Six three o’clock kick-offs take us on from United’s 2-0 win over Palace, with the main focus on the Stadium of Light where Mersut Ozil’s undoubted credentials will be on show. Elsewhere, Christan Benteke and Roberto Soldado will carry the armband hopes for many with Robin van Persie set the bar with is spot-kick strike at Old Trafford.
We start the team news round-up at Villa Park where Paul Lambert makes just one change to his lineup for the visit of Newcastle with Karim El Ahmadi drafted in for Leandro Bacuna in midfield. The Magpies make two changes in opposition, with Alan Pardew recalling Yohan Cabaye, while Loic Remy gets a first start up front. Sylvain Marveaux and Shola Ameobi make way.
Martin Jol is forced to change his Fulham lineup at the Cottage, with Aaron Hughes absent through injury. Philippe Senderos comes into the defence to partner Brede Hangeland, while Kieran Richardson replaces John Arne Riise at left-back and Pajtim Kasami returns to the starting XI to replace the sidelined Darren Bent. Steve Clarke is able to give debuts to both Victor Anichebe and Morgan Amalfitano but Stephane Sessegnon misses out with red-tape apparently holding up the completion of his work permit after his move from Sunderland. James Morrison, Scott Sinclair and Shane Long drop out for the Baggies and Chris Brunt also earns a start.
The Tigers are unchanged at the KC Stadium as Danny Graham is retained up front with Yannick Sagbo still serving a ban. In contrast, Malky MacKay makes three changes to his Cardiff lineup – David Marshall misses out in goal through injury, so Joe Lewis starts, while Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Don Cowie are also drafted in, with Craig Bellamy and Matt Connolly dropping out.
Down at the Britannia, Mark Hughes leaves his lineup intact after the three points earned at West Ham. The City teamsheet is much-changed, however. Manuel Pellegrini makes no fewer than six tweaks to the side that stuttered past Hull City last time out, no doubt with their Champions League tie in mind. Alvaro Negredo starts up front as expected, as Edin Dezko drops to the bench. Steven Jovetic is also given a first start and debut as Sergio Aguero makes way late in the day having been named in the original lineup. Elsewhere, with David Silva out injured, Samir Nasri is drafted in to the midfield. Surprisingly, both Jesus Navas and Fernandinho drop to the bench, so Jack Rodwell gets a rare start and James Milner is also included. Meanwhile, at the back, Javi Garcia replaces Joleon Lescott in central defence to take his place alongside Matija Nastasic.
Paolo Di Canio shuffles his pack yet again for the visit of Arsenal. Greek winger Charis Mavrias is given a debut on the flank, while Ki Sung-Yueng also makes a first start in midfield following his arrival from Swansea as Seb Larsson makes way. Both Steven Fletcher and Jozy Altidore make starts up front as Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won drop out. Valentin Roberge fills in for the suspended John O’Shea at the back. The Gunners give Mersut Ozil his debut as he replaces Tomas Rosicky in midfield. Elsewhere, Bacary Sagna returns to start in central defence for the sick Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Flamini starts in the engine room with Santi Cazorla, rather surprisingly, missing out through injury.
Andre Villas-Boas hands Christian Eriksen his Spurs debut against Norwich, while Gylfi Sigurdsson also makes a start as both Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue drop out. Erik Lamela has to make do with a bench role. The Canaries arrive at White Hart Lane with an unchanged lineup.
Our Dugout Discussion Chatrooom remains available throughout these matches and right through to the final whistle in this evening’s clash between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison.
