Fulham are on the road to Liverpool for a game kicking off at 17.30 full of
issues.
Ex-manager Woy Hodgson has to beat Fulham as his jacket is on shakey nail. Current Fulham manager Mark Hughes has to get something from the clash as a
defeat could very well see The Cottagers sliding into the drop zone for
Christmas.
Elsewhere Premier League action sees title rivals Manchester United
and Chelsea face off in the last game before Christmas.
Arsenal welcome Stoke in a game that The Gunners really have to win to restore
their credibility.
There is also a Midlands derby with West Brom hosting Wolves on Sunday, while managerless Blackburn take on struggling West Ham.
Saturday
18th December
| Up-Coming Premiership games |
|
Saturday 18th December
|
| 12.45 |
Sunderland |
v |
Bolton |
| 15.00 |
Arsenal |
v |
Stoke |
| 15.00 |
Birmingham |
v |
Newcastle |
| 15.00 |
Blackburn |
v |
West Ham |
| 15.00 |
Wigan |
v |
Aston Villa |
| 17.30 |
Liverpool |
v |
Fulham |
|
Sunday 19th December |
| 12.00 |
West Brom |
v |
Wolves |
| 13.30 |
Blackpool |
v |
Tottenham |
| 16.00 |
Chelsea |
v |
Man Utd |
|
Monday 20th December |
| 20.00 |
Man City |
v |
Everton |
|
Top 4 |
Top 6 |
Top 10 |
Bottom Half |
Relegation |
|
12:45 Sunderland vs Bolton
Sunderland and Bolton contest the first top-flight game of the weekend at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats are just one place below the Trotters in the table and both sides have been impressive during their respective campaigns.
It could be a case of attack versus defence on Wearside as Sunderland have been solid at the back so far while Bolton are scoring goals for fun under Owen Coyle. This is a difficult one to call and an interesting clash that will be shown live on Sky Sports 2 and HD2 on Saturday.
Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand (back) has failed in his bid to be fit for the clash with Bolton tomorrow, meaning Steve Bruce will be without three centre-backs. Titus Bramble and Michael Turner are out until the New Year. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will return after missing last week with a hamstring problem while Asamoah Gyan (toe) is also fit, but Boudewijn Zenden (concussion) is a doubt and Fraizer Campbell (knee) remains a long-term absentee.
Bolton midfielder Mark Davies is suspended - Fabrice Muamba is expected to return to the starting line-up in his place. Otherwise, manager Owen Coyle should have the same squad to choose from as he did for the game against Blackburn.
Last season: Sunderland 4 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Sunderland 1
Last five league matches: Sunderland W D L W D; Bolton W W D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 9; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 8
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
15:00 Arsenal vs Stoke
Arsenal, meanwhile, will still be reeling from that narrow defeat at Old Trafford and they take on Stoke City at the Emirates.
The Gunners have been touted as title challengers but last time out they looked as if they had scoffed one-too-many mince pies as they hardly created a chance against United.
Their home form has not been tip-top of late but they will expect to beat Stoke, who have lost five from eight on the road so far this season.
Wojciech Szczesny could continue in goal for Arsenal if Lukasz Fabianski fails to recover from a hip problem. The Gunners have no fresh injury concerns following Monday's 1-0 defeat at Barclays Premier League title rivals Manchester United, but striker Nicklas Bendtner is likely to miss the match at Emirates Stadium as he awaits the birth of his child.
Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are all pressing for a start but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle), midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) and centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain sidelined.
Jon Walters is Stoke manager Tony Pulis' only doubt. Walters missed training in the first half of the week with flu, and only took part in gym work yesterday to assess his fitness.
Last season: Stoke 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 2 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal W L W W L; Stoke W W D D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 12; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 6
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
15:00 Birmingham vs Newcastle
Alan Pardew endeared himself to the Newcastle faithful in his first game in charge following the controversial sacking of Chris Hughton, but he could be brought back down to earth with a thud when the Magpies go to Birmingham City.
The Blues have only conceded six goals at St Andrews in the Premier League and are once more relying on a solid backline to see them through. Can they produce another masterclass in defence or will the travelling Toon earn an early gift or two?
