Arsenal ( home vs. Sheffield United)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Lehmann - Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Gallas - Hleb, Gilberto Silva, Fabregas, Rosicky, - Adebayor, Henry
Subs: Almunia, Flamini, Hoyte, Cygan, Traore, Song, Baptista, Aliadiere, Walcott, Ljungberg van Persie
Injured: Senderos, Clichy, Lauren, Diaby
Suspended: None
Team News: Thierry Henry will return for Arsenal against Sheffield United this weekend after recovering from a foot injury. Fellow striker van Persie returns from injury also but Adebayor should be preferred after his match winning goal against Man Utd last week. This will mean that one midfielder will have to give way and it is a toss up between Hleb and Ljungberg but my money goes on the Swede to get the chop. An interesting thing to look out for in this match is if Rosicky will continue take corners now that Henry is back. Rosicky’s deliveries from crosses and corners were excellent against Man Utd.
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Aston Villa (home vs. Charlton)
Starting XI: (4-3-3) Sorensen – Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, , Barry - S. Davis, McCann, Petrov - Agbonlahor, Moore, Angel.
Subs: Taylor, Laursen, Delaney, Laursen, Gardner, Berger, Djemba-Djemba, Bouma, Whittingham, Agbonlahor, Baros
Injured: Cahill, Hendrie, Samuel, Delaney
Suspended: None
Team News: Martin O’Neill shouldn’t change his starting line-up too much from the last few games. The big change will come in defence with O’Neill sure to revert back to his orthodox back line with Hughes returning to right-back (Hughes incidentally got the assist for the second Angel midweek goal).This should mean that Laursen should drop to the bench with Mellberg returning to his usual place alongside the impressive Ridgewell. Gavin McCann will have a late scan but O’Neill has indicated that he should be fit enough to play.
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Blackburn (away vs. Middlesbrough)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Friedel - Neill, T, Khizanishvili, Ooijer, Emerton – Mokoena, Bentley, Savage, Gamst Pedersen - Nonda, McCarthy.
Subs: Brown, Gray, Tugay, Douglas, McEveley, Matteo, Gallagher, Peter, Jeffers.
Injured: Nelsen, Reid, Todd, Enckelman
Suspended: None
Team News: Blackburn are without three key main players ahead of the Boro clash with Nelsen (hamstring), Roberts (groin) and Reid (back) all ruled out. With Jeffers suffering from a virus Sparky Hughes may have to fall back on new boy Nonda to fill the void upfront. The Blackburn manager will also have to decide whether or not to hand a place to South African Mokoena, who came on at half-time against City last week and gave Rovers the cover that Tugay failed to provide in the first half.
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Bolton (away vs. Portsmouth)
Starting XI: (4-1-3-2) Jaaskelainen - Hunt, Ben Haim, Meite, Q. Fortune – Campo - Nolan, Speed - Vaz Te, Diouf, Anelka
Subs: Walker, Tal, Fojut, H. Pedersen, Abdoulaye Faye, Sissons, Smith, Wolfe, Stelios.
Injured: Gardner, Davies, O'Brien
Suspended: None
Team News: Will Sam Allardyce’s son be picking the Bolton squad for this Monday night’s game? One can only wonder… The big news is that Fortune and Faye are both struggling with injuries and they will have late fitness tests on Monday but if they don’t pass fit Big Sam could revert to using Fojut at the back for the Pompey. Davies is fit again and available for selection but will probably start on the bench. Ricardo Vaz Te was a handful in the midweek Carling Cup game and could figure as Stelios is having problems with a groin injury.
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Charlton ( away vs. Aston Villa)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Carson - Young, Fortune, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson - A Faye, - Ambrose, Kishishev, Rommedahl Holland - D. Bent, Hasselbaink
Subs: Myhre, Sam, Walton, M Bent, Lisbie, Hughes, Holland.
Injured: Gibbs, Thomas, Walker, Sorondo, A. Reid, D. Traore, Diawarra, Pouso.
Suspended: None
Team News: Ian Dowie is at a crucial “do or die” stage in his Charlton managerialship and an away tie against a solid Villa team should not kick-start a run of results for the London club. At least Dowie has Hreidarsson back for the trip to Villa Park as the Icelander returns from a three-match suspension. He should squeeze into the backline but Dowie has some massive injury problems with Fortune, Hughes and Holland all struggling. Kishishev could start in midfield as he did in the midweek Cup game if Fortune can play through the pain barrier.
