Classic
Times Fantasy Football is back. We got two great games for you to play and
£100K to be won
Sunday August 31
Aston
Villa v Liverpool,
4pm
Gareth Barry is poised to line up in the Aston Villa midfield in their game
against Liverpool - the club he looked set to join for most of the summer.
The England player had his heart set on a move to Anfield but the deal
collapsed after the Reds failed to meet Villa's £18million valuation of the
27-year-old. Martin O'Neill had the luxury of being able to rest several of
his key players for the midweek UEFA Cup clash with FH Hafnarfjordur. The
likes of Ashley Young, John Carew, Martin Laursen, Stiliyan Petrov, Luke
Young and Nicky Shorey could all return. Recent signing Carlos Cuellar has
started training after a calf injury and may play some part.
Javier Mascherano and Lucas are back in to Liverpool's squad to play Aston
Villa, following their return from the Olympics. Liverpool will be without
Steven Gerrard, who is recovering from a groin operation, with Mascherano a
likely replacement. Rafa Benitez still has a doubt over Sami Hyypia, who is
recovering from a hamstring problem.
Aston Villa (from): Friedel, L Young, Laursen, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey,
Reo-Coker, Barry, Petrov, A Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Taylor, Knight,
Harewood, Salifou, Routledge, Gardner, Osbourne, Delfouneso.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Dossena,
Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas, Plessis, Alonso, Kuyt, Torres, Keane, El
Zhar, Cavalieri, Ngog, Agger, Spearing.
Chelsea
v Tottenham
Hotspur, 1.30pm
Scolari is monitoring the fitness of Ballack and Essien ahead of Sunday's
clash with Spurs. The pair have been playing with knocks and the Brazilian
hinted that Ballack was most likely to miss the derby clash. Drogba remains
unavailable because of a knee injury but has been pencilled in for a return
for the Manchester City game next month.
For Spurs, Alan Hutton is still out with a stress fracture of his right foot.
Juande Ramos will talk to Dimitar Berbatov, who has handed in a transfer
request, before deciding whether the striker will play. Ramos has no other
fresh injury worries as Spurs look for their first points of the season.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ivanovic, Alex, Belletti,
Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Obi, Lampard, Deco,
Anelka, Malouda, Kalou, Ballack, Essien
Tottenham Hotspur (from): Gomes, Cesar, Zokora, Gunter, Bale,
Assou-Ekotto, Gilberto, King, Woodgate, Dawson, Modric, Bentley, Jenas,
Huddlestone, Taarabt, O'Hara, Lennon, Boateng, Dos Santos, Berbatov, Bent.
Sunderland
v Manchester
City, 3pm
Steed Malbranque is unlikely to play for Sunderland on Sunday after injuring
his ankle in the Carling Cup at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. New signing
Anton Ferdinand will also not play, as he is not match fit. Michael Chopra
is suspended and Teemu Tainio remains on the injured list. Kieran Richardson
faces a late fitness check on a rib injury.
Mark Hughes reported no new injury concerns after Manchester City's Uefa Cup
qualifier against FC Midtjylland. Hughes' men endured extra-time and
penalties last night in Denmark to secure a place in the UEFA Cup first
round. Micah Richards came through the match unscathed having suffered
concussion against West Ham last week, while Hughes will be able to recall
Vincent Kompany, who was ineligible for the European qualifier, for the trip
to Wearside. Benjani Mwaruwari and Kelvin Etuhu did not travel to Denmark
while Valeri Bojinov and Darius Vassell are long-term casualties.
Sunderland (from): Gordon, Ward, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Collins,
Bardsley, Higginbotham, Edwards, Diouf, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Miller, Reid,
Richardson, Malbranque, Cisse, Murphy, Healy, Stokes.
Manchester City (from): Hart, Schmeichel, Corluka, Richards, Kompany,
Dunne, Onuoha, Ben Haim, Ball, Garrido, Fernandes, Hamann, Ireland, Johnson,
Elano, Evans, Sturridge, Caicedo, Jo.
Saturday August 30, 3pm kick-off unless stated
Arsenal
v Newcastle
United, 5.30pm
Arsenal have no fresh injury worries ahead of tomorrow's game at Emirates
Stadium.
