P>(Current league positions in brackets)
December 28, 2008
Arsenal (5) v Portsmouth (11)
Arsenal will welcome back striker Emmanuel Adebayor from suspension and should join Robin van Persie up front. Arsene Wenger is likely to be without Alex Song, who was forced off at Villa Park, and has doubts over Johan Djourou and Gael Clichy (both calf). Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Eduardo (broken leg) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are long-term casualties.
Pompey's defence looks shaky and they will remain without right-back Glen Johnson, who broke down in training last week with a recurrence of a knee problem. Younes Kaboul and John Utaka are still struggling with injury and neither will make the squad for Adams' return to the club he represented for 19 years as a player.
Last season: Portsmouth 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 3 Portsmouth 1 Last five league matches: Arsenal W W D D D; Portsmouth W D L L L Top scorers: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 11; Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 12
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Blackburn (19) v Man City (15)
Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen is a doubt with a nasty cut over his eye suffered in the Boxing Day draw at Sunderland, while midfielder David Dunn is out after damaging a hamstring on Wearside. Striker Roque Santa Cruz, who has been linked with a £20million transfer window move to City, continues to struggle with a calf problem and is not expected to feature.
Manchester City will check on the fitness of Micah Richards (hamstring) and Felipe Caicedo (calf). Forwards Darius Vassell and Daniel Sturridge are in contention after overcoming knocks to take their places on the bench against Hull. However Benjani Mwaruwari will be "out for a significant number of weeks" according to boss Mark Hughes after rupturing a thigh muscle for the second time this season.
Last season: Man City 2 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 1 Man City 0 Last five league matches: Blackburn L L L W D; Man City L D L L W Top scorers: Benedict McCarthy (Blackburn) 6; De Souza Robinho (Man City) 11
Referee: Howard Webb.
Bolton (10) v Wigan (9)
Striker Kevin Davies can expect to return to Bolton's front line having been left on the bench for the Boxing Day defeat at Liverpool. Defender Gary Cahill played for much of the second half with a rib problem, and could be a doubt to face Wigan.
Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card against Newcastle but Ryan Taylor should have recovered from the cramps which saw his substituted on Boxing Day. Amr Zaki looks set to partner Emile Heskey up front again and Michael Brown could come in for Cattermole.
Last season: Wigan 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 4 Wigan 1 Last five league matches: Bolton W L L W L; Wigan W W L W W Top scorers: Matthew Taylor (Bolton) 5, Kevin Davies (Bolton) 5, Johan Elmander (Bolton) 5; Amr Zaki (Wigan) 10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Everton (6) v Sunderland (14)
Victor Anichebe is expected to ease Everton's striking problems by returning to the starting line-up, but elsewhere boss David Moyes' injury concerns show few signs of easing with Joseph Yobo (back) still ruled out and Leon Osman (foot) also unlikely to figure against the Black Cats. Hamstring injury victim Louis Saha is also still sidelined and with Ayegbeni Yakubu a long-term absentee Moyes will once again look to 18-year-old Dan Gosling.
New Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will hope midfielders Teemu Tainio (hamstring) and Kieran Richardson (hip) shake off knocks, although both are expected to be fit. Craig Gordon (ankle) and George McCartney (foot) are still out.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Everton 1, Everton 7 Sunderland 1 Last five league matches: Everton W L W D W; Sunderland L L W W D Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 8
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Fulham (8) v Chelsea (2)
Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard has a dead leg and will require assessment while centre-back Brede Hangeland is recovering after a bout of flu which ruled him out of the goalless draw at Tottenham on Boxing Day. Zoltan Gera (calf), Andranik Teymourian (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (knee) remain sidelined.
Chelsea are without suspended captain John Terry for the clash with their west London neighbours. Terry sits out the second of a three-match ban for being red-carded against Everton last Monday night. Chelsea are without Michael Essien (knee) and Ricardo Carvalho (knee), while striker Didier Drogba should be fit despite being taken off against West Brom with a kick on his thigh.
Last season: Fulham 1 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 0 Fulham 0 Last five league matches: Fulham D D D W D; Chelsea L W D D W Top scorers: Danny Murphy (Fulham) 4, Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 4; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16
Referee: Andre Marriner.
