Premier League Weekend: Game-by-Game Guide

What kicks off at St James' Park on Saturday and finishes on Monday at The Madejski Stadium? The English Premier League weekend.

Chelsea's involvement in the Club World Cup means there are only nine fixtures this weekend, but it will not detract from the entertainment.

Manchester United will be intent on maintaining their six point lead at the top, while QPR are still without a win at the bottom, plus a whole lot more in between.

Read on for a game-to-game look at all this weekend's fixtures.

Newcastle vs. Manchester City

Manchester City look to bounce back from their first defeat in the league this season, with a trip to Newcastle in Saturday's early game. 

Vincent Kompany is a doubt for City, while Gareth Barry will serve a suspension for verbally abusing a match official against Manchester United.

Hatem Ben Arfa could miss out for Newcastle who are already thin on the ground, but Gabriel Obertan may return.

Alan Pardew's side are just two points above the relegation zone, and have only recorded one win in their last six games.

Liverpool vs. Aston Villa

Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool—with just one defeat in six—welcome Paul Lamberts' Aston Villa to Anfield this weekend.

Luis Suarez will return to the Liverpool side after his recent suspension but Jose Enrique is rated as a doubt with hamstring problems.

Villa, unbeaten in four league games, will probably be missing Darren Bent. The striker picked up an injury as they advanced to the League Cup semi-final in midweek.

Manchester United vs. Sunderland

Manchester United welcome Sunderland to Old Trafford on Saturday following derby delight over Manchester City last weekend. 

A big boost for Sir Alex Ferguson is the likely return of Nemanja Vidic, who could replace the doubtful Jonny Evans.

Sunderland will draw encouragement from their 3-0 win over Reading in midweek. Striker Steven Fletcher made a goal-scoring return from injury in the victory.

Norwich vs. Wigan

Norwich entertain Wigan at Carrow Road on the back of an unbeaten league run that stretches back to the beginning of October.

The Canaries did suffer their first loss in 10 in midweek though, as Aston Villa, complete with former manager Paul Lambert, knocked them out of the League Cup.

Roberto Martinez's side sit in the bottom three, and will head to East Anglia without central defenders Gary Caldwell and Antolin Alcaraz, luckily Ivan Ramis could return.

QPR vs. Fulham

QPR will once again seek their first Premier League win of the season, this time in a London derby against Fulham at Loftus Road.

Harry Redknapp's appointment has yet to yield the expected results, and failure to win this weekend would extend their winless run to 17.

For Martin Jol's men, Mahamadou Diarra is unlikely to be fit, despite featuring on the bench in Monday night's 2-1 win over Newcastle.

Stoke City vs. Everton

Stoke have taken 14 points from their last six games, a record only bettered by Manchester United's tally of 15.

To carry on that impressive vein of form, the Potters may even be able to call on Michael Owen who has, this week, declared himself fit for action.

Everton visit the Britannia Stadium this weekend. Phil Neville remains sidelined but Kevin Mirallas is hopeful of recovering from a tight hamstring.

Tottenham vs. Swansea

Tottenham could have Gareth Bale, Scott Parker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto back for the visit of Swansea on Sunday.

Prior to losing to Everton, Spurs had won three in a row, and will hope three points can move them back into the top four. 

The Swans booked their place in the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, and manager Michael Laudrup thinks "it's the perfect time to face Spurs."

West Brom vs. West Ham

West Brom are out to end a run of three straight league defeats against Sam Allardyce's West Ham on Sunday.

Ben Foster, Claudio Yacob and Liam Ridgewell are all expected to be back in contention for the Baggies, who will look to build on six wins from eight at home.

For West Ham, Mohamed Diame's torn hamstring—suffered against Liverpool—adds him to a lengthy injury list including Andy Carroll, Yossi Benayoun and Ricardo Vaz Te.

Reading vs. Arsenal

Pressure intensified on Arsene Wenger following Arsenal's shock League Cup loss at Bradford in midweek. They will have to wait until Monday, and a trip to Reading, to make amends.

For the Gunners, Oliver Giroud and Theo Walcott are doubtful as are Laurent Koscielny and Andre Santos. Abou Diaby will definitely miss out.

Second-bottom Reading are in danger of being cut adrift from safety, and will be desperately hoping Pavel Porgrebnyak, Jimmy Kebe and Jem Karacan can win their fitness races.