Weekend Premier Battles

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Barclays Premier League

Chelsea v Arsenal
Cardiff v Liverpool
Everton v Swansea
Hull v West Brom
Manchester City v Fulham
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
Norwich v Sunderland
West Ham v Manchester United
Tottenham v Southampton
Aston Villa v Stoke


C'mon you 'Irons'

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Team news, statistics and our verdict (Sporting Life ) for the weekend's action in the Barclays Premier League.


Saturday, March 22

Chelsea v Arsenal

Midfielders Ramires and Willian are suspended for Chelsea following their dismissals in the controversial loss at Aston Villa. Ramires begins a three-match ban and Willian is unavailable for one game. Left-back Ashley Cole (knee) is missing against his former club, while Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are available after being ineligible in Europe in midweek.

Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky faces a fitness test on an ankle problem. Mesut Ozil (hamstring) remains out, but Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom (back) could be in the squad for the first time. Midfielder Aaron Ramsey (thigh) is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness, while Jack Wilshere (foot), Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby (both knee) remain out.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 15; Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 18

Referee: Andre Marriner

Our verdict: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1

Cardiff v Liverpool

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has pretty much a fully-fit squad to choose from, with his side encouraged by last weekend's performance at Everton when they succumbed to an injury-time goal.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has no new injury concerns ahead of the trip. He will select from the same squad which defeated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford last weekend and there are likely to be few changes to the starting line-up. Midfielder Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho both returned to the bench for that game after long lay-offs and will be included again in south Wales.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff) 8; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 25

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Our verdict: Cardiff 1 Liverpool 3

Everton v Swansea

Everton captain Phil Jagielka is rated at 50-50 to make his return against the Swans. The centre-back has missed three matches with a hamstring injury and, if he is not considered fit enough, John Stones will continue to deputise. Midfielder Steven Pienaar, who missed last week's win over Cardiff with a knee cartilage problem, is expected to be out for a further two to three weeks.

Striker Michu is set to continue on the comeback trail for Swansea. Michu returned off the bench after three months out with an ankle injury when Swansea lost at home to West Brom last weekend. Jonjo Shelvey, who has had hamstring trouble, looks poised to feature, along with Nathan Dyer, who also missed the Albion clash as he rested a heel injury.

Last season: Everton 0 Swansea 0, Swansea 0 Everton 3

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 11; Wilfried Bony (Swansea) 18

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Our verdict: Everton 2 Swansea 1

Hull v West Brom

Hull boss Steve Bruce will be without winger George Boyd, who begins his three-match suspension for spitting at Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart during last week's defeat. Bruce has no fresh injury concerns.

Defender Jonas Olsson has joined West Brom's list of unavailable players as the vice-captain begins a two-game ban. With first-choice skipper Chris Brunt already out with a knee problem, Gareth McAuley is taking the armband this weekend. Diego Lugano (knee), Billy Jones and Claudio Yacob (both hamstring) and Morgan Amalfitano (knee) all remain sidelined.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Matt Fryatt (Hull) 8; Saido Berahino (West Brom) 8

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Our verdict: Hull 1 West Brom 2

Manchester City v Fulham

Manchester City are without captain Vincent Kompany and top scorer Sergio Aguero. Defender Kompany is serving a one-match ban after his sending off at Hull last Saturday, while striker Aguero is still nursing the hamstring injury which forced him off in Barcelona last week. Centre-back Matija Nastasic (knee) is likely to be out at least another fortnight, but striker Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) is back in contention.

Fulham winger Ashkan Dejagah has been ruled out with a muscle problem. Striker Kostas Mitroglou is missing with a knee problem sustained last week, but is expected to return against Everton on March 30. Midfielder Scott Parker remains in the treatment room with his knee injury, while winger Damien Duff is out for the rest of the season, also because of a knee issue.

Last season: Man City 2 Fulham 0, Fulham 1 Man City 2

Last five league matches: Man City W L D W W; Fulham L D L L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Sergio Aguero (Man City) 26; Konstantinos Mitroglou (Fulham) 17

Referee: Jon Moss

Our verdict: Manchester City 3 Fulham 0

Newcastle v Crystal Palace

Midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa will return to the Newcastle squad after missing the last three games through injury and personal concerns. Sammy Ameobi, who has recovered from a knee problem, is also back. Manager Alan Pardew serves the second game of his stadium ban and he will be joined on the sidelines by full-back Davide Santon - suffering from tonsillitis after shaking off a knee injury - goalkeeper Rob Elliot (knee), defender Mathieu Debuchy (groin) and striker Loic Remy (calf).

