Manchester United will be looking to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League table with a win at Newcastle United on Wednesday.
United are three points behind league leading Manchester City after being beaten 3-2 by Blackburn Rovers last time out, but have played a game less than the Citizens.
Newcastle have fallen to seventh place in the table after winning one of their last eight games.
These two teams met at Old Trafford back on November 26th, when a second half Demba Ba penalty snatched a 1-1 draw for Newcastle.
In the other game of the day, Bolton Wanderers will be looking for a win to lift themselves off the bottom of the table when they travel to face Everton.
Last placed Bolton are four points adrift of safety after drawing 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out. Everton can move into the top half of the table with a win or draw, and will enter this fixture looking to extend a four game unbeaten run.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will play host to Chelsea on Monday with both teams looking to end runs of poor form.
Chelsea achieved the best result of their season on December 12th when they beat league leading Manchester City 2-1. However, the Blues have fallen to fifth place after not winning any of their four games since, and were beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa this past weekend.
Wolves are two points above the relegation zone, and will enter this game looking to end a five game winless streak.
Leading goal scorer Steven Fletcher and Ronald Zubar are injury doubts for Wolves, while Nenad Milijas is suspended. New loan signings Emmanuel Frimpong and Eggert Jonsson are available to make their debuts for Mick McCarthy’s men.
Defender Branislav Ivanovic and midfielder John Obi Mikel are sidelined with injury for Chelsea.
It would not be a surprise if Andre Villas-Boas was to rotate his squad in the wake of the Villa loss, which could mean the recall of Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard to the Blues starting lineup.
Torres will be desperate to return to goal scoring form, after Spanish national team coach Vicente Del Bosque this week cast doubt on his place in the upcoming EURO 2012 tournament.
“It’s a concern. He’s not playing much. If he plays and is on form he’ll go to the Euros,” Del Bosque told BBC Sport. “But if the (current) situation doesn’t change it’s going to be difficult for him.”
Aston Villa will be looking to start 2012 as they ended 2011 when they play host to Swansea City on Monday.
The Villains ended 2011 by producing a 3-1 upset win at Chelsea, while Swansea earned a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on the same day.
Villa can consolidate their place in the top half of the table with a victory here, while Swansea will be looking for a win to increase the five-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
Striker Emile Heskey is expected to return to fitness for Villa, while captain Stiliyan Petrov is an injury doubt and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Striker Darren Bent could return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench to score in the win at Chelsea. Shisha smoking twitter celebrity Stephen Ireland also scored in the win at Stamford Bridge, and is expected to continue in the Villa midfield.
Defender Steven Caulker will return for Swansea, while leading goal scorer Danny Graham is also expected to return to the starting lineup.
Queens Park Rangers will be looking to climb away from the relegation zone when they play host to Norwich City at Loftus Road.
QPR are currently two points above the drop zone after going winless in their last seven games, a streak that started with a 2-1 loss at Norwich in late November. Norwich are five points ahead of QPR, and will enter this game looking to end a four game winless streak.
Defensive pair Anton Ferdinand and Fitz Hall are sidelined with injury for QPR, while goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is expected to return.
James Vaughan and Elliott Ward remain sidelined with injury for Norwich, while defensive duo Marc Tierney and Ritchie de Laet are also ruled out.
Blackburn Rovers will continue their fight against relegation when they play host to Stoke City at Ewood Park.
Blackburn currently occupy the relegation zone, and are three points adrift of safety after beating Manchester United 3-2 last time out. Rovers manager Steve Kean will be hoping a win here can ease some of the pressure he is feeling from the Ewood Park fans.
Stoke are currently eighth in the Premier League table, and will enter this game looking to end a three game winless streak.
Gael Givet could return to the Blackburn defense after recently undergoing heart surgery, while Junior Hoilett, David Dunn and Martin Olsson are all injury doubts.
Leading goal scorer Yakubu will lead the Blackburn attack, and the powerful Nigerian striker has netted seven goals in his last six games.
Defender Andy Wilkinson is an injury doubt for Stoke and will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Striker Cameron Jerome should continue in attack after scoring his first goal for the club during last weekend's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic.
Arsenal will be looking to extend a three game unbeaten streak when they make the short trip across London to face Fulham.
