Liverpool could go clear at the top of the table this weekend, given Chelsea's injury problems; and Manchester United could drift further off the pace. None of the top three have suspension concerns ahead of the weekend.
Liverpool go into this weekends fixtures with one or two injury worries themselves, but at Anfield against a perpetually travel sick Fulham outfit Liverpool should be able to shrug off their three injuries and one doubt. Robbie Keane is the doubt, but he should recover (if needed); Steven Gerrard should be available for next week’s games.
Leaving just Martin Skrtel (posterior cruciate ligament tear) and Philipp Degen (metatarsal fracture) unavailable - and both around a month away from returning. The position for Liverpool's main title rivals is less encouraging.
Firstly Manchester United have five absentees and three doubts to contend with. The loss of Wes Brown and Gary Neville suggests that Rafael could well get a run at right-back (unless the manager persists with O'Shea) - but elsewhere there is worse news.
Dimitar Berbatov picked up a hamstring/high injury on international duty and will probably be replaced by Carlos Tevez. With Wayne Rooney remaining a doubt following a virus, Danny Wellbeck or Manucho could get a start.
In central midfield, Darren Fletcher's knee injury is a further blow to add to Owen Hargreaves season ending knee operations and Paul Scholes medial knee ligament twang. The central midfield will probably pick itself with Carrick and Anderson available; and Darron Gibson as back up.
Rio Ferdinand is another doubt at the back with Jonny Evans likely to deputize. With United travelling to fifth placed Aston Villa this is a bad time to be missing half a team.
But Chelsea are the hardest hit club in the division; only three players are definitely missing but another six are doubtful. The problems are mainly defensive. Definitely out are Essien and Alex; but Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Juliano Beletti and Petr Cech are all doubts.
Carlo Cudicini, Branislav Ivanovic and Wayne Bridge are standing by, but don't rule out a recall from Wolves of Michael Mancienne. Other injuries for Chelsea include Frank Lampard (rib), Franco Di Santo (hamstring) and Joe Cole (foot/ankle).
Liverpool go into this weekends fixtures with one or two injury worries themselves, but at Anfield against a perpetually travel sick Fulham outfit Liverpool should be able to shrug off their three injuries and one doubt. Robbie Keane is the doubt, but he should recover (if needed); Steven Gerrard should be available for next week’s games.
Leaving just Martin Skrtel (posterior cruciate ligament tear) and Philipp Degen (metatarsal fracture) unavailable - and both around a month away from returning. The position for Liverpool's main title rivals is less encouraging.
Firstly Manchester United have five absentees and three doubts to contend with. The loss of Wes Brown and Gary Neville suggests that Rafael could well get a run at right-back (unless the manager persists with O'Shea) - but elsewhere there is worse news.
Dimitar Berbatov picked up a hamstring/high injury on international duty and will probably be replaced by Carlos Tevez. With Wayne Rooney remaining a doubt following a virus, Danny Wellbeck or Manucho could get a start.
In central midfield, Darren Fletcher's knee injury is a further blow to add to Owen Hargreaves season ending knee operations and Paul Scholes medial knee ligament twang. The central midfield will probably pick itself with Carrick and Anderson available; and Darron Gibson as back up.
Rio Ferdinand is another doubt at the back with Jonny Evans likely to deputize. With United travelling to fifth placed Aston Villa this is a bad time to be missing half a team.
But Chelsea are the hardest hit club in the division; only three players are definitely missing but another six are doubtful. The problems are mainly defensive. Definitely out are Essien and Alex; but Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Juliano Beletti and Petr Cech are all doubts.
Carlo Cudicini, Branislav Ivanovic and Wayne Bridge are standing by, but don't rule out a recall from Wolves of Michael Mancienne. Other injuries for Chelsea include Frank Lampard (rib), Franco Di Santo (hamstring) and Joe Cole (foot/ankle).
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