William Gallas and Theo Walcott have both recovered from minor knocks to their
knees picked up in the midweek Champions League victory over FC Twente,
while winger Samir Nasri has shaken off a virus. Cesc Fabregas came through
unscathed following his return from a hamstring problem, but new signing
Mikael Silvestre (thigh), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh),
Amaury Bischoff (groin) and striker Eduardo (leg) remain in recovery.
Joey Barton could make a surprise return to the Newcastle squad. Barton, who
is due to face Football Association disciplinary chiefs next Friday after
admitting a charge of violent conduct, may be drafted in following James
Milner's departure for Villa and the news that Geremi has a knee ligament
injury. Keegan has his options limited, as Obafemi Martins (groin), Mark
Viduka (Achilles), Damien Duff (knee), Claudio Cacapa (hamstring) and Andy
Carroll (heel) are all sidelined.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott,
Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor, van Persie, Fabianski, Ramsey,
Wilshere, Djourou, Gibbs, Song, Bendtner, Eboue.
Newcastle United (from): Given, Harper, Beye, N'Zogbia, Taylor,
Coloccini, Enrique, Bassong, Tozer, Edgar, Butt, Geremi, Guthrie, Barton,
Jonas, Smith, Owen, Donaldson, Ranger.
Bolton
Wanderers v West
Bromwich Albion
Gary Cahill will start a three-match ban when Bolton host West Brom tomorrow.
The defender was sent off during Wanderers' 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to
Northampton, and will join Johan Elmander and Matt Taylor on the sidelines.
Elmander has a hamstring injury and is set to be out for at least two or
three more weeks while Taylor has a broken toe which is expected to keep him
out for up to six weeks. Kevin Davies, Kevin Nolan and Andy O'Brien are
expected to return to Gary Megson's starting line-up.
West Brom's record signing Borja Valero is in line to make his Barclays
Premier League debut tomorrow. The £4.75million signing from Real Mallorca
had his first taste of English football during the Carling Cup game at
Hartlepool in midweek. Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has no fresh injury worries
as Albion seek their first victory of the campaign against their former
boss. The likes of Scott Carson, Paul Robinson, Gianni Zuiverloon and
Ishmael Miller are poised to return at the Reebok Stadium after being rested
from the cup clash.
Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Nolan, Davies, Muamba,
Gardner, A O'Brien, Shittu, McCann, Steinsson, Hunt, Samuel, J O'Brien,
Riga, Dzemaili, Cohen, Vaz Te, Helguson.
West Bromwich Albion (from): Carson, Zuiverloon, Barnett, Meite,
Robinson, Morrison, Greening, Koren, Valero, Brunt, Miller, Do-Heon Kim,
Kiely, Hoefkens, Cech, Bednar, Beattie, MacDonald, Pele, Moore, Dorrans,
Slusarski, Martis.
Everton
v Portsmouth
Louis Saha and Segundo Castillo will not feature for Everton's tomorrow, but
fellow new signing Lars Christian Jacobsen should play. Saha has moved from
Manchester United on a free transfer but needs to undergo a medical before
the deal is sealed while Castillo's international clearance is not yet ready
after his switch from Red Star Belgrade. Sorensen is likely to feature but
the Toffeemen are still without Steven Pienaar (broken toe), Tim Cahill
(foot), Tony Hibbert (knee) and Andy van der Meyde (hamstring).
Portsmouth are banking on Jermain Defoe recovering from a virus in time to
start tomorrow. If the England striker is fit, Harry Redknapp is likely to
stick with a 4-4-2 formation, but could revert to a five-man midfield if he
fails to make it. Niko Kranjcar could be out until Christmas after an ankle
operation while new signing Jerome Thomas (back) is a doubt and Glen Little
(thigh), Kanu (ankle) and David Nugent (groin) are still not ready. Sean
Davis looks set to keep his place and Hermann Hreidarsson could return after
being dropped for the defeat by Manchester United on Monday.
Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Jacobsen, Baines,
Jagielka, Arteta, Rodwell, Osman, Baxter, Yakubu, Turner, Jutkiewicz, Agard,
Kissock, Wallace.
Portsmouth (from): James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson,
Kaboul, Diop, Diarra, Davis, A Traore, Defoe, Crouch, Utaka, Pamarot,
Mvuemba, Sahar, Thomas, Lauren, Hughes, Cranie, Ashdown.
