), Johan Djourou (groin) and Denilson (hamstring) are all injured, while defenders Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Alex Song are at the African Nations Cup.

Last season: Arsenal 3 Man City 1, Man City 1 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Man City D W L D D; Arsenal W W D W W
Top scorers: Elano (Man City) 7; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 19
Match odds: H 16-5 A 8-11 D 9-4
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Portsmouth (9) v Chelsea (3)

Jermain Defoe is expected to make his Pompey debut but centre-back Sylvain Distin (hamstring) is out, so Noe Pamarot reverts to central defence with Hermann Hreidarsson recalled. Milan Baros could make his home debut and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop may be available after Senegal's African Nations Cup exit.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is still not match fit but could be on the bench. Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi and Didier Drogba are on African Nations Cup duty, John Terry is out with a fractured foot and fellow defender Ricardo Carvalho is suspended.

Last season: Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1
Last five league matches: Portsmouth L W L W L; Chelsea W W W W W
Top scorers: Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 12; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 12
Match odds: H 10-3 A 4-6 D 12-5
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Reading (16) v Bolton (15)

Reading welcome back strikers Shane Long and Dave Kitson after suspension and illness respectively but wingers Jimmy Kebe (hamstring) and Glen Little (heel), midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and defender Michael Duberry (knee) are out. Defender Ibrahima Sonko may feature if he gets back from international duty in time but Emerse Fae and Andre Bikey are still on African Nations Cup duty.

El-Hadji Diouf could return for Bolton after Senegal exited the African Nations Cup. The club had a private plane on stand-by to bring the striker back to England from Ghana. Defender Gary Cahill is poised to make his debut, as is on-loan striker Grzegorz Rasiak.

Last season: Bolton 1 Reading 3, Reading 1 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Reading L L L L L; Bolton L W L D D
Top scorers: Simon Cox (Reading) 9; El-Hadji Diouf & Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 4
Match odds: H 19-20 A 5-2 D 21-10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Tottenham (11) v Man Utd (1)

Alan Hutton is set for his Spurs debut, Jonathan Woodgate is also in the squad and Gilberto is thought to be available after arriving from Hertha Berlin. Ledley King's fitness is being assessed, while Darren Bent (knee) has been edging closer to fitness. Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit-Assou Ekotto (knee) remain sidelined and Didier Zokora is on international duty.

United boss Alex Ferguson is poised to make changes. Ryan Giggs, Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves are pushing to return to the starting line-up but Louis Saha (knee) and Gary Neville (ankle) remain sidelined.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Man Utd 4, Man Utd 1 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L L W D; Man Utd L W W W W
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 18; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 27
Match odds: H 14-5 A 4-5 D 9-4
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Wigan (18) v West Ham (10)

Either Marlon King, Marcus Bent or Emile Heskey will miss out as Wigan boss Steve Bruce reverts to a two-man strike force. Swedish full-back Erik Edman (calf) is the only injury doubt while defender Erik Hagen is awaiting international clearance following his loan move from Zenit St Petersburg.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley gives late fitness tests to Craig Bellamy and Julien Faubert. Nolberto Solano is available and should be included in the squad,  but Bobby Zamora is set to miss out and James Collins, Calum Davenport, Kieron Dyer and Nigel Quashie are long-term absentees.

Last season: Wigan 0 West Ham 3, West Ham 0 Wigan 2
Last five league matches: Wigan L D W L L; West Ham W L W D W
Top scorers: Marlon King (Wigan) 11; Dean Ashton (West Ham) 6
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Sunday, February 3rd

Fulham (19) v Aston Villa (5)

Erik Nevland could make his Fulham debut but Paul Stalteri has a dead leg, Jari Litmanen is not match-fit and Eddie Johnson is returning from America and may be jet-lagged. Brian McBride is back in full training but will need assessment before a decision is made whether he plays. Kasey Keller is also training again.

Villa winger Ashley Young misses his first league game of the season through suspension — new signing Wayne Routledge could come in. Olof Mellberg, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus, is set to remain at right-back.

Last season: Fulham 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1
Last five league matches: Fulham D L L L D; Aston Villa W W W D D
Top scorers: Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 6; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 7
Match odds: H 19-10 A 23-20 D 11-5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Newcastle (12) v Middlesbrough (13)

Magpies midfielder Emre is suspension-free and striker Mark Viduka could return from a calf injury — but full-back Jose Enrique remains a doubt with a similar injury. Joey Barton could figure and Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye are on their way back to Tyneside — although not in time for this game.

Gareth Southgate will give Afonso Alves his debut if the striker's application for a visa is accepted in time. Jeremie Aliadiere (groin) and Emanuel Pogatetz (ankle) are fitness concerns and Tuncay Sanli (hamstring) is out, meaning Mido could start for the first time this year.

Last season: Newcastle 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 1 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle L L L D L; Middlesbrough W L D D W
Top scorers: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 7; Stewart Downing & Adam Johnson
(Middlesbrough) 5
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)