Aston Villa v Manchester City
Kick-off 7.45pm
The irresistible force meets the immovable object: Martin O’Neill’s team may be unbeaten at home and Manchester City yet to win away this season, but Aston Villa have not beaten these opponents in nine attempts since Darius Vassell, who scored four times in four matches against his former club last season, was the match-winner. Stuart Taylor deputises for Thomas Sorensen because Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper requires knee surgery. City are likely to keep the same line-up that lost 1-0 away to Liverpool on Saturday.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): S Taylor — O Mellberg, G Cahill, L Ridgewell, W Bouma — G Agbonlahor, G McCann, S Petrov, G Barry — M Baros, J P Ángel. Injuries: M Delaney (knee), M Laursen (knee), L Moore (shoulder), C Sutton (calf).
Manchester City (4-5-1): N Weaver — N Onuoha, S Distin, R Dunne, B Thatcher — H Trabelsi, J Barton, C Reyna, M Richards, D Vassell — B Corradi. Injuries: T Sinclair (knee), O Dabo (knee), D Beasley (ankle), S Logan (leg), Sun Jihai (hamstring).
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Referee: M Dean.
Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea
Kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports 2 from 7pm
Nicky Hunt is expected to have recovered from a hamstring injury in time to start, but Quinton Fortune is definitely out with an Achilles problem sustained in the 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday. Tal Ben Haim should deputise at left back with Abdoulaye Faye moving back into central defence. Bolton have a big task on their hands because José Mourinho has a full squad to call upon — with the exception of Petr Cech. Mourinho is likely to start with the same side that began the match at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Bolton Wanderers (possible; 4-1-2-3): J Jaaskelainen — N Hunt, A Meïté, A Faye, T Ben Haim — I Campo — K Nolan, G Speed — K Davies, N Anelka, E-H Diouf. Injuries: Q Fortune (Achilles), J O’Brien (knee).
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): C Cudicini — Gérémi, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole — C Makelele — M Essien, M Ballack, F Lampard — A Shevchenko, D Drogba. Injuries: P Cech (head).
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Referee: S Bennett.
Fulham v Arsenal
Kick-off 7.45pm
Fulham are seeking to avoid their third successive Barclays Premiership defeat and will not be helped by the absence of Carlos Bocanegra and Franck
Queudrue. Philippe Christanval will deputise for Ian Pearce — who was sent off in the 1-0 defeat by Reading on Saturday — even though he has not fully recovered from a groin injury.
Chris Coleman’s team have taken only one point off Arsenal in ten top-flight meetings and the visiting team should be strong enough to bounce back from defeat away to Bolton Wanderers — otherwise their title hopes really are over.
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Fulham (4-4-2): A Niemi — L Rosenior, Z Knight, P Christanval, M Volz — T Radzinski, C Jensen, M Brown, L Boa Morte — B McBride, C John. Injuries and suspensions: F Queudrue (shin), C Bocanegra (hamstring), J Bullard (knee), I Pearce (one match).
Arsenal (4-4-2): J Lehmann — E Eboué, K Touré, P Senderos, G Clichy — A Hleb, Gilberto Silva, F Fàbregas, R van Persie — E Adebayor, T Henry. Injuries: A Diaby (ankle), W Gallas (thigh), Lauren (knee).
Referee: H Webb.
Liverpool v Portsmouth
Kick-off 8pm
With Xabi Alonso, Mohamed Sissoko and Boudewijn Zenden injured, Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is expected to ask Jamie Carragher or Sami Hyypia to fill the midfield holding role. Portsmouth have their own injury problems. Benjani Mwaruwari should start
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despite a painkilling injection, but Lomana LuaLua, Matt Taylor and Sean Davis are all doubts. Portsmouth have not beaten Liverpool in the league at Anfield for more than 55 years.
Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2): J M Reina — S Finnan, S Hyypia, D Agger, J A Riise — J Pennant, S Gerrard, J Carragher, L García — P Crouch, D Kuyt. Injuries: X Alonso (knee), F Aurélio (calf), C Bellamy (court appearance), M González (hamstring), H Kewell (toe, ankle and groin), M Sissoko (dislocated shoulder), S Warnock (groin), B Zenden (knee).
Portsmouth (possible; 4-4-2): D James — L Primus, A O’Brien, S Campbell, N Pamarot — G O’Neil, M Fernandes, P Mendes, D Thompson — Kanu, B Mwaruwari. Injuries: A Cole (Achilles), S Davis (groin), G Johnson (thigh), L LuaLua (ankle), D Stefanovic (knee), M Taylor (back).
Referee: A Wiley.
Manchester United v Everton
Kick-off 8pm
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The continuing absence of Andrew Johnson is a concern for Everton, with David Moyes uncertain whether his leading goalscorer will be fit to face West Ham United on Sunday. Tim Howard, the goalkeeper, is ineligible under the terms of his loan from Old Trafford and will be replaced by Richard Wright. For Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, fresh from their exertions against Chelsea on Sunday, much will hinge on Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha, who limped out of that game with hamstring and ankle problems respectively.
Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar — G Neville, R Ferdinand, N Vidic, G Heinze — C Ronaldo, D Fletcher, M Carrick, R Giggs — L Saha, W Rooney. Injuries: Park Ji Sung (ankle), O G Solskjaer (hamstring).
Everton (possible; 4-4-1-1): R Wright — P Neville, J Yobo, J Lescott, N Valente — M Arteta, S Davies, L Carsley, L Osman — J McFadden — J Beattie. Injuries: T Hibbert (groin), A Pistone (Achilles), G Naysmith (knee), T Cahill (knee), A Johnson (hamstring).
Referee: M Halsey.