Hull
City v Wigan
Athletic
Hull midfielder George Boateng is struggling to make the game. The former
Middlesbrough player missed last week's draw against Blackburn with a thigh
injury which has not responded well to treatment. Striker Marlon King, on
loan from Wigan, is ineligible to play against his parent club meaning
veteran forward Dean Windass could start. Ian Ashbee, Andy Dawson and
Geovanni have all overcome slight knocks to take their places in the squad.
Steve Bruce expects goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to be fit to play after he was
rested for Tuesday's 4-0 win over Notts County in the Carling Cup. Kirkland
suffered a slight back spasm during the warm-up against Chelsea last
weekend, forcing him to miss the game, but he should be fit to face the
Tigers at the KC Stadium - with Mike Pollitt set to step down. Bruce has
doubts over midfielders Paul Scharner and Jason Koumas, who are both nursing
ankle injuries, with Michael Brown and Kevin Kilbane standing by. Henri
Camara is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after he scored twice
against the Magpies.
Hull City (from): Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Gardner, Dawson, Garcia,
Ashbee, Barmby, Geovanni, Fagan, Halmosi, Folan, Windass, Mendy, Marney,
Duke, Brown, Boateng, Hughes, France.
Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Scharner, Figueroa,
Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Bramble, Brown, De
Ridder, Kilbane, Koumas, Taylor, Camara, Sibierski, Montrose, Nash, Pollitt.
Middlesbrough
v Stoke
City
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones is back in training after dislocating a
finger in the pre-match warm up at Liverpool last weekend. However, the
Australian international is still recovering from minor ligament damage and
will not be considered for tomorrow's clash at the Riverside. Ross Turnbull,
who replaced Jones at the last minute at Anfield, is expected to remain in
goal, while England Under-19 international keeper Jason Steele has been
added to Southgate's squad. David Wheater and Andrew Taylor, both of whom
picked up knocks at Liverpool, are fit again and are included in the squad,
meaning Julio Arca (ankle) is their only other absentee.
Tony Pulis, Stoke manager, will return to his first-choice line-up after
resting 10 players for Tuesday's Carling Cup victory at Cheltenham. Pulis is
likely to field the team which beat Aston Villa last Saturday, providing
captain Andy Griffin comes through a fitness test on a bruised knee. Andy
Wilkinson is on standby. Pulis may also have added to his squad before
kick-off as Stoke continue to chase a number of transfer targets ahead of
Monday's deadline.
Middlesbrough (from): Turnbull, Steele, Wheater, Hoyte, Taylor, Huth,
Pogatetz, Riggott, Williams, Aliadiere, Emnes, Digard, O'Neil, Shawky,
Downing, Johnson, Mido, Alves, Tuncay.
Stoke City (from): Sorensen, Griffin, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Dickinson,
Lawrence, Amdy Faye, Olofinjana, Delap, Kitson, Fuller, Simonsen, Shawcross,
Wilkinson, Diao, Whelan, Cresswell, Sidibe.
West
Ham United v Blackburn
Rovers
West Ham captain Lucas Neill was rested for the midweek Carling Cup win over
Macclesfield and should return for the game against his former club. Valon
Behrami broke his front tooth against the Silkmen but should be fit to play,
while George McCartney has made his comeback from a virus. Craig Bellamy has
been out with a hamstring injury but was considered a possibility earlier in
the week. Kieron Dyer (broken leg), Jonathan Spector (hip), Danny Gabbidon
(stomach), James Tompkins (leg) and James Collins (knee) are still out.
Paul Ince is set to be without David Dunn for the game after the midfielder
missed training with an Achilles injury. Stephen Warnock missed the game
through illness but will return to the squad, while new signing Keith
Andrews is unlikely to start being short of match fitness after his move
from MK Dons. Vince Grella is still awaiting international clearance
following his switch from Torino, but could yet be involved if the paperwork
is completed in time. Matt Derbyshire and Carlos Villanueva are pressing
their claims after scoring in midweek.
West Ham United (from): Green, Behrami, Davenport, McCartney, Upson,
Neill, Faubert, Parker, Noble, McCartney, Etherington, Ashton, Cole,
Bellamy, Lastuvka, Reid, Bowyer, Spence, Boa Morte, Mullins, Sears,
Widdowson, Hines, Spence.
Blackburn Rovers (from): Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock,
Emerton, Reid, Mokoena, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts, Andrews, Brown,
McCarthy, Derbyshire, Villanueva, Simpson, Tugay, Villanueva, Treacy,
Khizanishvili, Grella.