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Chelsea (away vs. Fulham)
Starting XI: (4-1-3-2) Cech - Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry, A. Cole – Makalele –Essien, Lampard, Robben - Shevchenko, Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Cudicini, Diarra, Ferreira, Bridge, Mancienne, Geremi, Mikel, Wright-Phillips, Kalou.
Injured: J. Cole.
Suspended: Ballack (1 of 3)
Team News: Dutchman Arjen Robben is back and will replace the suspended Michael Ballack. Drogba will relish the physical battle against the Fulham central partnership today but I expect a tight result.
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Everton (away vs. Newcastle)
Starting XI: (4-3-1-1) Howard - Naysmith, Lescott, Yobo, Hibbert - P. Neville, Carsley, Arteta, Osman – Cahill - Johnson.
Subs: Wright, Valente, Weir, van der Meyde, Anichebe, Beattie, Vidarsson, Davies.
Injured: McFadden, Stubbs, Pistone, Vaughan.
Suspended: None
Team News: Everton have a few injury worries with Yobo, Hibbert and Osman all rated doubtful for this match. Yobo could be replaced by Weir who is also struggling with injury and Hibbert could be replaced by Valente who played in the midweek cup game. Osman has also picked up an ankle injury and could be replaced by Simon Davies on the right.
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Fulham (home vs. Chelsea)
Starting XI: (4-1-3-2) Niemi - Queudrue, Knight, Pearce, Rosenior – Bocanegra, - Radzinski, Volz , M. Brown - Helguson, John
Subs: Crossley, N. Jensen, Diop, C. Jensen, Zakuani, Timlin, Runstrom, Helguson, Pembridge, Milsom, Routledge, Christanval, McBride.
Injured: Bullard, Elliott, Elrich, Boa Morte.
Suspended: None
Team News: Coleman is sweating on the fitness of several key players as Diop, Bocanegra and McBride are all struggling with injuries. The Fulham manager may pick Claus Jensen to cover in defensive midfield if none are available but Volz should continue on the right flank again and should help Rosenior to contain Robben.
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Liverpool (home vs. Tottenham)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Reina - Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Aurelio - Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Pennant - Kuyt, Bellamy
Subs: Dudek, Warnock, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Zenden, Garcia, Fowler, Crouch, Riise, Paletta
Injured: Kewell
Suspended: None
Team News: Benitez welcomes back Riise and Paletta from injury for the visit of Tottenham. Pennant, who was supposed to start against Newcastle but injured himself during the warm-up, should return to squad on the right flank with Gerrard occupying the left-side. As always Liverpool team information is sparse so watch out for more in-depth chat on the TeamTalk Forum.
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Man City (Home vs. West Ham)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Weaver - Richards, Dunne, Distin, Jordan - Sinclair, Barton, Beasley, Hamann -Dickov, Samaras
Subs: Hart, Miller, Ireland, Reyna, Mills, Sturridge, Corradi
Injured: Vassell, Isaksson, Sun Jihai, Onuoha, Trabelsi
Unavailable: None
Suspended: Dabo, Thatcher
Team News: City are rubbish but they do have some form at home so this won’t be a walk over for West Ham. I expect big things from Barton today. The pressure will be on keeper Weaver who has made several blunders in the last few matches. After scoring in midweek Samaras could be brought in alongside Dickov to add a bit of bite to the attack. Beasley is also pushing for a start.
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Man Utd (away vs. Reading)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Van der Sar - R. Ferdinand, W. Brown, Evra, G. Neville - Fletcher, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes - Saha, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Vidic, Heinze, Richardson, Carrick, Smith, Solskjaer.
Injured: Park, Giggs, Silvestre
Suspended: None
Team News: Midfielders Giggs, Park and Silvestre are unavailable for this fixture after picking up injuries so Evra should come in at left-back even with Heinze now available. It seems that Carrick will be on the bench again with O’Shea and Fletcher preferred in midfield. The Sun started a rumour about Saha being injured this morning. I am working as hard as I can to get confirmed news before 12pm from my sources!
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Middlesbrough (home vs. Blackburn)
Starting XI: (4-5-1) Schwarzer – Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor,– J. Euell, Rochemback, Johnson, Cattermole, Morrison – Yakubu
Subs: Turnbull, Huth, Parnaby, Bates, Mendieta, Christie, Maccarone, Viduka
Injured: Ehiogu, Arca, Riggott, Downing, Boateng, Parlour.
