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Saturday (Saint Stephen’s day)
Leicester (2) v Man Utd (3)
Kick off: 12.30 p.m. Venue of events: King Power Stadium. On TV: I live in BT Sport 1.
Jamie Vardy will be fit after emerging with a minor groin problem in Leicester’s win at Tottenham. Caglar Soyuncu suffers a groin injury and Ricardo Pereira remains out with a similar complaint.
United will check the fitness of Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Midfielder McTominay suffered a groin injury in United’s win over Leeds last weekend, while right-back Wan-Bissaka missed the midweek game at Everton with a blow. Defenders Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo remain long-term absent.
Last season: Leicester 0 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 Leicester 0
Last five league games: Leicester LWWLW; Man Utd WWDWW
Top scorers: Jamie Vardy (Leicester) 13; Miguel Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) 13
Match odds: H 2-1 D 12-5 A 11-8
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Aston Villa (9) v Crystal Palace (13)
Kick off: 3 pm. Venue of events: Villa Park. On TV: Live on BBC One.
Ross Barkley is expected to be available for Villa after being away for a month with a hamstring problem. Ezri Konsa has recovered from illness, but Trezeguet (thigh) and Wesley (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Palace will be without former Villa defender Gary Cahill (hamstring). Forward Christian Benteke, another former Villa player, returns from a one-game suspension, but Wayne Hennessey (thigh), Nathan Ferguson (knee), Martin Kelly, Mamadou Sakho (both twins) and Connor Wickham (thigh) are out .
Last Season: Aston Villa 2 Crystal Palace 0, Crystal Palace 1 Aston Villa 0
Last five league games: Aston Villa LLWDW; Crystal Palace LWDDL
Top scorers: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) 8; Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) 7
Match odds: H 19-20 D 27-10 A 11-4
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Fulham (18) vs Southampton (7)
Kick off: 3 pm. Venue of events: Craven Cabin. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Fulham could be without Ivan Cavaleiro due to injury, while coach Scott Parker is absent from the dugout after a member of his family tested positive on the Covid-19 test. It is unlikely that Kenny Tete will appear after his wife gave birth while Terence Kongolo is injured. Mario Lemina is ineligible to face his parent club, but Joachim Andersen’s suspension has been revoked.
Southampton will not be able to count on Oriol Romeu due to suspension. Forward Danny Ings (hamstring) and defender Jannik Vestergaard (knee) are doubtful, along with winger Nathan Redmond, who is struggling with a hip problem. Mohammed Salisu could make a late debut.
Last season: No corresponding accessory
Last five league games: Fulham WLDDD; Southampton LWWDL
Top scorers: Bobby Reid (Fulham) 5; Danny Ings (Southampton) 6
Match odds: H 11-5 D 23-10 A 13-10
Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire)
Arsenal (15) v Chelsea (5)
Kick off: 17.30 h. Venue of events: Emirates Stadium. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Arsenal are sweating from the physical form of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (twin). Thomas Partey (thigh) is expected to miss again, but fellow midfielder Granit Xhaka is back from suspension and Gabriel Martinelli is likely to be fit after limping against Manchester City on Tuesday.
Chelsea will deliver the final fitness tests to wingers Ben Chilwell (ankle) and Reece James (knee). Hakim Ziyech is also offside with a hamstring injury, but is approaching a return to action.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Last five league games: Arsenal LLLDL; Chelsea DWLLW
Top scorers: Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) 5, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 5, Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) 5 and Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal) 5; Timo Werner (Chelsea) 8, Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) 8
Match odds: H 3-1 D 5-2 A 19-20
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Man City (8) v Newcastle (12)
Kick off: 8 pm. Venue of events: Eastlands. On TV: I live in BT Sport 1.
Manchester City have almost a team in top form, with defender Eric Garcia being their only notable absentee with a leg injury. Sergio Agüero (knee) could be in the fight after a 16-minute outing in the Carabao Cup in the middle of the week.
Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles and winger Allan Saint-Maximin remain missing as they continue to recover from Covid-19. Federico Fernandez could be available after missing the weeknight cup loss at Brentford due to muscle fatigue and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is close to returning from a heel injury.
