Barclays Premier League
Saturday April 4th
Arsenal v Liverpool (kick off 12:45)
Arsenal must give Danny Welbeck a late fitness test on Saturday morning to assess his knee. He’s carrying a slight knock. Jack Wilshere is also carrying a slight knock and he’ll be assessed too. However, definite absentees are Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy and Abou Diaby.
Liverpool will travel to the Emirates with suspended duo Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel. Adam Lallana is a doubt with a toe injury, a condition from which Raheem Sterling has recovered from just in time to face the Gunners. Daniel Sturridge’s hip problem was not as bad as first feared and he should be able to feature and Luicas Leiva is back in the squad after a thigh problem.
Everton v Southampton (kick off 15:00)
Arouna Kone has been passed fit after damaging his knee last week but Romelu Lukaku will face a fitness test on his hamstring before being named in the Everton match day squad. Returning to the fray are Kevin Mirallas and Steven Pienaar but Darron Gibson will have a stomach muscle strain assessed.
Southampton’s keeper Fraser Forster is out with a serious knee injury and he’ll be replaced by Kelvin Davis. Steven Davis is carrying a groin strain and could miss out.
Leicester v West Ham (kick off 15:00)
Leicester will definitely be facing the Hammers without injured pair Matthew Upson and Dean Hammond. Jeff Schlupp playing for Ghana midweek and his freshness for this Saturday kick off will be assessed prior to kick off. Liam Moore has returned to the club after a loan spell at Brentford.
Winston Reid is back in the West Ham squad after a month out with a hamstring problem but Enner Valencia is still out with a toe injury. Andy Carroll, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry are all on the long-term casualty list.
Manchester United v Aston Villa (kick off 15:00)
Robin van Persie’s ankle has caused him problem for quite some time and he’s been ruled out of this game. Chris Smalling is ill and will miss out for Manchester United but Luke Shaw comes back into the match day squad after a recent hamstring injury.
Ron Vlaar has been missing from the Aston Villa defence for six weeks but he’s recovered from that calf injury to give the club a boost. However, Aly Cissokho and Nathan Baker will miss out due to injury while on-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley is ineligible to face his parent club. Kieran Richardson and Philippe Senderos are both working their way back to full fitness after injury but this game comes too soon for them.
Swansea v Hull (kick off 15:00)
Swansea midfielder Tom Carroll is out for the next six weeks due to ankle ligament damage. Jefferson Montero is carrying a thigh injury and will watch from the stands.
Hull will welcome back Mo Diame, Gaston Ramirez and James Chester after the trio recovered from their respective injuries. However, Tom Huddlestone is still banned and Nikica Jelavic and Robert Snodgrass remain sidelined with injuries.
WBA v QPR (kick off 15:00)
West Brom will have Chris Brunt and Claudio Yacob back their bans but Craig Dawson begins a one-match suspension of his own. Top scorer Saido Berahino is back in the match day squad after a minor injury, but Ben Foster and Callum McManaman remain on the sidelines.
QPR striker Mauro Zarate has returned to his parent club for treatment on an injury but Richard Dunne, Leroy Fer and Alejandro Faurlin remain on the long-term casualty list.
Chelsea v Stoke (kick off 17:30)
Chelsea star striker Diego Costa is struggling with a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty. A knee problem is keeping John Obi Mikel on the treatment table and he is the Blues only confirmed absentee.
Jonathan Walters sustained a calf strain this week but he is expected to be passed fit in time for kick off. Marc Muniesa is back after a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring strain while Victor Moses is unavailable for selection against his parent club.
Sunday April 5th
Burnley v Tottenham (kick off 13:30)
Burnley defender Stephen Ward is available for selection again after shrugging off an ankle injury. The Clarets are reporting no fresh injury concerns ahead of the early Sunday kick off. Matt Taylor is back in training following a lengthy lay off with an Achilles problem.
Spurs keeper will miss out due to a gashed knee and Danny rose is also a definite absentee with hamstring and hip problems. Roberto Soldado will face a late assessment on a knee problem.
Sunderland v Newcastle (kick off 16:00)
Sunderland can welcome back influential midfielder Lee Cattermole after a suspension. Billy Jones has been out for seven weeks with a hamstring problem and he could return to the match day squad on Sunday. However, Wes Brown, Will Buckley and Emanuele Giaccherini all remain absent.
Newcastle’s lengthy casualty list consists of Massadio Haidara (knee cyst), Steven Taylor, Paul Drummett, Cheick Tiote and Siem de Jong. Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse are both banned, but midfielder Mehdi Abeid returns following a thigh injury.