Suspended: None
Team News: Southgate is still without injured captain Boateng so he should start the same team that drew with Bolton last week.
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Newcastle (home vs. Everton)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Harper – Carr, Ramage, Bramble, Moore – Milner, Parker, Emre, Duff – Martins, Ameobi
Subs: Krul, O’Brien, Taylor, Luque, Butt, N’Zogbia Bernard, Rossi.
Injured: Owen, Dyer, Solano
Suspended: Babayaro
Team News: Defender Babayaro is suspended for violent conduct so Bramble OR Taylor could come in with Ramage moving to left-back. Ameobi who must have about a billion pain killing injections before each game is unsurprisingly a doubt – I think Ameobi has now got the record for being doubtful in team predictions…
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Porstmouth (home vs. Bolton)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) James – Primus, Campbell, Johnson, Stefanovic – O’Neill, Davis, Mendes, M. Taylor – Benjani, Kanu
Subs: Kiely, Jordan, Pamarot, Krancjar, Thompson, Fernandes, Hughes, O’Brien, Cole, LuaLua
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Team News: Why change a winning team? Only slight thing in the back of my mind is perhaps the possibility of LuaLua starting ahead of Kanu…
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Reading (home vs. Man Utd)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Hahnemann – Murty, Sonko, Ingmarrson, Shorey – Seol, Harper, Sidwell, Convey – Doyle, Lita
Subs: Stack, Hunt, Oster, Halls, Gunnarsson, Long, Little, Osano, Cox.
Injured: Brown, Kitson, Sodje
Suspended: None
Team News: Reading have a full -strength squad ahead of the Man Utd clash. Ki-Hyon should cause Evra problems… Perhaps O’Shea may be stuck in at left-back to cope with him??
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Sheffield Utd (away vs. Arsenal)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Bennett - Sommeil, Davis, Morgan, Unsworth – Ifill, Jagielka Leigertwood, Armstrong – Hulse, Nade.
Subs: Bennett, Kozluk, Lucketti, Bromby, Gillespie, A. Quinn, S. Quinn, Li Tie, Akinbiyi.
Injured: Kabba, Short, Montgomery, Shipperley, Webber, Kenny, Tonge, Short, Wright, Geary.
Suspended: None
Team News: Sheffield has big injury problems with Tonge, Short and Wright all joining the list this week. This bodes well for fantasy players thinking about picking up Arsenal players this week. Nade looked useful in the midweek cup game.
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Tottenham (away vs. Liverpool)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Robinson – Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto – Murphy, Zokora, Tainio, Jenas – Keane, Mido
Subs: Cerny, Stalteri, Lee, Davenport, Ziegler, Huddlestone, Davids, Barnard, Ghaly, Defoe.
Injured: Malbranque, Lennon, Berbatov
Suspended: None
Team News: Lennon has had surgery and is back in light training. The Bulgarian Berbatov is definitely out of the Liverpool game.
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Watford (away vs. Wigan)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Foster – Stewart, Shittu, Mackay, Doyley – Young, Francis, Mahon, Smith – Henderson, King
Subs: Lee, Mariappa, Stewart, Jarrett, Spring, Bangura, Bouazza, McNamee,Chambers, Priskin.
Injured: Carlisle, Powell
Suspended:
Team News: Chris Powell is still out with a calf problem, while Carlisle has picked up a chest infection.
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West Ham (away vs. Man City)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Carroll – Dailly, A. Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky – Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Bowyer, Mascherano – Zamora, Tevez.
Subs: Green, Spector, Cole, Mullins, Sheringham, Reid, Etherington, Harewood.
Injured: McCartney, Ashton, Paintsil, Collins, Mears.
Suspended: Newton
Team News: West Ham has a shortage of defenders as Mears, Paintsil and Collins are all out with injuries. Dailly should come in to replace him but Spector remains a possibility. Pardew has said in the last week that he wants to “mould West Ham around the Argentine duo,” so expect both to start and see a lot of the ball.
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Wigan (home vs. Watford)
Starting XI: (4-4-2) Kirkland – Baines, De Zeeuw, Hall, Boyce – Kilbane, Landzaat, Scharner, Valencia – Heskey, Camara
Subs: Pollitt, Wright, Teale, Jackson, Johansson, Todorov
Injured: Taylor, McCulloch, McMillan, Webster
Suspended: None
Team News: Jewell has an almost full strength squad to chose from and should stick to the side that pressed Everton into a 2-2 draw last week.
Note: Those denoted in red indicates doubts
