Sunday 24th May 2009
Heartbreak Sunday
Sunderland and Hull stay up while Newcastle and Middlesbrough will have to settle for championship football next season.
Arsenal (4) vs Stoke (11)
Arsenal vs Stoke Starting Line-ups
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Toure, Song Billong, Gibbs, Diaby, Fabregas, Denilson, Arshavin, van Persie, Walcott.
Subs: Szczesny, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre, Djourou, Bendtner, Eboue.
Stoke: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Dickinson, Lawrence, Diao, Whelan, Delap, Beattie, Fuller.
Subs: Sorensen, Olofinjana, Cresswell, Pugh, Kelly, Tonge, Sonko.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is fit after recovering from a knee problem but striker Emmanuel Adebayor (groin), midfielder Samir Nasri (knee) and regular number one Manuel Almunia (ankle) are sidelined. Long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky is back in training, but will not play again this season. Full-back Gael Clichy (back), William Gallas (knee) and striker Eduardo (ankle) are all sidelined.
Stoke won 2-0 at home to Wigan last weekend, and the only alteration to Tony Pulis' squad will be the return of on-loan Henri Camara, who was unable to face his parent club last time out. Danny Pugh is also likely to return after being left out against Wigan, and is expected to play at left-back.
Aston Villa (6) vs Newcastle (18)
Aston Villa v Newcastle Starting Line-ups
Aston Villa: Friedel, Gardner, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.
Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Knight, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Albrighton.
Newcastle: Harper, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Edgar, Duff, Guthrie, Nolan, Butt, Lovenkrands, Viduka, Martins.
Subs: Krul, Jose Enrique, Owen, Smith, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Ryan Taylor.
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Villa are confident Ashley Young will be fit after a calf strain. Young's namesake, Luke, is rated very doubtful with a foot problem - former Newcastle player James Milner may again deputise at right-back as Villa seek the victory which could see them finish fifth in the final table.
Newcastle's only right-back, Habib Beye (hamstring), is out while their only left-back, Jose Enrique (hamstring), has only just returned to full training. Skipper Michael Owen (groin) needs a late fitness test and Obafemi Martins is being nursed through his own groin problem. Alan Smith (thigh) is fit but central defender Sebastien Bassong is suspended after losing an appeal against his red card against Fulham last weekend, joining the banned Joey Barton on the sidelines.
Blackburn (15) vs West Brom (20)
Blackburn vs West Brom Starting Line-ups
Blackburn: Robinson, Andrews, Ooijer, Givet, Warnock, Diouf, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Samba, McCarthy, Grella.
Subs: Bunn, Khizanishvili, Mokoena, Villanueva, Treacy, Olsson, Roberts.
West Brom: Kiely, Zuiverloon, Donk, Olsson, Robinson, Koren, Borja Valero, Greening, Brunt, Menseguez, Fortune.
Subs: Carson, Kim, Moore, Simpson, Downing, Sawyers, Wood.
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen has been ruled out because of a torn calf muscle. On-loan full-back Gael Givet is expected to recover from a calf strain, as is Andre Ooijer (hamstring). Strikers Roque Santa Cruz (knee) and Jason Roberts (fractured metatarsal) are again sidelined through injury.
West Brom defender Shelton Martis looks set to miss out as he requires a double hernia operation. Ryan Donk, whose loan spell from AZ Alkmaar ends in the summer, is favourite to replace Martis and partner Jonas Olsson. Marek Cech (hamstring) and Paul Robinson (foot) have resumed training and will be vying for the left-back position, but fellow defender Abdoulaye Meite is struggling to overcome a back problem.
Fulham (7) vs Everton (5)
Fulham v Everton Starting Line-ups
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey, Murphy, Etuhu, Gera, Nevland, Kamara.
Subs: Zuberbuhler, Zamora, Dacourt, Gray, Stoor, Baird, Smalling.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Neville, Cahill, Rodwell, Pienaar, Osman, Saha.
Subs: Nash, Castillo, Jo, Vaughan, Jacobsen, Fellaini, Gosling.
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)
Fulham striker Andrew Johnson is doubtful after aggravating a knee injury. The former Toffees star came off the bench during last weekend's win over Newcastle but picked up a knock in training and manager Roy Hodgson will not take any risks with him. Fellow striker Bobby Zamora is pushing for a starting spot after recovering from his hip problem but Giles Barnes is still sidelined by an Achilles injury.
Everton manager David Moyes is hopeful of being able to select from a near fully-fit squad. Moyes has so far resisted the temptation to rest a number of his squad with an FA Cup final just over a week away but if he has plenty of options he may decide Sunday is the time. One of those to benefit could be defender Tony Hibbert, who has recovered from a neck injury. Phil Jagielka is out for the season after knee surgery.
Hull (17) vs Man Utd (1)
Hull City vs Man United Starting Line-ups
Hull: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Kilbane, Dawson, Garcia, Marney, Boateng, Barmby, Geovanni, Fagan.
Subs: Duke, Hughes, Mendy, Halmosi, Folan, Zayatte, Cousin.
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Neville, Brown, De Laet, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Welbeck, Martin, Macheda.
Subs: Amos, Tosic, Possebon, Eckersley, Corry Evans, Drinkwater, James.
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
Hull pair Kamil Zayatte and Bernard Mendy are in contention after head and toe injuries respectively, while left-back Andy Dawson is set to start despite struggling this week with illness. Striker Caleb Folan is available again after a ban but on-loan Manucho is unable to play against his parent club. Boss Phil Brown reported that all players trained today with the exception of long-term victims Jimmy Bullard, Ian Ashbee and Anthony Gardner.