Fulham are currently five points above the relegation zone after going winless in their last three games.
Arsenal broke into the top four this past weekend when they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0.
Leading goal scorer Andrew Johnson is sidelined with injury for Fulham, while fellow striker Bobby Zamora is also ruled out. Irish winger Damien Duff is expected to return to the Fulham starting lineup after coming off the bench during last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen is sidelined with injury for Arsenal, and is expected to be replaced by Francis Coquelin.
Arsenal could be boosted by the return of club legend Thierry Henry, who signed recently on loan from the New York Red Bulls. If Henry starts in attack, he will be partnered by Robin van Persie, the Premier League’s leading goal scorer.
Wigan Athletic can climb out of the relegation zone with a home win over Sunderland on Tuesday.
Wigan are currently two points adrift of safety after ending 2011 with a 2-2 draw at Stoke City, while Sunderland are six points above the drop zone.
Sunderland have been revived since Martin O’Neill took charge, and are currently riding a three game unbeaten streak. The Black Cats started 2012 on a great note by beating league leaders Manchester City 1-0 on New Year’s Day.
Captain Gary Caldwell is suspended for Wigan, while Emmerson Boyce is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Defensive trio Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley and Titus Bramble are all injury doubts for Sunderland and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Ji Dong-Won could win a place in the starting lineup for Sunderland, after coming off the bench to net a dramatic injury time winner against Manchester City.
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to extend a four game unbeaten streak when they play host to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Third placed Tottenham are currently six points off the top of the table, and have played a game less than joint leaders Manchester City and Manchester United.
West Brom are currently seven points above the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to Everton last time out. The 13th placed Baggies will be looking for a win at White Hart Lane to climb up towards the top half of the table.
Influential midfielder Scott Parker is ruled out with a knee injury for Tottenham, while Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon and Ledley King are also sidelined.
West Brom defender Jonas Olsson is sidelined with a calf strain, while Chris Brunt and Shane Long will receive late fitness tests ahead of kickoff.
Premier League leaders Manchester City will be looking to give themselves daylight at the top of the table when they play host to Liverpool on Tuesday.
City were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland on New Year’s Day, but remain top of the table on goal difference alone.
Liverpool will enter this game looking to extend a five game unbeaten streak, and can move level on points with fifth placed Arsenal if they win at the Etihad Stadium.
City have been held scoreless in their last two games, and Roberto Mancini could react by reinstating Mario Balotelli to the Citizens attack. Balotelli has recovered from an ankle injury, and would be looking to add to his tally of eight Premier League goals so far this season.
In what would be an uncommon situation, Balotelli would not be the most controversial striker on the pitch for this game. Handballing, middle finger showing racist Luis Suarez will return from suspension for Liverpool, and if he was to clash with Balotelli at any point that would be an interesting exchange.
Inspirational captain Steven Gerrard could be included in the starting lineup for Liverpool, after coming off the bench to score in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United last time out.
Manchester United will be looking to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League table with a win at Newcastle United on Wednesday.
United are three points behind league leading Manchester City after being beaten 3-2 by Blackburn Rovers last time out, but have played a game less than the Citizens.
Newcastle have fallen to seventh place in the table after winning one of their last eight games.
These two teams met at Old Trafford back on November 26th, when a second half Demba Ba penalty snatched a 1-1 draw for Newcastle.
Danny Guthrie and Peter Lovenkrands are sidelined with injury for Newcastle, while winger Gabriel Obertan will recover from a toe injury in time to play.
Wayne Rooney is expected to be reinstated into the United attack for this game, while defensive pair Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling have recovered from injury.
Bolton Wanderers will be looking for a win to lift themselves off the bottom of the table when they travel to face Everton.
Last placed Bolton are four points adrift of safety after drawing 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out. Everton can move into the top half of the table with a win or draw, and will enter this fixture looking to extend a four game unbeaten run.
Dutch winger Royston Drenthe is ruled out for Everton, while Marouane Fellaini and Seamus Coleman are injury doubts.
USA international midfielder Landon Donovan will play his first game for Everton since joining on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has suggested Gary Cahill will play in this game, despite the defender being heavily linked with an imminent move to Chelsea.
