Sky Sports may have ramped up their usual ‘Super Sunday’ billing in anticipation of the Merseyside derby and Arsenal and Manchester United clash, but we reckon that Saturday has the potential to be equally super with an eclectic mix of fixtures.
Crystal Palace vs West Brom (1 = 10/13, X = 5/2, 2 = 15/4)
- Crystal Palace form: W L L W
- West Brom form: W D W L
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Crystal Palace (O = 57%, U = 43%), WBA (O = 43%, U = 57%)
Crystal Palace will still be missing the injured quartet of Damien Delaney, Mile Jedinak, Connor Wickham and Joel Ward through injury.
Gareth McAuley is set to return to the heart of the West Brom defence after shaking off a calf injury, but Jonas Olsson is still out with a groin strain.
Aston Villa vs Stoke City (1 = 7/5, X = 11/5, 2 = 2/1)
- Aston Villa form: D L L L
- Stoke City form: L L D W
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Aston Villa (O = 57%, U = 43%), Stoke (O = 43%, U = 57%)
Talking Point: The away team has won in four of the last five clashes between these two sides.
Gabriel Agbonlahor should be fit enough to return to the Aston Villa squad, although is unlikely to oust Rudy Gestede, who netted twice last time out. Jores Okore is still some way short of match fitness.
Ryan Shawcross has returned to training for Stoke City after a lengthy lay-off, but won’t play a part here. Xherdan Shaqiri, the £15 million summer signing, is out with a hamstring strain.
Bournemouth vs Watford (1 = 21/20, X = 23/10, 2 = 13/5)
- Bournemouth form: D L W L
- Watford form: L W W L
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: B’mouth (O = 43%, U = 57%), Watford (O = 29%, U = 71%)
Bournemouth will be missing top scorer Callum Wilson, who is now out for six months with a knee injury. He joins Max Gradel and Tyrone Mings, also both knee, on the long-term treatment table.
Joel Ekstrand should be back in time for Christmas for Watford after suffering his own knee injury, whilst Valon Behrami serves the second of his three match ban.
Manchester City vs Newcastle (1 = 1/5, X = 11/2, 2 = 11/1)
- Manchester City form: W W L L
- Newcastle form: L L L D
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Man City (O = 57%, U = 43%), Newcastle (O = 43%, U = 57%)
Talking Point: Newcastle haven’t scored against Man City in their last five attempts, and haven’t beaten them since September 2005.
Manchester City could be given a timely boost with the return of Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure from injury.
Steven Taylor is definitely out for Newcastle after suffering a minor hamstring tear, Jack Colback is in a race for fitness with his own hamstring tweak whilst Papiss Cisse should return following a knock.
Norwich City vs Leicester City (1 = 13/10, X = 23/10, 2 = 2/1)
- Norwich City form: L W D D
- Leicester City form: D W D L
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Norwich (O = 71%, U = 29%), Leicester (O = 71%, U = 29%)
Gary Hooper and Yousuff Mulumbu could both return for the Canaries after ankle and foot injuries have seen their respective early seasons hampered.
Nathan Dyer is back in contention for the Foxes after a slight knee injury, but Matty James is not expected to return until 2016.
Sunderland vs West Ham (1 = 2/1, X = 23/10, 2 = 13/10)
- Sunderland form: D L L L
- West Ham form: W W W D
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Sunderland (O = 57%, U = 43%), West Ham (O = 71%, U = 29%)
Jack Rodwell should return for Sunderland after an ankle injury, and otherwise it is a clean bill of health for the Black Cats.
Andy Carroll may make his long awaited return for West Ham, although Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna and Alex Song are all definitely out.
Chelsea vs Southampton (1 = 10/13, X = 13/5, 2 = 7/2)
- Chelsea form: L L W D
- Southampton form: W D L W
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Chelsea (O = 86%, U = 14%), Soton (O = 71%, U = 29%)
Talking Point: Southampton have only beaten Chelsea twice in 18 years.
Thibaut Courtois won’t strap on his gloves again until December at the earliest for Chelsea, whilst Diego Costa serves the third of this three match ban.
Other than the long-term injury to Fraser Forster, Southampton have a full and fit squad to choose from.