(Current league positions in brackets)
Goalkeeper Petr Cech is expected to sit out after suffering an adductor problem in the win at Everton on Sunday, with Ross Turnbull likely to replace the Czech. Midfielder John Obi Mikel missed the Goodison Park victory with a knee injury but it is not deemed serious by manger Rafael Benitez.
QPR have no fresh injury problems although Park Ji-sung remains a doubt and strikers Andrew Johnson (knee) and Bobby Zamora (hip) are sidelined with long-term injuries.Last season: Chelsea 6 QPR 1, QPR 1 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea L W W W W; QPR D W L L L
Top scorers: Fernando Torres (Chelsea) 14; Djibril Cisse (QPR) 4, Bobby Zamora (QPR) 4, Adel Taarabt (QPR) 4
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Liverpool (9) v Sunderland (13)
Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has failed to recover from a hamstring injury, with Stewart Downing an option at left-back. Illness has been sweeping through the camp but the club are confident of keeping infection down to a minimum after midfielder Jordan Henderson and back-up goalkeeper Brad Jones were affected prior to the win over QPR.
Sunderland have suffered a blow as defender John O'Shea will miss out at Anfield due to a hamstring injury although full-back Danny Rose returns to the squad after being ineligible to face parent club Tottenham at the weekend.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool W L W L W; Sunderland W L W W L
Top scorers: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 16; Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 8
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Mike Williamson returns from suspension but Newcastle's injury woes show no sign of abating as full-back Danny Simpson suffered a broken toe in the 7-3 defeat at Arsenal and he joins defenders Ryan Taylor and Steven Taylor (hamstring) and midfielders Yohan Cabaye (groin) Vurnon Anita (ankle), Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring) and Jonas Gutierrez, Dan Gosling and Haris Vuckic (all knee) on the sidelines.
Everton will welcome back Marouane Fellaini from a three-match suspension and the Belgian's return will offset the loss of Darron Gibson with a thigh strain for a month. Kevin Mirallas (hamstring), Tony Hibbert (calf) and Seamus Coleman are all unlikely to feature but Phil Neville (knee) could return having been rested for the defeat by Chelsea.
Last season: Everton 3 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle L L W L L; Everton W D W W L
Top scorers: Demba Ba (Newcastle) 13; Marouane Fellaini (Everton) 8
Referee: Martin Atkinson
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