Saturday 23rd August 2014
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Newcastle United (kick off 12:45)
Aston Villa, who lost 12 of their 22 home games last season, are set to give Joe Cole and Carlos Sanchez their competitive home debuts. Jores Okore is back from a knee injury but Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak remain sidelined.
Newcastle won seven times on their travels in the league last season but will face Aston Villa without Cheick Tiote (hamstring). Siem de Jong is back in the travelling squad after a foot injury and will be joined on the team bus by on loan striker Facundo Ferreyra. Defenders Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Davide Santon will both miss out on the trip.
Chelsea v Leicester (kick off 15:00)
It’s expected that Chelsea will keep faith with Thibaut Courtois in goal for the visit of newly promoted Leicester. Dider Drogba showed no ill effects on his ankle injury after his substitute appearance last week and is available for selection. Otherwise, Chelsea are reporting no fresh injury worries.
Leicester should be able to call upon Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton after their recent injuries but Danny Drinkwater will be kept on the sidelines due to a hamstring problem. The same applies to Matty James (shin). Matthew Upson is still carrying a foot injury.
Crystal Palace v West Ham (kick off 15:00)
Crystal Palace, who beat West Ham 1-0 home and away last season, will put Scott Dann through his paces to test his hip. Adrian Mariappa is carrying a rib complaint but has been training since Thursday. Jonny Williams and Jerome Thomas are both fit to feature. Palace haven’t lost in six against the Hammers, and their last four wins against West Ham were all 1-0.
West Ham travel across London without the suspended James Collins while Joey O’Brien, James Tomkins and Carl Jenkinson will all face tests on minor injuries. Andy Carroll is a long-term absentee with an ankle problem but Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho could both be declared fit after recent niggles. Ravel Morrison is a definite absentee with a groin problem.
Southampton v WBA (kick off 15:00)
Shane Long is in line to make his full Southampton debut against his former club. Florin Gardos is really struggling with a hamstring problem while definite absentees will be Gaston Ramirez and Jay Rodriguez. Artur Boruc is not available for selection.
West Brom lost 10 of their 19 league away games last season. They’ll travel on Saturday afternoon without Joleon Lescott (knee), while new recruit Cristian Gamboa is not ready for his first team debut just yet. Gareth McAuley has shrugged off a calf problem and play alongside new signing Brown Ideye. James Morrison is a definite absentee (knee).
Swansea v Burnley (kick off 15:00)
Swansea lost just four of 18 games against bottom-half sides last season and are waiting on international clearance to select Federico Fernandez. However, Garry Monk may select the same side which beat Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend. Swansea’s neat, counter-attacking football could exploit an inferior Burnley side.
Burnley will be without Sam Vokes, who is carrying a knee problem. He is the Clarets only casualty, and they will have new signing Stephen Ward available for selection.
Everton v Arsenal (kick off 17:30)
Everton’s Darron Gibson is on the cusp of returning to the first team after 10 months out with a serious knee injury. Seamus Coleman is also fit again but Ross Barkley is facing a long spell in the physio room with a knee injury. Arouna Kone and Bryan Oviedo are both carrying niggles and won’t feature this weekend. Everton kept four clean sheets in their six home games against top seven sides last season.
Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta miss out on an appearance against his former club due to an ankle injury. Germany’s World Cup heroes Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil could feature, as could Yaya Sanogo, who has been out with a hamstring issue. Definitely missing the trip will be Serge Gnabry, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs.
Sunday 24th August 2014
Barclays Premier League
Hull v Stoke (kick off 13:30)
Hull, who havent scored in their last three matches against Stoke, are expected to make several personnel changes after their midweek Europe League exploits. Yannick Sagbo is banned while Robert Snodgrass remains on the long-term casualty list.
Stoke need to work on their away form, but will be without Stephen Ireland (chest). Robert Huth has a slight knee problem but it’s not expected to keep him out, while Victor Moses could make his Stoke debut. Geoff Cameron and Peter Odemwingie are set to rejoin the matchday squad following their World Cup endeavours.
Tottenham v QPR (kick off 13:30)
Spurs will entertain QPR without the banned Kyle Naughton. He’ll watch from the stands alongside Kyle Walker and Vlad Chiriches. After being rested midweek, Emmanuel Adebayor, Christian Eriksen, Younes Kaboul, Aaron Lennon and Etienne Capoue will all return. Tom Carroll has joined Swansea on a season-long loan.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp is expected to replace Danny Simpson with new signing Mauricio Isla, while fellow fresh recruit Leroy Fer should get a place on the bench. Eduardo Vargas has not yet received his work permit.
Sunderland v Manchester United (kick off 16:00)
Sunderland will only be missing Emanuele Giaccherini with a groin strain. Billy Jones and Santiago Vergini are in contention to feature following hamstring and paperwork problems respectively.
Manchester United expect to have Robin van Persie back in the fray as they bid to bounce back from a very disappointing opening day loss to Swansea. However, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera are all out, as is Jesse Lingard (knee). Rafael (groin) faces a fitness test but definitely not in Louis van Gaal’s plans are Johnny Evans, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo. Antonio Valencia is back in the match day squad following a hamstring strain.
