Saturday 8th December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Arsenal v WBA (kick off 15:00)
Arsenal have a host of injury concerns with Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Theo Walcott (calf), Laurent Koscielny (thigh), Andre Santos (stomach muscle) and Abou Diaby (thigh) all definitely ruled out while Bacary Sagna (foot) is a major doubt.
Goalkeeper, Ben Foster, is West Brom’s only injury concern after undergoing a second groin operation, with Boaz Myhill again deputising. Otherwise, Steve Clarke has a full squad to choose from.
Aston Villa v Stoke (kick off 15:00)
Charles N’Zogbia (knee) has returned to training but is unlikely to feature this weekend. Ron Vlaar (calf) remains a major doubt while Enda Stevens (ankle) and Joe Bennett (knee) will occupy the treatment room.
Peter Crouch (mouth) and Cameron Jerome (ankle) will be assessed prior to kick-off to ascertain whether they can take any part. Michael Owen (hamstring) is a doubt while Charlie Adam (suspension), Rory Delap (hernia) and Marc Wilson (broken leg) will all watch from the stands.
Southampton v Reading (kick off 15:00)
Gaston Ramirez will be available after returning to Uruguay on compassionate leave during the week. Richard Chaplow and Frazer Richardson are back in training after injury, although the latter is not yet ready for a first-team return.
Pavel Pogrebnyak is a doubt after picking up a knock playing for the reserves. Danny Guthrie (thigh) is back in contention but Jimmy Kebe (groin) and Jem Karacan (knee) are definitely out.
Sunderland v Chelsea (kick off 15:00)
John O’Shea returned to training this week and is likely to feature. Steven Fletcher (calf) will be assessed before kick-off while Lee Cattermole (knee ligaments) will be out for at least two months.
Frank Lampard (calf), John Terry (knee) and Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) are all still sidelined while John Obi Mikel will not participate at the Stadium of Light as he begins a three-game ban.
Swansea v Norwich (kick off 15:00)
Goalkeeper Michel Vorm is back in training following a groin injury but is not ready to return to first-team action, while Pablo Hernandez is still struggling with a thigh problem. Wayne Routledge could return from an ankle knock which may see Michu moved up front.
Sebastien Bassong will be fit for the trip to Swansea after picking up a knock last weekend. John Ruddy (thigh) has undergone surgery and will be out for three months while Michael Turner (shoulder) and Harry Kane (metatarsal) are definite absentees.
Wigan v QPR (kick off 15:00)
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez faces a defensive crisis as Antolin Alcaraz (groin) and Ivan Ramis (hamstring) are injured while Gary Caldwell and Maynor Figueroa are both suspended. The Latics also have other injury problems, with Ben Watson (broken leg), Albert Crusat (knee), Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) and Shaun Maloney (groin) all sidelined.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar (groin) is a doubt but Stephane Mbia and Samba Diakite have recovered from the neck and ankle injuries they suffered last weekend. Bobby Zamora (hip) and Andrew Johnson (knee) remain long term tenants in the treatment room.
Sunday 9th December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Man City v Man Utd (kick off 13:30)
David Silva (hamstring) is likely to return for the Manchester derby. James Milner (hamstring) and Gael Clichy (ankle) are also hoping to prove their fitness. All will be assessed prior to kick-off. Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle) and Micah Richards (knee) are definitely ruled out.
Tom Cleverley (calf) will be assessed before kick-off after having a scan on his calf while Anderson is a major doubt with a hamstring injury. United’s injury list includes Antonio Valencia (hip), Nani (hamstring), Shinji Kagawa (knee) and Nemanja Vidic (knee). All will watch from the stands.
Everton v Tottenham (kick off 15:00)
Everton could have Kevin Mirallas (hamstring) and Seamus Coleman (illness) available with David Moyes giving both players “outside chances” of featuring against Spurs. Victor Anichebe (hamstring) and Phil Neville (knee) will watch the game from the treatment room.
Michael Dawson (hamstring) is a major doubt for the trip to Goodison. Gareth Bale (hamstring) is out while Hugo Lloris is expected to replace Brad Friedel in goal. Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Younes Kaboul (knee) will all watch from the stands.
West Ham v Liverpool (kick off 16:00)
Liverpool will be without Luis Suarez who is suspended for the trip to Upton Park. Jonjo Shelvey is likely to step in as a stop-gap striker. Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger and Lucas Leiva are all likely to start after being rested in midweek.
On-loan Yossi Benayoun returns to the Hammer’s squad to face his former club after missing out last week as he was ineligible to appear against his parent club. Andy Carroll (knee) could be missing for two months but would not have been ablen to feature against Liverpool due to the terms of his loan, whilst Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Alou Diarra (thigh) and Jack Collison (knee) are all definite absentees.
