This article is part of our Fit or Miss series.
As if losing Daniel Sturridge to an ankle injury wasn't bad enough, Liverpool now face the next four-to-six weeks without captain Steven Gerrard with a hamstring injury. If they can tread water over that span, they may be able to stay in the title race, but with the way Arsenal, Manchester City, and Everton have been playing lately, they could find themselves in deep trouble before we even reach February.
Here's a look at the injury list heading into gameweek 16:
Manchester City vs. Arsenal
Out:Ryo Miyaichi (hamstring) doesn't have a timetable for return. Yaya Sanogo (back) is expected back in January. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) is also targeting a January return. Abou Diaby (knee) is hopeful to return in March.
Not Expected to Play:Micah Richards picked up a hamstring injury during Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Matija Nastasic (calf) is still likely another week away. Bacary Sagna will likely miss out with his hamstring injury.
Expected to Play:Gael Clichy (foot) was held out of Tuesday's match but manager Manuel Pellegrini has indicated he thinks Clichy will be fit by Saturday. Stevan Jovetic (calf) could be fit to play, although it's unlikely he cracks the starting XI. Lukas Podolski could be available following a hamstring injury that has kept him out since early September.
West Ham vs. Sunderland
Out:Kevin Nolan will miss the match (and the two after) after picking up a straight red card last weekend against Liverpool. Stewart Downing remains out after getting stitches near his Achilles last week. Mladen Petric remains out with a calf injury suffered in October. Winston Reid remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Ricardo Vaz Te remains sidelined due to the dislocated shoulder he suffered at the end of October. Andy Carroll (foot) is supposedly only a month away from getting back on the pitch. Carlos Cuellar (hip) is likely at least another week away. Keiren Westwood remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Expected to Play:James Collins and Guy Demel are expected to return from illness. James Tomkins faces a late fitness test due to a hamstring injury.
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace
Out:Marco van Ginkel remains a long-term injury after undergoing knee surgery in September. Jerome Thomas (ankle/groin) likely won't be fit until January. Adlene Guedioura (ribs/lung) is also not expected back until January. Patrick McCarthy (groin) has yet to appear in a match this season and doesn't appear close, with no public timeframe for a return. Glenn Murray (knee) is still on track to return in January.
Not Expected to Play:Jack Hunt (ankle) could be available, although he's already well behind his initial timetable.
Expected to Play:Dean Moxey (hamstring) will be given a late fitness test.
Everton vs. Fulham
Out:Tony Hibbert (knee) has been ruled out, although he wasn't likely to be available anyway. Leighton Baines (toe) remains out for a few more weeks. Arouna Kone and Darron Gibson are long-term absentees with knee injuries. Hugo Rodallega (groin) may be able to return by the end of December.
Expected to Play:Darren Bent has recovered from a slight hamstring injury and should be fit to play. Fernando Amorebieta (hamstring) will have a late fitness test. Matthew Briggs (hernia) may be able to feature.
Cardiff City vs. West Brom
Not Expected to Play:Victor Anichebe will likely miss out with an illness. Ben Foster (ankle) isn't expected back this week but he could return soon.
Expected to Play:Andrew Taylor (calf) declared himself fit for Saturday. Craig Bellamy (hamstring) is set to make his return, although he's unlikely to start and possibly may not get off the bench. Nicolas Anelka should return from his groin injury. Scott Sinclair (hamstring) will likely be fit, although we've heard this one before.
Newcastle vs. Southampton
Out:Ryan Taylor (knee) remains out for the long-term. Daniel Fox is dealing with a hamstring injury. Nathaniel Clyne also has a hamstring issue. Victor Wanyama (leg) may be able to return in January. Artur Boruc (hand) could return in January. Fellow goalkeeper Kelvin Davis is out with a back injury. Guly do Prado remains out with a knee injury.
Expected to Play:Mathieu Debuchy (leg) is expected to make his way back. Morgan Schneiderlin (groin) is face a late fitness test.
Hull City vs. Stoke City
Out:Joe Dudgeon (knee) has been cleared for light training, although he's still weeks, if not months, away from returning to full fitness. Stephen Quinn (hamstring) may be able to get back before the end of 2013. Sone Aluko (Achilles) may be able to return by the end of January. Robert Huth (knee) could return to training next week.
Not Expected to Play:Morgan Etherington (back) is has been deemed fit but will need more training with the U-21s before he returns next week. Asmir Begovic suffered a thigh injury and will have a late fitness test.
Expected to Play:Charlie Adam picked up a knock in last weekend's match but should be fit to return. Erik Pieters (groin) missed last weekend's match against Chelsea but has been declared fit to face Hull.
Norwich City vs. Swansea City
Out:Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) is out until January. Robert Snodgrass (knee) is still a few weeks away. Mark Bunn remains out after having ankle surgery last month. Alexander Tettey (ankle) will be sidelined until Febuary. Elliott Bennett (knee) remains months away from returning. Garry Monk continues to sit with a knee injury.
Not Expected to Play:Alvaro Vazquez remains sidelined with a groin injury. Leon Britton will sit with a broken toe.
Expected to Play:Ricky van Wolfswinkel (toe) looks set to return. Michel Vorm is set to have knee surgery in January but could continue to play before then. He's set for a late fitness test ahead of the Norwich match.
Aston Villa vs. Manchester United
Out:Joseph Bennett remains out with a back injury. Jores Okore (knee) is likely out for the season. Charles N'Zogbia (calf) has no clear return date. Michael Carrick remains sidelined with an Achilles injury. Friday update: Robin van Persie has been ruled out for a month with a thigh injury sustained in Tuesday's Champions League match.
Not Expected to Play:Libor Kozak will likely sit with his toe injury. Ron Vlaar could sit due to his calf injury. Chris Smalling could miss out with a hamstring injury. Marouane Fellaini is dealing with a back injury. Darren Fletcher (illness) continues to work on his match fitness with the U-21 squad.
Expected to Play:Antonio Luna (groin) looks fit to return. Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic did not play in Tuesday's Champions League match against Shakhtar Dontesk due to slight knocks but should be return.
Tottenham vs. Liverpool
Out:Jan Vertonghen continues to sit with his ankle injury. Steven Gerrard is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks with a hamstring injury. Daniel Sturridge remains out with an ankle injury. Jose Enrique (knee) is trying to return sometime in February. Sebastian Coates (knee) remains a long-term injury.
Not Expected to Play:Younes Kaboul is fighting a quad injury. Vlad Chiriches (knee) could be ready to return after having a blood-spinning technique performed on his knee, although it wouldn't be surprising if he was given a little more time to recover.
Expected to Play:Danny Rose (ankle) finally returned for Spurs, starting in Thursday's Europa League match against Anzhi Makhachkala, although he managed to play only 46 minutes and could be given a late fitness test ahead of the Liverpool match. Emmanuel Adebayor (knee) is expected to be fit, although that's no guarantee he'll play. Jordan Henderson (ankle) trained fully Thursday and should be good to go despite spending the earlier part of the week in a walking boot. Daniel Agger is set to return after missing last weekend's match with an illness.
