Premier League weekend team news, kick-off times, TV details

Clubs return from international break with Liverpool v Arsenal the pick of the matches

Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson faces a late fitness test before their match against Arsenal. Photo: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson faces a late fitness test before their match against Arsenal. Photo: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images

Saturday (all kick-off times 3pm unless stated)

Leicester (12) v Chelsea (1) – 12.30pm (live on BT Sport 1)

Youri Tielemans will be absent for Leicester due to a calf issue suffered before the international break. James Justin and Wesley Fofana are also injured but Marc Albrighton is fit again.

Romelu Lukaku will miss out for Chelsea as the Belgium striker continues to battle an ankle problem. Mateo Kovacic is also sidelined with a hamstring injury, but Timo Werner could be back in action. Marcos Alonso returns after an ankle concern, with Mason Mount (wisdom teeth) back in training. Christian Pulisic could feature.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Leicester 1, Leicester 2 Chelsea 0

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Last five league matches: Leicester D W W L D; Chelsea W W W W D

Top scorers (all competitions): Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 7; Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Reece James (Chelsea) 4

Match odds: H 18-5 A 4-5 D 13-5

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

Aston Villa (16) v Brighton (7)

Steven Gerrard takes charge of his first game as Aston Villa boss and does not expect Douglas Luiz to return in time due to a hamstring injury. Fellow midfielders Morgan Sanson (illness) and Trezeguet (knee) are also absent. Central defender Ezri Konsa is back in contention after serving a one-game ban.

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is suspended following his late red card against Newcastle. Jason Steele, who plays in the cup competitions for the Seagulls, will therefore be handed his Premier League debut. Enock Mwepu is out with a muscle strain, but Aaron Connolly is fit following a heel injury.

Last season: Brighton 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 Brighton 2

Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L L L L; Brighton D D L D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Cameron Archer (Aston Villa) 4; Neal Maupay and Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) 4

Match odds: H 6-4 A 19-10 D 9-4

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Burnley (18) v Crystal Palace (10)

Burnley boss Sean Dyche will run the rule over his returning international stars. Ashley Barnes will be assessed after picking up a minor unspecified knock, while Aaron Lennon is available to return after illness. Dale Stephens is continuing to make good progress but is still not ready to make his first-team return after injury.

Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur will miss out after he sustained a hamstring injury in training. Ebere Eze is fit again after an Achilles issue. Nathan Ferguson is building up fitness after close to two years on the sidelines with a number of issues.

Last season: Crystal Palace 0 Burnley 3, Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 0

Last five league matches: Burnley D L D W D; Crystal Palace D D D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Chris Wood, Maxwel Cornet and Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) 4; Odsonne Edouard (Crystal Palace) 6

Match odds: H 19-10 A 8-5 D 21-10

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Newcastle (19) v Brentford (14)

Newcastle’s new boss Eddie Howe must decide between goalkeepers Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow, with the former fit after injury. Paraguay frontman Miguel Almiron was due to return from international duty on Friday, while defender Paul Dummett remains the only man on the casualty list with a long-term calf problem.

Brentford’s Mathias Jensen is available after spending the international break in quarantine after testing positive for Covid. Yoane Wissa (ankle) is edging closer to rejoining the squad and central defender Matthias Jorgensen faces a late fitness test. Shandon Baptiste is in contention for a squad place after six weeks out with a dislocated shoulder.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Newcastle L L D L D; Brentford W L L L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Callum Wilson (Newcastle) 4; Marcus Forss and Yoane Wissa (Brentford) 5

Match odds: H 8-5 A 17-10 D 12-5

Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside)

Norwich (20) v Southampton (13)

New Norwich manager Dean Smith has no major injury headaches. Sam Byram is set to make a major step forward in putting his injury nightmare behind him. Christoph Zimmermann remains out following ankle surgery last month, while fellow defender Grant Hanley has recently been struggling with a groin problem.

