A preview of the weekend's matches
Blackpool (18)
v
Bolton (9)
BLACKPOOL manager Ian Holloway should have a virtually full squad to choose from, with two exceptions. David Carney – whose season was ended by a shoulder problem – is the only injury absentee. Bolton will be without Mark Davies after he had surgery yesterday to remove bone fragments in his ankle but boss Owen Coyle is optimistic he will be fit for pre-season.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Blackpool L L D D D; Bolton W W L L L.
Top scorers: DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 11; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 12.
Match odds: H 11-10 A 15-8 D 12-5.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Blackburn (15)
v
Man Utd (1)
BLACKBURN defender Phil Jones, who was a late omission from the team that drew against West Ham last week with a back problem, has recovered while Michel Salgado (knee) and David Dunn are also fit. Edwin van der Sar is set to get a week’s break as Manchester United look to clinch a record 19th league title. Darren Fletcher is set to get some game time.
Last season: Blackburn 0 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 2 Blackburn 0.
Last five league matches: Blackburn D L L W D; Man Utd W D W L W.
Top scorers: Mame Biram Diouf Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 6; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 22.
Match odds: H 16-5 A 7-10 D 12-5.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
FA Cup Final
Manchester City
v
Stoke
ROBERTO MANCINI will wait until this morning before deciding what role captain Carlos Tevez will play as he battles back to fitness from a hamstring injury. Gareth Barry has recovered from a hamstring injury but Kolo Toure is suspended.
Injured Stoke pair Robert Huth (knee) and Matthew Etherington (hamstring) are due to have fitness tests. Ricardo Fuller, Danny Higginbotham are injured.
Top scorers: Carlos Tevez (Man City) 22; Kenwyne Jones and Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 12.
Match odds: H 5-6 A 10-3 D 21-10.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Birmingham (16)
v
Fulham (10)
BIRMINGHAM will be without leading scorer Craig Gardner and defender Liam Ridgewell through suspension. Striker Nikola Zigic is still battling to overcome groin and hip problems. Fulham have doubts over Bobby Zamora (groin) and Simon Davies (calf), while full back Chris Baird looks like missing the last two games of the season.
Last season: Fulham 2 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 1 Fulham 0.
Last five league matches: Birmingham W L L D L; Fulham L D W W L.
Top scorers: Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 9; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 13.
Match odds: H 11-10 A 11-5 D 2-1.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Chelsea (2)
v
Newcastle (11)
FERNANDO TORRES will start Chelsea’s final home game of the season having been dropped for last Sunday’s defeat at Manchester United. Jose Bosingwa will miss the final two matches of the campaign with a knee injury. Kevin Nolan (ankle) and Steve Harper (knee) are both out after surgery this week and join Stephen Ireland and Leon Best (both ankle) on the sidelines.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W L; Newcastle L D D L W.
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 12.
Match odds: H 1-5 A 17-2 D 9-2.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Sunderland (12)
v
Wolves (17)
SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce will be without an entire starting XI against Wolves due to injuries. Loan signing Sulley Muntari has returned to parent club Inter Milan and Anton Ferdinand has joined the casualty list with a hamstring problem. Kevin Doyle returns to the Wolves squad after nearly two months out with knee ligament damage.
Last season: Wolves 2 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 5 Wolves 2.
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L W L W; Wolves L D L D W.
Top scorers: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 11; Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 11.
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10.
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Arsenal (3)
v
Aston Villa (14)
CENTRE BACK Thomas Vermaelen is set to return for Arsenal after nine months out with a niggling Achilles problem. Captain Cesc Fabregas (thigh) and midfielder Samir Nasri (hamstring) face late fitness tests. Defender Ciarán Clark has a hamstring problem and will not travel for Villa. However, midfielder Jean Makoun returns to the squad after injury.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0.
Last five league matches: Arsenal D D L W L; Aston Villa W W D L D.
Top scorers: Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 20; Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 9.
Match odds: H 1-3 A 6-1 D 17-5.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Wigan (19)
v
West Ham (20)
MOHAMED DIAME is rated 50-50 to return for Wigan having missed the Latics’ 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last time out with a groin injury. Scott Parker could feature for West Ham having missed recent matches with an Achilles complaint. Other than midfielders Gary O’Neil (ankle) and Mark Noble (hernia), the Hammers have a full squad of players available to them.
Last season: West Ham 3 Wigan 2, Wigan 1 West Ham 0.
Last five league matches: Wigan L W L D D; West Ham L L L L D.
Top scorers: Charles N’Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 8; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 11.
Match odds: H 21-20 A 21-10 D 9-4.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
West Brom (13)
v
Everton (7)
WEST BROM captain Chris Brunt and Steven Reid are available after missing the last two games with hamstring and calf injuries respectively.
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill is pushing for a recall to the first XI and are looking to improve their record of only one defeat in 10 games but will again be without Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: West Brom W L D W L; Everton W W L D W.
Top scorers: Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 15; Louis Saha (Everton) 10.
Match odds: H 13-10 A 17-10 D 11-5.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Liverpool (5)
v
Tottenham (6)
STRIKER Andy Carroll could return to the Liverpool squad having missed two of the last three matches with a knee injury sustained at Arsenal in mid-April. Tottenham defender William Gallas will miss out with a calf injury which looks to have ended his season. Ledley King could feature at Anfield after a groin problem.
Last season: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 2 Liverpool 1.
Last five league matches: Liverpool W D W W W; Tottenham D D L D L.
Top scorers (all competitions): Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) 15; Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) 14.
Match odds: H 3-4 A 10-3 D 11-4.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
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