Liverpool go into their game against Stoke City on Saturday without key trio Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun, their best players this season.
All three were hurt in Wednesday's Anfield FA Cup defeat by Reading with Torres out for up to six weeks with knee cartilage problems. Benayoun will miss a month with a broken rib while Gerrard is out for at least two weeks with another hamstring strain to add to manager Rafa Benitez's woes.
Stoke will not be signing England goalkeeper David James on loan from Portsmouth after the clubs failed to reach an agreement on Friday.
Manchester United could have goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar back against Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday.
After recovering from injury the Dutchman is now back with the club after spending time with his ill wife and is set for his first appearance since November.
Manager Alex Ferguson said that striker Dimitar Berbatov has delayed exploratory surgery on his knee and is hoping to get through the season before dealing with the problem.
Burnley, who claimed a shock victory over United at the start of the season, will be under new manager Brian Laws for the first time.
The man Laws replaced, Owen Coyle, begins his campaign to haul Bolton Wanderers to safety with a home game against Arsenal on Sunday.
Arsenal were lucky to scramble a 2-2 home draw with Everton in their last league game and will again be without Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
Brazilian midfielder Denilson could play despite failing to identify the mystery rib injury that caused him to flop dramatically to the ground against Everton.
Lucas Neill could give a farewell performance for Everton against Manchester City on Saturday before departing to join Turkish club Galatasaray.
The Australian defender joined the club in September only and said the latest move had come as a surprise.
Kenwyne Jones, Kieran Richardson and Bolo Zenden could all return to boost Sunderland's attack for their trip to Chelsea on Saturday but more important to their chances could be the continuing absence of suspended centre back Michael Turner and the injured Anton Ferdinand and Lee Cattermole.
