Premier League Team News

Arsenal

Next Match: Liverpool (H)
Out: Djourou, Gibbs, Van Persie
Doubts: Eduardo, Merida, Vela
Banned:

7/2

Abou Diaby passed a late test and played for 73 minutes against Chelsea. Gunners could have Eduardo, Merida and Vela back for the clash with Liverpool.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy; Song, Diaby, Fabregas; Nasri, Arshavin, Bendtner.

Aston Villa

Next Match: Manchester United (H)
Out: Reo-Coker, Warnock
Doubts: Albrington, Bouma, Heskey
Banned:

6/2	John Carew returned form a knee injury only to replace Emile Heskey who limped off 20 minutes into the goalless draw at White Hart Lane. That was Villa’s fourth clean sheet in a row.	[source]
8/2	Emile Heskey is a doubt ahead of the reigning Champions’ visit, after suffering a reccurence of a groin problem at White Hart Lane. Martin O’Neill is optimistic the striker might be available on Wednesday.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, L Young; Petrov, Downing, Milner, A Young; Agbonlahor, Carew.

Birmingham City

Next Match: West Ham (A)
Out: Carsley, O’Connor
Doubts: Benitez, Murphy, Parnaby, Quedrue, Tainio
Banned:

7/2

Blues were unchanged for a record twelfth time in a row but they might nit be able to do the same at Boleyn Ground having Chucho Benitez injured. The striker left the field on a stretcher after clashing with Marcus Hahnemann in the derby with Wolves. He will have to be assessed ahead of Wednesday’s game, along with Franck Quedrue who was left out of the squad for the derby also due to injury. Kevin Phillips who was recalled following his recovery from a groin injury grabbed a brace coming on and looks ready to start should the Ecuadorian fail to be ready in time.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Hart, Carr, R Johnson, Ridgewell, Dann; Ferguson, Larsson, Bowyer, McFadden; Phillips, Jerome.

Blackburn Rovers

Next Match: Hull (H)
Out:
Doubts: Dunn, Grella, Jacobsen
Banned: Samba

6/2

Chris Samba is suspended for the clash with Hull after receiving two yellow cards at Stoke. Vince Grella, David Dunn and Lars Jacobsen might have a chance to return on Wednesday.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Robinson, Chimbonda, Nelsen, Givet, Salgado; Nzonzi, Emerton, Olsson, Pedersen, Diouf; Kalinic.

Bolton Wanderers

Next Match: Manchester City (A)
Out: Cahill, Davis, Klasnic, McCann, J O’Brien, Weiss
Doubts: Holden, Muamba, A O’Brien, Steinsson
Banned:

6/2	The Wanderers are facing an injury crisis after the encounter with Fulham. Gary Cahill and Gretar Steinsson were not fit to start that one, while Andy O’Brien limped off midway through the second half, leaving Owen Coyle short of defensive options. They are all doubtful ahead of the trip to the City of Manchester. Vladimir Weiss is ineligible under the Premier League laws as he plays for Bolton on loan from Manchester City and can’t face his parent club.	[source]
8/2	Gary Cahill spent the weekend in hospital due to a blood clot in the arm, which kept him out of the draw with Fulham. He is set for some months on the sidelines and most likely ruled out for the rest of the season. Owen Coyle confirmed Andy O’Brien has recovered and could replace Cahill, while Gretar Steinsson has overcome the illness that ruled him out against Fulham and is in contention. Fabrice Muamba remains doubtful with an ankle problem.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, A O’Brien, Ricketts; Muamba, Cohen, Taylor, Lee, M Davies; K Davies.

Burnley

Next Match: Fulham (A)
Out: Alexander, Caldwell, McCann
Doubts: Jordan, Kalvenes
Banned:

6/2	Danny Fox made a dream debut for Burnley, setting up a goal and scoring the winner against Fulham, after his recovery from injury. Kevin McDonald was fit to return too, but Christian Kalvenes, Chris McCann and STephen Jordan were again absent. They could be ready in time to travel to Fulham on Tuesday. Chris Eagles was benched against Hammers but he could be restored if Brian Laws opts to go with one striker at the Cottage.	[source]
8/2	Brian Laws confirmed that Graham Alexander and Chris McCann will not travel to the Cottage and this is likely the case for Steven Caldwell too. Stephen Jordan has a good chance of being in the squad, but he shouldn’t be expected to replace Danny Fox at left-back.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Jensen, Mears, Cort, Carlisle, Fox; McDonald, Bikey, Blake, Elliott; Fletcher, Nugent.

