Saturday's EPL Match Previews:
Newcastle United vs Everton: LIVE from 12:45pm
Newcastle are in flying form in the season so far in 3rd position. They are unbeaten this season and would love to continue that spell against a weak Everton side on home soil tomorrow. They have a solid defence and Demba Ba is on fire this season with 8 goals. Although Everton have a solid midfield, they are lacking strikers and in turn lacking goals. They have an edgy defence also which is worring for David Moyes' men. They would look to beat Newcastle and become the first this season but United know that it is crucial that they win against Everton as they know that Manchester United and City are all coming up. Newcastle midfielder Gabriel Obertan is out due to illness, Cheik Tiote remains a doubt to start and Shola Ameobi is out for at least another 3 weeks. Everton midfielder Marouane Fellani is suspended as he has racked up five bookings this season. Tim Cahill, Sylvain Dystin and Phil Neville will all recieve late fitness tests.
Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion: LIVE from 15:00pm
This match comes from The Emirates Stadium where Arsenal host West Brom. Robin Van Persie is the EPL top scorer with 12 goals and would like to add to his tally tomorrow against a shaky West Brom who sit 13th in the table with 11 points. Marouane Chamakh (knee problem), Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna (both ankle), Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Kieran Gibbs (stomach) are all out for The Gunners. Arsenal would like to add to their current run of form with a convincing win at home tomorrow. West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner is out with knee ligament damage and striker Shane Long is also out with a knee injury sustained against Aston Villa a fortnight ago.
Peter Odemwingie will have a late fitness test for West Brom before being declared fit to play as he had a knock in training this week.
Aston Villa vs Norwich City: LIVE from 15:00pm
This feisty encounter comes from Villa Park as 9th placed Villa take on 8th placed Norwich. There is only a point between both teams and each team will be looking to win. Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan is available after a club suspension following a police inquiry. On loan Tottenham midfielder Jermane Jenas has recovered from thigh and calf problems. Full-back Eric Lichaj has a hip injury and is unable to play. Norwich have no fresh injury problems. Defender Zat Whitebread is out with a hamstring injury. Other defenders Daniel Ayala and Elliot Ward are all long-term knee injury plagued players along with striker James Vaughan. Aston Villa will be expecting to win this match comfortably especially at home wtih the likes of Agbonlahor, Petrov, Heskey and Bent but it may be hard for them with solid goalkeeper John Ruddy and striker Grant Holt.
Blackburn Rovers vs Chelsea: LIVE from 15:00pm
This is an interesting affair with both teams on losing runs. Chelsea have lost two London Derbies to QPR and Arsenal in two weeks while Rovers stay in the bottom three with 6 points. Chelsea Captain John Terry will return to the Chelsea squad but goalkeeper Hilario and striker Didier Drogba are both out until after the international break (flu and arm respectively). Midfielder John Obi Mikel is available for selection after shaking off a back problem. Blackburn manager Steve Kean has no new worries but defenders Ryan Nelsen (knee), Michel Salagado (hamstring), Vince Grella (hip) and Scott Dann (calf) are all ruled out. Chelsea will expect to win this match and will be desperate to get back to winning ways.
Liverpool vs Swansea City: LIVE from 15:00pm
This match comes from Anfield as Liverpool take on promoted side Swansea. Liverpool are unbeaten in six matches and will be hoping to get all three points against 10th placed Swansea. They have a strong squad that will get into the Europa League next season at the very least. If they win they will go up to 4th and put the pressure on rivals Tottenham (who have a game in hand). Liverpool captain and midfielder Steven Gerrard is out due to an ankle infection and will not return for at least a fortnight. This means that youngster Jordan Henderson is likely to keep his place in the starting 11. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will face a late fitness test to assess whether he is ready to return from a calf injury. Swansea midfielder Kemy Agustien will return to the side after six weeks out with a hamstring problem.
Manchester United vs Sunderland: LIVE from 15:00pm
At Old Trafford, 2nd placed United will look to close City's lead at the top of the table to 2 points against Sunderland. Nemanja Vidic returns to the United squad to lead in the centre of defence. Michael Owen (thigh) completes an injury list for United which consists of Ashley Young (toe), Tom Cleverley (ankle), Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and Chris Smalling (foot).
Althought United may not have the strongest squad, they have not lost at home to Sunderland since 1968. Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan will take a late fitness test and if unsuccessful, captain Lee Catermole will return to the starting 11. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is out for at least 8 weeks with a fractured nose and eye socket which means that Kieren Westwood will feature for The Black Cats in goal. John O'Shea will not play against his old club due to a hamstring injury.
