Aston Villa v Newcastle
Today 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1
Ashley Young returns from suspension for Aston Villa, but Gabriel Agbonlahor is likely to be missing for the first time in Martin O’Neill’s 18 months in charge because of the hamstring injury that precluded an England debut in midweek. Jos? Enrique has recovered from a calf injury for Newcastle.
Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Carson – O Mellberg, C Davies, M Laursen, W Bouma – S Petrov, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young – M Harewood, J Carew. Injuries and suspensions: G Agbonlahor (hamstring), P Berger (hamstring).
Newcastle United (possible; 4-4-2): S Given – S Carr, Caçapa, S Taylor, J Enrique – J Milner, Emre Bel?zoglu, N Butt, D Duff – A Smith, M Owen. Injuries and suspensions: T Krul (shoulder), P Ramage (knee), C N’Zogbia (one match), O Martins (ankle).
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Bill Edgar says Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager and former Northern Ireland player, won one more cap than Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle manager and former England player (64/63).
Referee L Mason
Odds: Sky Bet Home 10-11, Away 7-2, Draw 11-5 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 55% Away win 22% Draw 24%
Bolton v Portsmouth
Today 3pm
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Bolton have kept three successive clean sheets and aim for their first back-to-back league victories since April last year. The visiting team have Papa Bouba Diop, Kanu and John Utaka back from the African Cup of Nations, but Sylvain Distin is a doubt with a hamstring problem.
Bolton Wanderers (possible, 4-1-3-1-1): J Jaaskelainen – G Steinsson, A O’Brien, G Cahill, R Gardner – I Campo – D Guthrie, K Nolan, M Taylor – E-H Diouf – K Davies. Injuries and suspensions: A Meït? (Ivory Coast duty).
Portsmouth (possible, 4-4-2): D James – G Johnson, S Campbell, H Hreidarsson, N Pamarot – J Utaka, P Bouba Diop, L Diarra, N Kranjcar – M Baros, J Defoe. Injuries and suspensions: L Primus (knee), M Cranie (leg), S Muntari (Ghana duty).
Bill Edgar says Gary Cahill has played with a Taylor and a Gardner in his two league matches this season: Aston Villa’s Stuart and Craig, Bolton’s Matt and Ricardo.
Referee P Walton
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Odds: Sky Bet Home 6-4, Away 15-8, Draw 11-5 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 37% Away win 36% Draw 27%
Derby v Tottenham
Today 3pm
Doomed Derby have not won a league match since September, their only victory of the season, but have shown a recent upsurge in form with successive draws against Manchester City and Birmingham City. Tottenham have also drawn their past two matches, against Everton and Manchester United.
Derby County (possible; 4-4-2): R Carroll – D Leacock, D Moore, A Stubbs, M Edworthy – C Fagan, S Pearson, R Savage, L Robert – K Miller, R Earnshaw. Injuries and suspensions: C Davis (knee), A Todd (hamstring), T Mears (shin), J McEveley (knee), D Mills (knee), H Ghaly (ineligible).
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Tottenham Hotspur (probable; 4-4-2): R Cerny – A Hutton, M Dawson, L King, P Chimbonda – A Lennon, J Jenas, T Huddlestone, S Malbranque – D Berbatov, R Keane. Injuries and suspensions: J Woodgate (one match), D Bent (knee), G Bale (foot), B Assou-Ekotto (knee), D Zokora (Ivory Coast duty).
Bill Edgar says George Graham’s first and last league matches as Tottenham manager were away to Derby. Tom Huddlestone, of Tottenham, played 22 games for Derby when aged 16.
Referee M Atkinson
Odds: Sky Bet Home 11-2, Away 8-15, Draw 5-2 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 14% Away win 66% Draw 19%
Everton v Reading
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Today 3pm
Yakubu Ayegbeni, the Nigeria striker, has been omitted from Everton’s squad after returning late from the African Cup of Nations. Everton have doubts over Steven Pienaar (ankle) and Leighton Baines (calf). Ivar Ingimarsson, the defender, is suspended for Reading.
Everton (probable; 4-4-1-1): T Howard – P Neville, P Jagielka, J Yobo, J Lescott – M Arteta, L Carsley, M Fernandes, L Osman – T Cahill – A Johnson. Injuries and suspensions: V Anichebe (knee), S Pienaar (ankle), A Gardner (knee).
Reading (probable; 4-4-2): M Hahnemann – G Murty, K Ciss?, I Sonko, N Shorey – K Doyle, M Matejovsky, J Harper, S Hunt – L Lita, D Kitson. Injuries and suspensions: R Convey (knee), M Duberry (knee), B Gunnarsson (groin), J Kebe (hamstring), G Little (Achilles), A Bikey (Cameroon duty), E Fa? (Ivory Coast duty), I Ingimarsson (one match).
