SATURDAY'S GAMES
PREDICTION: A 2-0 Chelsea win
FANTASY PICK: Diego Costa
KEY STAT: Chelsea have won 18 and lost just two of their last 21 Premier League games against Sunderland.
- CHELSEA
Eden Hazard remains a doubt for Chelsea after limping out of Monday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester City. Jose Mourinho admitted he did not know the extent of the 24-year-old's problem after Chelsea's ninth league defeat of the season.
The Stamford Bridge club are now adjusting to life after Mourinho's Thursday exit, with Hazard the main potential injury issue.
Provisional squad: Courtois, Begovic, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Rahman, Ramires, Oscar, Falcao, Hazard, Mikel, Traore, Kenedy, Pedro, Remy, Costa, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Blackman, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Djilobodji.
- SUNDERLAND
Boss Sam Allardyce is still without Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson. Cattermole is still sidelined with a recurrence of a long-standing back injury while Larsson is at least two weeks from a return with a knee problem.
Sebastian Coates is a doubt after missing training on Thursday due to illness, but Younes Kaboul has recovered and is expected to be fit.
Provisional squad: Pantilimon, Mannone, Jones, Yedlin, Van Aanholt, O'Shea, Coates, Kaboul, Brown, M'Vila, Rodwell, Gomez, Johnson, Lens, Toivonen, Borini, Fletcher, Defoe, Watmore, Graham.
PREDICTION: A 1-1 draw
FANTASY PICK: Riyad Mahrez
KEY STAT: Romelu Lukaku has scored in his last seven consecutive matches in all competitions for Everton.
- EVERTON
James McCarthy remains a major doubt for Everton. The midfielder has missed the last three matches with a hip problem and a late decision will be made about whether he can be included.
Defender John Stones suffered no ill-effects from the knocks to his ankle and knee he picked up before and during last weekend's draw at Norwich while captain Phil Jagielka and midfielder Steven Pienaar could return during the Christmas period.
Provisional squad: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway, Barry, Cleverley, Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone, Lukaku, Robles, Baines, Gibson, Osman, Lennon, Besic, Naismith, Mirallas, Lennon.
- LEICESTER
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri will have to make a couple of enforced changes.
Danny Drinkwater (hamstring) came off injured during the win over Chelsea on Monday night and will miss the trip to Goodison Park while Robert Huth received his fifth yellow card of the season against the champions and is suspended.
Andy King will replace Drinkwater in central midfield while Ranieri will choose between Marcin Wasilewski and Yohan Benalouane to fill in at centre-back in Huth's absence. Jeff Schlupp's hamstring injury is set to keep him on the sidelines for up to six weeks.
Provisional squad: Schmeichel, Schwarzer, Simpson, Fuchs, Morgan, Wasilewski, Benalouane, Kante, King, Inler, Dyer, Albrighton, Mahrez, Okazaki, Ulloa, Vardy, Kramaric.
PREDICTION: A 1-0 win for United
FANTASY PICK: Anthony Martial
KEY STAT: Manchester United have kept six clean sheets in their last seven Premier league games at Old Trafford.
- MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United could have Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera back in action.
Rooney -- whose next appearance will be his 500th for United -- has missed three games due to an ankle injury and Smalling and Herrera have been sidelined by groin and hamstring problems respectively, but all three have trained for a full week building up to the match.
Ashley Young is a doubt with a knock and Bastian Schweinsteiger remains suspended, while Jesse Lingard (leg), Matteo Darmian (hamstring), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), Antonio Valencia (foot) and Luke Shaw (leg) are all unavailable.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Varela, Borthwick-Jackson, Smalling, Jones, Blind, McNair, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini, Depay, Powell, Mata, Young, Pereira, Martial, Rooney.
- NORWICH CITY
Norwich will be without on-loan Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom (hamstring). Goalkeeper John Ruddy is available for selection as the club continue an internal investigation into his involvement in a late-night fracas at a city-centre taxi rank, but Declan Rudd is expected to again be first choice at Old Trafford.
Winger Matt Jarvis, on loan from West Ham, has stepped up his rehabilitation from a knee injury and could feature after Christmas.
Provisional squad: Rudd, Olsson, Martin, Bassong, Whittaker, Tettey, O'Neil, Brady, Redmond, Hoolahan, Mbokani, Ruddy, Bennett, Howson, Jerome, Grabban, Mulumbu, Dorrans.
PREDICTION: A 2-0 win for Spurs
FANTASY PICK: Harry Kane
KEY STAT: Christian Eriksen has scored three goals in his last three Premier League games against Southampton.
- SOUTHAMPTON
Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga is to retain his place in Southampton's starting XI in the absence of the injured Maarten Stekelenburg (toe) and Fraser Forster (knee).
Manager Ronald Koeman has, however, been boosted by the return to fitness of Graziano Pelle, who is expected to start on Saturday against Tottenham. Pelle was a substitute during last week's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, when Koeman played a more defensive team.