Blues have no new fitness doubts despite a bout of flu hitting the camp. Defenders Liam Ridgewell and Martin Jiranek were both affected, but have recovered sufficiently to be in contention for the team's match against Alan Pardew's side. Alex Hleb is still out with a calf strain.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will have central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson back from suspension. Their return could prove timely with Sol Campbell struggling with illness, while striker Shola Ameobi is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury. Keeper Steve Harper, who was an unused substitute in last week's 3-1 victory over Liverpool on his return from shoulder surgery, is pushing to replace Tim Krul in goal but Dan Gosling (knee), Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) and Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) are still out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham D W D D L; Newcastle D L D L W
Top scorers(all competitions): Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 5; Andy Carroll (Newcastle) 10
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
| Premiership table |
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Man Utd |
16 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
25 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
11 |
10 |
20 |
34 |
| 2 |
Arsenal |
17 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
19 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
15 |
9 |
15 |
32 |
| 3 |
Man City |
17 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
8 |
11 |
32 |
| 4 |
Chelsea |
17 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
13 |
8 |
19 |
31 |
| 5 |
Tottenham |
17 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
14 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
13 |
3 |
27 |
| 6 |
Bolton |
17 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
19 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
12 |
6 |
26 |
| 7 |
Sunderland |
17 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
13 |
2 |
24 |
| 8 |
Newcastle |
17 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
19 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
15 |
1 |
22 |
| 9 |
Liverpool |
17 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
16 |
-1 |
22 |
| 10 |
Blackpool |
16 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
11 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
18 |
-5 |
22 |
| 11 |
West Brom |
17 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
13 |
19 |
-5 |
22 |
| 12 |
Stoke |
17 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
-1 |
21 |
| 13 |
Blackburn |
17 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
11 |
21 |
-5 |
21 |
| 14 |
Aston Villa |
17 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
14 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
18 |
-9 |
20 |
| 15 |
Everton |
17 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
-2 |
18 |
| 16 |
Birmingham |
17 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
14 |
-3 |
18 |
| 17 |
Fulham |
17 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
11 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
-4 |
16 |
| 18 |
Wigan |
17 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
11 |
-15 |
16 |
| 19 |
Wolves |
17 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
13 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
17 |
-12 |
15 |
| 20 |
West Ham |
17 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
15 |
-15 |
12 |
15:00 Blackburn vs West Ham
Sam Allardyce became the second Premier League manager to be sacked earlier in the week when Blackburn's new owners opted to wield the axe in a surprising move.
Rovers caretaker Steve Kean will take charge in the dugout at Ewood Park on Saturday, when lowly West Ham make the trip to Lancashire.
The Hammers are in dire straits themselves and have not managed an away win all season. Another defeat for Avram Grant could spell the end for the Israeli coach and he may well join Allardyce in receiving his P45.
Blackburn will begin the post-Sam Allardyce era without three key midfielders. Vince Grella (Achilles), Steven Nzonzi (hamstring) and Keith Andrews (groin) remain sidelined with long-term injuries as temporary boss Steve Kean prepares to select his first Rovers line-up.
West Ham will give fitness tests to midfielder Valon Behrami (hip) and defender Lars Jacobsen (heel). Mark Noble (hip), Jack Collison and Anthony Edgar (both knee) hope to return in the New Year but Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Manuel da Costa (foot) remain sidelined.
Last season: West Ham 0 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 0 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn L W L W L; West Ham D L W L L
Top scorers (all competitions): Mame Biram Diouf (Blackburn) 5; Scott Parker (West Ham) 6
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
15:00 Wigan vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier needed a win last time out and his side duly delivered.
Another triumph against Wigan would further ease the pressure on the Frenchman, who has endured a tricky start to his reign.
Wigan have a number of injury worries ahead of the match and have problems of their own. Their inconsistent form has seen many tip them for the drop and Roberto Martinez will want to see a marked improvement sooner rather than later.
Wigan will play without a Honduras international in their side for the first time in 100 league matches as Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa serve one-game bans. Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) and Franco di Santo (ankle) are still not fit to return while James McCarthy and Victor Moses are long-term casualties. Club captain Gary Caldwell (thigh) hopes to feature and Tom Cleverley (rib) will be given a fitness test.
Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Young has been ruled out with a knee injury. But striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is fit to return against the Latics. Agbonlahor was unavailable for the 2-1 home success over West Brom last weekend with a chest infection.
Last season: Wigan 1 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2
Last five league matches: Wigan W L L D D; Aston Villa D L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Charles N'Zogbia & Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4; Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 6
Referee: Jon Moss
17:30 Liverpool vs Fulham
Liverpool put in an abject display on Wednesday night to draw 0-0 in the Europa League against FC Utrecht and give Roy Hodgson's doubters more fuel for the fire.
Hodgson will be hoping his old side Fulham can provide him with some festive cheer at Anfield this weekend.
Mark Hughes has failed to get the Cottagers firing on all cylinders this term and the West Londoners are languishing precariously close to the drop zone. A win for Liverpool, meanwhile, could see them move further up the table and slowly dispel their poor start.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to make his comeback from a month-long absence with a hamstring problem. Having made 10 changes for the Europa League match against Utrecht manager Roy Hodgson is likely to restore most of the players from the defeat at Newcastle. That means a start for striker Fernando Torres, who was an unused substitute in midweek, while goalkeeper Jose Reina will make his 200th Barclays Premier League appearance.
Fulham will still be without striker Moussa Dembele, who has returned to his native Belgium for treatment on the ankle problem that has sidelined him for more than a month. Matthew Briggs (calf) is out until next month, while Bobby Zamora (ankle/leg) and Philippe Senderos (Achilles) are on target for February returns.
