The weekend's matches
West Brom (6) v Fulham (12)
WEST Brom’s leading scorer Peter Odemwingie has a knee injury. Winger Jerome Thomas is in contention for a recall after fully recovering from a calf problem.
Fulham striker Andy Johnson looks set to make his first appearance since January after recovering from shoulder, knee and hip injuries. Simon Davies (ankle), Danny Murphy (abductor strain), Dickson Etuhu (ankle) and Damien Duff (calf) are out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: West Brom DWWDD; Fulham WDDDL. Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 3; Moussa Dembele (Fulham), Clint Dempsey Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 3. Match odds: H 23-20 A 12-5 D 23-10. Referee: Kevin Friend.
Tottenham Hotspur (5) v Everton (11)
TOTTENHAM captain Ledley King and Vedran Corluka (both groin) are out. Younes Kaboul could return from a hamstring injury but Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) remain absent.
Everton’s Leon Osman (ankle) is out. Marouane Fellaini (hamstring), Jack Rodwell (ankle) and Ross Barkley (broken leg) are sidelined, while Steven Pienaar (groin) and Louis Saha (calf) are struggling.
Last season: Tottenham 2, Everton 1; Everton 2, Tottenham 2. Last five league matches: Tottenham DWLWW; Everton DLDWW. Top scorers (all comps): Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 6; Tim Cahill (Everton) 4. Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10. Referee: Marc Jones.
Liverpool (19) v Blackburn Rovers (14)
LIVERPOOL defender Jamie Carragher needs to be given the all-clear to play but Glen Johnson is set to return after a hamstring problem. Daniel Agger could come back into the squad but Dirk Kuyt (ankle) is out.
Christopher Samba is suspended for Blackburn but Ryan Nelsen may have recovered from a thigh injury. Keith Andrews (groin), Jason Roberts (ankle) and Vince Grella (hamstring) are out.
Last season: Liverpool 2, Blackburn 1; Blackburn 0, Liverpool 0. Last five league matches: Liverpool DLDLL; Blackburn DDWLD. Top scorers (all competitions): David Ngog (Liverpool) 7; Mame Diouf (Blackburn) 4. Match odds: H 8-11 A 4-1 D 5-2. Referee: Phil Dowd.
Manchester City (2) v Arsenal (3)
CITY could be boosted by the return of Mario Balotelli after an knee injury.
Bacary Sagna returns to the Arsenal squad after a thigh problem. Fit-again Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott are in the squad but Laurent Koscielny (back), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Manuel Almunia (elbow), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain out, while Jack Wilshere starts a three-match ban.
Last season: Arsenal 0, Man City 0; Man City 4, Arsenal 2. Last five league matches: Man City DWWWW; Arsenal WDLLW. Top scorers (all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 7; Marouane Chamakh Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 6. Match odds: H 7-5 A 19-10 D 23-10. Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
Chelsea (1) v Wolverhampton (18)
CHELSEA welcome back defender Jose Bosingwa, who has recovered from knee problems. Striker Didier Drogba is fit again after a virus but Frank Lampard (groin), Alex (thigh), Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) and Ramires (ankle) are all sidelined.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will be without on-loan Michael Mancienne against his parent club. McCarthy will also be without suspended Karl Henry, Jody Craddock (hip) and Stephen Hunt (foot).
Last season: Wolves 0, Chelsea 2; Chelsea 4, Wolves 0. Last five league matches: Chelsea WWLWD; Wolves LLLLD. Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 8; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 3. Match odds: H 1-7 A 20-1 D 6-1. Referee: Lee Probert.
Birmingham City (17) v Blackpool (10)
CITY will give a late fitness test to striker Cameron Jerome, who has an ankle injury. Midfielder Craig Gardner (suspended) and winger Jean Beausejour (knee) are out.
Ian Holloway continues to remain largely untroubled by injuries. The Blackpool manager has no fresh worries ahead of this match, although Billy Clarke, Alex Baptiste (both knee) and Louis Almond (shoulder) remain on the sidelines.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Birmingham DLDLL; Blackpool WLLWL. Top scorers (all competitions): Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 4; Charlie Adam Marlon Harewood (Blackpool) 3. Match odds: H 19-20 A 3-1 D 23-10. Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Wigan Athletic (15) v Bolton Wanderers (7)
CHRIS Kirkland makes his first league appearance since August in goal for Wigan, with current number one Ali Al Habsi ineligible for the game against his parent club. Franco Di Santo and Steve Gohouri are doubts but club captain Gary Caldwell will not be risked as he continues his recovery from double hip surgery.
Bolton will be without the suspended Ivan Klasnic, while Andy O’Brien (hamstring), Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel and Sean Davis remain sidelined.
Last season: Bolton 4, Wigan 0; Wigan 0, Bolton 0. Last five league matches: Wigan DLDWD; Bolton LDDDW. Top scorers (all competitions): Jordi Gomez Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan) 3; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 4. Match odds: H 6-4 A 9-5 D 11-5. Referee: Howard Webb.
West Ham United (20) v Newcastle United (16)
MATTHEW Upson is pushing for a return to action after a neck strain. Midfielders Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Zavon Hines and Jack Collison (both knee) are long-term absentees.
Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan returns to the squad after an ankle problem. But Sol Campbell (thigh) misses out again. Steven Taylor, Steve Harper (both shoulder), Leon Best (ankle), Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Dan Gosling (knee) are still out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: West Ham LDWDD; Newcastle LWLLD. Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Parker Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) 3; Shola Ameobi Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 4. Match odds: H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5. Referee: Chris Foy.
Sunderland (13) v Aston Villa (8)
SUNDERLAND striker Darren Bent has fully recovered from a groin injury but Kieran Richardson (hamstring) is out, while Andy Reid has a similar problem. David Meyler and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) remain on the sidelines.
Villa striker Emile Heskey and winger Marc Albrighton are fit after recovering from a back injury and sickness respectively. Richard Dunne (ankle), Gabriel Agbonlahor (groin) and Luke Young (hamstring) are all ruled out.
Last season: Aston Villa 1, Sunderland 1; Sunderland 0, Aston Villa 2. Last five league matches: Sunderland DDDDD; Aston Villa LDWLD. Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 7; Stewart Downing, Emile Heskey Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 3. Match odds: H 6-4 A 9-5 D 11-5. Referee: Mark Halsey.
Stoke City (9) v Manchester United (4)
STOKE striker Ricardo Fuller will undergo a late fitness test on a shoulder injury. Aside from long-term absentee Mamady Sidibe, Potters boss Tony Pulis has no other injury concerns, but may replace goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen with Asmir Begovic.
Wayne Rooney suffered an ankle injury in training on Tuesday as the storm over his United future raged and has now been ruled out for three weeks. Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and Jonny Evans (hip) are also sidelined.
Last season: Man Utd 4 Stoke 0; Stoke 0 Man Utd 2. Last five league matches: Stoke WDWWL; Man Utd DWDDD. Top scorers (all competitions): Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 4; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 7. Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-6 D 5-2. Referee: Andre Marriner.