Darren Pratley has recovered from illness in time to play for Bolton, while goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is an injury doubt.
Newcastle have fallen to seventh place in the table after winning one of their last eight games.
These two teams met at Old Trafford back on November 26th, when a second half Demba Ba penalty snatched a 1-1 draw for Newcastle.
In the other game of the day, Bolton Wanderers will be looking for a win to lift themselves off the bottom of the table when they travel to face Everton.
Last placed Bolton are four points adrift of safety after drawing 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out. Everton can move into the top half of the table with a win or draw, and will enter this fixture looking to extend a four game unbeaten run.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will play host to Chelsea on Monday with both teams looking to end runs of poor form.
Chelsea achieved the best result of their season on December 12th when they beat league leading Manchester City 2-1. However, the Blues have fallen to fifth place after not winning any of their four games since, and were beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa this past weekend.
Wolves are two points above the relegation zone, and will enter this game looking to end a five game winless streak.
Leading goal scorer Steven Fletcher and Ronald Zubar are injury doubts for Wolves, while Nenad Milijas is suspended. New loan signings Emmanuel Frimpong and Eggert Jonsson are available to make their debuts for Mick McCarthy’s men.
Defender Branislav Ivanovic and midfielder John Obi Mikel are sidelined with injury for Chelsea.
It would not be a surprise if Andre Villas-Boas was to rotate his squad in the wake of the Villa loss, which could mean the recall of Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard to the Blues starting lineup.
Torres will be desperate to return to goal scoring form, after Spanish national team coach Vicente Del Bosque this week cast doubt on his place in the upcoming EURO 2012 tournament.
“It’s a concern. He’s not playing much. If he plays and is on form he’ll go to the Euros,” Del Bosque told BBC Sport. “But if the (current) situation doesn’t change it’s going to be difficult for him.”
Aston Villa will be looking to start 2012 as they ended 2011 when they play host to Swansea City on Monday.
The Villains ended 2011 by producing a 3-1 upset win at Chelsea, while Swansea earned a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on the same day.
Villa can consolidate their place in the top half of the table with a victory here, while Swansea will be looking for a win to increase the five-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
Striker Emile Heskey is expected to return to fitness for Villa, while captain Stiliyan Petrov is an injury doubt and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Striker Darren Bent could return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench to score in the win at Chelsea. Shisha smoking twitter celebrity Stephen Ireland also scored in the win at Stamford Bridge, and is expected to continue in the Villa midfield.
Defender Steven Caulker will return for Swansea, while leading goal scorer Danny Graham is also expected to return to the starting lineup.
Queens Park Rangers will be looking to climb away from the relegation zone when they play host to Norwich City at Loftus Road.
QPR are currently two points above the drop zone after going winless in their last seven games, a streak that started with a 2-1 loss at Norwich in late November. Norwich are five points ahead of QPR, and will enter this game looking to end a four game winless streak.
Defensive pair Anton Ferdinand and Fitz Hall are sidelined with injury for QPR, while goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is expected to return.
James Vaughan and Elliott Ward remain sidelined with injury for Norwich, while defensive duo Marc Tierney and Ritchie de Laet are also ruled out.
Blackburn Rovers will continue their fight against relegation when they play host to Stoke City at Ewood Park.
Blackburn currently occupy the relegation zone, and are three points adrift of safety after beating Manchester United 3-2 last time out. Rovers manager Steve Kean will be hoping a win here can ease some of the pressure he is feeling from the Ewood Park fans.
Stoke are currently eighth in the Premier League table, and will enter this game looking to end a three game winless streak.
Gael Givet could return to the Blackburn defense after recently undergoing heart surgery, while Junior Hoilett, David Dunn and Martin Olsson are all injury doubts.
Leading goal scorer Yakubu will lead the Blackburn attack, and the powerful Nigerian striker has netted seven goals in his last six games.
Defender Andy Wilkinson is an injury doubt for Stoke and will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Striker Cameron Jerome should continue in attack after scoring his first goal for the club during last weekend's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic.
Arsenal will be looking to extend a three game unbeaten streak when they make the short trip across London to face Fulham.
Fulham are currently five points above the relegation zone after going winless in their last three games.
