Week 31 Team News

Arsenal

Next Match: Liverpool (A)
Out: Rosicky, Gallas, Almunia, Clichy
Doubts: Eduardo, Diaby, Djourou
Banned:

11/3 Djourou will be a major doubt for this one having picked up a knee injury at Wigan last weekend. Details on the extent of the injury are sparse although Wenger has already ruled him out of the Champions League second leg with Villarreal on Wednesday.

Predicted Lineup: Fabianski; Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs; Denilson, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin; Van Persie, Adebayor.


Aston Villa

Next Match: Everton (H)
Out: Laursen, Heskey, Bouma
Doubts: Agbonlahor, Cuellar
Banned:

10/4 O’Neill has injury doubts over Agbonlahor and Cuellar going into this crucial game with Everton. Agbanlahor is struggling to shake off a virus, while Cuellar has a back injury. That could see Knight recalled to partner Davies in defence, while Sidewell could come into contention after shaking off an ankle injury.

Predicted Lineup: Friedel; L Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey; Barry, Petrov, A Young, Milner; Agbonlhaor, Carew.


Blackburn Rovers

Next Match: Stoke City (A)
Out: Reid, Emerton, Roberts
Doubts: Santa Cruz, Gamst-Pedersen
Banned:

11/4 Blackburn will expect to have Diouf back for this one after he missed the trip to Anfield through illness. Both Gamst-Pedersen and Santa Cruz missed out in that game and will go into this one as doubts. Samba could continue up front, although I can see him be recalled at the back, with Ooijer shifting to right-back and McCarthy starting up front here. Tugay would likely make way if Andrews switched back to midfield.

Predicted Lineup: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Givet; Warnock, Andrews, Dunn, Gamst-Pedersen, Diout; McCarthy.


Bolton Wanderers

Next Match: Portsmouth (A)
Out: J O’Brien, Vaz Te, M Davies
Doubts: Shittu
Banned:

11/4 Shittu will be an early doubt for this one having picked up a knock at Chelsea last weekend. Andy O’Brien could well profit by earning his starting role back here, against his former club.

Predicted Lineup: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, A O’Brien, Cahill, Samuel; Muamba, Taylor, McCann, Gardner, K Davies; Elmander.


Chelsea

Next Match: Everton (H)
Out: J Cole, Ferreira
Doubts: Bosingwa
Banned:


Predicted Lineup: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou; Drogba.


Everton

Next Match: Aston Villa (A)
Out: Valente, Vaughan, Yakubu, Arteta, Anichebe, Yobo
Doubts: Howard
Banned:

10/4 Moyes is confident that Howard will be fit for the trip to Villa despite sustaining a thigh strain in the win over Wigan last weekend. Elsewhere, Everton have no new injury concerns although Yobo and Vaughan remain sidelined. Moyes looks likely to name an unchanged lineup then. [source]

Predicted Lineup: Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines; Neville, Pienaar, Osman, Cahill, Fellaini; Jo.


Fulham

Next Match: Man City (A)
Out:
Doubts: Barnes, Gera
Banned:

10/4 Hodgson will check on the availability of Gera in midfield after he has sat out training all week with a virus. Aside from this, there are no new injury concerns which seems likely to mean another unchanged lineup for Fulham.

Predicted Lineup: Schwarzer, Paintsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey; Zamora, Johnson.


Hull City

Next Match: Sunderland (A)
Out: Bullard, Gardner
Doubts: Cousin
Banned: Ashbee

11/3 Hull will be without skipper Ashbee for the next two games after he picked up his tenth booking at Boro last weekend. Boateng is set to start this one then, having came off the bench in the Boro game.

Predicted Lineup: Duke; Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson; Boateng, Mendy, Barmby, Geovanni; Manucho, Fagan.


Liverpool

Next Match: Arsenal (H)
Out: Degen
Doubts:
Banned:


Predicted Lineup: Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Riera, Gerrard; Torres.


Man City

Next Match: Fulham (H)
Out: Johnson, Ballamy, Benjani
Doubts: Bridge, Petrov, Hamann, Kompany
Banned:

8/4 City’s lineup for this one will be greatly decided by the side that takes the field in Thursday’s UEFA Cup tie with Hamburg. Hughes is hopeful that both Ireland and Bridge will be available after recent injuries. Kompany (injured) and De Jong (cup-tied) are set to miss that game but could make returns here. Benjani and Petrov could also figure after making returns for the reserves this week. A place on the bench for both seems likley.

10/4 Craig Bellamy has been ruled out of this one having suffered further complications with his recent knee injury following the game in Hamburg. There are reports suggesting that Bellamy could well miss the rest of the season. Elsewhere, Benjani is also out after suffring a reoccurrence of his thigh strain. That’s likely to hand Sturridge the opportunity to lead the attack in this one.