On Saturday, the manager is likely to revert to his more familiar 4-3-3, which could mean recalls for James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic. Like Forster, fellow long-term absentees Jay Rodriguez (ankle) and Florin Gardos (knee) remain sidelined.
Provisional squad: Gazzaniga, K Davis, Soares, Caulker, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Clasie, Wanyama, Tadic, Mane, S Davis, Pelle, Yoshida, Long, Romeu, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi, Fonte.
- TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino will make a late decision on Mousa Dembele's fitness. Dembele missed last weekend's loss against Newcastle with a stomach bug but has returned to training and is in contention for the match at St Mary's.
Clinton Njie (knee) is out with a knee problem, while Ryan Mason and Alex Pritchard both remain unavailable due to ankle injuries.
Provisional squad: Lloris, Vorm, Walker, Rose, Trippier, Davies, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Vertonghen, Carter-Vickers, Fazio, Winks, Dier, Alli, Carroll, Bentaleb, Dembele, Townsend, Eriksen, Onomah, Chadli, Lamela, Son, Kane.
PREDICTION: A 1-1 draw
FANTASY PICK: Yohan Cabaye
KEY STAT: Yohan Cabaye has scored four goals in four Premier League matches against Stoke City.
- STOKE CITY
Stoke are hopeful Xherdan Shaqiri can return from a hamstring strain. The Switzerland international missed the 0-0 draw against West Ham having starred in the 2-0 win over Manchester City seven days earlier and will undergo a fitness test on Saturday morning.
Geoff Cameron (hamstring) is out, Phil Bardsley (back) and Stephen Ireland (hamstring) are doubts, while Peter Odemwingie, Peter Crouch and Marc Muniesa (all hamstring) are still a little way off first-team action.
Provisional squad: Butland, Haugaard, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson, Johnson, Pieters, Bardsley, Whelan, Adam, Ireland, Sidwell, Van Ginkel, Arnautovic, Bojan, Shaqiri, Afellay, Walters, Joselu, Diouf.
- CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace will wait to see if captain Mile Jedinak will be fit. Jedinak rolled his ankle in training earlier this month and was absent from Palace's 1-0 win against Southampton.
Joe Ledley has returned and could be available for the trip to the Britannia Stadium, but Bakary Sako and Dwight Gayle remain sidelined.
Provisional squad: Hennessey, Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Hangeland, Kelly, Souare, Mariappa, Ward, Lee, Cabaye, Ledley, McArthur, McCarthy, Mutch, Puncheon, Bamford, Bolasie, Campbell, Chamakh, Wickham, Zaha.
PREDICTION: A 2-1 win for West Brom
FANTASY PICK: Junior Stanislas
KEY STAT: Callum Wilson is still Bournemouth's top goal scorer in the Premier League this season (five goals) even though he has not featured due to injury since Sept. 26.
- WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Stephane Sessegnon could return to the West Brom squad. The midfielder missed the 2-2 draw at Liverpool after coming off against Tottenham earlier this month and boss Tony Pulis is hopeful the ex-Sunderland man will be available.
Defender Claudio Yacob is still in Argentina after a family bereavement and will not feature while goalkeeper Ben Foster remains out with a long-term knee injury but striker Saido Berahino is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench for the fifth straight game.
Provisional squad: Myhill, Lindegaard, Dawson, Evans, Chester, Olsson, Gamboa, McAuley, Brunt, Fletcher, McManaman, McClean, Morrison, Gardner, Sessegnon, Gnabry, Berahino, Rondon, Anichebe, Lambert.
- BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth forward Josh King (hamstring) will be assessed. Striker Lee Tomlin (groin) could be back in contention for the squad, while midfielder Marc Pugh returned from his Achilles injury layoff to make the bench for last week's win over Manchester United, as did goalkeeper Adam Federici (ankle).
Captain Tommy Elphick continues his recovery from ankle surgery, while striker Callum Wilson (knee), midfielders Max Gradel (knee) and Christian Atsu (calf) along with defender Tyrone Mings (knee) are also still in rehabilitation.
Provisional squad: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Smith, Gosling, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Stanislas, Murray, Federici, O'Kane, Distin, Pugh, Federici, Rantie, Kermorgant, Tomlin, King.
PREDICTION: A 1-0 Newcastle win
FANTASY PICK: Ayoze Perez
KEY STAT: Aston Villa have won none of their last nine Premier League visits to St James' Park (D3 L6).
- NEWCASTLE UNITED
Midfielder Cheick Tiote will return to the Newcastle squad. The Ivory Coast international has trained all week after recovering from the groin injury which has sidelined him since November 21 and will be included in the party for the game at St James' Park.
However, head coach Steve McClaren will still be without goalkeeper Tim Krul (knee ligaments), defenders Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson (both hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee cartilage), midfielder Gabriel Obertan (hamstring) and striker Emmanuel Riviere (knee).
