Phil Brown, the Hull City manager, heads into today's crunch match against Burnley without first-choice goalkeeper Boaz Myhill - who suffered a knee injury against Portsmouth last week. The Tigers chairman Phil Duffen quit on Wednesday, citing poor results as his reason, and Brown's position is said to be in threat. He is hoping the midfielder Jimmy Bullard could feature as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. The former Fulham man missed training on Thursday with a shin problem. Adam Pearson, a former Hull chairman, is expected to return on Monday to replace Duffen after stepping down from his position at Derby. Burnley will give their keeper Brian Jensen a late fitness test on an ankle injury. Stephen Jordan should be fit after a thigh strain.
Everton have a huge injury list going into today's game against Aston Villa, with up to 10 senior players likely to miss the game. Louis Saha, Leighton Baines (both calf), Dinijar Bilyaletdinov (groin), Stephen Pienaar (knee) and Joseph Yobo (head) will be assessed today to see if they can play. Victor Anichebe, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, James Vaughan (all knee) and Leon Osman (foot) are out. The Villa keeper Friedel will make his 200th consecutive league appearance. The previous record of consecutive games played, 166 set by Portsmouth keeper David James in 2008, was overhauled by Friedel last November. Friedel joined Villa from Blackburn in July 2008. Nicky Shorey will make a rare appearance to play at left-back if Stephen Warnock (ankle) is not fit. Everton v Aston Villa, KO 7pm, Showsports Extra
The Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out from today's game against Fulham at Craven Cottage, but striker Fernando Torres is expected to play after an absence with a groin injury. Gerrard is still recovering after injuring a groin while playing with England earlier this month. Defender Glen Johnson will be out for a week after tearing a calf. Midfielder Alberto Aquilani misses out again after picking up a virus after following his much-delayed debut in Wednesday's League Cup loss at Arsenal. Liverpool are six points adrift of league leaders Chelsea. Fulham hope to have midfielder Simon Davies back from a foot problem, but are without Danny Murphy with of a knee injury. Kagisho Dikgacoi misses the last match of a three-game suspension. Fulham v Liverpool, KO 7pm, Showsports 1 & 2
Michael Brown, the Portsmouth midfielder, has insisted the South Coast side have every chance of avoiding relegation - despite just four points from their opening 10 games. He has targeted today's visit of Wigan as a winnable match. "There are some great games against teams around us and that is where we have to do well," he said. "It's about bridging that gap to fourth bottom and we need some valuable points towards getting that. There is a long way to go. We are five points behind and there are 20-odd games to go." Wigan will be without Maynor Figueroa as he recovers from a knee injury.The Honduran full-back is expected to be out for seven weeks after suffering the setback in the victory against Burnley. Paul Scharner is doubtful with a hamstring injury. Portsmouth v Wigan, KO 7pm, Showshasha
Wolves welcome back striker Stefan Maierhofer against Stoke after a one-match ban, but the Austrian is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench as manager Mick McCarthy names an unchanged starting line-up. That would see Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake continue in attack. On-loan Chelsea central defender Michael Mancienne is available again after missing the last two games through illness. Stoke should have goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen back, the Dane withdrawing at the last minute at White Hart Lane due to sickness. Defender Robert Huth is suspended for punching West Ham's Matthew Upson, while Mamady Sidibe is in line for a place in the starting XI. Two Wolves, Chris Iwelumo and Karl Henry, played for the Potters earlier. Wolves v Stoke, KO 7pm, Show Series Extra 1
Sunderland are waiting on the fitness of top scorer Darren Bent, who has a knee problem, before naming their side to play West Ham at the Stadium of Light today. Defenders George McCartney (hip) and David Campbell (muscle problem) are doubts, as is forward Frazier Campbell (muscle injury). Midfielder Bolo Zenden and centre-back John Mensah are ruled out while Lee Cattermole is a long-term absentee with knee ligament damage. West Ham will be without Scott Parker. The midfielder was sent off during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal and serves a one-match ban, so Czech midfielder Radoslav Kovac comes in. Kieron Dyer has suffered faces three weeks out with a hamstring problem and Italian Alessandro Diamanti should start. Sunderland v West Ham, KO 7pm, Show Comedy Extra