Newcastle (12) v Liverpool (1)
Andrew Carroll is likely to partner Michael Owen up front against Liverpool. Jose Enrique is out after damaging a calf in the warm-up against Wigan as is Mark Viduka who has a torn groin muscle. Habib Beye was also a casualty at the JJB Stadium while defender Sebastien Bassong is suspended. David Edgar and Charles N'Zogbia are likely to be used in a makeshift defence and striker Shola Ameobi could return after a groin injury.
Javier Mascherano is expected to return to the starting line-up for Liverpool having been an unused substitute for the Boxing Day win over Bolton. Liverpool played 4-4-2 with Steven Gerrard in a central midfield role for that game, but it is likely their captain will revert to the support striker role at St James' Park. They will still be without full-back Alvaro Arbeloa (hamstring), while Fernando Torres could return as a substitute.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 0 Liverpool 3 Last five league matches: Newcastle D D W W L; Liverpool D W D D W Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 9; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 11
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
West Brom (20) v Tottenham (16)
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray could be without defender Abdoulaye Meite (hamstring) for up to six weeks. Meite was the only casualty from the defeat at Chelsea and Leon Barnett is set to deputise in his absence. Paul Robinson is suspended.
Tottenham captain Ledley King is likely to rest his knee and miss tomorrow's clash at West Brom - but Jonathan Woodgate is fit to deputise after recovering from a back injury. Tom Huddlestone (ankle) is a doubt while Giovani dos Santos (ankle) and Alan Hutton (foot) are out of the clash at The Hawthorns.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L D L W L; Tottenham L W D L D Top scorers: Roman Bednar (West Brom) 5, Craig Beattie (West Brom) 5; Darren Bent (Tottenham) 12
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).
West Ham (13) v Stoke (18)
Kieron Dyer is unlikely to be risked despite nearing a return to full fitness. The midfielder has been out since breaking his leg in August 2007 and has targeted next weekend's third-round FA Cup tie for his first-team comeback. Valon Behrami and Scott Parker had no reaction to minor injuries in the Boxing Day win at Portsmouth and should start, and Matthew Etherington is in contention after recovering from a virus.
Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson is suspended after being sent off in the Boxing Day defeat by Manchester United. Midfielder Liam Lawrence could return to the starting line-up after recovering from an ankle problem. Andy Griffin (knee), Salif Diao (calf), Leon Cort (groin) and Dave Kitson (knee) are all doubtful.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Ham D L D L W; Stoke D D D L L Top scorers: Carlton Cole (West Ham) 5; Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6
Referee: M Jones (Mansfield).
December 29, 2008
Man Utd (3) v Middlesbrough (17)
Rio Ferdinand )back spasm) will sit out for United while Patrice Evra is again ruled out through suspension. Dimitar Berbatov is pushing for a recall to the team after making an impact when he stepped off the bench at Stoke on Boxing Day.
Defender David Wheater is set to return to the Middlesbrough starting line-up after sitting through his side's Boxing Day defeat to Everton on the bench. Gareth Southgate may also choose to give Brazilian striker Afonso Alves a start after his forward line's laboured display against the Toffees. Didier Digard (groin) has now been ruled out until the new year.
Last season: Middlesbrough 2 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 4 Middlesbrough 1 Last five league matches: Man Utd D W W D W; Middlesbrough D L D L L Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 10, Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 10;
Mido (Middlesbrough) 5
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
December 30, 2008
Hull (7) v Aston Villa (4)
Defender Sam Ricketts is available after suspension for Hull and his likely return at left-back should allow Paul McShane to revert to right-back with Bernard Mendy in midfield. Hull's defensive options could be further boosted if Andy Dawson (Achilles) and Anthony Gardner make significant progress over the next few days. Striker Caleb Folan remains on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Zat Knight will retain his place in the Villa side after skipper Martin Laursen was ruled out for three to four weeks. Laursen has a knee injury so Knight - whose late goal earned a Boxing Day draw with Arsenal - will get another chance to establish himself alongside Curtis Davies at the back. Nigel Reo-Coker will continue to stand in at right-back if Carlos Cuellar fails to shake off a knock and John Carew (back) is unlikely to make his first-team return having been out since November 22.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull D W D L L; Aston Villa D W W W D Top scorers: Deiberson
Geovanni (Hull) 6; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 10
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