Provisional squad: Elliot, Darlow, Janmaat, Dummett, Coloccini, Mbemba, Mbabu, Sterry, Colback, Anita, Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Thauvin, De Jong, Gouffran, Mitrovic, Cisse, Perez.
- ASTON VILLA
Skipper Micah Richards is set to miss Aston Villa's crucial trip to Newcastle with a knee injury.
The defender has sat out the last two games with Villa bottom of the Barclays Premier League and eight points from safety.
Boss Remi Garde has no new injury worries, with Jordan Amavi out for the season with a knee injury he suffered with France Under-21s last month, but must decide whether to recall Gabby Agbonlahor to the match-day squad after leaving him out of Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Provisional squad: Guzan, Bunn, Hutton, Clark, Okore, Lescott, Richardson, Bacuna, Westwood, Sanchez, Lyden, Grealish, Gil, Gana, Veretout, N'Zogbia, Sinclair, Traore, Ayew, Agbonlahor, Gestede, Kozak.
SUNDAY'S GAMES
PREDICTION: A 2-1 Liverpool win
FANTASY PICK: Philippe Coutinho
KEY STAT: Liverpool have scored just two goals in the three Premier League games that Philippe Coutinho has missed this season (0.7 per game), compared to an average of 1.4 goals per game with him in the side.
- WATFORD
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has no fresh injury concerns. Midfielder Valon Behrami and defender Sebastian Prodl could both make their returns from injury.
Defenders Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) however, remain sidelined.
Provisional squad: Gomes, Nyom, Cathcart, Ake, Britos, Prodl, Anya, Capoue, Jurado, Watson, Behrami, Deeney, Ighalo, Arlauskis, Guedioura, Abdi, Paredes, Diamanti, Oulare, Holebas.
- LIVERPOOL
James Milner will miss out and could be a doubt for the Christmas fixtures. The midfielder had a scan after feeling discomfort in his calf during training and will be sidelined for at least the next few days.
Defender Dejan Lovren is set to miss around a month with the knee injury he picked up against West Brom last weekend while striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) is also out.
Provisional squad: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Lallana, Coutinho, Benteke, Bogdan, Toure, Randall, Smith, Allen, Henderson, Rossiter, Firmino, Ibe, Origi.
PREDICTION: A 2-1 Swansea win
FANTASY PICK: Bafetimbi Gomis
KEY STAT: The Swans have won none of their last six Premier League home games at Liberty Stadium (D3 L3), failing to score in four of those matches.
- SWANSEA CITY
Swansea caretaker manager Alan Curtis has no new injury worries for his second game in charge.
Jonjo Shelvey missed the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City last weekend as Curtis took charge of team affairs following the sacking of Garry Monk, but the England midfielder has now recovered from a calf injury and is available for selection.
Striker Eder (ankle) and defender Franck Tabanou (thigh) remain absent with Swansea hoping to appoint a permanent manager before the Boxing Day visit of West Brom.
Provisional squad: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Cork, Ki, Routledge, Ayew, Sigurdsson, Nordfeldt, Naughton, Bartley, Amat, Shelvey, Montero, Gomis, Emnes, Barrow, Grimes.
- WEST HAM UNITED
Andy Carroll is likely to miss West Ham's trip to Swansea after suffering a groin injury. The England striker has had a torrid time with injuries since joining the Hammers but is not expected to be sidelined beyond Sunday's game at the Liberty Stadium.
Meanwhile, boss Slaven Bilic is still without a number of definite absentees as Dimitri Payet (ankle), Winston Reid, Victor Moses (both hamstring), Diafra Sakho and Manuael Lanzini (both thigh) will not be fit in time.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Song, Obiang, Zarate, Ogbonna, Valencia, Carroll, Jelavic, Antonio, Cullen, Oxford.
MONDAY'S GAME
PREDICTION: A 2-2 draw
FANTASY PICK: Kevin De Bruyne
KEY STAT: Manchester City have lost 22 Premier League games against Arsenal, their joint-most defeats against any opponent (along with Chelsea).
- ARSENAL
Arsene Wenger remains hopeful about Alexis Sanchez's chances of playing. The Chile forward has been missing with a hamstring problem but returned to training earlier this week and is in contention to make a timely return for the Gunners.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta could also be back following a calf injury, but Jack Wilshere (leg), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky (all knee) are missing.
Provisional squad: Cech, Ospina, Monreal, Debuchy, Koscielny, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Chambers, Ramsey, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Iwobi, Campbell, Sanchez, Walcott, Giroud.
- MANCHESTER CITY
Sergio Aguero is back in contention for Manchester City. Captain Vincent Kompany (calf) is back in light training but is not yet working with the squad so continues to sit out.
City midfielder Fernando (hamstring) and defender Pablo Zabaleta (knee) are also still on the sidelines, while playmaker Samir Nasri (leg) is out long term.
Provisional squad: Hart, Caballero, Sagna, Mangala, Otamendi, Demichelis, Clichy, Kolarov, Maffeo, Toure, Fernandinho, Delph, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Navas, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Roberts.