Chelsea

Next Match: Everton (A)
Out: Belletti, Bosingwa, Essien
Doubts:
Banned:

7/2

Chelsea are heading to Goodison Park with no new injury. John Terry suffered a dead leg during the derby with Arsenal was able to complete the full 90 minutes.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Deco, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka; Drogba.

Everton

Next Match: Chelsea (H)
Out: Hibbert, Jagielka
Doubts: Fellaini, Gosling, Saha, Yobo
Banned: Pienaar

6/2

Toffees have lost the derby playing almost an hour against ten men and they also lost Steven Pienaar who received his marching orders in the dying seconds. They will not have him when they host Chelsea and they also sweat over Marouane Fellaini who was forced off with an injury. On a more positive note, his replacement, Mikel Arteta was fit to play more than 50 minutes and has now come closer to his first start for this season.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Rodwell, Osman, Arteta, Cahill; Donovan, Saha.

Fulham

Next Match: Burnley (H)
Out: Dempsey, Dikgacoi, Johnson, Konchesky, Pantsil
Doubts: Davies, Gera, Zamora
Banned:

6/2	The Cottagers’ injury list is ever increasing, with Bobby Zamora and Kagisho Dikgacoi the new names in it. The striker succumbed to illness before the Bolton game, while the midfielder was forced off in the second half. They will be assessed along with Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera who could not recover and travel to Reebok, but apart for Dikgacoi they could all be ready for Burnley.	[source]
8/2	Roy Hodgson expects Bobby Zamora to be ready to lead the line against Burnley while Simon Davies is also back in the squad for this one. Kagisho Dikgacoi has been ruled out for up to six weeks and this might either hand Dickson Etuhu a chance to be re-established at the middle of the park, or move Chris Baird back into his natural position with Aaron Hughes playing at right back and Chris Smalling beside Brede Hangeland.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey; Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Greening; Nevland, Zamora.

Hull

Next Match: Blackburn (A)
Out: Ashbee, Bullard
Doubts: Geovanni, Ghilas, Marney, McShane
Banned:

6/2

The same side that played against Chelsea was fielded against Manchester City.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Myhill, McShane, Gardner, Mouyokolo, Dawson; Boateng, Cairney, Fagan, Hunt; Zaki, Altidore.

Liverpool

Next Match: Arsenal (A)
Out: Benayoun, Johnson, Torres
Doubts:
Banned: Kyrgiakos

6/2

The Reds will travel to Emirates without Sotirios Kyrgiakos who was sent off in the Merseyside derby.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas, Maxi, Kuyt, Gerrard; Ngog.

Man City

Next Match: Bolton (H)
Out: Bellamy, M Johnson
Doubts: Kompany, Lescott, Richards, Santa Cruz
Banned:

6/2	Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson made their bow coming from the bench at Hull, Wayne Bridge and Pablo Zabaleta were fit to start but Blues were left defeated. Roberto Mancini was pleased by the debuts and the comebacks but was not at all happy with his side’s display and might ring the changes against Bolton. Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards are close to fitness and they might be ready to feature in this one.	[source]
7/2	Roberto Mancini revealed that Patrick Vieira has no ill-effects after his run out at Hull and as long as this continues, he will start against Bolton.	[source]
8/2	The Blues received a big boost by the return to fitness of Joleon Lescott and Roque Santa Cruz who could face Bolton. Vincent Kompany could also be involved, though this one will likely come too soon for him. Micah Richards has a better chance of making it but Mancini will not have Craig Bellamy who has been ruled out with a knee injury.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Boyata, Garrido; de Jong, Vieira, Barry, A Johnson; Adebayor, Tevez.

Man United

Next Match: Aston Villa (A)
Out: Hargreaves, O’Shea
Doubts: Rafael, Vidic
Banned: Ferdinand

6/2

Nemanja Vidic was again absent when United hosted Pompey, albeit SAF had confirmed that the defender has been training and would be in contention. Rafael remained sidelined too but he could return at Villa Park and replace Gary Neville who played at right-back. SAF opted to use both Valencia and Nani and to rest Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov after the hour mark. This might be a hint that they will both start on Wednesday, though Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes might be preferred in a more conservative formation.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Van der Sar, Brown, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Park; Berbatov, Rooney.

Portsmouth

Next Match: Sunderland (H)
Out:
Doubts: Boateng, Brown, Diop, Hreidarsson, Mokoena, Smith, Utaka, Vanden Borre
Banned:

6/2	Avram Grant made five changes from the side that lost at Fulham, possibly to rest some of his key players ahead of a more winnable game against Sunderland on Tuesday. Steve Finnan, Angelos Basinas, Hassan Yebda, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Aruna Dindane were all benched, while Ricardo Rocha made his debut for Pompey. The manager could not avoid an injury to Kevin-Prince Boateng who came on after the hour mark and limped off leaving his side down to ten men.	[source]
8/2	Kevin-Prince Boateng and Anthony Vanden Borre have been added to the long injury list and remain doubtful ahead of Sunderland’s visit. Avram Grant is hopeful they will be ready for this one and confirmed he will restore the players he rested against Man Utd last time out.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: James, Finnan, Ben Haim, Wilson, Rocha; Yebda, Basinas, O’Hara, Boateng, Belhadj; Piquionne.