Wes Brown is in contention for a return - he has been sidelined by a foot problem since January but could figure at the KC Stadium as Sir Alex Ferguson rests most of his senior stars ahead of next week's Champions League final. Ferguson will take a check on Rio Ferdinand's fitness in the morning, while he is also contemplating naming Darren Fletcher as captain with the Scotland midfielder suspended for the match against Barcelona.
Liverpool (2) vs Tottenham (8)
Liverpool vs Tottenham Starting Line-ups
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Riera, Lucas, Insua, Ngog, Degen.
Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Corluka, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Zokora, Jenas, Bale, Defoe, Keane.
Subs: Cudicini, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Bent, Gunter, Campbell, Chimbonda.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Sami Hyypia is expected to play his 464th and final game for Liverpool before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. The 35-year-old Finnish defender may not start the match but will get the chance to say goodbye to the Anfield faithful at some point. Manager Rafael Benitez has no injury problems as his team aim to extend their unbeaten home league record to 30 games.
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon has a groin problem and will miss the game. Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) will need a late check, while Darren Bent (knee) has only just returned to training. Michael Dawson (ankle), Tom Huddlestone (knee) and Jamie O'Hara (knee) are out and Wilson Palacios is on compassionate leave.
Man City (10) vs Bolton (13)
Manchester City vs Bolton Starting Line-ups
Man City: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, De Jong, Ireland, Kompany, Wright-Phillips, Caicedo, Robinho.
Subs: Hart, Zabaleta, Bojinov, Petrov, Mwaruwari, Berti, Weiss.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Shittu, Samuel, Mark Davies, Muamba, McCann, Taylor, Elmander, Kevin Davies.
Subs: Al Habsi, Hunt, Riga, Puygrenier, Cohen, Basham, Andrew O'Brien.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Mark Hughes might be tempted to name an unchanged line-up as Manchester City look to end an inconsistent season on a winning note. With Shaun Wright-Phillips ruled out by a knee injury which is likely to require surgery this summer, Hughes does not have a huge number of options to choose. Pablo Zabaleta may hope for a recall, although the Blues chief may decide to throw in a few youngsters.
Bolton defender Andy O'Brien has recovered from illness and is available, however Danny Shittu could keep his place in the side. Ricardo Gardner again misses out after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
Sunderland (16) vs Chelsea (3)
Sunderland vs Chelsea Starting Line-ups
Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio, Leadbitter, Richardson, Jones.
Subs: Colgan, Edwards, Cisse, Murphy, Reid, Healy, McShane.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Mikel, Belletti, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka.
Subs: Hilario, Di Santo, Ballack, Sinclair, Kalou, Mancienne, Stoch.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Sunderland midfielder manager Ricky Sbragia will make a late decision on Steed Malbranque, who is a doubt with a hip injury. George McCartney (calf) has been back in full training for a fortnight, but is short of match fitness, while Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) and Craig Gordon (knee) will not be involved.
Michael Ballack is set to return for Chelsea after missing the win over Bolton with flu. Defender Ricardo Carvalho and midfielder Deco are also in contention after recovering from hamstring problems but long-term knee ligament victims Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are still sidelined.
West Ham (9) vs Middlesbrough (19)
West Ham vs Middlesbrough Starting Line-ups
West Ham: Green, Spector, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Noble, Kovac, Collison, Boa Morte, Cole, Stanislas.
Subs: Lastuvka, Lopez, Dyer, Nsereko, Tristan, Di Michele, Payne.
Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Hoyte, O'Neil, Bates, Arca, Adam Johnson, Sanli, Emnes.
Subs: Turnbull, Shawky, Bennett, Franks, Williams, Grounds, Walker.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Carlton Cole could make his first start for West Ham since returning from a six-week lay-off with a groin injury. Danny Gabbidon (back/stomach) returned to full training this week, but Dean Ashton (ankle) and Valon Behrami (knee) will not play again before next season. Defender James Tomkins is suspended.
Boro winger Stewart Downing will be a helpless onlooker after undergoing surgery today to pin a broken bone in his right foot, a procedure which will sideline him until at least the start of pre-season training in July. David Wheater and Jeremie Aliadiere (both knee) and Gary O'Neil (hip) should play but Emanuel Pogatetz and Didier Digard (both knee), Afonso Alves (fractured metatarsal) and Chris Riggott (ankle) will all be missing again.
Wigan (12) vs Portsmouth (14)
Wigan vs Portsmouth Starting Line-ups
Wigan: Kingson, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Brown, N'Zogbia, De Ridder, Rodallega.
Subs: Pollitt, Edman, Cho, Watson, Kupisz, Routledge, McManaman.
Portsmouth: Begovic, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Hughes, Mullins, Traore, Utaka, Crouch.
Subs: Ashdown, Primus, Thomas, Pamarot, Cranie, Kanu, Basinas.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Wigan winger Antonio Valencia, who will leave in the summer, is unlikely to play because of a hamstring problem. On-loan striker Mido has been sick this week while midfielder Paul Scharner has a knee injury. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland's is doubtful with a back problem and striker Amr Zaki has returned home before the end of his loan spell after boss Steve Bruce decided not to make the deal permanent.
Striker David Nugent misses out after being booked in for a hernia operation on Monday - he joins David James on the sidelines following the England goalkeeper's successful shoulder operation last Wednesday. Jermaine Pennant, dropped for the win against Sunderland on Monday, returns to the squad just before the expiry of his loan from Liverpool. Niko Kranjcar is back in training after an ankle injury but will not be involved on Sunday.
Send your views to streettalk@espnstar.com as the night pans out.
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