Saturdays games in brief

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Barclays Premier League briefing

Team news and statistics for the weekend's action in the Barclays Premier League.


(Current league positions in brackets)

Saturday, November 1

Arsenal (5) v Burnley (20)

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is likely to miss out because of a knee injury. Defender Kieran Gibbs faces a fitness test for an unspecified problem, while manager Arsene Wenger has said winger Theo Walcott will not be rushed back despite his return from a serious knee injury. Laurent Koscielny (Achilles), Mesut Ozil (knee), David Ospina (thigh), Yaya Sanogo (hamstring), Abou Diaby (calf), Olivier Giroud (fractured foot) and Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) are out.

Burnley midfielder Dean Marney is set to return from a hamstring problem. Marney has trained all week and could go straight back into the side but the game again comes too soon for Steven Reid, who has only just returned to training after a groin problem. Midfielder Matt Taylor's Achilles operation was a success but no date has yet been set for a possible return while striker Sam Vokes is still working his way back from a serious knee injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Arsenal W D L D W; Burnley D L D L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 8; Ross Wallace, Michael Kightly & George Boyd (Burnley) 1

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Verdict: Arsenal 3 Burnley 0

Chelsea (1) v QPR (19)

Striker Diego Costa is available for Chelsea after missing four matches with a hamstring injury. Striker Loic Remy (groin) and midfielder John Obi Mikel (foot) are out, but Ramires is back from a groin problem to bolster the midfield. Branislav Ivanovic is available following his suspension for his dismissal at Manchester United, but fellow full-back Cesar Azpilicueta is banned for the last of three games following his sending-off at Crystal Palace.

Harry Redknapp could call upon misfit midfielder Adel Taarabt after the duo patched up their public spat. The Rangers boss has refused to rule out pitching the Morocco playmaker back into action with Jordon Mutch and Joey Barton not back in full training until next week following hamstring problems. Taarabt has apologised to Redknapp after biting back when his manager branded him "about three stone overweight".

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Chelsea D W W W D; QPR D L L L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Diego Costa (Chelsea) 9; Charlie Austin (QPR) 4

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Verdict: Chelsea 3 QPR 0

Everton (9) v Swansea (6)

The same four players - Kevin Mirallas, John Stones, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone - remain unavailable for Everton this weekend. Mirallas and Stones have been sidelined by hamstring and ankle problems respectively, while Oviedo and Kone are set to play in a practice game next week as they continue to work their way towards first-team action. Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has said the knocks Romelu Lukaku sustained in the 3-1 win at Burnley and that Darron Gibson suffered in training should not prevent them from being selected.

Gylfi Sigurdsson should shrug off a groin injury to feature for Swansea. The influential Iceland international limped off during the second half of last weekend's 2-0 home victory against Leicester and was rested for the Capital One Cup defeat at Liverpool in midweek while Swansea also expect midfielder Ki Sung-yueng to play after a shoulder problem. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, winger Wayne Routledge and striker Wilfried Bony will return after being stood down at Anfield while Argentina defender Federico Fernandez is free to play after having his red card for a tackle on Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho rescinded by the Football Association on Thursday.

Last season: Everton 3 Swansea 2 Swansea 1 Everton 2

Last five league matches: Everton L D L W W; Swansea L D D L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Naismith, Romelu Lukaku & Samuel Eto'o (Everton) 4; Nathan Dyer & Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 4

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Verdict: Everton 2 Swansea 1

Hull (10) v Southampton (2)

Hull could field the same XI that started last week's draw with Liverpool. Goalkeepers Allan McGregor (shoulder) and Steve Harper (bicep) are still out, meaning third-choice Eldin Jakupovic continues in goal. Gaston Ramirez is ineligible to face his parent club, Tom Ince has joined Nottingham Forest on loan and Michael Dawson (ankle), Nikica Jelavic and Robert Snodgrass (both knee) are all out.

Sadio Mane could return to the Southampton squad after he was rested as a precaution against Stoke in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night. The midfielder was expected to train on Friday in the hope that he will be included in the squad that travels to East Yorkshire. Saints manager Ronald Koeman, whose team have won six of their last seven Barclays Premier League matches, otherwise has a full squad to select from.

Last season: Hull 0 Southampton 1 Southampton 4 Hull 1

Last five league matches: Hull D L W D D; Southampton W W L W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Mohamed Diame & Nikica Jelavic (Hull) 4; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 9

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

Verdict: Hull 2 Southampton 2

Leicester (17) v West Brom (13)

Leicester captain Wes Morgan is set to be fit despite suffering a knock in the defeat by Swansea last weekend. Defenders Matthew Upson (foot) and Zoumana Bakayogo (knee) are both sidelined as is goalkeeper Ben Hamer, although the club received a boost with the news that his finger is dislocated rather than broken.

Jonas Olsson remains out for West Brom with an Achilles problem. The defender was the only member of the squad not to train on Thursday although Porto loanee Silvestre Varela will not play as he recovers from a groin injury. Claudio Yacob is back after being granted permission to return to Argentina for personal reasons. Head coach Alan Irvine is expected to revert back to the side who drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace last week after making 10 changes for their 2-1 Capital One Cup defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Leicester W L D L L; West Brom W W L D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester) 5; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 8

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Verdict: Leicester 1 West Brom 1

Newcastle (14) v Liverpool (7)

Cheick Tiote will miss out for Newcastle after failing to overcome a calf problem. The Ivory Coast midfielder has not figured for the Magpies since his return from international duty earlier this month, and will sit out once again. Striker Papiss Cisse is also a doubt after suffering a reaction to the screws used to repair his fractured kneecap, while central defender Mike Williamson will not be risked unless he has fully recovered from a muscle strain.

Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns. Daniel Sturridge (calf), Mamadou Sakho (thigh) and Jon Flanagan (knee) remain unavailable for selection, along with former Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique, who Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed is sidelined by a knee issue. In Sturridge's absence, Rodgers will once again make a call on the best option in attack from Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli, who is the only one of the trio to have scored this season and broke an eight-match goal drought earlier this week.

Last season: Liverpool 2 Newcastle 1 Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

Last five league matches: Newcastle D L D W W; Liverpool L D W W D

Top scorers (all competitions): Papiss Cisse (Newcastle) 4; Raheem Sterling & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 3

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Verdict: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2


Stoke (12) v West Ham (4)

Stoke will be without suspended duo Peter Crouch and Phil Bardsley. Striker Crouch was sent off for the first time in Stoke colours in Wednesday's Capital One Cup loss to Southampton and full-back Bardsley picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the same game. Marc Muniesa is a doubt after going over on his ankle in training while fellow defender Robert Huth (calf), midfielder Glenn Whelan (broken leg) and striker Peter Odemwingie (knee) are all sidelined.

Diafra Sakho will be assessed as late as Saturday morning as Sam Allardyce gives the West Ham striker as much time as possible to prove his fitness. The in-form forward injured a shoulder in the 2-1 win over Manchester City last week and it remains to be seen if he is risked at the Britannia Stadium despite scoring six goals in as many Barclays Premier League starts. James Tomkins and Matt Jarvis return to the squad after both recovered from thigh injuries but Guy Demel remains sidelined with Mauro Zarate (thigh) a doubt and Andy Carroll not in contention despite returning to training following ankle surgery.

Last season: Stoke 3 West Ham 1 West Ham 0 Stoke 1

Last five league matches: Stoke D W L W L; West Ham W L W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters & Mame Diouf (Stoke) 3; Diafra Sakho (West Ham) 7

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Verdict: Stoke 1 West Ham 2 .....