Stoke City

Next Match: Wigan (A)
Out:
Doubts: Ab Faye
Banned:

6/2	Abdy Faye could not recover from his back problem in time to face Blackburn, but a brilliant performance by Mat Etherington was enough to give Potters the victory. Tony Pulis made changes to his side, introducing Liam Lawrence, Ricardo Fuller and Rory Delap, which meant that Glenn Whelan, Tuncay and Salif Diao were dropped to the bench. Andy Wilkinson came in for the injured skipper.	[source]
8/2	Abdy Faye is expected to be ready to travel to Wigan, after failing a late check before the win over Blackburn last Saturday. Ricardo Fuller had been arrested in connection with an incident at a nightclub but has been bailed, pending further inquiries and should be available.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham; Whitehead, Delap, Lawrence, Etherington; Fuller, Sidibe.

Sunderland

Next Match: Portsmouth (A)
Out: Henderson
Doubts: Ferdinand, Mensah, Richardson
Banned:

6/2	Cats will likely have to travel to Portsmouth without Jordan Henderson who suffered what looks like a serious injury. Anton Ferdinand will remain sidelined too but there’s a chance that John Mensah and Kieran Richardson will be ready for this one. Alan Hutton who made his bow, should be expected to keep his place at left-back.	[source]
8/2	Fraizer Campbell has emerged as a major doubt for the trip to Portsmouth, following a hamstring injury he suffered in training. Steve Bruce has hinted at changes after watching his struggling to exhibit the qualities displayed at the start of the season. Kieran Richardson, John Mensah and Anton Ferdinand are nearing fitness and they might be involved if they recover in time.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Kilgallon, McCartney; Cattermole, Cana, Richardson, Reid; Jones, Bent.

Tottenham

Next Match: Wolves (A)
Out: Cudicini, Lennon, Woodgate
Doubts: Assou-Ekotto, Pavlyuchenko
Banned:

6/2

Roman Pavlyuchenko remained on the sidelines for the game against Villa but he might be ready to travel to Black Country this week.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, King, Bale; Palacios, Huddlestone, Modric, Bentley; Crouch, Defoe.

West Ham

Next Match: Birmingham (H)
Out: Boa Morte, Davenport, Franco, Gabbidon, Hines
Doubts: Diamanti, Dyer, McCarthy
Banned:

6/2

Three debuts at Burnley for Hammers’ new arrivals with various results. Benni McCarthy and Mido played one half each after the South African picked up a knock and was replaced, while Ilan who came on in the second half, scored his first goal for the club. Gianfranco Zola will wait for news on McCarthy’s injury and could have Kieron Dyer back to face Birmingham, but Guille Franco and Danny Gabiddon are only expected to resume training this week. Alessandro Diamanti, who picked a knock in training and missed the Burnley game, could be ready on Wednesday.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Green, Faubert, Upson, Tompkins, Spector; Parker, Behrami, Noble, Collison; Ilan, Cole.

Wigan Athletic

Next Match: Stoke (H)
Out:
Doubts:
Banned:

6/2	Chris Kirkland returned to play the full 90 minutes at Sunderland and Mario Melchiot was fit enough to be named among the substitutes and now Roberto Martinez has no injury worries ahead of the visit of Potters. Marcelo Moreno and Victor Moses made their debuts at the Stadium of Light and seems like the manager will ease them into the team.	[source]
8/2	Roberto Martinez confirmed that he has a fully fit squad for the clash with Stoke. The only absentee is new arrival Steven Gohouri who is still short of match-ftiness and will have to wait for a couple more weeks.	[source]

Predicted Lineup: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa; Diame, Thomas, N’Zogbia, McCarthy, Scharner; Rodallega.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Next Match: Tottenham (H)
Out: Keogh, Edwards, Kightly
Doubts: Maierhofer
Banned:

7/2

Mick McCarthy picked against Birmingham the same players he had used at Hull but Nenad Milijas was inexplicably absent from the squad that travelled to St Andrews.

[source]

Predicted Lineup: Hahnemann, Stearman, Berra, Craddock, Ward; Mancienne, Foley, Jones, Henry, Jarvis; Doyle.