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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Premier League news & permutations

WE brings you all the team news ahead of Sunday's crucial Premier League games as five teams bid to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Aston Villa v Liverpool
 
Villa have no injury problems to contend with as they look to finish the season as the Midlands' leading club. They are currently one point adrift of West Brom, who visit Newcastle.
Liverpool lost fifth spot in the Premier League with a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last time out and must better Spurs' result against Birmingham to secure a place in the Europa League.
They are boosted by the return of Raul Meireles, who missed last weekend's defeat to Tottenham with a minor injury but has returned to full fitness.
Meireles' return could mean Andy Carroll, who has played two of the last four matches because of a knee injury, dropping to the bench.


Bolton v Manchester City
Bolton go into the final weekend in 10th place but could finish anywhere between eighth and 14th.
Fabrice Muamba faces a race for the Trotters after suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat by Blackpool last weekend, while Mark Davies, Stuart Holden, Sam Ricketts and Sean Davis are all long-term absentees.
Manchester City overtook Arsenal in third with a 3-0 win over Stoke in midweek and must better the Gunners' result to make certain of automatic Champions League qualification.
They are at full-strength for the trip.


Everton v Chelsea
The game at Goodison Park has little riding on it with Chelsea already certain of second place and Everton needing only a point to secure seventh.
Tim Cahill is a doubt for Everton with a foot injury, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended after his sending off at West Brom, and Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha are out with ankle injuries.
Chelsea will be without injury victims Ramires, Yossi Benayoun and Jose Bosingwa in what could be Carlo Ancelotti's final game in charge.


Fulham v Arsenal
Fulham could overtake Everton in seventh with a win but they will be without the suspended Chris Baird, Achilles injury victim Damien Duff and Moussa Dembele, who has a knee problem.
Simon Davies returns to action after a calf injury.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have injury doubts over six players as they look to overhaul Manchester City in third place.
Samir Nasri (hamstring), Abou Diaby (calf), Gael Clichy (hamstring), Tomas Rosicky (thigh), Johan Djourou (ankle) and Laurent Koscielny (thigh) are the men facing fitness tests, while Cesc Fabregas remains sidelined by a thigh problem.


Manchester United v Blackpool
Manchester United have a Champions League final to prepare for but Sir Alex Ferguson will still name a strong-looking line-up.
"I have players who need a game," he said on Friday morning.
"Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Dimitar Berbatov, Patrice Evra and Edwin van der Sar will play."
Blackpool are expected to be at full strength for the game but even a win may not be enough for Ian Holloway's side should other results go against them.
Conversely, the Seasiders could yet still stay up on the back of a defeat if Birmingham are beaten more heavily at Tottenham and Wigan lose at Stoke.


Newcastle v West Brom
Just a point seperates these two in mid-table but West Brom will be keen to stay ahead of Midlands rivals Aston Villa, while Newcastle will want to overhaul Albion as the best performing promoted club from last year.
The Magpies will be without Jonas Gutierrez after he damaged a thigh muscle during last weekend's 2-2 draw at Chelsea, and Cheick Tiote will be left out to avoid the risk of a suspension next season.
Leon Best has returned to training after recovering from an ankle problem, but six players remain on the sidelines.
West Brom, meanwhile, are set to hand a run-out to teenage duo James Hurst and George Thorne.
Full-back Hurst has made three first-team appearances this season, but midfielder Thorne will be hoping for a top-flight debut. Graham Dorrans remains on the sidelines.


Stoke v Wigan
Stoke will want to finish their season on a high following two successive defeats to Manchester City and are chasing Fulham in eighth. However, a defeat could see the Potters finish as low as 14th.
Wigan, meanwhile, need to better the results of two sides above them to survive. Roberto Martinez's men could even stay up with a narrow defeat if Birmingham and Blackpool are heavily beaten.
Tony Pulis is hopeful that Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington will be fit to start, but Robert Huth is unlikely to feature. Asmir Begovic, Rory Delap and Kenwyne Jones are likely to return, though.
Wigan have a full-strength squad to pick from after Mohamed Diame, who had been the only slight doubt through the week, reported himself fit.
Conor Sammon, who came off the bench to score in last week's dramatic win over West Ham, is pushing for a starting place.


Tottenham v Birmingham
Harry Redknapp could welcome a number of his first-team regulars back from injury for a game which Spurs need to win to make sure of fifth place.
Alan Hutton (knee), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hamstring) and Jermaine Jenas (thigh) are all fit but Gareth Bale remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while Rafael van der Vaart is a big doubt with a calf problem he suffered last week against Liverpool.
Steven Pienaar is also doubt with a groin problem, but Heurelho Gomes (back), Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Wilson Palacios (knee) and Ledley King (groin) could all play despite spending time in the treatment room recently.
Craig Gardner and Liam Ridgewell return from suspensions for Birmingham but Lee Bowyer (hamstring), Martin Jiranek (ankle) and Stuart Parnaby (groin) face fitness tests.
Alexander Hleb is definitely ruled out with a knee injury, while David Bentley is ineligible against his parent club.
Blues need to at least match the results of the teams below them to survive, but even a win could send them down with Blackpool or Wigan just one and two goals worse off respectively.


West Ham v Sunderland
West Ham are already relegated following last weekend's dramatic defeat to Wigan, while Sunderland are safe in 14th but chasing a top-half place.
Zavon Hines, Jordan Spence, Freddie Sears, Junior Stanislas, James Tomkins and Jack Collison are all likely to feature for West Ham but Mark Noble and Gary O'Neil are injured, while Scott Parker has been hampered by an Achilles problem in recent weeks.
Asamoah Gyan could return for Sunderland after a hamstring problem, while Anton Ferdinand is also back in training and both could make the squad.
Craig Gordon, Titus Bramble, Michael Turner, David Meyler, Fraizer Campbell and Marcos Angeleri are all out with knee injuries, while Kieran Richardson (fractured fibula), Lee Cattermole (back) and Danny Welbeck (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.


Wolves v Blackburn
These two sides are a point clear of the bottom three going into Sunday's game, but both could go down if they draw and Birmingham, Blackpool and Wigan claim unlikely wins.
If Wolves or Blackburn lose, they will be anxiously awaiting news from the other games as wins for two of the sides beneath them - or even draws if someone is beaten heavily at Molineux - would send them down.
Blackburn's Chris Samba, Junior Hoilett and Jermaine Jones have shaken off injury niggles ahead of the game, giving Steve Kean, who described the trio as "vital" and "matchwinners", an almost full squad to choose from.
Only long-term absentees Ryan Nelsen and Vince Grella are unavailable.
Striker Kevin Doyle is Wolves' major fitness concern.
The Republic of Ireland international aggravated the knee ligament injury which sidelined him for two months during his comeback as a substitute against Sunderland last weekend.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will hope Steven Fletcher continues the form which has brought six goals in eight games as they look for the win which will guarantee top flight status for another season.

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