This article is part of our Fit or Miss series.
The condensed holiday schedule continues to wreck havoc on Premier League and fantasy managers, who have to deal with the increase in matches and a fight against fitness for a number of players. Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey joined the list of injured players, and now the Gunners will have to finish out the holiday period without him.
Sergio Aguero (calf), Daniel Sturridge (ankle), and Robin van Persie (thigh) are still on the sidelines, making manager selections that much more difficult.
Here's the injury list we're looking at heading into matchweek 19.
West Ham vs. West Brom
Out:Stewart Downing is likely to miss all of January with an Achilles problem. Mladen Petric continues to sit with a calf injury. Winston Reid is out with an ankle injury. Ricardo Vaz Te still doesn't have a firm return date from his dislocated shoulder. Andy Carroll could return soon from his on-going foot issues.
Not Expected to Play:James Collins suffered a calf injury during Thursday's loss to Arsenal. Ravel Morrison was held out of Thursday's match due to a groin injury. Victor Anichebe remains an injury doubt due to his groin. Nicolas Anelka is still battling a groin injury. Shane Long (calf) will be given a late fitness test.
Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
Out:Jerome Thomas continues to sit with a groin injury. Adlene Guedioura (rib/lung) is looking at a mid-January return. Jack Hunt continues to sit with an ankle injury. Patrick McCarthy (hamstring) is still not fit. Glenn Murray (knee) may be able to return sometime in January. Sergio Aguero continues to sit with a calf injury. Micah Richards (hamstring) could return by the end of next month.
Not Expected to Play:Stuart O'Keefe hasn't returned from his thigh injury. Kagisho Dikgacoi was unable to play Thursday due to his hamstring injury. Martin Demichelis is unlikely to play after being held out of Thursday's match against Liverpool due to a hamstring injury.
Norwich City vs. Manchester United
Out:Antonio Valencia misses out after receiving a red card Thursday. Phil Jones suffered a knee injury and is out for two weeks. Marouane Fellaini is expected to miss at least two months after undergoing wrist surgery. Nani (hamstring) is out until mid-January. Michael Turner is out after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season Thursday against Fulham. Anthony Pilkington is out for another few weeks with a hamstring injury. Alexander Tettey (ankle) will try to return before February. Elliott Bennett (knee) will likely be out longer than that.
Not Expected to Play:Rafael had to be subbed off in the 18th minute of Thursday's match against Hull City with a groin injury. Robin van Persie (thigh) may return New Year's Day. Jonathan Howson (back) wasn't able to pass a prematch fitness test Thursday against Fulham, and will face another one ahead of Saturday's match.
Hull City vs. Fulham
Out:Philippe Senderos is out for the holiday period with a groin injury. Brede Hangeland is out for another few weeks after having surgery to fix a nerve issue in his back. Matthew Briggs sits while recovering from hernia surgery in November. Joe Dudgeon could miss all of January with his knee injury. Sone Aluko (Achilles) is targeting a return sometime before February.
Not Expected to Play:Maarten Stekelenburg missed Thursday's match against Norwich City due to an ankle injury. Allan McGregor and David Meyler suffered knee injuries Thursday against Manchester United. Robert Brady is likely to sit with his groin injury. Stephen Quinn (hamstring) is probably another week away.
Expected to Play:Dimitar Berbatov faces a late fitness test after being unable to play Thursday due to his groin injury.
Aston Villa vs. Swansea City
Out:Christian Benteke has been ruled out for the holiday period with a knee injury. Ron Vlaar (calf) is likely out for the same period. Joseph Bennett continues to sit with a back injury. Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles) could miss the entire year, which is like Jores Okore (knee), who could return before the end of the year. Michu is out for six weeks after undergoing ankle surgery. Michel Vorm is out after having knee surgery earlier this month. Nathan Dyer (ankle) is out until February. Garry Monk (knee) is getting closer to a return.
Cardiff City vs. Sunderland
Out:Carlos Cuellar remains out with his hip injury. Keiren Westwood is out after having shoulder surgery. Craig Bellamy continues to sit with a knee injury.
Not Expected to Play:Gary Medel missed Thursday's match against Southampton with flu-like symptoms. John O'Shea (shoulder) faces a late fitness test.
Newcastle vs. Arsenal
Out:Aaron Ramsey is out for the holiday period after suffering a thigh strain in Thursday's match against West Ham. Yaya Sanogo (back) is still a few weeks away. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) is targeting a return on January 4 to face Tottenham in the FA Cup. Abou Diaby (knee) could return in March. Ryan Taylor remains out with his knee injury.
Expected to Play:Laurent Koscielny (knee) has resumed full training and is likely to return. Jonas Gutierrez (calf) could be available.
Everton vs. Southampton
Out:Artur Boruc remains sidelined with a broken hand. Guly do Prado sits with a knee injury. Victor Wanyama (leg) will be out for another few weeks. Morgan Schneiderlin will miss out after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season on Thursday against Cardiff. Gareth Barry also picked up his fifth yellow card Thursday, while Tim Howard is out after picking up a straight red against Thursday against Sunderland. Gerard Deulofeu (hamstring) will be out for another four weeks. Arouna Kone and Darron Gibson are both out for the long term with knee injuries.
Not Expected to Play:Dejan Lovren was not able to play Thursday against Cardiff due to illness. Dani Osvaldo faces a late fitness test for a leg injury, while Nathaniel Clyne faces the same due to his hamstring injury. Kevin Mirallas had to leave Thursday's match at halftime due to a stomach bug.
Expected to Play:Leighton Baines (toe) was expected to play Thursday, but he was unable to go.
Tottenham vs. Stoke City
Out:Glenn Whelan will miss out after picking up two yellow cards Thursday against Newcastle. Marc Wilson misses out after also being sent off Thursday. Andros Townsend (hamstring) is out for a month. Younes Kaboul (quad) could return next month. Jan Vertonghen's ankle injury will keep him out until mid-January. Kyle Walker misses out after getting his fifth yellow card on Thursday. Harry Kane remains out with a back injury. Asmir Begovic broke a finger in training earlier this week. Robert Huth (knee) may be able to return by New Year's Day.
Not Expected to Play:Sandro is likely to stay sidelined with his calf injury.
Expected to Play:Mousa Dembele is likely facing a late fitness test for his ankle injury suffered last weekend. Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Aaron Lennon (abdominal) will also face late tests. Paulinho returns from his red card ban. Matthew Etherington could return from his back injury. Ryan Shawcross continues to battle a groin injury.
Chelsea vs. Liverpool
Out:Victor Moses is ineligible to play against his parent club. Jon Flanagan is set to miss a number of weeks with his hamstring injury. Steven Gerrard (hamstring) could return in mid-January. Daniel Sturridge (ankle) could be back within three weeks. Jose Enrique is still out with a knee injury. Sebastian Coates (knee) may be able to return before the end of the season. Marco van Ginkel could miss the whole season with a torn ACL suffered in September.
Not Expected to Play:Ryan Bertrand continues to sit with a knock.
