Who's for the drop !!

bennythedip2 · #1 March 9th, 2013, 12:01

Massive relegation battles today that could decide the fate of those at the bottom in what could be six pointer games

Premier League briefing

Team news and statistics for the weekend's action in the Barclays Premier League.

Saturday, March 9

Norwich (13) v Southampton (16)

On-loan Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara is pressing for a place in Norwich's starting XI after some impressive displays as a substitute. England goalkeeper John Ruddy continues his rehabilitation from thigh surgery and is set for a return at the end of March, but knee injuries sideline winger Andrew Surman and midfielder Alex Tettey.

Southampton will check on the fitness of Adam Lallana and Danny Fox, who were forced off during last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to QPR with neck and quadriceps complaints respectively. Luke Shaw was limited to a substitute appearance in that game due to a recent thigh problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Norwich D D D W L; Southampton L D W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Luciano Becchio (Norwich) 18; Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 12

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

QPR (20) v Sunderland (14)

QPR boss Harry Redknapp will make a late decision on the fitness of Julio Cesar and Bobby Zamora. Brazil goalkeeper Cesar had to be replaced in the second half of last weekend's 2-1 win at Southampton and Robert Green is on standby to deputise once more. Zamora remains doubtful with an ankle injury.

Matthew Kilgallon and Danny Rose are set to ease Martin O'Neill's personnel worries by returning to the Sunderland squad. Defender Kilgallon missed last week's draw with Fulham due to illness, while Rose could also figure after coming through a training match this week following a hamstring strain. Connor Wickham will not be available despite his likely recall from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.

Last season: Sunderland 3 QPR 1, QPR 2 Sunderland 3

Last five league matches: QPR D D L L W; Sunderland D L L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Loic Remy & Bobby Zamora (QPR) 5; Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) 10

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Reading (19) v Aston Villa (18)

Reading's third-choice goalkeeper Stuart Taylor will face his former club with Adam Federici (ankle) and Alex McCarthy (shoulder) sidelined. Jimmy Kebe is also a doubt while Pavel Pogrebnyak serves the second of his three-game ban and fellow striker Jason Roberts (hip) misses out.

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph begins a two-game ban after collecting his 10th yellow card of the campaign during Monday's 1-0 home defeat against Manchester City. Villa boss Paul Lambert is hopeful captain Ron Vlaar will recover from the calf injury that has ruled him out of the last two games, but striker Darren Bent (foot) is again set to miss out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Reading D W L L L; Aston Villa L D W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Nick Blackman (Reading) 14; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 18

Referee: Jon Moss

West Brom (9) v Swansea (8)

West Brom midfielder Brunt has recovered from the ankle injury which kept him out of the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend while on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku is back after being ineligible to play against his parent club. Left-back Goran Popov has served a three-game ban but striker Shane Long is an injury worry with a recurrence of an ankle problem.

Swansea midfielder Kemy Agustien will miss out with thigh injury while defender Chico Flores is still a few weeks away from returning from ruptured ankle ligaments. Garry Monk deputised for Flores against Newcastle last weekend, while manager Michael Laudrup must mull over whether to again start with Pablo Hernandez, Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge in behind top scorer Michu.

Last season: West Brom 1 Swansea 2, Swansea 3 West Brom 0

Last five league matches: West Brom L L W W L; Swansea D L W L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Romelu Lukaku (West Brom) 12; Michu (Swansea) 19

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Sunday, March 10

Liverpool (7) v Tottenham (3)

Striker Daniel Sturridge and defender Martin Skrtel will both return from injury for Liverpool. Sturridge has overcome a thigh problem which kept him out of last weekend's 4-0 win at Wigan and is likely to regain his spot in the side. Skrtel also returned to training this week after a knee injury but he will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury in last night's win over Inter Milan. Midfielder Mousa Dembele is expected to be fit despite coming off in the second half while Emmanuel Adebayor will return to the squad after a knee injury. Tom Huddlestone (knee) and Clint Dempsey (calf) are doubts, but Younes Kaboul and Sandro (both knee) are definitely unavailable.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 4 Liverpool 0

Last five league matches: Liverpool D D L W W; Tottenham D W W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 28; Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 20

Match odds: H 17-20 A 3-1 D 11-4

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Newcastle (15) v Stoke (11)

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will hope to have striker Papiss Cisse back in the fold

after illness. Full-back Mathieu Debuchy and striker Yoan Gouffran, who were ineligible against Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League, will be available once again, as will midfielder Jonas Gutierrez. Skipper Fabricio Coloccini (back) is out for up to seven weeks and keeper Tim Krul continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is hoping Matthew Etherington could be fit for the trip to St James' Park after injections to combat a back injury. Robert Huth serves the second game of a three-match ban so Marc Wilson is likely to deputise in the centre of defence again, while striker Michael Owen (thigh) is fit and will be desperate to get a chance against his old club.

Last season: Newcastle 3 Stoke 0, Stoke 1 Newcastle 3

Last five league matches: Newcastle W W L W L; Stoke D L W L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle) 13; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8

Referee: Andre Marriner