The weekend's matches previewed

Sunderland (14)

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Wigan Athletic (17)

STRIKER Danny Welbeck remains a doubt for Sunderland after suffering a hamstring strain at Birmingham last weekend while Kieran Richardson and Sulley Muntari (both calf) are battling against the clock to be fit.

Left-back Maynor Figueroa completes a two-match ban but Wigan are otherwise at full strength and boss Roberto Martinez could opt for an unchanged side following the win at Blackpool.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Sunderland 0.

Last five league matches: Sunderland D L L L L; Wigan L W D L W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 10; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 8.

Match odds: H 23-20 A 5-2 D 9-4.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Tottenham Hotspur (5)

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West Bromwich Albion (11)

GARETH BALE is a major doubt for Tottenham after sustaining a knee injury in Wednesday’s north London derby. William Gallas and Vedran Corluka (ankle) also picked up knocks in the match and could miss out.

West Brom have no fresh injury concerns. Midfielder Graham Dorrans is the only absentee with the ankle problem which has sidelined him for the past seven weeks.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Tottenham D D D W D; West Brom W D W W L.

Top scorers (all competitions): Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) 14; Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 12.

Match odds: H 6-10 A 9-2 D 3-1.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

English Premier League Teams news and statistics

Liverpool (6)

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Birmingham City (15)

LATE CHECKS will be made on the fitness of Jamie Carragher and Andy Carroll. Carragher was knocked unconscious at Arsenal. Carroll jarred a knee against the Gunners and was taken off as a precaution. Birmingham will be boosted by the return from injury of central defender Martin Jiranek after the Czech Republic international missed the last three games with a groin injury.

Last season: Birmingham 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 Birmingham 2.

Last five league matches: Liverpool W W L W D; Birmingham L W D W L.

Top scorers: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) 12; Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 9.

Match odds: H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Bolton Wanderers (8)

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Arsenal (3)

STRIKER Daniel Sturridge returns to the Bolton squad tomorrow after the on-loan Chelsea player was cup-tied for last weekend’s 5-0 defeat by Stoke in the FA Cup semi-final. Mark Davies is also in contention for a starting spot after recovering from an ankle injury.

Arsenal will be without midfielder Abou Diaby (calf) while winger Tomas Rosicky is also doubtful with illness.

Last season: Arsenal 4 Bolton 2, Bolton 0 Arsenal 2.

Last five league matches: Bolton D W L L W; Arsenal D D W D D.

Top scorers (all competitions): Johan Elmander (Bolton) 12; Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 18.

Match odds: H 17-5 A 3-4 D 14-5.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

Wolves (20)

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Fulham (12)

STEPHEN HUNT has recovered from a groin injury and is available for Wolves but Dave Edwards is still out with a spine injury, while Kevin Doyle (knee) and Ronald Zubar (back) are also unavailable.

Fulham are set to be without Damien Duff as he is still troubled by the Achilles injury that forced him to miss the defeat at Manchester United a fortnight ago.

Last season: Fulham 0 Wolves 0, Wolves 2 Fulham 1.

Last five league matches: Wolves W D W L L; Fulham D W L W L.

Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Doyle Adam Hammill (Wolves) 8; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 11.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

Chelsea (2)

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West Ham Utd (19)

ALEX and Ramires are again set to be absent for Chelsea. The Brazilian duo have missed the last two matches with hamstring injuries but are expected to be fit next week.

West Ham will be without key midfielder Scott Parker. The 30-year-old was yesterday named the Football Writers Association’s player of the year, but will miss out with an Achilles’ complaint.

Last season: Chelsea 4 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Chelsea 1.

Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W W W; West Ham W D L L L.

Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16; Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 9.

Match odds: H 1-4 A 10-1 D 5-1.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Blackpool (18)

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Newcastle Utd (9)

BLACKPOOL captain Charlie Adam is fit after a foot injury. Adam’s fellow midfielder David Vaughan is also hoping to feature after two games out with a hip injury. Defender David Carney (shoulder) is out for the season.

Newcastle skipper Kevin Nolan will return from suspension. Tim Krul will deputise once again for keeper Steve Harper, who may need an minor operation on his knee.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Blackpool L D L L L; Newcastle L L W L D.

Top scorers: Charlie Adam DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 10; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 12.

Match odds: H 9-5 A 7-5 D 5-2.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Aston Villa (10)

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Stoke City (13)

ASTON VILLA are at full strength after midfielder Fabian Delph recovered from a groin injury this week. Villa are likely to be unchanged after collecting seven points from their previous three games. Assistant boss Gary McAllister will take charge of the team while Gerard Houllier recovers from chest pains in hospital.

Striker John Carew, who was on the bench last Sunday, is fit having suffered with a back injury.

Last season: Stoke 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 Stoke 0.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L D W W; Stoke D L W D.

Top scorers (all competitions): Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 8; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 11.

Match odds: H 4-5 A 17-5 D 13-5.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Blackburn Rovers (16)

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Manchester City (4)

JUNIOR HOILETT should be back for Blackburn on Monday night after missing the defeat at Everton with a hamstring problem. Roque Santa Cruz, meanwhile, is unavailable against his parent club. Manchester City’s striker Mario Balotelli looks set to retain his place following the FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United as Carlos Tevez has a hamstring injury.

Last season: Man City 4 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 0 Man City 2.

Last five league matches: Blackburn L D D D L; Man City D W L W L.

Top scorers (all competitions): Mame Biram Diouf Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 6; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 22.

Match odds: H 12-5 A 23-20 D 23-10.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Manchester Utd (1)

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Everton (7)

ALEX FERGUSON will check the fitness of leading scorer Dimitar Berbatov after he missed Tuesday’s goalless draw at Newcastle with a minor groin strain.

Key Everton pair Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill could return. Arteta has missed four games with a hamstring injury while Cahill has been troubled by a foot problem for the past month. Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman are both pushing to start.

Last season: Everton 3 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Everton 0.

Last five league matches: Man Utd L W W W D; Everton D W D W W.

Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 22; Louis Saha (Everton) 10.

Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 16-5.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).