Bill Edgar says Everton were awarded eight penalties in the league last season, but have had none this term. Reading have conceded six penalties, the joint highest in the league.
Referee M Halsey Odds: Sky Bet Home 8-15, Away 6-1, Draw 11-4 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 57% Away win 21% Draw 23%
Middlesbrough v Fulham
Today 3pm
Such are Gareth Southgate’s injury concerns up front that the Middlesbrough manager is likely to give Afonso Alves, the £12.7 million club-record signing, who has not played for six weeks, his debut from the substitutes’ bench. Fulham could include Paul Stalteri and Jari Litmanen, their new arrivals.
Middlesbrough (possible; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer – L Young, R Huth, D Wheater, E Pogatetz – G O’Neil, F Rochemback, J Arca, S Downing – J Aliadière, Mido. Injuries and suspensions: B Jones (knee), A Taylor (foot), L Cattermole (knee), S Hines (hamstring), Tuncay Sanli (hamstring).
Fulham (possible; 4-4-2) A Niemi – C Baird, A Hughes, B Hangeland, P Konchesky – S Davies, J Bullard, L Andreasen, D Murphy – C Dempsey, B McBride. Injuries and suspensions: H Bouazza (shoulder). Bill Edgar saysFulham average 1.83 points per league game started by Jimmy Bullard and 0.92 without him since he joined. Wigan in the top flight: 1.46 with him, 0.92 without.
Referee P Dowd
Odds: Sky Bet Home 4-5, Away 10-3, Draw 9-4 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 53% Away win 24% Draw 24%
Sunderland v Wigan
Today 3pm
After Wigan’s 3-0 FA Cup win on Wearside last month, revenge will be in the air at the Stadium of Light. “You remember moments that make you feel ashamed and hurt,” Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, said. Sunderland still have injury concerns, but Emile Heskey may return for Wigan after a back problem.
Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon – P Bardsley, N Nosworthy, J Evans, D Collins – A Stokes, D Whitehead, D Etuhu, D Murphy – R Prica, K Jones. Injuries and suspensions: L Miller (calf), K Richardson (hamstring), D Yorke (calf), G Leadbitter (toe), A Reid (knee), C Edwards (leg), R Wallace (knee), D Higginbotham (toe).
Wigan Athletic (possible; 4-4-2): C Kirkland – E Edman, E Boyce, P Scharner, K Kilbane – L A Valencia, W Palacios, M Brown, R Taylor – E Heskey, A Sibierski. Injuries and suspensions: M Melchiot (thigh), E Hagen (hamstring).
Bill Edgar says Wigan have had only two three-goal victories in their past 59 games, both against Sunderland (3-0 away in the FA Cup and 3-0 at home in the league, both this season).
Referee M Dean
Odds: Sky Bet Home 11-10, Away 13-5, Draw 9-4 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 40% Away win 29% Draw 30%
West Ham v Birmingham
Today 3pm
Neither team have a player with more than five league goals this season but Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, will welcome back Henri Camara from the African Cup of Nations and Bobby Zamora, his fellow forward. Mehdi Nafti and Radhi Jaidi have returned from the tournament in Ghana for Birmingham.
West Ham United (possible; 4-4-2): R Green – L Neill, A Ferdinand, M Upson, G McCartney – N Solano, L Bowyer, H Mullins, F Ljungberg – C Cole, D Ashton. Injuries and suspensions: D Gabbidon (groin), J Collins (knee), S Parker (knee), K Dyer (leg), J Paintsil (Ghana duty), C Bellamy (groin).
Birmingham City (possible; 4-4-2): Maik Taylor – S Kelly, L Ridgewell, R Schmitz, D Murphy – S Larsson, D Johnson, F Muamba, G McSheffrey – M Forssell, J McFadden. Injuries and suspensions: B Oubina (knee), F Queudrue (hamstring), O Kapo (one match).
Bill Edgar says In midweek Matthew Upson became the first West Ham player to start a match for England since David James in November 2003.
Referee M Clattenburg
Odds: Sky Bet Home 4-5, Away 7-2, Draw 12-5 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 52% Away win 22% Draw 25%
Chelsea v Liverpool
Tomorrow 4pm, Sky Sports 1
A victory or draw for Chelsea will stretch their unbeaten home league record to 76 matches, going back to February 2004. Liverpool, without Fernando Torres because of injury, earned their first win in six matches last weekend, beating Sunderland 3-0.
Chelsea (probable; 4-1-4-1): P Cech – J Belletti, Alex, T Ben Haim, A Cole – C Makelele – J Cole, S Wright-Phillips, M Ballack, F Malouda – N Anelka. Injuries and suspensions: J Terry (foot), A Shevchenko (back), D Drogba (Ivory Coast duty), S Kalou (Ivory Coast duty).
