Saturday 19th April 2014
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham v Fulham (kick off 12:45)
Mousa Dembele is back for Spurs to add some much needed steel to the starting XI. However, fellow Belgium international Jan Vertonghen is still out with an ankle problem, and will watch from the stands alongside Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Erik Lemela, Robert Soldado and Etienne Capoue.
Fulham will be missing both Kostas Mitroglou and Lewis Holtby. Mitroglou is is still suffering with a knee injury while Holtby is on loan at Craven Cottage from Spurs and cannot face his parent club.
Aston Villa v Southampton (kick off 15:00)
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert will still be without Christian Benteke, Libor Kozak, Charles N’Zogbia, Jores Okore, Nicklas Helenius and Gary Gardner. However, the versatile Leandro Bacuna is back in the squad following a recent hamstring injury.
Southampton can recall keeper Artur Boruc for the trip to Villa Park. With Kelvin Davies continuing to miss out due to a back problem, expect Boruc to feature. Others on the Saints’ sidelines are Maya Yoshida and Gaston Rammirez.
Cardiff v Stoke (kick off 15:00)
Cardiff will be looking to take all three points from the visit of Stoke to pull away from the relegation zone with three difficult fixtures remaining afterwards. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no new injury concerns with Craig Noone remaining on the casualty list. However, Kenwune Jones returns from a bruised kidney.
Likewise, Stoke have no fresh injury worries. Charlie Adam has had his broken nose operated on and is available for selection leaving Oussama Assaidi and Matthew Etherington as Stoke’s only absentees.
Newcastle v Swansea (kick off 15:00)
Newcastle have been missing Loic Remy and Mathieu Debuchy for the past six games but both are back in the matchday squad this weekend. Moussa Sissoko is still out but is back training while Hatem Ben Arfa is struggling with a dead leg and will face a late fitness test.
Chico Flores is banned for Swansea after his sending off lasat weekend so expect Jordi Amat to fill in. Michu is in the hands of the physio due to a swollen ankle. The magic sponge is being applied, but he may miss out.
West Ham v Crystal Palace (kick off 15:00)
West Ham can welcome back Kevin Nolan, James Collins and Joey O’Brien. Nolan had a hamstring strain, O’Brien had dislocated his shoulder while Collins had calf trouble. Expect all three to feature.
Crystal Palace’s starting XI will depend on the result of three fitness tests on Marouane Chamakh, Joel Ward and Yannick Bolasie. All three are carrying niggles. Adrian Mariappa has a broken nose but is expected to be passed fit.
Chelsea v Sunderland (kick off 17:30)
Eden Hazard is absent for the visit of Sunderland to Stamford Bridge and is a major doubt for the Champions League semi-final trip to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Otherwise, Chelsea has a clean bill of health for the game which they must win to remain in the title race.
Sunderland’s Ondrej Celustka returns to the squad after recovering from a knee problem, but Phil Bardsley will serve the second of his two-match ban. Liam Bridcutt (personal reasons), Ki Sung-yueng (knee) and Carlos Cuellar (hamstring), remain on the sidelines alongside long-term injury victims Keiren Westwood (shoulder) and Steven Fletcher (ankle).
Sunday 20th April 2014
Barclays Premier League
Norwich v Liverpool (kick off 12:00)
Joseph Yobo will be a notable absentee for Norwich on Sunday as they entertain title chasing Liverpool. A calf injury is keeping Yobo on intimate terms with the club physio but skipper Sebastien Bassong could return to the matchday squad after being left out last week. Elliott Bennett continues his rehab from a major knee problem and could sneak a place on the bench.
Daniel Sturridge is carrying a hamstring strain received last weekend. Although he may be passed fit, it’s likely he’ll be rested with one eye on the following weekend. Jordan Henderson will begin a three-match ban so expect only two changes in the Liverpool starting line-up.
Hull v Arsenal (kick off 14:05)
In the FA Cup final dress rehearsal, Hull should be able to give starts to Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic. The pair are cup-tied but will return for this league encounter at the expense of Yannick Sagbo and George Boyd.
Arsenal are hoping that Mesut Ozil is passed fit for the trip to Hull. He’s been suffering with a hamstring injury but could return on Sunday. Mathieu Flamini is back from suspension and will be joined in the matchday squad by full-back Nacho Monreal (dead-leg). The Gunners casualty list remains lengthy with Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Serge Gnabry and Abou Diaby all residing on it.
Everton v Manchester United (kick off 16:10)
Everton will have Phil Jagielka on the bench for the visit of Manchester United as the defender works his way back to full fitness after a hamstring strain. Definite absentees are Steven Pienaar and Darron Gibson while James McCarthy is back from a muscle problem and will feature in some capacity.
David Moyes returns to Goodison Park for the first time since leaving as manager last year. He’ll be travelling with talismanic striker Robin van Persie (knee). Marouane Fellaini is back from a calf injury and a doubt hangs over Jonny Evans due to a calf injury of his own. A definite absentee is Rafael (thigh).