James Ward-Prowse is fit for Southampton despite pulling out of England duty through illness. Defender Tino Livramento and forward Armando Broja are also available, having missed their stints on international duty as well. Defender Jack Stephens is the only absentee with a knee injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Norwich D D L L W; Southampton L W D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Josh Sargent (Norwich) 4; Mohamed Elyounoussi and Armando Broja (Southampton) 4

Match odds: H 27-10 A 21-20 D 12- 5

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Watford (17) v Man Utd (6) (live on Premier Sport 2)

Ozan Tufan faces a late fitness test for Watford after getting injured on international duty with Turkey. Francisco Sierralta misses out, having suffered a hamstring injury in action with Chile. Christian Kabasele (hamstring) and Ken Sema (knee) are both still out injured, while Juraj Kucka is suspended.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has question marks over several United players. Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay withdrew from England and Scotland duty respectively while Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford did not join up with their squads. Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane are sidelined.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Watford L L W L L; Man Utd D L L W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Ismaila Sarr (Watford) 4; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 9

Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 7-2

Referee: Jonathan Moss (County Durham)

Wolves (8) v West Ham (3)

Adama Traore will be pushing for a return to the starting line-up for Wolves. Full-back Fernando Marcal is in contention to feature for the first time since October 16 after recovering from a calf injury but Rayan Ait-Nouri is set to keep his place. A decision will be made on Raul Jimenez’s availability following his return from international duty with Mexico.

West Ham are without Angelo Ogbonna, with the defender looking set to miss the rest of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Midfielder Declan Rice, who withdrew from the England squad last week because of illness, is set to be available.

Last season: Wolves 2 West Ham 3, West Ham 4 Wolves 0

Last five league matches: Wolves W W D W L; West Ham L W W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves) 4; Michail Antonio (West Ham) 7

Match odds: H 2-1 A 6-4 D 11-5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Liverpool (4) v Arsenal (5) – 5.30pm (live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League)

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and defender Andy Robertson face late fitness tests as they returned from international duty with minor issues. Forward Sadio Mane has recovered from the bruised ribs he sustained playing for Senegal. Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez, Curtis, Harvey Elliott, James Milner and Naby Keita are out.

Arsenal could be without striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and midfielder Thomas Partey who are both doubtful for the trip to Anfield. The Gunners will also continue to be without defender Sead Kolasinac and midfielder Granit Xhaka with a left ankle and knee ligament injury respectively.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 3 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Liverpool D W W D L; Arsenal D D W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 15; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 7

Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 15-4

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Sunday

Man City (2) v Everton (11) – 2pm (live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League)

Manchester City are without playmaker Kevin De Bruyne after he tested positive for coronavirus. Fellow midfielder Jack Grealish is unlikely to feature due to a knock. Phil Foden is doubtful with a leg injury and Ferran Torres is a longer-term absentee. Defender Aymeric Laporte is available again after suspension.

Everton manager Rafael Benitez continues to pick from a depleted squad. Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure (metatarsal) is one to two weeks away from returning and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh) will not be back for up to three weeks. Centre-back Yerry Mina (hamstring) and Andre Gomes (calf) are also missing while defender Mason Holgate is suspended.

Last season: Man City 5 Everton 0, Everton 1 Man City 3

Last five league matches: Man City D W W L W; Everton D L L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Riyad Mahrez (Man City) 8; Andros Townsend (Everton) 5

Match odds: H 2-13 A 18-1 D 13-2

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Tottenham (9) v Leeds (15) – 4.30pm (live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League)

Tottenham will be forced to make changes with Cristian Romero and Oliver Skipp unavailable. Romero sustained an unspecified injury while away with Argentina and Skipp has a one-match suspension to serve for a fifth booking. Giovani Lo Celso will be assessed for a knock picked up on international duty. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is expected to be fit.

Leeds will be without Patrick Bamford again, with the striker set to miss his ninth game in all competitions due to an ankle injury. Teenage striker Joe Gelhardt is not likely to feature. Defenders Luke Ayling, Robin Koch (both knee) and Junior Firpo (muscle strain) are still unavailable and Jamie Shackleton remains doubtful.

Last season: Leeds 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 3 Leeds 0

Last five league matches: Tottenham W W L L D; Leeds W L D W D

Top scorers (all competitions): Harry Kane and Son Heung-min (Tottenham) 5; Raphinha (Leeds) 5

Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 3-1

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)