October 25

Everton v Man Utd

The struggling Toffees enter Saturday’s early kick-off against the champions with Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) and the suspended Tim Cahill as their only absentees. Sir Alex Ferguson is not quite so fortunate, with midfield trio Michael Carrick (foot), Owen Hargreaves, and Paul Scholes (both knee) still out of action. On the plus side for the visitors, defenders Patrice Evra (hamstring) and Rio Ferdinand (groin) will be restored to the starting lineup, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov, and skipper Gary Neville have all shaken off knocks. With the Rooney-Berbatov partnership flourishing, the Red Devils are in pole position to claim their fourth successive league win – and the in-form Rooney will be particularly keen to claim his 100^th club goal at the club where he began his career.

Verdict: 0-2

Sunderland v Newcastle

Roy Keane may hand Kenwyne Jones (knee) his first action of the season after the Trinidad & Tobago striker featured in a midweek reserve match. Defender Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) also returns as the Mackems look to claim their second North West derby win this season following their triumph over Middlesbrough last month. Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear is still without skipper Michael Owen (groin), Mark Viduka (Achilles), and Alan Smith (foot). However, Joey Barton returns from suspension, Habib Beye is available after having his red card against Manchester City overturned on appeal, and Jonas Gutierrez may return from a fractured collarbone which has kept him on the sidelines. Still, the return of Jones coupled with the absence of Owen could be just the edge the hosts need to secure all three points in a tense Tyne-Wear derby.

Verdict: 2-1

West Brom v Hull City

Nothing has changed on the injury front for Baggies boss Tony Mowbray, as Felipe Teixeira, Abdoulaye Meite (both calf), Kim Do-Heon and Neil Clement (both knee) remain out of action. Anthony Gardner returns for Hull to leave Craig Fagan (broken leg) as the only injury-enforced absence for Phil Brown. The high-flying Tigers will be confident of maintaining their unbeaten away record in the Premier League, but fellow new boys West Brom have also started well and will be aiming to bounce back from last weekend’s hammering at Old Trafford with their third home win of the season.

Verdict: 1-1

Blackburn v Middlesbrough

Rovers boss Paul Ince could face a selection headache if talismanic striker Roque Santa Cruz is unable to shake off his hamstring problem, with Jason Roberts, Robbie Fowler, Matt Derbyshire, and Benedict McCarthy all in contention for two places up front. Middlesbrough skipper Emanuel Pogatetz returns from suspension, and Gareth Southgate may also be able to call upon Tuncay Sanli after the Turkish forward missed more than a month with a knee injury. Southgate will face a challenge to raise his players’ spirits following their 5-0 mauling at home to Chelsea, but the likely absence of Santa Cruz and the goalscoring difficulties experienced by Blackburn this season will give the visitors every hope of claiming at least a point at Ewood Park.

Verdict: 1-1

Doutbful - Roque Santa Cruz

October 26

Chelsea v Liverpool

Blues boss Luis Felipe Scolari has finally received some injury respite heading into Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash, with Petr Cech, Deco, and Ricardo Carvalho all set to be restored to the starting lineup. However, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba (both knee), Michael Ballack (foot surgery), Joe Cole (Achilles), and Ashley Cole (hamstring) are still out for the league leaders. Rafa Benitez will not be extending any sympathy, as his Liverpool side will once again be without Fernando Torres, although Robbie Keane (pelvis) and Xabi Alonso (knee) should feature. The Reds have showed incredible resilience with four come-from-behind league wins this season, but the loss of Torres will prove too much to overcome against a Chelsea side which has not lost at home in 86 games.

Verdict: 2-1

Back in the starting lineup - Ricardo Carvalho

Man City v Stoke City

Mark Hughes is hoping that Micah Richards can shake off an ankle injury to take his place at right-back, especially with first choice Pablo Zabaleta still suspended. Bulgarian attackers Martin Petrov (knee) and Valery Bojinov (Achilles) are out until the New Year, while midfielder Michael Johnson remains unavailable. The Potters are still missing Andrew Davies (knee) and Liam Lawrence (ankle), but Tony Pulis’ team heads to Eastlands with an otherwise fully-fit squad. Although their overall form has been wildly erratic, no-one in the division has scored more consistently than the home side, and they should be able to continue in that vein against a physical but defensively porous Stoke side.

Verdict: 3-0

Tottenham v Bolton

The home side’s defensive resources are expected to be stretched to the limit, with Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson suspended and Jonathan Woodgate (groin), Vedran Corluka (head), and skipper Ledley King (knee) all doubtful. By contrast, Gary Megson has all his first-team players fit and available as his Trotters side look to build on a modest two-game unbeaten run and pull away from the relegation places. Gaining at least a point at White Hart Lane should be well within Bolton’s capabilities, but Spurs boss Juande Ramos will be particularly desperate to arrest his team’s disastrous start, with games against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City looming.

Verdict: 1-1

Wigan v Aston Villa

One key player, striker Emile Heskey (hamstring) returns for Latics boss Steve Bruce while another, winger Antonio Valencia (suspension), is out for the Sunday afternoon tilt against sixth-place Villa. The visitors are expected to be absent Gabriel Agbonlahor, who sustained cuts to his knees in Thursday’s UEFA Cup victory over Ajax, but his strike partner John Carew should be back after missing the game due to illness. The two teams are separated by 8 places in the table, but Bruce’s men have suffered a number of unfortunate defeats and will be a tough proposition at the JJB. Martin O’Neill will accept a point in what should be a tight game – Wigan’s four home games this season have produced just seven goals.

Verdict: 1-1

West Ham v Arsenal

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has no new injury worries, as Dean Ashton (ankle), Kieron Dyer (leg), Jonathan Spector (knee) and Danny Gabbidon (stomach) remain on the treatment table and new signing Diego Tristan will probably be left out as he continues to work towards match fitness. For the visiting Gunners, skipper William Gallas (thigh) and Kolo Toure (shoulder) return to the centre of the defence, but the game at Upton Park is likely to come too soon for right-back Bacary Sagna (knee). Having scored eight goals in their last two games in all competitions, Arsene Wenger’s men appear to have recovered from their slip-ups against Sunderland and Hull City, and are a good bet to consign their London neighbours to a second home defeat in succession.

Verdict: 1-3

Portsmouth v Fulham

Harry Redknapp is hoping Younes Kaboul (back), Richard Hughes (groin), and Lassana Diarra (knee) will be passed fit for Sunday, but Niko Krancjar (ankle) is still out of the frame. Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson has no new injury problems and could field an unchanged side, with long-term casualties Andranik Temymourian and Diomansy Kamara (both knee) the only expected absentees. Of more concern to Hodgson will be his side’s abysmal away form – they are the only side in the division yet to claim so much as a point on their travels. Expect that trend to continue against a Pompey team which has won all but one of their home matches – and that was a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Verdict: 3-1

Midweek fixtures

October 28

Newcastle v West Brom: 0-0

October 29
Arsenal v Tottenham: 2-0
Aston Villa v Blackburn: 2-1
Bolton v Everton: 1-1
Fulham v Wigan: 1-1
Hull v Chelsea: 0-2
Liverpool v Portsmouth: 2-1
Man Utd v West Ham: 3-1
Middlesbrough v Man City: 1-2
Stoke v Sunderland: 0-1

_____________________________________________

Would you like to write for Soccerclips? Click here for more info.