Arsenal broke into the top four this past weekend when they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0.
Leading goal scorer Andrew Johnson is sidelined with injury for Fulham, while fellow striker Bobby Zamora is also ruled out. Irish winger Damien Duff is expected to return to the Fulham starting lineup after coming off the bench during last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen is sidelined with injury for Arsenal, and is expected to be replaced by Francis Coquelin.
Arsenal could be boosted by the return of club legend Thierry Henry, who signed recently on loan from the New York Red Bulls. If Henry starts in attack, he will be partnered by Robin van Persie, the Premier League’s leading goal scorer.
Wigan Athletic can climb out of the relegation zone with a home win over Sunderland on Tuesday.
Wigan are currently two points adrift of safety after ending 2011 with a 2-2 draw at Stoke City, while Sunderland are six points above the drop zone.
Sunderland have been revived since Martin O’Neill took charge, and are currently riding a three game unbeaten streak. The Black Cats started 2012 on a great note by beating league leaders Manchester City 1-0 on New Year’s Day.
Captain Gary Caldwell is suspended for Wigan, while Emmerson Boyce is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Defensive trio Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley and Titus Bramble are all injury doubts for Sunderland and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Ji Dong-Won could win a place in the starting lineup for Sunderland, after coming off the bench to net a dramatic injury time winner against Manchester City.
Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to extend a four game unbeaten streak when they play host to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Third placed Tottenham are currently six points off the top of the table, and have played a game less than joint leaders Manchester City and Manchester United.
West Brom are currently seven points above the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to Everton last time out. The 13th placed Baggies will be looking for a win at White Hart Lane to climb up towards the top half of the table.
Influential midfielder Scott Parker is ruled out with a knee injury for Tottenham, while Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon and Ledley King are also sidelined.
West Brom defender Jonas Olsson is sidelined with a calf strain, while Chris Brunt and Shane Long will receive late fitness tests ahead of kickoff.
Premier League leaders Manchester City will be looking to give themselves daylight at the top of the table when they play host to Liverpool on Tuesday.
City were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland on New Year’s Day, but remain top of the table on goal difference alone.
Liverpool will enter this game looking to extend a five game unbeaten streak, and can move level on points with fifth placed Arsenal if they win at the Etihad Stadium.
City have been held scoreless in their last two games, and Roberto Mancini could react by reinstating Mario Balotelli to the Citizens attack. Balotelli has recovered from an ankle injury, and would be looking to add to his tally of eight Premier League goals so far this season.
In what would be an uncommon situation, Balotelli would not be the most controversial striker on the pitch for this game. Handballing, middle finger showing racist Luis Suarez will return from suspension for Liverpool, and if he was to clash with Balotelli at any point that would be an interesting exchange.
Inspirational captain Steven Gerrard could be included in the starting lineup for Liverpool, after coming off the bench to score in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United last time out.
Manchester United will be looking to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League table with a win at Newcastle United on Wednesday.
United are three points behind league leading Manchester City after being beaten 3-2 by Blackburn Rovers last time out, but have played a game less than the Citizens.
Newcastle have fallen to seventh place in the table after winning one of their last eight games.
These two teams met at Old Trafford back on November 26th, when a second half Demba Ba penalty snatched a 1-1 draw for Newcastle.
Danny Guthrie and Peter Lovenkrands are sidelined with injury for Newcastle, while winger Gabriel Obertan will recover from a toe injury in time to play.
Wayne Rooney is expected to be reinstated into the United attack for this game, while defensive pair Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling have recovered from injury.
Bolton Wanderers will be looking for a win to lift themselves off the bottom of the table when they travel to face Everton.
Last placed Bolton are four points adrift of safety after drawing 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out. Everton can move into the top half of the table with a win or draw, and will enter this fixture looking to extend a four game unbeaten run.
Dutch winger Royston Drenthe is ruled out for Everton, while Marouane Fellaini and Seamus Coleman are injury doubts.
USA international midfielder Landon Donovan will play his first game for Everton since joining on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has suggested Gary Cahill will play in this game, despite the defender being heavily linked with an imminent move to Chelsea.
Darren Pratley has recovered from illness in time to play for Bolton, while goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is an injury doubt.
