(Current league positions in brackets)
Saturday
Chelsea (3) v Bolton (12)
Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink must decide whether to play Ricardo
Carvalho or John Terry in defence. Right-back Jose Bosingwa is
doubtful with a hamstring problem, while Joe Cole and Paulo
Ferreira are out for the season with knee ligament injuries.
Bolton have no fresh injury concerns and may name an unchanged
side. Midfield duo Mark Davies and Joey O'Brien are still out with
knee injuries.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Bolton 1, Bolton 0 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W L W; Bolton W L L D
W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 21; Kevin Davies (Bolton)
12
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Liverpool (2) v Blackburn (14)
Liverpool seem likely to be without skipper Steven Gerrard after
a scan this week confirmed a groin problem. Javier Mascherano
returns after serving a suspension in midweek but boss Rafael
Benitez may well rest some of his stars, with Daniel Agger, Sami
Hyypia, Andrea Dossena, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel likely to be
involved.
Rovers boss Sam Allardyce faces a headache over his forward line
with Roque Santa Cruz (knee) a serious doubt and Jason Roberts
(foot) definitely out. That means centre-back Chris Samba may be
called upon again to play an emergency striker's role. Morten Gamst
Pedersen (calf) is also struggling but Vince Grella is available
again.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Liverpool
0
Last five league matches: Liverpool L W W W W; Blackburn D W L D
W
Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 21; Benni McCarthy
(Blackburn) 11
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)
Middlesbrough (19) v Hull (15)
Middlesbrough skipper Emanuel Pogatetz has been ruled out with a
knee injury and will be replaced by fellow defender Chris Riggott,
who has recovered from a thigh problem. Midfielder Gary O'Neil
starts a two-match suspension, while winger Adam Johnson will
undergo a late fitness test on his injured ankle.
Hull striker Daniel Cousin remains doubtful with a back injury
but George Boateng could face his former club. The midfielder could
make his comeback after three months out with a knee injury and
boss Phil Brown has earmarked the Dutchman for a place on the
bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W L D L L; Hull L W D L
D
Top scorers: Afonso Alves (Middlesbrough) 7; Geovanni (Hull)
7
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Portsmouth (16) v West Brom (20)
Suspended Glen Johnson and injured Sean Davis (knee) miss out
for Portsmouth. Winger Jermaine Pennant is fit enough to start
after a calf problem and Younes Kaboul will remain at right
back.
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has no enforced changes to make but
defender Abdoulaye Meite could come into contention for a recall,
with Shelton Martis looking most vulnerable after the 2-0 home
reversal against Stoke.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D L D W D; West Brom L L D
D L
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 16; Roman Bednar (West
Brom) 6
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Stoke (13) v Newcastle (18)
Defender Danny Higginbotham should be fit to take his place in
an unchanged Stoke side after resuming training following a back
injury but midfielders Salif Diao and Amdy Faye are struggling to
recover from knocks.
Newcastle boss Alan Shearer could have defender Sebastien
Bassong back after the groin injury which kept him out of last
weekend's 2-0 defeat by Chelsea. Steven Taylor (ankle) and Jose
Enrique (knee) have already been ruled out, as has midfielder Peter
Lovenkrands, who was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties
as the result of a chest infection during Saturday's game.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D W L W W; Newcastle L L D L
L
Top scorers: James Beattie (Stoke) 18; Michael Owen (Newcastle)
10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Sunderland (17) v Man Utd (1)
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia could be without captain Dean
Whitehead who is rated at only 50-50 as he battles against a calf
injury, although fellow midfielder Teemu Tainio could return after
five matches out with a knee problem. Defender Calum Davenport
returns to contention, but Sbragia is likely to be without
full-back George McCartney (calf) and striker David Healy
(groin).
Rio Ferdinand will miss out with a groin injury. Jonny Evans
(groin) could play against his former club, although John O'Shea
will fill the central defensive slot if the Northern Ireland
international misses out.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Man Utd 4, Man Utd 1 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L L L; Man Utd W W L L
W
Top scorers: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 10; Cristiano Ronaldo
(Man Utd) 20
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Tottenham (11) v West Ham (7)
Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios is suspended. Jermain Defoe
(foot) is out but will return to full training next week, while
Alan Hutton (foot) is back with the reserves after being sidelined.
Aaron Lennon has been carrying a groin problem but should be fit to
play a part.
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is waiting for updates on the
fitness of midfield duo Scott Parker (groin) and Radoslav Kovac
(thigh). Strikers Carlton Cole (groin) and Dean Ashton (ankle),
midfielders Valon Behrami, Jack Collison (both knee) and defenders
Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) and Jonathan Spector (concussion) are
all unavailable.
Last season: Tottenham 4 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham W D W W L; West Ham W W D D
W
Top scorers: Darren Bent & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham)
15; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 11
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Wigan (8) v Arsenal (4)
Amr Zaki will not be involved after suffering a hamstring injury
while on international duty with Egypt, resulting in an
unauthorised absence that has had boss Steve Bruce fuming. Bruce
has otherwise a fully-fit squad to choose from, other than
midfielder Cho Won-hee who is out for the season after tearing a
calf muscle playing for South Korea.
Arsenal hope to have strikers Robin van Persie and Eduardo (both
groin) available. However, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle) and
full-back Gael Clichy (back) will miss out, while centre-half
William Gallas looks set to be sidelined for the rest of the season
with knee ligament damage. Midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) is another
doubt after missing the midweek Champions League trip to
Villarreal, but Russian Andrei Arshavin is available again having
been cup-tied in Europe.
Last season: Wigan 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 2 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Wigan L L W W L; Arsenal D W W W W
Top scorers: Amr Zaki (Wigan) 11; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)
16
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
Sunday
Aston Villa (5) v Everton (6)
Aston Villa are hoping striker Gabriel Agbonlahor shakes off a
virus. Defender Carlos Cuellar is suffering from a back problem
and, if he is ruled out, then Zat Knight could earn a recall
alongside Curtis Davies. Emile Heskey, skipper Martin Laursen and
Wilfred Bouma are still side-lined through injury as Villa look to
end a run of nine games without a victory.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard will definitely play despite a
sore hamstring after last weekend's 4-0 win over Wigan.
Last season: Everton 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 2 Everton
0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L L L L; Everton W D W L
W
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 13; Tim Cahill
& Jo (Everton) 8
Referee: Howard Webb
Man City (10) v Fulham (9)
Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy looks certain to miss out
after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury against Hamburg.
Benjani Mwaruwari also looks likely to be sidelined with a ruptured
thigh muscle. Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and Vincent Kompany
(hamstring) are doubtful, but Nigel de Jong is available again
after being ineligible for the UEFA Cup tie.
Fulham will check on Zoltan Gera (foot injury) and Toni Kallio
(virus), but boss Roy Hodgson expects both to be training by
tomorrow, meaning he has a full-strength squad at his disposal.
Last season: Man City 2 Fulham 3, Fulham 3 Man City 3
Last five league matches: Man City L W L W L; Fulham L L W W
L
Top scorers: Robinho (Man City) 12; Andrew Johnson (Fulham)
10
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
