Seven Premier League matches ease us into 2013, starting with West Brom’s Hawthorns clash with an ailing Fulham outfit. That’s followed by a string of three o’clock matches, with both City and United in action.
Robin Van Persie will sport the armband for many when he faces up to Wigan at the DW Stadium, while City will be looking to blow down the stubborn Stoke barrier at the Etihad. The Swansea teamsheet for their encounter with a porous Villa defence will be keenly anticipated, with Michu due to undergo a fitness test to decide if he can take pot-shots at Brad Guzan. Arsenal, with Theo Walcott expected to be in the striker’s role once again, round things off with their trip to Southampton for the evening kick-off.
Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to hoover up the emotion as the day progresses and already, the early team news is in from the Hawthorns:
Steve Clarke makes five changes from the side that slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford. Youssouf Mulumbu returns after a hamstring knock to take his place alongside Chris Brunt in the Baggies’ double-pivot, while the West Brom boss changes all four of his offensive players. Marc-Antoine Fortune, James Morrison and Zoltan Gera replace Graham Dorrans, Markus Rosenberg and Peter Odemwingie in the attacking midfield three, and Romelu Lukaku gets the nod over Shane Long as the lone forward.
West Brom Starting XI: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Brunt; Fortune, Morrison, Gera; Lukaku.
For the visitors, Martin Jol makes a single alteration as Alex Kacaniklic replaces Kerim Frei on the left flank. Mark Schwarzer and Damien Duff fail to recover from neck and calf problems, while Matthew Briggs is preferred to John Arne Riise at left-back again.
Fulham Starting XI: Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs; Dejagah, Karagounis, Sidwell, Kacaniklic; Ruiz; Berbatov.