FACT: Sir Alex Ferguson will be in charge for the 25th year running for United officially against Sunderland.
QPR vs Manchester City: LIVE from 17:30pm
Manchester City are currently in 1st place and five points clear at the top of the table while QPR are 12th with 12 points. City will want to keep the pressure piling on rivals United by winning comfortably away from home with a dangerous scoring record (of 36 goals this season from 10 games) and a very solid defence.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany misses the match at Loftus Road as he serves a suspension for being sent off last week against Wolves. Midfielder David Silva will be assessed due to him coming off City's 3-0 win against Villarreal during midweek with a back injury. Defender Joleon Lescott may return in place of Kompany and Stefan Savic is set to retain his place. Owen Hargeaves is likely to return to the City bench after his minor calf injury suffered a fortnight ago. Striker Carlos Tevez is unlikely to play for City. QPR have Shaun Derry out with a groin problem, Akos Buzsaky out with a Achilles complaint, Rob Hulse out with a knee injury and DJ Campbell out with foot damage. Striker Kieron Dyer may return from his foot injury and Adel Taarabt may play despite a stomach complaint.
EPL NEWS:
Sevilla are ready to make a January move for Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh.
Manchester United are watching Udinese's Kwadwo Asamoah.
Juventus have identified Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale and Manchester United winger Nani as their top transfer targets as the Serie A giants prepare to spend their recent cash injection.
Robin Van Persie has won the EPL Player of The Month for October becoming the top goal scorer so far this season. Roberto Mancini has won the EPL Manager of The Month and is top of the table, five points clear of rivals United. The highlight was Manchester City's 6-1 thrashing of United on the 23rd of October.
Malaga are set to offer a loan deal for Chelsea youngster Romelu Lakaku in January to give him some first team experience.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien could be back in action before the end of 2011.
Arsenal and Chelsea are maintaining interest in the contract wrangle between Barcelona's 17-year-old forward Gerard Deulofeu.
Buy him Wenger...
Last Night's Europa League Results:
Rubin Kasan 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Natcho scored the only goal of the match for Rubin Kasan in the 56th minute due to a curling free-kick from 25 yards out. This means that Tottenham have missed out on the chance to qualify for the knockout stages before anyone else in their group with two matches to spare.
Fulham 4 Wisla Krakow 1
Fulham made up for their 1-0 loss the last time out and beat Krakow convincingly by 4-1. Andy Johnson scored twice for Fulham, along with Damien Duff and Steve Sidewell both getting on the scoresheet. Krakow scored early on but in the end it was a consolation goal.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv 1 Stoke 2
Peter Crouch and Dean Whitehead both scored for Stoke in the second half to give them three points. Tel-Aviv scored late on but it was too late to equalise and Stoke stole all three points away from home.
Birmingham City 2 Club Brugge 2
Brugge were two goals to the good up at half-time. Birmingham's never give up attitude earned them a goal in the 55th minute from Jean Beausejour. Marlon King put away a penalty in the 74th minute to level and City worked hard and earned a point at St. Andrews.
Aletico Madrid 4 Udinese 0
Adrian scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Italian side Udinese by 4 goals to nil. Midfielder Diego and last season's top goalscorer Radamel Falcao were also on the scoresheet.
Celtic 3 Rennes 1
Andy Stokes stroke twice as Scottish side Celtic beat French team Rennes. The away side were ahead in the 2nd minute but Andy Stokes equalised of the half hour mark. He scored again just before half-time to put Celtic in front at the break. Gary Hooper sealed the three points in the 82nd minute.
PSV Eindhoven 3 Hapoel Tel-Aviv 3
There was 6 goals in this match including goals from Wijnaldum and Kevin Strootman. There was 11 cards in total including a red.
FC Twente 3 OB Odense 2
Twente scored twice in two minutes as they narrowly won 3-2 against a hard worked Odense side.
Danny Landzaat (a former Wigan midfielder) and an own goal put Twente ahead at half-time. Danny Fall scored twice (one each half) but it was not enough to draw for Odense as Fer scored a late winner in the 83rd minute.
PSG 1 Slovan Bratislava 0
New midfield signing Javier Pastore was the only goalscorer in this match and he scored in the 63rd minute. It was enough as PSG took all three points.
Braga 5 NK Maribor 1
There were 5 different scorers for Braga as they crushed Maribor 5-1. Lima, Elderson and former Arsenal youngster Fran Merida were among the scorers.
Beskitas 1 Dynamo Kiev 0
Kormakz scored the only goal of the game for Beskitas in the 68th minute against a strong Kiev side and in the end the home side took all three points.
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