Saturday, February 22nd
Arsenal (2) v Sunderland (18)
Arsenal will be without Kieran Gibbs (hamstring), Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and Kim Kallstrom (back) but midfielder Mikel Arteta is available after serving a European suspension in midweek while striker Olivier Giroud is expected to be recalled. Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott are long-term absentees with their respective knee injuries.
Gus Poyet is expecting Steven Fletcher to be back available following an Achilles problem while defender Carlos Cuellar also returns to contention for the first time since November after recovering from a hip problem. Central defender Wes Brown completes his two-match ban and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) remains on the sidelines.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D W L D; Sunderland W D W W L
Top scorers: Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 14; Connor Wickham (Sunderland) 10
Match odds: H 1-4 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: Andre Marriner
Cardiff (19) v Hull (13)
Gary Medel has joined Cardiff’s absentee list after coming off at half-time in the FA Cup defeat by Wigan with a thigh injury. Craig Bellamy will serve the final game of a three-match suspension and Mark Hudson (hamstring) is out for the season, but Kenwyne Jones and Fabio return after being cup-tied last time out.
Hull could welcome back defenders James Chester (hamstring) and Liam Rosenior (thigh) while Sone Aluko could also play a part having managed 90 minutes in Monday’s FA Cup draw at Brighton, but the Irish duo of Robbie Brady (groin) and Paul McShane (ankle) are long-term absentees.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Cardiff L L W L D; Hull L L D W L
Top scorers: Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff) 8; Matt Fryatt (Hull) 7
Match odds : H 13-10 A 2-1 D 21-10
Referee: Howard Webb
Chelsea (1) v Everton (6)
Captain John Terry is available to return for Chelsea but David Luiz is out on Saturday. Terry has missed three games with a gluteal muscular strain and now Luiz is absent as a precaution with a similar concern near his hip. Midfielder Marco van Ginkel is continuing his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.
Steven Naismith has been given the all-clear to play for Everton after taking a bang to the head against Swansea last week. On-loan striker Romelu Lukaku has recovered from an ankle problem but is ineligible against his parent club and joins long-term absentees Bryan Oviedo, Darron Gibson and Arouna Kone on the sidelines.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Everton 1, Everton 1 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W W D; Everton W D L W L
Top scorers: Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 14; Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 9
Match odds: H 4-7 A 11-2 D 11-4
Referee: Lee Probert
Crystal Palace (15) v Man Utd (7)
Jerome Thomas is Crystal Palace’s only injury concern with a back strain and will be assessed by manager Tony Pulis ahead of kick-off. Striker Glenn Murray returned as a substitute against West Brom a fortnight ago after 10 months out with cruciate ligament damage and should be involved again.
