We’ve a rare Saturday occasion this afternoon. For only the fourteenth time in the last five seasons we have seven kick-offs at the regulation time of three o’clock without any obtuse early or late fixtures. The Dugout Discussion is open for a short sharp two hour spell…
So let’s not dilly-dally and share all of the team news for the day…
Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Djourou, Arteta, Song, Walcott, Ramsey, Van Persie, Gervinho (Subs: Almunia, Miquel, Rosicky, Frimpong, Benayoun, Arshavin, Chamakh).
Everton XI: Howard, Heitinga, Hibbert, Neville, Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Fellaini, Saha (Subs: Mucha, Distin, Barkley, Stracqualursi, Gueye, McAleny, Vellios).
The Arsenal side picks itself with two right-backs and two left-backs out injured we see Johann Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen on the flanks. The visiting team pretty much picked itself with the injuries in David Moyes’ outfit.
United XI: De Gea, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Ferdinand, Nani, Jones, Valencia, Carrick, Rooney, Welbeck (Subs: Lindegaard, Fryers, Park, Gibson, Young, Giggs, Macheda).
Wolves XI: Hennessey, Zubar, Johnson, Ward, Berra, Henry, Jarvis, Edwards, O’Hara, Doyle, Fletcher. (Subs: De Vries, Stearman, Elokobi, Milijas, Hunt, Hammill, Ebanks-Blake).
Manchester United line-up pretty much as expected by our team news. Ashley Young’s injury the only figure of change with Valencia coming in. Mick McCarthy sticks to his word and names Stephen Fletcher in his line-up. Go figure.
Swansea XI: Vorm, N. Taylor, Caulker, Williams, Gower, Routledge, Sinclair, Britton, Richards, Lita, Moore (Subs: Tremmel, Bessone, Monk, Dyer, Agustien, Dobbie, Graham).
Fulham XI: Schwarzer, Kelly, Riise, Hangeland, Senderos, Davies, Dempsey, Etuhu, Johnson, Ruiz, Dembele (Subs: Etheridge, Briggs, Hughes, Frei, B Riise, Gecov, Sa).
Danny Graham is only fit enough to return to the Swansea bench so bargain striker Leroy Lita looks to lead from the front once more. The talk of Bobby Zamora in this morning’s news was correct – the big man has been left out of the Fulham side.
Norwich XI: Ruddy, Tierney, Whitbread, Martin, Naughton, Crofts, Surman, Fox, Hoolahan, Holt, Morison (Subs: Rudd, Barnett, Johnson, Pilkington, Bennett, Wilbraham, Jackson).
Newcastle XI: Krul; Santon, Simpson, Perch, R. Taylor; Gutierrez, Cabaye, Gosling, Obertan; Ba, Sh Ameobi (Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Ben Arfa, Smith, Lovenkrands, Best, Sa Ameobi).
Norwich decide to combat Newcastle’s new defence -notably absent of both first choice centre backs- with the double pronged attack of Steve Morison and Grant Holt. Hatem Ben Arfa drops out to the bench for the visitors.
West Brom XI: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Shorey; Brunt, Mulumbu, Morrison, Thomas; Odemwingie, Long (Subs: Fulop, Dawson, Jones, Scharner, Dorrans, Tchoyi, Cox).
Wigan XI: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Stam, Figueroa, Moses, Gomez, McCarthy, Jones, Diame, Sammon. (Subs: Pollitt, Gohouri, McArthur, Maloney, Watson, Di Santo, Rodallega).
Peter Odemwingie is back in the West Brom starting line-up as he looks to get back into the form of last season. Wigan put out a team of footballers – Moses included. Last season’s final gameweek saviour Hugo Rodallega is on the bench.
Bolton XI: Jaaskelainen, Cahill, Robinson, Knight, Boyata, Pratley, Eagles, Davies, Sanli, Klasnic, Davies (Subs: Bogdan, Steinsson, Petrov, Muamba, Ngog, O’Halloran, Kakuta).
Villa XI: Guzan, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Hutton, Petrov, Herd, N’Zogbia, Albrighton, Bent, Agbonlahor (Subs: Marshall, Clark, Ireland, Bannan, Delfouneso, Heskey, Weimann).
After having his ban rescinded Gary Cahill “returns” to the Bolton line-up where Tuncay makes a rare appearance in the side. Brad Guzan and Marc Albrighton are two notable introductions for Aston Villa in this fixture.
Liverpool XI: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Skrtel, Agger, Adam, Henderson, Downing, Maxi, Kuyt, Suarez (Subs: Doni, Coates, Kelly, Carragher, Shelvey, Bellamy, Carroll).
QPR XI: Cerny, Traore, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Young, Wright-Phillips, Faurlin, Barton, Mackie, Smith, Bothroyd (Subs: Putnins, Orr, Hill, Connolly, Derry, Buzsaky, Campbell).
No place for Andy Carroll this time at Anfield as Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt return for Liverpool. Heidar Helguson is a surprise absentee for the visitors with DJ Campbell fit enough to return to the bench.
Then we’ll be done. For now, between the hours of three and five o’clock there will be plenty to discuss in the Dugout Discussion as the goals rattle in.
