Team news, statistics and our verdicts for the rest of the weekend’s action in the Barclays Premier League.
Sunday January 11
Arsenal (6) v Stoke (11)
Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Mesut Ozil (knee) are both available for Arsenal, as is striker Olivier Giroud who returns following suspension. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger will also have to decide whether to recall Wojciech Szczesny after David Ospina deputised in the FA Cup third-round win over Hull whilst Danny Welbeck (thigh), Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby (both calf) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are still absent.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes has a trio of players on the brink of a return from injury. Defender Marc Muniesa, midfielder Victor Moses and striker Bojan Krkic are in Hughes’ squad, although the Welshman is wary of pushing any of the three back into the fray ahead of time. Germany international defender Philipp Wollscheid is also available after signing on loan for the rest of the season from Bayer Leverkusen, but Marc Wilson is a doubt with a knee problem, while striker Mame Biram Diouf is on African Nations Cup duty with Senegal.
Last season: Stoke 1 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 3 Stoke 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D W W L; Stoke D L W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 16; Mame Diouf & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 6
Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)
Verdict: Arsenal 2 Stoke 0
Manchester United (3) v Southampton (4)
Ashley Young is the only player unavailable for Manchester United. The wide man will be out for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered on New Year’s Day at Stoke. New goalkeeper Victor Valdes is expected to be in the United squad while Rafael (cheekbone), Luke Shaw (ankle), Marcos Rojo (thigh), Daley Blind (knee), Marouane Fellaini (illness) and Antonio Valencia (groin) have overcome their respective problems.
Nathaniel Clyne and Jack Cork could return for Southampton, and new signing Eljero Elia is in line for his debut. Right-back Clyne this week returned to training after an ankle injury and will be assessed before the match, while midfielder Cork is available after an ankle complaint of his own. Elia is in the squad for the first time since joining on loan from Werder Bremen, although Jay Rodriguez (cruciate ligament) and Sam Gallagher (knee) remain absent. Japan defender Maya Yoshida has left for international duty at the Asian Cup and Sadio Mane has a calf complaint, keeping him out of this match and with Saints for the time being despite being included in Senegal’s African Nations Cup squad.
Last season: Southampton 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Southampton 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd W D W D D; Southampton L W W D W
Top scorers (all competitions): Robin van Persie & Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 8; Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 11
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Verdict: Manchester United 3 Southampton 1
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