Barclays Premier League : Week 16

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Saturday 6th December 2008

Fulham (10th) v Manchester City (15th)

GMT : 12:45
Ground : Craven Cottage

Last season this fixture ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw. Fulham have secured two successive clean sheets from their visits to Liverpool and Aston Villa, so with Brede Hangeland and co having tightened the ship at the back, a repeat looks unlikely.

Fulham won 3-2 at Eastlands last season. They were 2-0 down at half-time of the April fixture and relegated, but a Diomansy Kamara double helped them to an amazing 3-2 victory.

City were beaten 1-0 by Manchester United last weekend in a sterile derby and also failed to score at home to Paris Saint Germain in their midweek UEFA Cup fixture.

Fulham team news

Defender Chris Baird is Fulham's only doubt. Baird's wife and child are ill, but manager Roy Hodgson is hopeful he will make himself available.

Long-term injury victim Diomansy Kamara remains sidelined following knee surgery in the summer, and midfielder Andranik Teymourian is also still out.

City team news

Manchester City midfielder Elano will be sidelined for up to 10 days after suffering a groin strain in the draw against Paris St Germain.

It means he will be sidelined for the match at Fulham on Saturday, but manager Mark Hughes added: "The problem is not as bad as first feared."

Robinho (ankle), Shaun Wright Phillips (knee) and Micah Richards (ankle) remain doubtful through injury after they all sat out the European fixture.

squads

Fulham: Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Hughes, Baird, Leijer, Kallio, Hangeland, Stoor, Pantsil, Konchesky, Davies, Gera, Gray, Andreasen, Bullard, Dempsey, Murphy, Etuhu, Seol, Zamora, Johnson, Nevland.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Ball, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, Robinho, Vassell, Hamann, Benjani Mwaruwari, Jo, Sturridge, Ben Haim, Schmeichel, Onuoha, Evans.

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Arsenal (4th) v Wigan Athletic (11th)

GMT : 15:00
Ground : Emirates Stadium

Arsenal host Wigan Athletic looking to build on their impressive win at Chelsea last weekend.

So far this season the Gunners have slipped up against several clubs in the bottom half of the table so should be on their metal here against a Wigan side who have won their last two matches.

Henri Camara scored in the wins over Everton and West Bromwich Albion so the Gunners will have to watch the former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker. William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky scored in a 2-0 win here for the Gunners last season.

Arsenal team news

Arsenal will be without defender William Gallas (calf). However, Kolo Toure (calf) is likely to be available again, along with Emmanuel Eboue (knee).

Striker Eduardo continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg, but is not yet match-fit. Abou Diaby (stomach muscle), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) remain sidelined.

Wigan team news

On-loan striker Amr Zaki could return to the Wigan side at the Emirates Stadium following a hamstring injury.

Zaki has missed the last three matches after scoring nine goals in 15 matches since arriving at the JJB Stadium.

Defender Paul Scharner could also come into contention after a groin problem caused him to miss the victory against West Brom last weekend.

squads

Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Toure, Silvestre, Sagna, Nasri, Denilson, Fabregas, Song, Ad****or, Van Persie, Fabianski, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou, Vela, Bendtner, Eboue.

Wigan: Kirkland, Taylor, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Brown, Koumas, Palacios, Camara, Zaki, Heskey, Melchiot, Kilbane, Pollitt, Kingson, De Ridder, Cywka.

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Blackburn Rovers (19th) v Liverpool (1st)

GMT : 15:00
Ground : Ewood Park

Top of the table Liverpool travel to Ewood Park hoping to increase their lead on second placed Chelsea with victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Having taken part in a breathtaking 5-3 defeat against Manchester United in the Carling Cup in midweek, Rovers don't have much time to regroup and lift their spirits before the visit of Rafael Benitez's men.

The Reds, enjoying their best start to a Premier League campaign, went one point ahead at the summit of the Barclays Premier League table after a goalless draw against West Ham United on Monday.

Paul Ince's Blackburn have lost their last four matches, and have not won in nine.

Blackburn team news

Blackburn manager Paul Ince is waiting on the fitness of Brett Emerton and Roque Santa Cruz ahead of Saturday's meeting with Liverpool after they both picked up knocks in the Carling Cup defeat by Manchester United.

Zurab Khizanishvili is ruled out with a groin injury, but Chris Samba has recovered from illness and Keith Andrews, who was ineligible for Wednesday's cup match, returns to the squad.

Vince Grella (calf), David Dunn (Achilles) and Steven Reid (knee) remained sidelined.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool will again be without injured pair Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio.

