SOCCER: A look at the weekend's matches

West Ham United (18)

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Bolton Wanderers (11)

WEST Ham will be without injured midfield pair Thomas Hitzlsperger and Valon Behrami. Manager Avram Grant must consider whether to hand Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne their first starts, while overweight striker Benni McCarthy is getting closer to consideration after losing one kilogram in the last week.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle enters this match with a fully fit squad. The squad was given a clean bill of health after Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham.

Last season: West Ham 1, Bolton 2; Bolton 3, West Ham 1. Last five league matches: West Ham LWLDL; Bolton WDLWD. Top scorers: n/a. Match odds: H 5-4 A 23-10 D 11-5. Referee: Andre Marriner.

Everton (16)

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Wolverhampton (5)

EVERTON captain Phil Neville is a slight doubt with a foot injury but manager David Moyes hopes he will be fit. Striker Victor Anichebe is unlikely to play after an injection in the knee to ease bone bruising.

Wolves defender Jelle Van Damme is a doubt after twisting his ankle, Steven Mouyokolo may also miss the match with a damaged hamstring, while Dave Edwards is out with a groin injury. However, last season’s top scorer Kevin Doyle is set to return from a calf injury.

Last season: Wolves 0, Everton 0; Everton 1, Wolves 1. Last five league matches: Everton WWDWL; Wolves DDLWW. Top scorers: Everton n/a; Steven Fletcher David Jones (Wolves) 1. Match odds: H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1. Referee: Lee Mason.

Manchester City (13)

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Liverpool (10)

JAMES Milner is set to make his City debut but manager Roberto Mancini will monitor the fitness of striker Mario Balotelli, who picked up a knock against Timisoara in the Europa League. Aleksander Kolarov (ankle) and Jerome Boateng (knee) are again ruled out through injury.

Joe Cole is suspended but Javier Mascherano could return after a calf injury. Daniel Agger is less likely to feature after suffering concussion but Steven Gerrard will return and Fernando Torres is pushing for a start.

Last season: Man City 0, Liverpool 0; Liverpool 2, Man City 2. Last five league matches: Man City DWLDD; Liverpool WWLDD. Top scorers: James Milner (Man City) 1; David Ngog (Liverpool) 1. Match odds: H 11-8 A 21-10 D 21-10. Referee: Phil Dowd.

Arsenal (9)

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Blackpool (2)

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger will include his captain Cesc Fabregas, striker Robin van Persie, midfielder Alex Song and defender Johan Djourou in the squad but central defender Laurent Koscielny is suspended after his sending off against Liverpool last Sunday and midfielder Denilson is still out with an abdominal injury.

Israeli defender Dekel Keinan could be in line to make his Blackpool debut but goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is sidelined after having an operation on his knee, as is striker Jason Euell.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Arsenal LDLWD; Blackpool LWWDW. Top scorers: Arsenal n/a; Marlon Harewood (Blackpool) 2. Match odds: H 1-7 A 18-1 D 13-2. Referee: Michael Jones.

Birmingham City (7)

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Blackburn Rovers (6)

NEW signing Matt Derbyshire will make his Birmingham debut against his former side after moving from Olympiacos on loan. Nikola Zigic is also pushing for a start up front after impressing off the bench at Sunderland last week while Kevin Phillips (thigh) is the only definite absentee.

David Dunn is out for Blackburn due to a groin problem. The same applies to Vince Grella (calf), but Rovers hope to have both players back for next week’s League Cup game with Norwich.

Last season: Blackburn 2, Birmingham 1; Birmingham 2, Blackburn 1. Last five league matches: Birmingham DLWLD; Blackburn LDWWW. Top scorers: Scott Dann, Matt Derbyshire Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham) 1; Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 1. Match odds: H 5-4 A 23-10 D 11-5. Referee: Michael Oliver.

Wigan Athletic (19)

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Chelsea (1)

CHARLES N’Zogbia could return to the Wigan side after he was omitted against Blackpool by manager Roberto Martinez, who questioned the player’s attitude amid speculation over his future. Victor Moses (calf) is out and Gary Caldwell remains sidelined after double hip surgery.

Chelsea’s new signing Ramires has trained with the squad but will not be involved. Frank Lampard has recovered from an ankle knock. Jeffrey Bruma was due to undergo a hernia operation today while Kakuta has a back injury.

Last season: Chelsea 8, Wigan 0; Wigan 3, Chelsea 1. Last five league matches: Wigan WLDLL; Chelsea LWWWW. Top scorers: Wigan n/a; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 3. Match odds: H 12-1 A 2-9 D 5-1. Referee: Mike Dean.

Newcastle United (17)

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Aston Villa (3)

NEWCASTLE manager Chris Hughton hopes both Peter Lovenkrands and Danny Guthrie will be available after injuries. Sol Campbell is still not match fit, while Danny Simpson and Leon Best (both ankle), Steven Taylor (shoulder) and Dan Gosling (knee) remain sidelined.

Villa are set to hand a debut to midfielder Stephen Ireland. Richard Dunne returns from suspension, goalkeeper Brad Friedel, midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, full-back Luke Young and winger Ashley Young are also set to figure.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Newcastle WWDWL; Aston Villa WWLLW. Top scorers: Newcastle n/a; Stewart Downing Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa) 1. Match odds: H 11-5 A 13-10 D 11-5. Referee: Martin Atkinson.

Stoke City (15)

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Tottenham Hotspur (14)

STOKE striker Kenwyne Jones could make a swift return to action after recovering from an ankle injury. Liam Lawrence remains sidelined with a groin strain, while Jon Walters could make his debut having arrived from Ipswich this week.

Peter Crouch is Tottenham’s only fit striker, with Jermain Defoe (groin), Robbie Keane (knee) and Roman Pavyluchenko (ankle) all out. Giovani dos Santos (hamstring) also picked up an injury at Young Boys on Tuesday night and Luka Modric has failed to recover from his groin strain.

Last season: Stoke 1, Tottenham 2; Tottenham 0, Stoke 1. Last five league matches: Stoke LDWLL; Tottenham LWWLD. Top scorers: Abdoulaye Faye (Stoke) 1; Tottenham n/a. Match odds: H 5-2 A 23-20 D 11-5. Referee: Chris Foy.

West Brom (20)

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Sunderland (8)

NEW signing Peter Odemwingie could make his West Brom debut after his move from Lokomotiv Moscow. They will be without striker Ishmael Miller (thigh) and defender Joe Mattock (ankle).

Sunderland defender John Mensah is expected to miss out with a hamstring injury. New captain Lee Cattermole is suspended following his sending-off against the Blues, while Michael Turner completes his two-match ban, although midfielder Jack Colback returns from his disciplinary lay-off.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: West Brom WWDDL; Sunderland WWLLD. Top scorers: West Brom n/a; Darren Bent (Sunderland) 1. Match odds: H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5. Referee: Kevin Friend.

Fulham (12)

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Manchester United (4)

FULHAM goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer remains a doubt because of the back problem. Long-term injury victims Philippe Senderos (Achilles), Andrew Johnson (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (foot) are out.

Alex Ferguson expects defender Rio Ferdinand to return by the end of September but midfielder Anderson (cruciate) is much nearer a comeback after returning to training. The United boss also feels an extra week’s training will prove beneficial for the likes of Michael Owen and Michael Carrick.

Last season: Man Utd 3, Fulham 0; Fulham 3, Man Utd 0. Last five league matches: Fulham LWLLD; Man Utd WWWWW. Top scorers: Fulham n/a; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 2. Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 11-4. Referee: Peter Walton.