Last season: Liverpool 0 Fulham 0, Fulham 3 Liverpool 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool L W L W L; Fulham D L D L D
Top scorers (all competitions): David Ngog (Liverpool) 8; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 6
Referee: Andre Marriner
Sunday
19th November
12:00 West Brom vs Wolverhampton
A fiery Midlands derby is in store at midday on Sunday when West Brom take on Wolves at the Hawthorns.
It is two local derbies in two for both of these sides as last time out Mick McCarthy's men earned a narrow victory over Birmingham while the Baggies lost out to Aston Villa.
Wolves have not won away this season but will be desperate to climb out of the bottom three or they will be left feeling like Christmas turkeys with Albion earning the bragging rights.
West Brom's leading scorer Peter Odemwingie is a major doubt for Sunday's derby because of calf and groin problems. Midfielder Graham Dorrans was unable to train earlier in the week because of illness but is expected to be fit to face Mick McCarthy's side.
Wolves striker Kevin Doyle will miss out after scans revealed a tear in his thigh. Winger Matt Jarvis will train on Saturday and may play after recovering from a sore knee, while Christophe Berra should start. Stephen Hunt has shaken off a virus and is available, while Dave Jones is in contention after recovering from a foot injury. Steven Mouyokolo (back) and Michael Mancienne (knee) and Karl Henry (knee) remain out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L L W W L; Wolves L L W L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 6; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
13:30 Blackpool vs Tottenham
Tottenham have been a breath of fresh air for the first half of the season and seem to be coping well with the rigours of combining a domestic fixture list with a busy schedule in the Champions League.
Blackpool, meanwhile, have similarly surprised everyone with some remarkable performances and there is sure to be a full house at Bloomfield Road.
A win for the Tangerines would put them just two points behind Spurs and send Ian Holloway home a very happy man.
Blackpool captain Charlie Adam will miss out through suspension after collecting his fifth booking of the season last weekend. David Vaughan and Craig Cathcart will undergo late fitness tests after sustaining ankle and knee problems respectively in training. Goalkeeper Mark Halstead has been ill and the Seasiders may ask permission for Paul Rachubka, who is not part of their current 25-man squad, to be named on the bench as cover for Richard Kingson.
Rafael van der Vaart has trained all week and is set to give Tottenham a boost by returning from three weeks out with a hamstring injury. Wilson Palacios has recovered from an ankle injury and defender Younes Kaboul is also fit.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackpool L D W D W; Tottenham W W W D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Marlon Harewood & Luke Varney (Blackpool) 5; Gareth Bale & Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham) 9
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
16:00 Chelsea vs Man Utd
It continues to be a sticky period for Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti and the pressure is not subsiding as the Blues host fellow big-guns Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea have not won in the league since early November but the visit of the Red Devils could be just the tonic they need to rally the troops after a poor run.
United dispatched of Arsenal on Monday night and if they can pick up a win at Stamford Bridge they will spend Christmas sitting pretty with a cushion at the top of the table, remaining unbeaten.
Frank Lampard will start Chelsea's crunch Barclays Premier League game against Manchester United on Sunday. The England midfielder came through the final 12 minutes of last weekend's 1-1 draw at Tottenham and a 60-minute practice match yesterday unscathed following three and a half months out injured. Jose Bosingwa, Alex, Yury Zhirkov and Yossi Benayoun remain sidelined.
Paul Scholes remains on the sidelines as Manchester United look to consolidate their place at the Premier League summit. Scholes has missed four games since suffering a groin injury during the Champions League win over Rangers and Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect to have the veteran midfielder back until the new year. John O'Shea (calf) is also a doubt as United attempt to secure their first win at Stamford Bridge since 2002.
Last season: Man Utd 1 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 1 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea L L D D D; Man Utd D D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 12
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Monday
20th November
20:00 Man City vs Everton
The final Premier League game before Christmas sees Manchester City host Everton on Monday night.
All the talk this week has been about Carlos Tevez's transfer request although Roberto Mancini still suggests that he can win the homesick Argentinian round.
If the pair can find some mistletoe then they can kiss and make up, but it remains to be seen whether Tevez will feature at Eastlands.
Everton, meanwhile, are still struggling in front of goal but the Toffees have an excellent recent record over their wealthier opponents.
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is expected to return on Monday. Tevez was rested when the team drew with Juventus in the Europa League after missing the West Ham victory through suspension. Aleksandar Kolarov is also available after a ban but Nigel de Jong sits it out under the totting up procedure.
Steven Pienaar is doubtful for Everton. The South Africa midfielder will be given a fitness test as he continues to battle the groin injury that forced him off after 66 minutes against Wigan last week. Mikel Arteta serves the final game of a three-match suspension and John Heitinga (knee) is again likely to be out. Defender Tony Hibbert is back in contention after having stitches in an ankle wound.
Last season: Man City 0 Everton 2, Everton 2 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City D W D W W; Everton L D L D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Carlos Tevez (Man City) 10; Tim Cahill (Everton) 8
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)