Liverpool (probable; 4-4-2): J M Reina – J Carragher, M Skrtel, S Hyypia, S Finnan – J Pennant, J Mascherano, S Gerrard, Lucas Leiva – P Crouch, D Kuyt. Injuries and suspensions: X Alonso (one match), F Torres (hamstring), A Voronin (ankle), ? Arbeloa (abdominal strain), D Agger (foot), R Babel (ankle).
Bill Edgar says Chelsea, unbeaten in 94 domestic home games (excluding penalties), can reach 100 v Wigan on April 12 or, if at home in FA Cup sixth round, v Middlesbrough on March 31.
Referee M Riley
Odds: Sky Bet Home evens, Away 10-3, Draw 2-1 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 46% Away win 25% Draw 29%
Man United v Man City
Tomorrow 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1
Wayne Rooney must sit out a Manchester derby again for United, suspended for five yellow cards. Patrice Evra, his teammate, and Vedran Corluka and Elano, the City players, are missing for the same reason. Benjani Mwaruwari could start for City.
Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar – W Brown, R Ferdinand, N Vidic, J O’Shea – Park Ji Sung, O Hargreaves, P Scholes, R Giggs – C T?vez, C Ronaldo. Injuries and suspensions: B Foster (knee), G Neville (foot), L Saha (knee), M Silvestre (knee), P Evra (one match), W Rooney (one match).
Manchester City (possible; 4-2-3-1): J Hart – N Onuoha, M Richards, R Dunne, M Ball – D Hamann, Gelson Fernandes – D Vassell, S Ireland, M Petrov – Benjani Mwaruwari. Injuries and suspensions: V Bojinov (knee), N Castillo (shoulder), M Johnson (abdominal strain), V Corluka (one match), Elano (one match).
Bill Edgar says Rio Ferdinand (two) has scored twice the combined league goals this term of seven midfield players: Scholes, Anderson, Carrick, Hargreaves, Fletcher, O’Shea, Park.
Referee H Webb
Odds: Sky Bet Home 2-7, Away 8-1, Draw 7-2 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 80% Away win 6% Draw 14%
Arsenal v Blackburn
Monday 8pm, Setanta Sports 1
Arsenal have serious injury worries, among them Philippe Senderos, who hurt a knee playing for Switzerland against England, and Manuel Almunia, who is ill. But Blackburn also have problems, with three players suspended.
Arsenal (possible; 4-4-2): J Lehmann – B Sagna, W Gallas, P Senderos, G Clichy – T Walcott, F Fàbregas, M Flamini, A Hleb – Eduardo da Silva, E Adebayor. Injuries and suspensions: T Rosicky (hamstring), Denilson (hamstring), R van Persie (thigh), J Djourou (groin), A Diaby (calf).
Blackburn Rovers (possible, 4-4-2): B Friedel – B Emerton, A Ooijer, Z Khizanishvili, S Warnock – D Bentley, S Reid, A Mokoena, Tugay Kerimoglu – B McCarthy, R Santa Cruz. Injuries and suspensions: R Nelsen (hamstring), D Dunn (one match), M G Pedersen (one match), C Samba (final match of two).
Bill Edgar says This was the highest-scoring top-flight fixture last season – 6-2 to Arsenal. Already this season six Premier League matches have produced at least eight goals.
Referee S Bennett
Odds: Sky Bet Home 4-11, Away 10-1, Draw 3-1 Fink Tank prediction: Home win 66% Away win 15% Draw 20%
Top scorers
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester Utd 19 Emmanuel Adebayor Arsenal 18 Benjani MwaruwariManchester City 12 (all for Portsmouth) Fernando Torres Liverpool 12 Nicolas Anelka Chelsea 11 (10 for Bolton) Robbie Keane Tottenham 11 Roque Santa Cruz Blackburn 11 Carlos T?vez Manchester Utd 11 Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham 9 Yakubu Ayegbeni Everton 9 Steven Gerrard Liverpool 8 Dave Kitson Reading 8
Top assists
Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal 12 Ashley Young Aston Villa 12 Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham 10 Kenwyne Jones Sunderland 9 Salomon Kalou Chelsea 8 Nicky Shorey Reading 8 Carlton Cole West Ham 7 Steven Gerrard Liverpool 7 Martin Petrov Manchester City 7 Wayne Rooney Manchester Utd 7 Carlos T?vez Manchester Utd 7 Mikel Arteta Everton 6 David Bentley Blackburn 6 El Hadji Diouf Bolton 6 Robbie Keane Tottenham 6 Frank Lampard Chelsea 6