Crystal Palace will be without forwards Marouane Chamakh (hamstring) and Dwight Gayle (ankle). Midfielder Barry Bannan could be included in the squad again following illness, while defender Danny Gabbidon is another hoping to be involved after working on match fitness.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Newcastle L L W W L; Crystal Palace W L D L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Loic Remy (Newcastle) 13; Tom Ince (Crystal Palace) 8

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Our verdict: Newcastle 1 Crystal Palace 0

Norwich v Sunderland

Norwich are unlikely to throw fit-again defender Michael Turner straight back into action, having just recovered from a hamstring injury. On-loan Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez also played for Norwich Under-21s in midweek after his calf problem, but he is also not expected to be in the match-day squad. Midfielder Leroy Fer (hamstring) remains out, while winger Elliott Bennett has finally returned to training following seven months of rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.

Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher will miss the trip after damaging an ankle during the first half of last Saturday's goalless draw with Crystal Palace. However, manager Gus Poyet has a near-full-strength squad from which to select with only goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) otherwise on the casualty list.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Norwich 1, Norwich 2 Sunderland 1

Last five league matches: Norwich L W L D L; Sunderland W W L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Gary Hooper (Norwich) 7; Adam Johnson (Sunderland) 9

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Our verdict: Norwich 0 Sunderland 1

West Ham v Manchester United

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will still be without defender Joey O'Brien and forward Marco Borriello. O'Brien has not featured since a 0-0 draw at Chelsea in January, due to a dislocated shoulder, and on-loan AC Milan striker Borriello remains sidelined with a calf injury. Midfielder Joe Cole came off the bench in last weekend's defeat at Stoke for only his second league appearance of the year and will be pushing for a start.

Striker Robin van Persie will miss the match because of a knee injury. United will assess winger Antonio Valencia after he sustained a gruesome black eye against Olympiacos in midweek. Defenders Jonny Evans (calf) and Chris Smalling (hamstring) are doubtful, but Nemanja Vidic is definitely out through suspension.

Last season: West Ham 2 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 West Ham 0

Last five league matches: West Ham W W W L L; Man Utd D D W W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Nolan (West Ham) 7; Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 17

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Our verdict: West Ham 1 Manchester United 1

Sunday, March 23

Tottenham v Southampton

Emmanuel Adebayor, Mousa Dembele and Younes Kaboul could all return for Tottenham. The trio missed the 2-2 draw at Benfica through injury. Jan Vertonghen will also again be available, having been suspended for Thursday's Europa League tie. Michael Dawson, Vlad Chiriches, Kyle Walker, Erik Lamela, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Hugo Lloris all missed the trip to Portugal and are unlikely to return

Morgan Schneiderlin and Guly Do Prado are rated as doubtful for the Saints. Midfielder Schneiderlin has a muscle problem around his pelvis, leaving Southampton short of options in midfield, with Jack Cork and Victor Wanyama still out. Kelvin Davis also faces a late fitness test.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Tottenham 2

Last five league matches: Tottenham W L W L L; Southampton W L L W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Emmanuel Adebayor & Roberto Soldado (Tottenham) 11; Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) 14

Match odds: H 21-20 A 5-2 D 12-5

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Our verdict: Tottenham 1 Southampton 0

Aston Villa v Stoke

Ryan Bertrand returns to the Aston Villa squad after he was forced to sit out last weekend's 1-0 victory over parent club Chelsea, with Joe Bennett deputising. Midfielder Karim El Ahmadi is fit despite picking up a shin injury against Chelsea.

Winger Oussama Assaidi could make his return for Stoke. Assaidi, on loan from Liverpool, has been working his way back to fitness after a knee injury and will be checked ahead of the match, along with defender Erik Pieters. He limped off in last weekend's 3-1 win over West Ham, having taken a knock to the leg. Robert Huth (knee) is out for the rest of the season and both Charlie Adam and Jon Walters remain suspended, while Stephen Ireland has to miss the game against his parent club.

Last season: Stoke 1 Aston Villa 3, Aston Villa 0 Stoke 0

Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D L W W; Stoke D L W D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 10; Charlie Adam & Peter Crouch (Stoke) 8

Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Our verdict: Aston Villa 2 Stoke 0