Crystal Palace v Sunderland, 20:00

There is one point between Palace and Sunderland in the Premier League table, representing a couple of spots right now, but neither team is in a strong position right now and for Sunderland that had translated into a spot in the relegation zone early in the season. Since beating Stoke, Gus Poyet has seen his men concede ten goals in two game which won’t have pleased him, especially when you consider that the home team seems to have found some form, and more importantly a degree of the old backbone that made them so formidable under Tony Pulis. Sunderland are yet to win on the road but if it’s ever going to happen this is a good chance, and might end up being a close-run game.
Palace manager Neil Warnock could have Julian Speroni, Scott Dann and James McArthur fit and back for this game, but Stuart O’Keefe remains unavailable with a foot problem. For Sunderland there is a possibility Steven Fletcher will play today but the list of wounded is long, and includes Billy Jones, Ricky Alvarez, Sebastian Coates and Emanuele Giaccherini, which won’t help Gus Poyet’s chances.

Aston Villa v Spurs, 16:00

Just a single point separates Aston Villa and Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League table prior to kick-off this afternoon, and that’s an ugly stat for the visitors when you think that Villa have lost their last five matches, without scoring once during them. Admittedly Paul Lambert has sent his side out against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City in that period, but the lost momentum is as much of a problem as anything else for his team and Tottenham will look to exploit that today. Spurs have only won one of their last seven, against the manager’s old team Southampton, and will keen to put pressure on the home side early and potentially turn the crowd against the home manager.
Aston Villa are without Alan Hutton, while Philippe Senderos could miss out with a thigh injury but Nathan Baker and Andreas Weimann should be fit. Tottenham could hand a first league start of the season to Harry Kane, and Kyle Naughton is available after proving his fitness in midweek.

Man City v Man Utd, 13:30

Like a lazy roadworker or a member of parliament there have been times this year when City have seemed to be doing the bare minimum, and still wanting thanks for it, and that has recently caught up with them as they’ve slipped six points behind Chelsea in the table and lost to Newcastle in the League Cup too. Now comes the Manchester derby, and a game that by all rights and recent form City should dominate without breaking too much of a sweat, but local tension, a new manager at United and that old Premier League unpredictability could make this a lot close than the fans will be expecting, especially if City start slowing and Angel Di Maria is at his mercurial best.
Manchester City will be without David Silva for a month, but will most likely have Yaya Toure available despite the Ivorian having suffered a groin injury last week. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal denied reports Wayne Rooney had suffered a foot issue so the striker could return, along with Antonio Valencia, but Radamel Falcao has been ruled out with a leg problem.

Stoke v West Ham, 15:00
At the risk of enraging Sam Allardyce this game could be a pretty physical and direct affair today, with neither team fully having shaken off their more rudimental roots despite a degree of gentrification in recent months. Stoke under Mark Hughes are not as brutal as they were with Tony Pulis at the helm, and when Bojan signed in the summer it seemed like a total reverse but the diminutive forward has disappeared to the bench for now and the Potters will still match the Hammers kick-for-kick today.
Stoke are without the suspended duo of Peter Crouch and Phil Bardsley, while injury has done for Robert Huth, Glenn Whelan and Peter Odemwingie. West Ham’s in-form striker Diafra Sakho faces a fitness test and Mauro Zarate is also a doubt, but winger Matt Jarvis and defender James Tomkins are available.

Leicester v West Brom, 15:00
One point separates Leicester in seventeenth and West Brom up in thirteenth position in the Barclays Premier League table, and the home side know that a win today would potentially catapult them into the top half of the league if other results go their way. Sadly for the Foxes that exlusive three-point boost was last experienced at Old Trafford, with three losses and one draw following the famous day out in Manchester, but their guests are winless in three and could be there for the taking this afternoon.
Leicester captain Wes Morgan should be fit, but backup keeper Ben Hamer will be out for up to a month. West Brom are expected to revert to last Saturday’s Premier League line-up after making 10 changes for the League Cup defeat by Bournemouth.

Hull v Southampton, 15:00
Played nine, won six, drawn one, lost two and a goal difference of +15 makes for happy reading if you’re a Southampton fan today, and somewhat surprising reading too after so many of the top players were sold in the summer. A solitary loss to Spurs interrupts an otherwise perfect eight-game run coming into this match for the away team, and with Hull having taken one win from their last eight league matches you can bet Ronal Koeman will be exhorting his troops to go all-out for three points.
Third-choice goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic will for Hull with Allan McGregor and Steve Harper both still injured and Gaston Ramirez is ineligible against his parent club. Sadio Mane is Saints’ only fresh injury doubt, with Jay Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse long-term absentees.

Everton v Swansea, 15:00
With a recent financial announcement showing the club to be in rude health it must be about time for Everton to go on a run of wins and start creeping toward a spot in the Europa League places at the very least, especially with first-team players returning from injury. The Swans are currently a couple of points and a few places above their hosts in the Premier League table but they’ve only won one of their last six league matches as well as suffering a disheartening and somewhat unjust cup loss to Liverpool in midweek.
Romelu Lukaku and Darron Gibson are expected to be fit, but the game comes too soon for Bryan Oviedo, Arouna Kone, Kevin Mirallas and John Stones. Federico Fernandez is available for Swansea after winning an appeal against the red card he received in midweek and Gylfi Sigurdsson and Ki Sung-yueng should be fit.