Boss Rafael Benitez insists that Torres, who has been in Spain for a second opinion on his hamstring injury, is not facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Benitez said: "The reports from Spain have been good, we are not far from the original timescale for his return, but he will not be rushed back."

Torres was aiming for the December 21 trip to Arsenal, but there is still confidence he will play over the Christmas period.

Squads

Blackburn: Robinson, Brown, Simpson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Emerton, Warnock, Mokoena, Olsson, Tu***, Treacy, Pedersen, Roberts, Derbyshire, Villanueva, Santa Cruz, Fowler, McCarthy, Andrews.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Riera, Kuyt, Keane, Cavalieri, Babel, Benayoun, Lucas, Hyypia, Insua, Ngog, El Zhar.

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Hull City (6th) v Middlesbrough (12th)

GMT : 15:00
Ground : Kingston Comms Stadium

Hull City have let in more goals in the first five minutes than any other Premier League outfit, while Middlesbrough have shipped more goals in the last five minutes than any other club.

The last four home league meetings, which took place at Boothferry Park in the old Second Division, were goalless draws.

It will be the first time these clubs have met in the league at the KC Stadium - they contested an FA Cup tie at the KC Stadium in January 2007.

hull team news

Hull hope to have defender Andy Dawson and midfielder Dean Marney available for Saturday.

Dawson has missed the last three matches with an Achilles problem while Marney has been unable to train fully this week due to a dead leg.

Striker Caleb Folan has been ruled out after being booked in for a minor operation to cure his knee problem. He is expected to be out for between 10 days and two weeks.

Forward Daniel Cousin will hope to win a recall after manager Phil Brown replaced him with midfielder Nick Barmby against Stoke City last week.

middlesbrough team news

German defender Robert Huth returns to the Middlesbrough squad.

Huth has been sidelined since the end of September with a foot injury, but he may have to wait to make his comeback because Boro captain Emanuel Pogatetz is expected to recover from the bruised shoulder he sustained against Newcastle last week.

Middlesbrough right-back Tony McMahon, who has completed a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, returns to manager Gareth Southgate's squad and midfielder Gary O'Neil is likely to be back in contention after a slight hamstring injury.

squads

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Ashbee, Boateng, Marney, Geovanni, Barmby, King, Cousin, Dawson, Doyle, Windass, Hughes, Garcia, Halmosi, Giannakopoulos, Mendy, Duke.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Jones, Hoyte, McMahon, Taylor, Grounds, Wheater, Pogatetz, Huth, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Arca, Walker, Digard, Downing, Johnson, Emnes, Mido, Tuncay, Alves.

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Newcastle United (17th) v Stoke City (14th)

GMT : 15:00
Ground : St. James' Park

Stoke City are vying for their first victory at St James' Park in 32 years after they last triumphed 1-0 in March 1976.

Goal difference is keeping Newcastle above the relegation zone, while Barclays Premier League newboys Stoke sit three points and three places above.

United have drawn their last three fixtures and Stoke, knocked out of the Carling Cup in midweek to Derby County, have just one loss in their last six league matches.

Newcastle team news

Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear could field an unchanged side as he attempts to end a run of four matches without a win.

The 61-year-old is likely to keep faith with the 11 men who started last weekend's 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough, and that would mean the fit-again Steven Taylor and striker Mark Viduka starting on the bench.

Striker Xisco (hamstring) is back in contention, but Shola Ameobi (foot and ankle) joins Alan Smith (foot), and Ignacio Gonzalez (Achilles) on the sidelines.

stoke team news

Stoke expect defender Abdoulaye Faye to have recovered from a thigh injury to face his former club.

A £2.25m summer signing, Faye will join two other former Magpies - Amdy Faye and Andy Griffin - in Stoke's ranks aiming for a first away win for the Potters.

Striker Dave Kitson (knee) is ruled out again, as is defender Ryan Shawcross (back) who is expected back in full training on Monday.

squads

Newcastle: Given, Harper, Beye, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Bassong, Coloccini, Taylor, Cacapa, Edgar, Butt, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Geremi, Owen, Martins, Viduka, Carroll, Xisco.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Higginbotham, Soares, Tonge, Amdy Faye, Diao, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller, Simonsen, Olofinjana, Whelan, Cresswell, Dickinson, Sonko, Pugh, Pericard.

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Manchester United (3rd) v Sunderland (18th)

GMT : 17:30
Ground : Old Trafford

Third takes on third-from-bottom in the Barclays Premier League this weekend.

