Saturday, December 13 Villa boss Martin
O'Neill is optimistic James Milner will have recovered from flu
sufficiently to be available - the winger has been unable to train
this week because of the virus but has shown signs in the last 24
hours of improving. Midfielders Craig Gardner and Moustapha Salifou
have been struck down by the same bug although both would only be
at best substitutes against the Trotters. Striker John Carew is
still ruled out with a back problem.
Aston Villa (5) v Bolton (10)
Defender Joey O'Brien and midfielder Tamir Cohen are the only
absentees for Bolton - both are still recovering from torn thigh
muscles. Otherwise, manager Gary Megson has a fully-fit squad.
Last season: Aston Villa 4 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L W D D W; Bolton W L W W
L
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8; Kevin Davies,
Johan Elmander & Matthew Taylor (Bolton) 4
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Liverpool (1) v Hull (6)
Captain Steven Gerrard, midfielder Xabi Alonso, goalkeeper Jose
Reina and forward Dirk Kuyt are all expected to return after being
rested for the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.
Liverpool hope Fernando Torres will be back in a fortnight as he
progresses with rehabilitation for a hamstring injury, while
full-back Fabio Aurelio is back in training after a calf problem,
but will not be involved tomorrow.
Striker Marlon King will continue to lead the Hull line despite
being arrested earlier this week. King was questioned and bailed by
police after being accused of assaulting a woman in a London bar.
Left-back Andy Dawson and striker Caleb Folan continue to recover
from their respective Achilles and knee problems, while Anthony
Gardner and Craig Fagan are expected to resume full-time training
next weekend.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W D D W; Hull L D D D
W
Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 9; Geovanni (Hull) 6
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Man City (14) v Everton (8)
City manager Mark Hughes hopes striker Robinho will recover from
an ankle injury in time. Defender Nedum Onuoha could come into
contention after a leg muscle problem but Micah Richards (ankle),
Javier Garrido (Achilles), Gelson Fernandes (hamstring) and Daniel
Sturridge (virus) are doubts.
Everton striker Victor Anichebe will undergo a pre-match fitness
test on a back problem sustained in last week's home loss against
Aston Villa. Louis Saha is yet to recover from a hamstring
complaint and James Vaughan will also be absent as he is still
waiting to have a cartilage operation on his knee.
Last season: Man City 0 Everton 2, Everton 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City L D W L D; Everton W D L W
L
Top scorers: Robinho (Man City) 9; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton)
5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Middlesbrough (12) v Arsenal (4)
Boro boss Gareth Southgate faces a defensive crisis - David
Wheater is suspended, while Justin Hoyte and Andrew Taylor are
doubts with knee injuries. Robert Huth (foot) and Chris Riggott
(hamstring) are training again but Tony McMahon, Seb Hines, Matthew
Bates and Rhys Williams could figure. Midfielder Gary O'Neil and
striker Mido (both hamstring) are out but Mohamed Shawky could be
involved after a thigh injury.
Arsenal expect to have captain Cesc Fabregas (knee) back.
Full-back Gael Clichy (hamstring), Robin van Persie (thigh) and the
rested Emmanuel Adebayor also missed the midweek Champions League
trip to Porto but should be available again, along with defender
Bacary Sagna if he shakes off a virus. Defender Kolo Toure (calf),
midfielders Samir Nasri (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and
striker Eduardo (leg) are out.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal
1
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W D L D L; Arsenal W L L
W W
Top scorers: Mido (Middlesbrough) 5; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)
10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Stoke (13) v Fulham (9)
Stoke wait on fitness tests for Rory Delap (arm) and fellow
midfielder Salif Diao (calf). Glenn Whelan may come in for Delap,
while Michael Tonge and Tom Soares are among those on stand-by for
Delap. Ryan Shawcross (back), Dave Kitson (knee) and Liam Lawrence
(ankle) are still out.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has a near full-strength squad. The only
absentees are striker Diomansy Kamara -
sidelined after knee surgery - and midfielder Andranik
Teymourian, who has a knee problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D L W D D; Fulham W W D D D
Top scorers: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6; Andrew Johnson (Fulham)
4
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Sunderland (18) v West Brom (20)
Caretaker Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will be boosted by the
return of Kieran Richardson from suspension. Goalkeeper Craig
Gordon (ankle) and full-back George McCartney (foot) are still
fighting for fitness and are expected to miss out once again.
West Brom will be without striker Ishmael Miller for the
remainder of the season after he suffered a cruciate ligament
injury. Roman Bednar and Luke Moore are likely to be vying for the
starting role up front - but Craig Beattie has been recalled from a
loan spell with Crystal Palace to add to manager Tony Mowbray's
striking options.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland L W L L L; West Brom L L L
L D
Top scorers: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 6; Craig Beattie (West
Brom) 5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Tottenham (15) v Man Utd (3)
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will make a late decision on whether
skipper Ledley King (knee) is fit enough to figure. On-loan striker
Fraizer Campbell is ineligible and also has a slight calf strain,
while Alan Hutton (foot) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) are
out.
Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand are major doubts for United.
Berbatov is struggling with an Achilles injury, while Ferdinand
suffered a back spasm in the Champions League draw with Aalborg.
Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are banned and Cristiano Ronaldo
(hip) and Michael Carrick (thigh) are receiving treatment.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L W L W; Man Utd L W D W
W
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Tottenham) 12; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man
Utd) 9
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Wigan (11) v Blackburn (19)
Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce will miss out with a torn
hamstring. The centre-back was injured in the defeat at Arsenal and
is expected to be out for at least a fortnight, although Paul
Scharner should have recovered from a groin strain to replace him.
Striker Henri Camara has been ill all week and will be checked
before the match, while central midfielder Wilson Palacios serves a
one-match suspension.
Midfielder David Dunn, who has not played since August 28 after
sustaining an Achilles injury, is on the bench for Rovers. Defender
Martin Olsson picked up a knock this week but winger Morten Gamst
Pedersen is fit after a shoulder problem. Defender Aaron Mokoena
and striker Jason Roberts are also fit.
Last season: Blackburn 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 5 Blackburn 3
Last five league matches: Wigan D D W W L; Blackburn L L L L
L
Top scorers: Amr Zaki (Wigan) 9; Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn)
5
Referee: Howard Webb.
