Saturday, March 1st
Everton (7) v West Ham (10)
Everton’s on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku is set to return from an ankle injury after spending a month on the sidelines. Toffees captain Phil Jagielka has been ruled out for a fortnight with a hamstring injury so John Stones is likely to deputise in defence. Fellow centre-back Antolin Alcaraz is fit again and comes back into the squad after spending four weeks out but on-loan striker Lacina Traore (hamstring) is unavailable.
West Ham striker Andy Carroll returns for the Barclays Premier League trip after serving a three-match suspension. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce must decide whether to restore Carroll to the starting XI or continue with Carlton Cole up front. Forward Marco Borriello is a doubt because of a calf problem but defender Guy Demel is expected to recover from tonsillitis.
Last season: Everton 2 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Everton D L W L L; West Ham D W W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 9; Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 7
Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 16-5
Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)
Fulham (20) v Chelsea (1)
Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou will be omitted from the squad for the west London derby. New boss Felix Magath insists the £12 million deadline day signing is not yet ready for the intensity of the Premier League, but is fit having shrugged off a knee problem. Fernando Amorebieta and Damien Duff are in the treatment room, but Darren Bent returns after missing the West Brom match for personal reasons.
David Luiz (groin) and John Obi Mikel (calf) are among those being checked by Chelsea after their midweek match in Turkey, as is midfielder Oscar (ankle) and striker Fernando Torres. Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah were cup-tied in Europe, so should feature, but midfielder Marco van Ginkel is continuing his rehabilitation from his serious knee injury.
Last season: Fulham 0 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 0 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Fulham L L D L D; Chelsea D W W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent, Steven Sidwell (Fulham) 6; Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 14
Match odds: H 7-1 A 2-5 D 7-2
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Hull (11) v Newcastle (8)
Hull welcome back in-form strike duo Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long after the pair were cup-tied for the FA Cup fifth-round win over Brighton on Monday. Tom Huddlestone and Alex Bruce should also return, having missed that game with knocks. Ireland's Paul McShane (ankle) and Robbie Brady (groin) are the only long-term absentees and are unlikely to be seen again this season.
Hatem Ben Arfa (undisclosed injury) and Davide Santon (knee) will be missing again for Newcastle after both sat out the 1-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. Central defender Fabricio Coloccini and midfielder Cheick Tiote suffered no ill-effects on their respective returns from injury, while midfielder Sylvain Marveaux will have to wait to see if he is included after apparently falling out of favour.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull L D W L W; Newcastle D L L L W
Top scorers: Robbie Brady (Hull) 4; Loic Remy (Newcastle) 12
Match odds: H 7-5 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Southampton (9) v Liverpool (4)
Southampton will give defender Jos Hooiveld and midfielder Victor Wanyama as long as possible to prove their fitness. Hooiveld missed the league encounter at West Ham last weekend with an eye injury while Kenyan midfielder Wanyama is set to remain sidelined by the unspecified knock which kept him out of the squad to face the Hammers.
Defender Mamadou Sakho has returned to training after two months out with a hamstring injury but Daniel Agger will retain his place at centre-back for Liverpool. Midfielder Lucas Leiva is back working with the first-team group after a six-week absence with a knee injury but will not be considered for the weekend. Left-back Jose Enrique continues his rehabilitation from a knee operation which has sidelined him since early November.
Last season: Southampton 3 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Southampton 0
Last five league matches: Southampton D W D W L; Liverpool W D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions): Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 12; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 23
Match odds: H 13-5 A 1-1 D 5-2
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Stoke (15) v Arsenal (2)
Stoke will check on the condition of Peter Odemwingie after he sustained a calf problem. Fellow Potters forward Jon Walters has missed a couple of days of training this week due to illness but is expected to be available, and striker John Guidetti is eligible once again after sitting out last weekend’s defeat at his parent club Manchester City.
Mesut Ozil will return after hip trouble and a two-day rest for Arsenal’s trip to the Britannia Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will leave a decision on whether or not to field fit-again defender Thomas Vermaelen at left-back to the last minute. Nacho Monreal (ankle) and Kieran Gibbs (gluteus) both remain doubtful, and if neither make it back in time for the Potters clash, Wenger could deploy Vermaelen, fully recovered from a shin problem, on the left side of his defence.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Stoke 0, Stoke 0 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Stoke L W D D L; Arsenal D W L D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Crouch & Charlie Adam (Stoke) 8; Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 16
Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 3-1
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Sunday, March 2nd
Aston Villa (13) v Norwich (14)
Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood will be fit afer recovering from a dead leg. The former Crewe player had to come off during last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle but has recovered from the injury in time for the crucial clash with the Canaries. Villa manager Paul Lambert also confirmed full-back Ryan Bertrand is fit and well following a virus last weekend.
Norwich will be without midfielder Leroy Fer (hamstring), while Jonny Howson is in contention to start after recovering from two months out with a back problem. Centre-half Ryan Bennett is available following a thigh injury. On-loan winger Jonas Gutierrez (calf) is still not match-fit. Centre-back Michael Turner (hamstring) and winger Elliott Bennett (knee) both also continue their rehabilitation.
Last season: Norwich 1 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 1 Norwich 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W L L D L; Norwich D L D L W
Top scorers (all competitions): Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 8; Gary Hooper (Norwich) 7
Match odds: H 21-20 A 5-2 D 12-5
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Tottenham (5) v Cardiff (19)
Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood has no fresh injury concerns. Brazil midfielder Sandro is in line to make his first league appearance under Sherwood having started Thursday night’s Europa League win over Dnipro following a calf injury, while Kyle Walker may also feature having returned to training after recovering from a hip problem. Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela (both back) remain sidelined while Jermain Defoe will now link up with Toronto FC.
Striker Craig Bellamy returns to the Cardiff squad after serving a three-match suspension. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has vowed to make changes following the humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Hull last weekend and Bellamy is almost certain to be amongst those who benefit. Gary Medel could return after a recent lay-off with a thigh injury, whilst fellow midfielder Jordon Mutch is available again following a hamstring problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Tottenham L D W W L; Cardiff L W L D L
Top scorers: Roberto Soldado (Tottenham) 10; Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff) 8
Match odds: H 1-3 A 8-1 D 4-1
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Swansea (12) v Crystal Palace (16)
Swansea manager Garry Monk expects Nathan Dyer to be fit despite picking up a heel injury in the Europa League defeat at Napoli. Dyer came off shortly after the hour mark in the Swans’ 3-1 reverse on Thursday night but Monk is confident the midfielder will be okay for the relegation clash with the Eagles. Leon Britton was rested from the Napoli game as a precaution following a knock to his knee but he is expected to return, while Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) and Michu (ankle) remain absent.
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has a clean bill of health. Glenn Murray has been eased back into training this week after suffering a knock in Saturday’s defeat to Manchester United and is fit to feature at the Liberty Stadium. Winger Jerome Thomas (back) is also available as Palace look for their third away league win of the campaign.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Swansea W L W D L; Crystal Palace W W L W L
Top scorers: Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 18; Marouane Chamakh (Crystal Palace) 6
Match odds: H 3-4 A 18-5 D 13-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