Sir Alex Ferguson is aiming for his 500th win as Manchester United manager against the Black Cats who lost their manager Roy Keane this week.

United are unbeaten in 12 Premier League matches against Sunderland who last tasted victory at Old Trafford 40 years ago.

United team news

Paul Scholes has been ruled out of this encounter. The veteran midfielder made his comeback from a knee injury in Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Blackburn, but while Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Scholes has suffered no reaction, he will be on the sidelines.

Darren Fletcher (hamstring) is a doubt but should make it, allowing Ferguson to choose from a virtually full-strength squad.

sunderland team news

Managerless Sunderland will be without suspended former United midfielder Kieran Richardson at Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the 4-1 home defeat by Bolton Wanderers, which proved to be the final straw for Roy Keane.

Keeper Craig Gordon is unlikely to be involved after aggravating his ankle problem on his return last weekend, while George McCartney (foot) remains a doubt.

However, defender Anton Ferdinand, who was left out last weekend, could return to play against his older brother Rio.

squads

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Vidic, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Tevez, Rooney, Berbatov.

Sunderland: Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio, Leadbitter, Edwards, Miller, Yorke, Reid, Henderson, Colback, Diouf, Cisse, Jones, Murphy, Healy.

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Sunday 7th December 2008

West Bromwich Albion (20th) v Portsmouth (8th)

GMT : 15:00
Ground : The Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion are hoping to arrest a run of four straight league defeats when they host Portsmouth who are smarting from their midweek UEFA Cup exit in Wolfsburg on Thursday night.

Pompey's last top flight victory at the Hawthorns came in 1958 with a 1-0 triumph.

When these outfits have met in the Premier League, the home side has run out victors on each occasion.

west brom team news

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has no injury worries.

Mowbray has named the same group of players who were on duty for last weekend's 2-1 reversal at Wigan Athletic - Albion's seventh defeat in the last eight matches.

His main selection poser is whether to persevere with a 4-5-1 formation, with Ishmael Miller as the lone striker, or revert to 4-4-2 and also include Roman Bednar.

portsmouth team news

Portsmouth midfielder Armand Traore is a major doubt for Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to West Brom.

The winger limped out of Portsmouth's UEFA Cup defeat with a hamstring problem, although Tony Adams is confident he did not sustain a full tear of the muscle and he has a chance of facing the Baggies.

Striker Jermain Defoe, who has had a calf niggle, came through the match without any problems, but midfielder Lassana Diarra (ankle) is out and while defender Younes Kaboul (shin) and winger John Utaka (hip) are both doubtful.

squads

West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Borja, Koren, Brunt, Greening, Miller, Moore, Bednar, Kiely, Cech, Barnett, Kim, Teixeira.

Portsmouth: James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little, Diop, Davis, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe, A Traore, Kanu, Pamarot, Hughes, Mvuemba, Nugent, Thomas, Hreidarsson, Ashdown.

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Everton (7th) v Aston Villa (5th)

GMT : 16:00
Ground : Goodison Park

Everton have secured just one home league victory this season, while Aston Villa have had four success on the road.

The Toffees have the fewest goalless draws in the Barclays Premier League (none) and the play Villa who have most with four.

This is the most played fixture in the English top-flight as the sides have met 186 times. They have 70 wins each and there have been 46 draws.

aston villa team news

Aston Villa are hoping winger Ashley Young shakes off a calf injury in time to face Everton in Sunday's match at Goodison Park.

Young came in for rough treatment during Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with MSK Zilina and was limping towards the end of Villa's 2-1 defeat.

Central defender Curtis Davies is set to return after a slight ankle injury, along with midfielder Steve Sidwell whose wife recently gave birth. But striker John Carew (back) is ruled out which means 17-year-old Nathan Delfouneso, who scored on his full debut against MSK, could play some part.

everton team news

Everton face a striker crisis with Victor Anichebe the only recognised centre-forward fit enough for contention.

Ayegbeni Yakubu is facing a nine-month lay-off following surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon and fellow striker Louis Saha's hamstring problem needs another week to recover.

James Vaughan is also still in Colorado awaiting a cartilage operation on his knee.

squads

Everton: Howard, Neville, Lescott, Yobo, Jagielka, Baines, Arteta, Osman, Cahill, Fellaini, Anichebe, Nash, Castillo, Rodwell, Gosling, Jutkiewicz, Baxter, Pienaar.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Davies, Laursen, L Young, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, A Young, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Guzan, Harewood, Knight, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Salifou, Osbourne.

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