Wright-Phillips is a slight doubt with an ankle knock while Kompany is again ruled out here, while Bridge remains a major doubt having tweaked his hamstring again on Thursday. That’s likely to see Garrido start at left-back, with Zabaleta continuing in midfield. De Jong should return after being cup-tied in the UEFA Cup.


Predicted Lineup: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Garrido; De Jong, Zabaleta, Ireland, Wright-Phillips; Robinho, Sturridge.


Man United

Next Match: Portsmouth (H)
Out: Hargreaves, Brown
Doubts: Ferdinand, Rafael
Banned:

11/3 United could have Rafael back in contention for a starting role at the back according to Ferguson. Brown is also make a recovery, although this one will likely come too early for him. The likes of Van der Sar, Evra and Ronaldo are set to be recalled for the Champions League tie with Porto in midweek having been rested against Sunderland. They should all be in the frame for starts in this one, as could Ferdinand who could well return against Porto.

Predicted Lineup: Van der Sar; O’Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Giggs, Park, Ronaldo; Rooney, Berbatov.


Middlesbrough

Next Match: Fulham (H)
Out: Digard
Doubts: Pogatetz
Banned: O’Neill


Predicted Lineup: Jones; McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Taylor; Bates, Tuncay, Aliadiere, Downing; King, Alves.


Newcastle

Next Match: Tottenham (A)
Out: Gonzalez, Barton, Viduka
Doubts: S Taylor, Enrique, Lovenkrands
Banned:


Predicted Lineup: Harper, S Taylor, Beye, Bassong, Enrique; Butt, Nolan, R Taylor, Duff; Martins, Owen.


Portsmouth

Next Match: Bolton (H)
Out: Diop
Doubts: Davis, Traore
Banned:

11/3 Johnson returns from his one match ban and should make a return to right-back here - Kaboul is likely to make way. Davis could also return to contention after missing the West Brom game with a gashed leg.

Predicted Lineup: James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson; Mullins, Davis, Kranjcar, Pennant, Nugent; Crouch.


Stoke City

Next Match: Blackburn (H)
Out: Cort, Sidibe
Doubts: Diao, Am Faye
Banned:


Predicted Lineup: Sorensen; Wilkinson, Ab Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham; Whelan, Delap, Lawrence, Etherington; Beattie, Fuller.


Sunderland

Next Match: Hull (H)
Out: McCartney
Doubts: Healy, Nosworthy, Whitehead, Richardson, Davenport
Banned:

11/3 Whitehead and Richardson could face a battle to regain their starting roles in midfield with Tainio and Reid earning starts against United in their absence. I’d expect Tainio to keep a starting role, with Richardson returning for Reid here. Edwards could well keep Malbranque on the bench again. Davenport will be a slight doubt having picked up knock last weekend.

Predicted Lineup: Gordon; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Davenport, Collins; Tainio, Richardson, Leadbitter, Edwards; Cisse, Jones.


Tottenham

Next Match: Newcastle (H)
Out:
Doubts: Defoe
Banned:

11/3 Palacios returns from his one-match ban and will be expected to replace Huddlestone in the centre of midfield. Pavlyuchenko could earn a recall having hit the winner against West Ham - Bent is likely to make way. Defoe is back in training, although this one will likely come too soon for the striker.

Predicted Lineup: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto; Palacios, Jenas, Lennon; Modric; Keane, Pavlyuchenko.


West Brom

Next Match: Man City (A)
Out: Clement, Miller, Barnett
Doubts: Zuiverloon, Morrison
Banned:

11/3 Both Zuiverloon and Morrison will be early doubts for this one having picked up knocks at Portsmouth last weekend. Mowbray could be tempted to return to a 4-4-2 for this one, if not, then Dorrans and Valero will compete for starts in midfield with Fortune leading the line.

Predicted Lineup: Carson; Zuiverloon, Olsson, Meite, Robinson; Greening, Koren, Morrison, Dorrans, Brunt; Fortune.


West Ham

Next Match: Aston Villa (A)
Out: Gabbidon, Ashton, Behrami, Collison, Cole
Doubts: Parker, Kovac, Spector
Banned:


Predicted Lineup: Green, Neill, Upson, Tompkins, Ilunga; Parker, Kovac, Noble, Boa Morte; Di Michele, Tristan.


Wigan

Next Match: No Fixture
Out:
Doubts: Mido, Zaki, N’Zogbia
Banned:

11/3 Cattermole returns from his four-match ban and could well replace Brown in central midfield.

Predicted Lineup: Kirkland; Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Cattermole, Scharner, Valencia, N’Zogbia; Rodallega, Mido.