Saturday, January 15th
Chelsea (5) v Blackburn (10)
Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole could all return for Chelsea after being rested for Sunday’s 7-0 FA Cup third-round thrashing of Ipswich. Carlo Ancelotti has no new injury concerns, with Alex, John Obi Mikel (both knee), Yury Zhirkov (calf) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) all still sidelined.
Blackburn will have new signing Roque Santa Cruz available after the Paraguay striker rejoined Rovers on loan from Manchester City. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson is fit to return after a calf injury and Steven Nzonzi (hamstring) could be back in contention. Nikola Kalinic is back from suspension while Gael Givet and Martin Olsson have overcome knocks. Vince Grella, Keith Andrews and Phil Jones remain on the sidelines and Brett Emerton is on international duty with Australia.
Last season:Blackburn 1 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 5 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches:Chelsea D L W D L; Blackburn D L W L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 11; Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn) 6
Match odds:H 2-7 A 9-1 D 9-2
Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Manchester City (2) v Wolves (17)
New signing Edin Dzeko may have to be content with a place on the bench having not played a competitive game since scoring a last-minute equaliser for Wolfsburg against Hoffenheim prior to the German winter break. Mario Balotelli (knee) and Micah Richards (back) have been ruled out but David Silva is expected to be available after missing two games with a knee injury.
Wolves have skipper Karl Henry (knee) and defenders Jody Craddock (hip) and Steve Mouyokolo (back) in contention after recovering from injury. Henry could replace Dave Edwards (hamstring). Full-back George Elokobi will start a three-game ban for his red card in the FA Cup tie at Doncaster and is likely to be replaced by Stephen Ward.
Last season:Wolves 0 Man City 3, Man City 1 Wolves 0
Last five league matches:Man City L W W W D; Wolves W L W L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 13; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 5
Match odds:H 7-20 A 8-1 D 19-5
Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Stoke (11) v Bolton (7)
Stoke striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is doubtful because of a neck injury. Gudjohnsen has endured a frustrating time after signing a one-year deal and has made only four substitute appearances in the top flight. Tuncay Sanli is looking to retain his place in the side after scoring in the FA Cup draw against Cardiff but Mamady Sidibe remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic (groin) is the latest addition to their injury list. Gretar Steinsson (knee) and Stuart Holden (thigh) are rated doubtful. Lee Chung-yong is on international duty at the Asian Cup with South Korea while Joey O'Brien, Sean Davis, Ricardo Gardner and Jlloyd Samuel remain on the sidelines.
Last season:Stoke 1 Bolton 2, Bolton 1 Stoke 1
Last five league matches:Stoke L W L W L; Bolton L W L L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 7; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 10
Match odds:H 23-20 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee:Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
West Brom (16) v Blackpool (9)
Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill will make his first Premier League start for West Brom after manager Robert Di Matteo dropped Scott Carson. Peter Odemwingie is battling an ankle injury, while Ismael Miller and Pablo Ibanez are also doubtful with hamstring problems. Jonas Olsson is suspended and Steven Reid is recovering from knee surgery, but defender Gabriel Tamas is available following a three-match ban.
Blackpool midfielder Elliot Grandin faces a late fitness test. Grandin has suffered problems with his hamstring in recent weeks and was withdrawn in the second half against Liverpool on Wednesday. Manager Ian Holloway has no other fresh injury concerns, but David Carney is at the Asian Cup with Australia.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:West Brom L L L L L; Blackpool W W L L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Peter Odemwingie & Reuben Reid (West Brom) 6; DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 8
Match odds:H 8-11 A 10-3 D 14-5
Referee:Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
West Ham (20) v Arsenal (3)
West Ham forward Victor Obinna is suspended after being sent off against Birmingham in the Carling Cup. Lars Jacobsen returns after a lengthy lay-off and Danny Gabbidon is available. Carlton Cole is also fully fit and could start after scoring as a substitute against Birmingham.
Arsenal will be without goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) and Wojciech Szczesny will again deputise. Centre-back Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) is also out and right-back Bacary Sagna serves the last of his three-match ban. Denilson has recovered from a thigh problem, while both Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri return to the squad having been rested for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich. Midfielder Abou Diaby (calf), goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle) and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain out.