Last season: Man City 5 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 2 Man City 2
Last five league games: Man City WWDDW; Newcastle LWWLD
Top scorers: Raheem Sterling (Man City) 7; Callum Wilson (Newcastle) 8
Match odds: H 1-8 D 15-2 A 25-1
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Sheff Utd (20) v Everton (4)
Kick off: 8 pm. Venue of events: Bramall Lane. On TV: I live in BT Sport 2.
Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge faces up to four months on the sidelines after surgery to repair a damaged tendon. Oli McBurnie (shoulder) has a chance to return and teammate Lys Mousset (ankle) could be involved as a substitute, while midfielder John Lundstram begins a three-game suspension.
Everton will be left without Richarlison, sidelined by concussion protocols, and James Rodriguez, who will miss a fifth straight game with a calf problem. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is ready to return after having rested midweek.
Last season: Sheff Utd 0 Everton 1, Everton 0 Sheff Utd 2
Last five league games: Sheff Utd LLLLD; Everton LDWWW
Top scorers: David McGoldrick (Sheff Utd) 5; Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) 14
Match odds: H 10-3 D 13-5 A 17-20
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
Sunday (December 27)
Leeds (14) v Burnley (16)
Kick off: 12:00 h. Venue of events: Elland Road. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky One.
Leeds will be without captain Liam Cooper due to abdominal distention. Midfielder Robin Koch has been absent for a long time after knee surgery, but Spanish defender Diego Llorente could make his home debut after recovering from a strained muscle.
Burnley wingers Dwight McNeil and Robbie Brady are in doubt because of their respective injuries to the groin and hamstrings. Forward Matej Vydra has strained a muscle in his back and that is another question, while midfielder pair Jack Cork and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are making progress in their recovery from injuries but will not be at Elland Road.
Last season: No corresponding accessory
Last five league games: Leeds WLLWL; Burnley LDWDW
Top scorers: Patrick Bamford (Leeds) 9; Chris Wood (Burnley) 3
Match odds: H 3-4 D 29-10 A 7-2
Referee: Rob Jones (Northumberland)
West Ham (10) v Brighton (17)
Kick off: 14:15 h. Venue of events: London Stadium. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky One.
Michail Antonio will be evaluated by West Ham after returning to training after a hamstring injury. Arthur Masuaku is out after knee surgery, while Manuel Lanzini (hamstring) will be monitored.
Brighton will once again be left without injured defender Tariq Lamptey, who missed the weekend’s draw with Sheffield United and continues to struggle with a hamstring problem.
Last season: West Ham 3 Brighton 3, Brighton 1 West Ham 1
Last five league games: West Ham WLWDL; Brighton DLLDD
Top scorers: Sebastien Haller (West Ham) 7; Neal Maupay (Brighton) 4
Match odds: H 11-8 D 9-4 A 21-10
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Liverpool (1) v West Brom (19)
Kick off: 4.30 p.m. Venue of events: Anfield. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Liverpool could welcome midfielders James Milner (hamstring) and Xherdan Shaqiri after a muscle problem. Also midfielder Thiago Alcantara (knee) is approaching a comeback, but will not be fit for this game.
West Brom captain Jake Livermore begins a three-game suspension following his red card against Aston Villa. Matheus Pereira is back after completing a three-game ban on his own, but Kyle Bartley, Conor Townsend, Sam Field and Hal Robson-Kanu remain offside.
Last season: No corresponding accessory
Last five league games: Liverpool DWDWW; West Brom WLLDL
Top scorers: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 16; Callum Robinson (West Brom) 3 and Hal Robson-Kanu (West Brom) 3
Match odds: H 1-8 D 15-2 A 25-1
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Wolverhampton (11) v Tottenham Hotspur (6)
Kick off: 19:15 h. Venue of events: Molineux. On TV: Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
The Wolves hope Leander Dendoncker and Willy Boly will be available after recent injuries, but Raúl Jiménez (fractured skull) and Jonny (knee) remain out of the game.
Tottenham will be without Giovani Lo Celso due to a hamstring injury that will put him out during the festive period. Gareth Bale (calf) will be evaluated after he came out at halftime during the Carabao Cup quarter-final victory in Stoke, while Japhet Tanganga (shoulder) fails.
Last season: Tottenham Hotspur 2 Wolverhampton 3, Wolverhampton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Last five league games: Wolverhampton WLLWL; Tottenham Hotspur DWDLL
Top scorers: Lomba Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton) 4 and Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton) 4; Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 16
Match odds: M 5-2 D 11-5 A 6-5
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
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