Weekend previews

A look at the weekend Premiership matches

Liverpool v Wolves

Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, who was horribly exposed by Gareth Bale at Tottenham, should move to a more familiar central-defensive role to replace the injured Daniel Agger with Martin Kelly coming in at right back. Steven Gerrard should be on the bench as he works his way back to match fitness.

Odds: Liverpool 2-5 Wolves 7-1 Draw 7-2

QPR v Aston Villa

Alex McLeish, the Villa manager, will be missing Darren Bent with a groin injury while Jermaine Jenas is a doubt, but in QPR comes up against a side in confident mood following their recent 3-0 win at Molineux and, captained by Joey Barton, in no mood to surrender without a fight.

Odds: QPR 13-10 Aston Villa 11-5 Draw 11-5

Arsenal v Bolton

Arsène Wenger will view this as a chance to start the healing, especially as Bolton haven’t gained a point since the first day of the season. Even so, Kevin Davies and company will be just as confident about ruffling an Arsenal defence missing Johan Djourou, Sébastien Squillaci and Thomas Vermaelen.

Odds: Arsenal 4-9 Bolton 13-2 Draw 16-5

Chelsea v Swansea

André Villas-Boas’s team will rate their chances of continuing their momentum against a Swansea side who finally collected their first league goals and win of the season by defeating West Brom 3-0 last weekend. Petr Cech is a doubt with a head injury while Daniel Sturridge’s ankle rules him out.

Odds: Chelsea 1-5 Swansea City 13-1 Draw 11-2

Stoke C V Manchester U

Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling are both doubts but Javier Hernández, scorer of both goals in a 2-1 win here last season, has been passed fit after Ashley Cole’s tackle while Wayne Rooney will try and score for the sixth Premier League game in a row. For Stoke, Kenwyne Jones misses out.

Odds: Stoke City 6-1 Man Utd 8-15 Draw 11-4

WBA v Fulham

Martin Jol’s side are still awaiting their first Premier League win and face an Albion side that – much changed from last weeks feeble defeat at Swansea – played well in losing to Everton on Wednesday, giving Roy Hodgson plenty to think about as he searches for a combination to beat his former side and lift the Baggies off the bottom of the table.

Odds: West Brom 13-10 Fulham 21-10 Draw 9-4

Norwich v Sunderland

Last weekend’s 4-0 victory over Stoke lifted the gloom at Sunderland but Norwich too enjoyed their their first win of the season at Bolton. The hosts’ defence continues to have a makeshift look to it as they are still without the injured centre-backs Daniel Ayala, Elliott Ward and Zak Whitbread.

Odds: Norwich 6-4 Sunderland 15-8 Draw 9-4

Manchester C v Everton

As Roberto Mancini claimed last week, Manchester City are suffering from not having enough midfielders as James Milner is a doubt with concussion while Nigel de Jong and Adam Johnson are out. For Everton, who have won the last four games between the sides, Louis Saha is a doubt.

Odds: Manchester City 2-5 Everton 7-1 Draw 7-2

Newcastle V Blackburn

With nine goals in his last 12 league starts Leon Best is on a hot scoring streak. Indeed, in the Premier League only Wayne Rooney currently boasts a better goals-per-minute ratio than Best. Alan Pardew must trust he is ready to outwit Christopher Samba and company.

Odds: Newcastle 4-5 Blackburn 7-2 Draw 5-2

Wigan v Tottenham

None of Wigan’s defensive trio of Antolín Alcaraz, Emmerson Boyce and Steve Gohouri are likely to be fit and Roberto Martínez will also be without the forward Hugo Rodallega. Harry Redknapp is also without several defenders with William Gallas and Michael Dawson still missing and Benoit Assou-Ekotto looking doubtful.

Odds: Wigan 3-1 Tottenham 10-11 Draw 5-2