Last season:Arsenal 2 West Ham 0, West Ham 2 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches:West Ham D W D W L; Arsenal L W D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 7; Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 13
Match odds:H 9-2 A 4-7 D 3-1
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Wigan (19) v Fulham (14)
Wigan have Charles N’Zogbia back after the winger completed a three-match suspension. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland missed last weekend’s FA Cup third-round victory at Hull following the bang to the head and will have his condition assessed. Tom Cleverley’s hamstring injury continues to keep him sidelined, while Latics boss Roberto Martinez hopes James McCarthy, Franco Di Santo (both ankle) and Victor Moses (shoulder) will be close to full fitness again by the end of the month.
Steve Sidwell could make his Fulham debut as Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson return from injury. Dembele (ankle) could finally make his comeback, while Johnson is fit following a minor hamstring tear, but Bobby Zamora (leg), Philippe Senderos (Achilles) and Matthew Briggs (calf) are still out and Mark Schwarzer is on Asian Cup duty with Australia.
Last season:Fulham 2 Wigan 1, Wigan 1 Fulham 1
Last five league matches:Wigan D W D L D; Fulham D L W L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 5; Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) 7
Match odds:H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee:Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Sunday, January 16th
Birmingham (15) v Aston Villa (18)
Birmingham newcomer David Bentley is included in the squad after signing on loan from Tottenham. Blues will be without central defender Scott Dann (hamstring) and manager Alex McLeish may switch Liam Ridgewell from left-back into the heart of the defence or draft in Martin Jiranek as a straight swap for Dann. Midfielder Lee Bowyer is available after completing a three-game ban.
Aston Villa will be without suspended duo Emile Heskey and Ashley Young. On-loan Tottenham defender Kyle Walker is expected to make his league debut. Villa have no new injury concerns with full-back Luke Young and Fabian Delph (both knee) are not yet ready to return.
Last season:Aston Villa 1 Birmingham 0, Birmingham 0 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches:Birmingham D L D L W; Aston Villa W L L D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Craig Gardner & Jordon Mutch (Birmingham) 5; Stewart Downing & Emile Heskey (Aston Villa) 6
Match odds:H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Liverpool (13) v Everton (12)
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has virtually a full squad to choose from but will be without Steven Gerrard (suspended) and Jamie Carragher (injured). Midfielder Joe Cole has recovered from an ankle problem to rejoin the squad while Fabio Aurelio is likely to start at left-back. Right-back Martin Kelly will come under pressure from Glen Johnson for his place.
Everton are again likely to be without defender Phil Jagielka as he is short of fitness following a thigh strain. Manager David Moyes otherwise has no injury concerns, although top goalscorer Tim Cahill is on international duty with Australia at the Asian Cup. Moyes expects Steven Pienaar to be available despite giving him permission to speak to another club.
Last season:Liverpool 1 Everton 0, Everton 0 Liverpool 2
Last five league matches:Liverpool L L W L L; Everton D W D L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Steven Gerrard & David Ngog (Liverpool) 8; Tim Cahill (Everton) 9
Match odds:H 23-20 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Sunderland (6) v Newcastle (8)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is keeping his fingers crossed over skipper Lee Cattermole (back) and striker Danny Welbeck (hamstring). Defender Nedum Onuoha should return from a hamstring injury and Bolo Zenden is available after suspension, but David Meyler is facing around 10 weeks on the sidelines after further damaging his cruciate ligament. Michael Turner (knee) is out and John Mensah (ankle) is expected to be missing once again, while Fraizer Campbell (knee) continues his recovery.
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is out with a thigh injury and joins the banned Cheik Tiote on the sidelines. Jose Enrique (illness), Steven Taylor (hamstring), Jonas Gutierrez (leg) and Shola Ameobi (ankle) should all be available, and midfielder Dan Gosling has been included in the squad. Sol Campbell (leg), Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) are out.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Sunderland W L L W W; Newcastle W L L W W
Top scorers(all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 11; Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 11
Match odds:H 6-5 A 23-10 D 23-10
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Tottenham (4) v Manchester United (1)
Gareth Bale is likely to return for Tottenham despite a back injury. Younes Kaboul is back after completing a three-match suspension but Ledley King is likely to be out for some time after aggravating his groin injury. Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Jamie O’Hara (back) have been training this week but are not yet fully fit and Tom Huddlestone is around a month away from a return from his ankle injury.
Wayne Rooney is set to return from an ankle injury after missing two games. He has trained this week and is expected to face Harry Redknapp's men. Nemanja Vidic and Edwin van der Sar are also fit after recent absences.
Last season:Man Utd 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 Man Utd 3
Last five league matches:Tottenham D W W W L; Man Utd W W D W W
Top scorers(all competitions): Gareth Bale & Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 11; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 15
Match odds:H 9-5 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral)
