LONDON, England (Reuters) – Brief news ahead of this weekend’s Premier League soccer programme (times GMT):

* Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is backing Spanish striker Fernando Torres to score against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield tomorrow (1730) and become the club’s fastest player to hit 50 league goals. Torres has scored 49 goals from 70 Premier League games.

* Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano starts a four-match suspension, incurred for his second red card of the season, possibly opening the door for Alberto Aquilani to make his first league stage.

Robinho is set for a recall when Manchester City’s new manager Roberto Mancini makes his debut at home against Stoke City tomorrow (1500).

* Chelsea will be without Nicolas Anelka (small hamstring tear) for their visit to on-form Birmingham City tomorrow (1245). Didier Drogba, about to depart for African Nations Cup duty, will partner Dean Sturridge up front.

* Tottenham Hotspur have Ledley King back to fitness for their trip to Fulham tomorrow (1300). However Luka Modric is out with an ankle injury.

* Hull City will have Seyi Olofinjana and Daniel Cousin available for the game at home to Manchester United on Sunday (1600) after fearing both would be absent due to African Nations Cup duties with Nigeria and Gabon respectively.

* Hull are also hopeful that Nick Barmby will be fit after he limped off with a calf problem against Arsenal last weekend. “Nick should be back on the training ground tomorrow after being with the physio all week,” manager Phil Brown told the club website (www.hullcityafc.net).

* Man Utd will have brothers Rafael and Fabio Da Silva back to boost their depleted defence against Hull. Manager Alex Ferguson says Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic should return for the home game against Wigan Athletic on December 30 and are hoping one could be fit for Sunday.

* Aston Villa can complete a ‘grand slam’ of victories over the Premier League’s big four in a single season if they beat Arsenal on Sunday (1330). Villa have already won at Liverpool and Manchester United and beaten Chelsea at home.

* Sunderland striker Darren Bent has dismissed newspaper reports that a fear of spiders could prevent him going to next year’s World Cup if selected by England manager Fabio Capello.

“The World Cup is the pinnacle of any player’s career and to suggest a slight fear of spiders would get in the way is complete rubbish,” he told the club website (www.safc.com) ahead of Sunderland’s home game against Everton tomorrow (1500).